Gene Kemp
Encyclopedia
Gene Kemp Nee Rushton is a British
author best known for her children's books. Her first novel, The Pride of Tamworth Pig was published in 1972. She won The Other Award in 1977 and the UK Carnegie Medal
in 1978 for The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler . She lives in Exeter, England.
in 1926 grew up near Tamworth
, Staffordshire, and went to Exeter University. She became a teacher and taught at St Sidwell's School in Exeter
in the 1970s.
From 1972 she wrote stories for young writers about a pig named Tamworth, named after the town she grew up in.
Her best known book was The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler which was published by Faber's Children's Books
in 1977. This book, set in the fictional Cricklepit School, charts the pleasures and pains of friendship and growing up. There are several Cricklepit books including Snaggletooth's Mystery, an alternative history of the school, and Gowie Corby Plays Chicken
, a book set a year after The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler, referencing Tyke in several chapters.
She has also written ghost and fantasy stories as well as realistic fiction like Seriously Weird which is told from the perspective of the sister of a young man with Asperger syndrome.
She won the Carnegie Medal
and the Children's Rights Other Award for Tyke Tiler, as well as being shortlisted for the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize
four times, in 1981 for The Clock Tower Ghost, 1985 for Charlie Lewis Plays for Time, 1986 for Juniper and 1990 for Just Ferret. She has also turned her work into plays, the most successful and well-known of which is Charlie Lewis Plays for Time, another Cricklepit story.
Gene Kemp was awarded an Honourary MA from Exeter University in 1984.
She now lives in Exeter and has 3 children and 3 grand-children.
Carneigie Medal 1978 for The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler
Other books
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
author best known for her children's books. Her first novel, The Pride of Tamworth Pig was published in 1972. She won The Other Award in 1977 and the UK Carnegie Medal
Carnegie Medal
The Carnegie Medal is a literary award established in 1936 in honour of Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and given annually to an outstanding book for children and young adults. It is awarded by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals...
in 1978 for The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler . She lives in Exeter, England.
Background
Gene Kemp was born in Wiggington, StaffordshireStaffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
in 1926 grew up near Tamworth
Tamworth
Tamworth is a town and local government district in Staffordshire, England, located north-east of Birmingham city centre and north-west of London. The town takes its name from the River Tame, which flows through the town, as does the River Anker...
, Staffordshire, and went to Exeter University. She became a teacher and taught at St Sidwell's School in Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
in the 1970s.
From 1972 she wrote stories for young writers about a pig named Tamworth, named after the town she grew up in.
Her best known book was The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler which was published by Faber's Children's Books
Faber and Faber
Faber and Faber Limited, often abbreviated to Faber, is an independent publishing house in the UK, notable in particular for publishing a great deal of poetry and for its former editor T. S. Eliot. Faber has a rich tradition of publishing a wide range of fiction, non fiction, drama, film and music...
in 1977. This book, set in the fictional Cricklepit School, charts the pleasures and pains of friendship and growing up. There are several Cricklepit books including Snaggletooth's Mystery, an alternative history of the school, and Gowie Corby Plays Chicken
Gowie Corby Plays Chicken
Gowie Corby Plays Chicken is a children's novel by Gene Kemp, set at the fictional Cricklepit Combined primary school in southern England. It was published in 1979.-Plot:...
, a book set a year after The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler, referencing Tyke in several chapters.
She has also written ghost and fantasy stories as well as realistic fiction like Seriously Weird which is told from the perspective of the sister of a young man with Asperger syndrome.
She won the Carnegie Medal
Carnegie Medal
The Carnegie Medal is a literary award established in 1936 in honour of Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and given annually to an outstanding book for children and young adults. It is awarded by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals...
and the Children's Rights Other Award for Tyke Tiler, as well as being shortlisted for the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize
Nestlé Smarties Book Prize
The Nestlé Children's Book Prize, also known as the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, was an annual award given to children's books written in the previous year by a UK citizen or resident. The prize was administered by Booktrust, an independent charity which promotes books and reading, and sponsored by...
four times, in 1981 for The Clock Tower Ghost, 1985 for Charlie Lewis Plays for Time, 1986 for Juniper and 1990 for Just Ferret. She has also turned her work into plays, the most successful and well-known of which is Charlie Lewis Plays for Time, another Cricklepit story.
Gene Kemp was awarded an Honourary MA from Exeter University in 1984.
She now lives in Exeter and has 3 children and 3 grand-children.
Awards
Children's Rights Workshop Other Award 1977 for The Turbulent Term of Tyke TilerCarneigie Medal 1978 for The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler
Selected bibliography
The Cricklepit series- The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler (1977)
- Gowie Corby Plays ChickenGowie Corby Plays ChickenGowie Corby Plays Chicken is a children's novel by Gene Kemp, set at the fictional Cricklepit Combined primary school in southern England. It was published in 1979.-Plot:...
(1981) - Charlie Lewis Plays for Time (1984)
- Just Ferret (1990)
- Zowey Corby's Story (1995)
- Zowey Corby and the Black Cat Tunnel (1996)
- Snaggletooth's Mystery (2002)
Other books
- Dog Days and Cat Naps (1980)
- The Clock Tower Ghost (1981)
- Jason Bodger and the Priory Ghost (1985)
- Juniper (1986)
- Mr Magus is Waiting for You (1986)
- I Can't Stand Losing (1987)
- The Well (1988)
- No Place Like (1989)
- Seriously Weird (2003)
- The Haunted Piccolo (2004)
- Nothing Scares Me (2006)
- Ducks and Dragons (ed.)
- The Puffin Book of Ghosts and Ghouls (ed.)