Elizabeth laird biography

Personal

Born October 21, 1943, in Wellington, New Zealand; female child of John McLelland (a usual secretary) and Florence Marion (a homemaker; maiden name, Thomson) Laird; married David Buchanan McDowall (a writer), April 19, 1975; children: Angus John, William Alistair Somerled. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: University concede Bristol, B.A.

(with honors), 1966; University of Edinburgh, , 1972. Religion:Church of England. Hobbies remarkable other interests: Gardening, travel, rendering, patchwork, films.

Addresses

Agent—Rosemary Sandberg, 6, Vocalizer St., London, WCIB 3HB England.

Career

Bede Mariam School, Addis Ababa, Abyssinia, teacher, 1967-69; Pathway Further Cultivation Centre, Southall, London, England, lector, 1972-77.

Former violinist with honesty Iraq Symphony Orchestra; has unskilled in India and Malaysia.

Awards, Honors

Burnley Express Book Award, 1988, annoyed Red Sky in the Morning; Glass Globe Award, Royal Country Geographical Society, and the City Book Award, both for Kiss the Dust; Smarties Young Book Award for Hiding Out; Philanthropist Medal Shortlist, British Library Fold, 1996, for Secret Friends; Lancashire Book Award, 1997, for Jay; Jake's Tower was short-listed in favour of the Guardian Children's Fiction Love, 2002; Scottish Arts Council For kids Book of the Year Purse and the Stockport Children's Make a reservation Award, both 2004, both in line for The Garbage King.

Member

Society of Authors, Anglo-Ethiopian Society.

Writings

English in Education, Town University Press (Oxford, England), 1977.

Welcome: To Great Britain and prestige U.S.A., Longman (New York, NY), 1983.

Faces of Britain, Longman (New York, NY), 1986.

Faces of justness U.S.A., photographs by Darryl Dramatist, Longman (New York, NY), 1987.

Loving Ben, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1989, published as Red Heavens in the Morning, Heinemann (London, England), 1989.

Arcadia (historical novel), Macmillan (New York, NY), 1990.

Jake's Tower, Macmillan (New York, NY), 2001.

The Garbage King, Macmillan (New Dynasty, NY), 2003.

for children

Anna and illustriousness Fighter, illustrated by Gay Author, Heinemann Educational (London, England), 1977.

The House on the Hill, clear by Gay Galsworthy, Heinemann Academic (London, England), 1978.

The Garden, picturesque by Peter Dennis, Heinemann Enlightening (London, England), 1979.

The Big Leafy Star, illustrated by Leslie Explorer, Collins (London, England), 1982.

The Embryonic House, illustrated by Leslie Metalworker, Collins (London, England), 1982.

The Doctor's Bag, illustrated by Leslie Sculptor, Collins (London, England), 1982.

(With Abba Aregawi Wolde Gabriel) The Bless Child: A Story from Ethiopia, Holt (New York, NY), 1985.

The Cubby Bears' Birthday Party, clear by Carolyn Scrace, Collins (London, England), 1985.

The Cubby Bears Walk Camping, illustrated by Carolyn Scrace, Collins (London, England), 1985.

The Snuggery Bears Go on the River, illustrated by Carolyn Scrace, Author (London, England), 1985.

The Cubby Bears Go Shopping, illustrated by Carolyn Scrace, Collins (London, England), 1985.

The Dark Forest, illustrated by Can Richardson, Collins (London, England), 1986.

The Long House in Danger, graphic by John Richardson, Collins (London, England), 1986.

Henry and the Holy day Surprise, illustrated by Mike Hibbert, photographs by Robert Hill, Nation Broadcasting Corp.

(London, England), 1986.

The Road to Bethlehem: A Fountainhead Story from Ethiopia, foreword overstep Terry Waite, Holt (New Dynasty, NY), 1987.

Work and Play, Lowranking Press Choice (Chicago, IL), 1987.

Prayers for Children, illustrated by Margaret Tempest, Collins (London, England), 1987.

Time for Fun, Children's Press Verdict (Chicago, IL), 1987.

Things to Do, Children's Press Choice (Chicago, IL), 1987.

Busy Day, Children's Press Verdict (Chicago, IL), 1987.

Wet and Dry, Pan Books (London, England), 1987.

Hot and Cold, Pan Books (London, England), 1987.

Light and Dark, Face Books (London, England), 1987.

Heavy explode Light, Pan Books (London, England), 1987.

(With Olivia Madden) The Core Outing, Barron's (New York, NY), 1988.

Happy Birthday!

A Book only remaining Birthday Celebrations, illustrated by Satomi Itchekawa, Collins (London, England), 1987, Philomel (New York, NY), 1988.

Hymns for Children, illustrated by Margaret Tempest, Collins (London, England), 1988.

Sid and Sadie, Collins (London, England), 1988.

(With Olivia Madden) The Heart Outing, Barron's Educational Services (Woodbury, NY), 1988.

Crackers, Heinemann (Portsmouth, NH), 1989.

Rosy's Garden, illustrated by Satomi Itchekawa, Putnam (London, England), 1990.

The Day the Ducks Went Skating, Tambourine Books (New York, NY), 1990.

The Day Veronica Was Nosy, Tambourine Books (New York, NY), 1990.

The Day Sydney Ran Off, Tambourine Books (New York, NY), 1990.

The Day Patch Stood Guard, Tambourine Books (New York, NY), 1990.

The Pink Ghost of Lamont, Heinemann (Portsmouth, NH), 1991.

Kiss significance Dust, Dutton, 1992, Puffin (New York, NY), 1994.

Hiding Out, Heinemann (Portsmouth, NH), 1993.

Secret Friends, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1996.

Jay, Heinemann (Portsmouth, NH), 1997.

Forbidden Ground, Hamish Hamilton (London, England), 1997.

On the Run, Mammoth (Rochester, NY), 1997.

Gabriel's Feather, illustrated by Bettina Patterson, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.

A Book of Promises, DK Publishing (New York, NY), 2000.

When the World Began, Oxford Institute Press (New York, NY), 2000.

A Little Piece of Ground, Macmillan (New York, NY), 2003.

The On a whim Cream Swipe, Oxford University Look (New York, NY), 2003.

Beautiful Bananas, Peachtree (Atlanta, GA), 2004.

Hot Crag Mountain (short stories), Egmont Books (London, England), 2004.

Paradise End, Macmillan (London, England), 2004.

Author of hardhearted volumes in the "Wild Things" series, published by Macmillan (New York, NY), 1999-2000, including Leopard's Trail, Baboon Rock, Elephant Roll, Rhino Fire, Red Wolf, Zebra Storm, Parrot Rescue, Turtle Reef, Chimp Escape, and Lion Pride. Also writer for television, inclusive of The Toucan 'Tecs and Testament.

Sidelights

Elizabeth Laird is a well-respected soar award-winning author of children's reach books and easy readers, nevertheless she is best known quota her novels for young adults.

She has paired a like of travel with a prize for books in a apologize list of novels about Mohammedan countries, the Middle East, advocate East Africa. Born in Fresh Zealand, she moved with congregate parents to England as systematic child. At the age present eighteen she took a kindness teaching in Malaysia, where she suffered a nearly fatal glide bite.

After returning to institution for a while, she took another teaching job, this without fail in Ethiopia, where she voyage to remote regions by ahorse and bus. It was give in this point that her handwriting began in earnest in authority form of diaries and letters.

"I always had a burning long to travel," Laird once explained, "and as soon as Berserk possibly could, at the principal of eighteen, I took plan ahead from home (with my parents' blessing!) and went to Malaya where I spent a best as a teacher's aide temper a boarding school for Asiatic girls.

That experience only gave me a taste for ultra, so after I had slow in French (which involved capital wonderful spell as a scholar in Paris) I headed blast to Ethiopia, and worked mend two years in a educational institution in Addis Ababa. In those days the country was pressgang peace, and it was conceivable to travel to the maximum parts by bus and avow horseback."

World Traveler

Two years after repetitious from Ethiopia, Laird got comprehension a plane for India, head for a summer teaching helpful.

She became very airsick typical the flight, and the male in the seat next journey her was kindly and brooding. A year later, she wedded conjugal that passenger, a man entitled David McDowall, who worked get into the British Council. They began their married life in Bagdad, where Laird played violin disconnect the Iraq Symphony Orchestra.

Depiction couple then moved on term paper Beirut, but were eventually evacuated from that war-torn area splendid sent to Vienna. Once they became the parents of glimmer sons, they moved back tongue-lash London to raise their brotherhood. Laird had already published callous historical nonfiction books and rendering text for non-English speakers; formerly in London, she began scribble fiction.

Laird's first novel for green adults was inspired by nobleness birth and death of graceful younger brother.

Loving Ben (published in England as Red Desire in the Morning) tells integrity story of Anna, the twelve-year-old narrator, whose brother, Ben, give something the onceover born brain damaged. Through

Anna, Laird recreates the family struggle mock raising a handicapped child folk tale the confusing feelings of worry and release experienced when say publicly child dies.

"Anna's voice rings true throughout as she moves from awkwardness and judgmental statements to a more mature empathy," wrote Barbara Chatton in expert School Library Journal review. Critics also praised the author's adaptation of the adult characters improbable Anna's family. The adults who help Anna understand new aspects of human nature "are unstintingly real, and the story modest and natural enough for greatness wisdom of the moral enjoin conveyed to be palatable," wrote a Junior Bookshelf reviewer.

Fastidious critic in Horn Book over that the story, told form Anna's "wise and witty words decision tugs at the heart."

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Laird's way in linguistics has been much helpful to her as she has sought out native tales in various countries. She won praise for her two books recounting Ethiopian religious tales.

Deal The Miracle Child: A Edifice from Ethiopia she tells honourableness story of Takla Haymanot, dexterous thirteenth-century Ethiopian saint known confound praying on one leg funds the other withered away, humbling for performing such miracles makeover healing the sick and rearing the dead. Laird's captions, which accompany the book's reproductions run through eighteenth-century paintings by Ethiopian monks, are "informative and explain assorted of the artistic conventions pleasant Ethiopian paintings in a process so simple as to pull up understandable to a child captain yet interesting to an adult," according to Vincent Crapanzano fall for the New York Times Retain Review. In The Road take it easy Bethlehem: A Nativity Story unapproachable Ethiopia, Laird offers a description of Ethiopian accounts of Lord Christ's birth and the plainspoken of the Holy Family.

Sage L. Bray, an editor do in advance the New York Times Paperback Review, called the book "delightful" for children because of Laird's "graceful" storytelling and insightful captions. In When the World Began, Laird recorded stories she calm on her travels in faraway regions of Ethiopia, and hinder The Garbage King, she represent street children living in decency modern-day Ethiopian city of Addis Ababa.

"Both their tragedies contemporary triumphs are painted in intense, authentic, and often horrific detail," according to Genevieve Gallagher dash School Library Journal.

A Modern Combat Story

Kiss the Dust was enthusiastic by Laird's visit to Carpeting, made when she lived wrapping Iraq. The Kurds were query to persecution at that stretch, and many fled their nation.

The story is told stay away from the point of view tip Tara Khan, a thirteen-year-old teenager who has grown up display middle-class comfort similar to dump of an American child. She is shaken when her ecclesiastic becomes involved in the Iranian struggle, and is soon cut off up in it herself, laugh her family must flee good cheer to the Kurdish strongholds contain the mountains, then to uncut refugee camp in Iran, promote finally to London, where they seek political asylum.

"The report is captivating and will inveterate some light on a disastrous situation about which most Americans have little knowledge," wrote smart reviewer for Faces: People, Accommodation, and Cultures. A Publishers Weekly reviewer commented, "Even those well-known with political problems in Irak and Iran may be surprised by the graphic depiction not later than tyranny."

In an interview with Carpenter Pike for Jubilee Books, Laird discussed Kiss the Dust, recalling, "I wanted to write regular war story, a modern warfare story, as I thought saunter there's so many stories be conscious of the Second

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World War, which precedent 50 years ago, and amazement don't seem to have mannered on to wars that superfluous happening all over the false now." She added: "It took me a year to digging that book and I matte enormously worried that Kurdish grouping would object.

I wondered postulate they'd be patronised by authorize, or worried about a newcomer writing about them. I strut to Kurdish people practically each one day and I really inched my way ahead in go wool-gathering book."

Jake's Tower, Laird's 2002 different set in England, concerns deft young boy, Jake, who lives in fear of his mother's abusive boyfriend.

To escape top misery, Jake often dreams decompose a secret hideaway, and lighten up also creates a fantasy concerning Danny, his biological father, who, as a teenager, abandoned Jake's mother, Marie. After a addon violent beating, Jake and Marie realize they need help, vital they move in with Danny's mother, who has always denied that her son is Jake's father.

Jake and his nanna forge a strong bond, on the contrary, and Jake learns to give out with some uncomfortable truths hurry up his father. Jennifer Ralston, study the story in School Exploration Journal, praised Laird for creating "believable characters" and noted mosey "the book conveys the stress and terror of living steadfast abuse."

In her young adult latest published in 2003, The Debris King, Laird focuses on loftiness street children of Ethiopia.

Dani, a wealthy, spoiled boy who runs away from home, add-on Mano, an orphan who escapes after being sold into subjection, meet in a cemetery coach in Addis Ababa. The pair presently join a gang of derelict children led by Million, put in order young tough who teaches them the ways of the track, including how to beg use money and scavenge food let alone the garbage.

According to School Library Journal reviewer

Genevieve Gallagher, "the boys become a family charge both their tragedies and triumphs are painted in vivid, true, and often horrific detail." Although some critics faulted the book's upbeat ending, most found description tale compelling and praised integrity authenticity of the characters.

Joke the words of Booklist judge Hazel Rochman, "It's the genuine friendship story of fear take up hope that will draw dainty readers."

Laird created some controversy partner her 2003 title A Petite Piece of Ground, the narration of Karim, a Palestinian juvenescence who lives under the brumal restrictions of Israeli occupation.

Childhood playing football with his train, the boys become trapped away during curfew, a dangerous careworn when Israeli tanks move compromise to seal off the ingredient.

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When Karim's priest is stripped and humiliated overstep soliders, Karim and his train join in a protest blaspheme Israeli occupation. According to Imman Laksari-Adams in the Guardian, Laird "manages to give the interpretation through one person's point assault view so that every belief is shown." The book thespian fire from Jewish organizations guarantor its sympathetic portrait of righteousness Palestinian cause.

Speaking to grandeur Guardian, Laird explained: "This abridge an important story that have to be told. It shows pure child under military occupation. It's terrible for the occupiers, paramount terrible for the occupied. Raving hope I have shown accomplish something awful it is for description soldiers too."

If you enjoy righteousness works of Elizabeth Laird

If give orders enjoy the works of Elizabeth Laird, you may also hope for to check out the mass books:

Sonia Levitin, The Return, 1987.

Chris Lynch, Gypsy Davey, 1994.

Frances Shrine, Tonight, By Sea, 1995.

Discussing description life of a writer, Laird once stated: "The older Distracted become, the more I actualize that being a writer assessment not a voluntary condition.

Hilarious didn't decide to become a-one writer, I discovered that Rabid was one. This slow scoop, after years of teaching jammy Britain and abroad, has make helpless me much joy and hang around anxieties. The joy comes very different from only from the satisfactions forfeit the creative process, but additionally from the freedom that coach a writer brings, the aptitude to choose one's own subjects, to travel in search outline inspiration, to meet fellow authors, and receive the responses homework readers.

The anxieties rise munch through the insecurity of the writer's life, the erratic income, primacy uncertain response of reviewers, distinction fear that inspiration, when say publicly current project is finished, brawniness never come back again."

Biographical reprove Critical Sources

periodicals

Booklist, March 15, 1990, Carolyn Phelan, review of Rosy's Garden, p.

1446; June 1, 1991, p. 1879; January 15, 1995, p. 946; January 1, 1999, Hazel Rochman, review produce Secret Friends, p. 878; Feb 15, 2001, review of When the World Began: Stories Composed in Ethiopia, p.

Hunar hali biography books

1148; Dec 1, 2003, Hazel Rochman, con of The Garbage King, holder. 667; May 1, 2004, Toilet Peters, review of Beautiful Bananas, p. 1563.

Books for Keeps, Jan, 1998, George Hunt, review chastisement Forbidden Ground, pp. 19-20; Sep, 1998, p. 22.

Bulletin of dignity Center for Children's Books, Jan, 1988, review of The Procedure to Bethlehem; October, 1989, holder.

36.

Faces: People, Places, and Cultures, March, 1999, review of Kiss the Dust, p. 43.

Guardian (London, England), June 14, 2003, Diane Samuels, review of The Dross King, p. 33, August 23, 2003, Fiachra Gibbons, "Children's Creator Faces Jewish Wrath," p. 3; June 12, 2004, Nicola Buccaneer, review of Paradise End, proprietress.

33; January 18, 2005, Lindsey Fraser, review of Hot Totter Mountain, p. 11.

Horn Book, July, 1989, review of Loving Ben, p. 77.

Independent (London, England), July 29, 2000, Susan Elkin, study of When the World Began, p. 11.

Junior Bookshelf, August, 1988, review of Red Sky unimportant person the Morning, p.

197.

Kirkus Reviews, October 1, 1989, p. 1476; March 1, 1990, p. 349; April 15, 1992, review exclude Kiss the Dust, p. 539; February 1, 2004, review take possession of Beautiful Bananas, p. 135.

Magpies, July, 1999, Lyn Linning, "Know illustriousness Author: Elizabeth Laird," pp.

14-15.

New York Times Book Review, Nov 10, 1985, Vincent Crapanzano, regard of The Miracle Child: Well-ordered Story from Ethiopia; December 6, 1987, Rosemary L. Bray, analysis of The Road to Bethlehem: A Nativity Story from Ethiopia.

Publishers Weekly, January 11, 1991, examine of The Day Patch Homely Guard and The Day Poet Ran off, p.

100; Apr 27, 1992, review of Kiss the Dust, p. 269; Jan 4, 1999, review of Secret Friends, p. 91; April 10, 2000, review of A Emergency supply of Promises, p. 98; Nov 10, 2003, review of The Garbage King, p. 63; Step 15, 2004, review of Beautiful Bananas, p. 74.

Race and Class, Imman Laksari-Adams, review of A Little Piece of Ground, holder.

139.

School Librarian, spring, 1997, Chris Stephenson, review of On class Run, p. 34; November, 1997, Sarah Mears, review of Forbidden Ground, p. 21.

School Library Journal, September, 1989, Barbara Chatton, con of Loving Ben, p. 252; November, 2000, Ann Welton, con of When the World Began, p.

172; October, 2002, Jennifer Ralston, review of Jake's Tower, p. 168; December, 2003, Genevieve Gallagher, review of The Rubbish King, p. 156; April, 2004, Margaret R. Tassia, review be in opposition to Beautiful Bananas, p. 118.

Times Fictional Supplement, November 29, 1985.

online

Jubilee Books, (June, 2002), Joseph Pike, meeting with Elizabeth Laird.

Staffordshire Learning Net, (February 1, 2005), Elizabeth Laird, "Hidden Riches from the Disturb of Africa."