Mal Peet
Encyclopedia
Mal Peet is an English author who writes mainly for young adults. His novels have won several awards, including the Carnegie Medal
and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize
.
in a family that he describes as "emotionally impaired". He attended the Paston School and studied English and American Studies at the University of Warwick, after which he worked at a variety of jobs before becoming a novelist at a relatively late age. He lives in Devon with his wife, Elspeth Graham, and has three children.
His first novel, Keeper
(2003), won the Branford Boase Award
. His second, Tamar
(2005), won the 2005 Carnegie Medal. In 2007 he published The Penalty
, which was shortlisted for the 2007 Booktrust Teenage Prize
. He won the 2009 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize with Exposure
(2008), a modern re-telling of Shakespeare's
Othello
. Cloud Tea Monkeys (2010), a children's picture book written in conjunction with his wife and illustrated by Juan Wijngaard, is a modern folktale set in India. Life: An Exploded Diagram (2011) is his latest novel. All of his novels were published by Walker Books
.
Susan Tranter writes that "Mal Peet's work is notable for its refusal to submit to categories – the constraints which label what a book should be about, and who it should appeal to. His books to date prove that successful literature for young readers doesn't have to be didactic, or have overtly youthful themes, or even centre on young characters. It is the quality of the writing which is, ultimately, the most important thing." Peet says he is skeptical of books written specifically for teenagers, saying they are prone to being condescending.
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 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize
Guardian Award
The Guardian Children's Fiction Prize or Guardian Award is a prominent award for works of children's literature by British or Commonwealth authors, published in the United Kingdom during the preceding year. The award has been given annually since 1967, and is decided by a panel of authors and the...
.
Biography
Peet grew up in a council estate in north NorfolkNorfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
in a family that he describes as "emotionally impaired". He attended the Paston School and studied English and American Studies at the University of Warwick, after which he worked at a variety of jobs before becoming a novelist at a relatively late age. He lives in Devon with his wife, Elspeth Graham, and has three children.
His first novel, Keeper
Keeper (novel)
Keeper is a fictional sports novel for children by Mal Peet, published on October 6, 2003 by Walker Books Ltd. The novel takes the form of an interview by Paul Faustino in which the world's best goalkeeper, El Gato , tells his life story...
(2003), won the Branford Boase Award
Branford Boase Award
The Branford Boase Award is a British literary award presented annually to an outstanding novel for young people by a first-time writer.Wendy Boase, Editorial Director of Walker Books and Henrietta Branford worked together previously to produce a great number of books. Both Wendy Boase and...
. His second, Tamar
Tamar (novel)
Tamar is a war novel for young adults by Mal Peet, published in 2005. Tamar won the Carnegie Medal in 2005 and a further award in 2007....
(2005), won the 2005 Carnegie Medal. In 2007 he published The Penalty
The Penalty (novel)
The Penalty is a fictional sports novel for children by Mal Peet, published on October 2, 2006 by Walker Books Ltd. The plotline is centered around El Brujito , a teenage football prodigy who disappears without a trace. Paul Faustino, one of South America's top sports journalist is drawn to the...
, which was shortlisted for the 2007 Booktrust Teenage Prize
Booktrust Teenage Prize
The Booktrust Teenage Prize is an annual award given to young adult literature published in the UK. The prize is administered by Booktrust, an independent charity which promotes books and reading.-List of Prize Winners:...
. He won the 2009 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize with Exposure
Exposure (novel)
Exposure is a sports novel for young adults by Mal Peet, published on 6 October 2008 by Walker Books Ltd. Inspired by William Shakespeare's Othello, the plot of the story follows Otello, a black football player and his high-profile relationship with Desmerelda, a white celebrity...
(2008), a modern re-telling of Shakespeare's
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
Othello
Othello
The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1603, and based on the Italian short story "Un Capitano Moro" by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565...
. Cloud Tea Monkeys (2010), a children's picture book written in conjunction with his wife and illustrated by Juan Wijngaard, is a modern folktale set in India. Life: An Exploded Diagram (2011) is his latest novel. All of his novels were published by Walker Books
Walker Books
Walker Books is an independent British publisher of children's books, founded in 1978 by Sebastian Walker.The success of their Where's Wally? series enabled them to expand into the American market, starting a sister company called Candlewick Press in 1991.Amelia Edwards, co-founder of Walker Books,...
.
Susan Tranter writes that "Mal Peet's work is notable for its refusal to submit to categories – the constraints which label what a book should be about, and who it should appeal to. His books to date prove that successful literature for young readers doesn't have to be didactic, or have overtly youthful themes, or even centre on young characters. It is the quality of the writing which is, ultimately, the most important thing." Peet says he is skeptical of books written specifically for teenagers, saying they are prone to being condescending.
Awards and nominations
- (2004) - Branford Boase AwardBranford Boase AwardThe Branford Boase Award is a British literary award presented annually to an outstanding novel for young people by a first-time writer.Wendy Boase, Editorial Director of Walker Books and Henrietta Branford worked together previously to produce a great number of books. Both Wendy Boase and...
- Keeper - (2004) - Hampshire Book AwardHampshire Book AwardThe Hampshire Book Award is an annual award given to works of children's literature published in paperback during the previous year. The award is run by Hampshire County Council's School Library Service.-List of prize winners:...
- (shortlisted) - Keeper - (2005) - Nestlé Smarties Book PrizeNestlé Smarties Book PrizeThe 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...
- (Bronze Award) - (9–11 years category) - Keeper - (2005) - Carnegie MedalCarnegie MedalThe 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...
- Tamar - (2006) - Wirral Paper Back of the Year - Tamar
- (2009) - Guardian Children's Fiction PrizeGuardian AwardThe Guardian Children's Fiction Prize or Guardian Award is a prominent award for works of children's literature by British or Commonwealth authors, published in the United Kingdom during the preceding year. The award has been given annually since 1967, and is decided by a panel of authors and the...
- ExposureExposure (novel)Exposure is a sports novel for young adults by Mal Peet, published on 6 October 2008 by Walker Books Ltd. Inspired by William Shakespeare's Othello, the plot of the story follows Otello, a black football player and his high-profile relationship with Desmerelda, a white celebrity...
Further reading
- Interview with Mal Peet. achuka.co.uk. July 2004. Accessed 5 July 2011.