Author Study: Geraldine McCaughrean

By Mary Beth Bracy

Geraldine McCaughrean shares a problem with youth: sometimes her dog, Daisy, eats her
writing. Born in North London on June 6, 1951, McCaughrean’s father was a firefighter, and her
mother, a teacher. When McCaughrean’s older brother, Neil, published a book at fourteen, it
became her desire to author. Following school, McCaughrean worked in the magazine industry—
in jobs from secretary to editor—for ten years. She lives with her husband, John, in Berkshire,
England and has a twenty-year-old daughter named Ailsa, who enjoys reading her stories.
McCaughrean has written approximately 150 books and 50 short plays, which were translated
into forty languages. She continues to write prolifically, and sometimes authors several books a
year. Although she has written some novels for adults, most of her literature is for children and
adolescents. She has published books in an array of genres, including: Fantasy, Historical Fiction,
Non-fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Short Stories and International Literature. Many of her books
for youth contain beautiful color illustrations or drawings. In addition to her original works, she
has retold many literary classics in a manner that presents the work in a tangible and engaging
way. These titles include Stories From Shakespeare, Heroes, The Golden Hoard and a myriad of
other parables, myths and novels. In retelling traditional stories and classics, McCaughrean
sometimes develops flat characters and creates new characters. By the same token, McCaughrean
often presents strong feminine characters and voices. In her “Critical Perspective” on
contemporarywriters.com, Elizabeth O’Reilly writes: “Her novels often have historical settings or
take place in different cultures (The White Darkness, 2005, is set mainly in Antarctica). She
therefore encourages her readers to expand their horizons and explore.” O’Reilly continues, her
“use of language” is “rich, eloquent and full of vivid metaphors.”
McCaughrean was chosen to write the sequel to J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. Shares of the
royalties aid the Great Ormand Street Hospital for Children in London. Some of her works are
performed on stage. Several of her novels are being made into films, including: Not the End of
the World, Peter Pan in the Scarlet, Stop the Train and The Kite Rider. Many of her books are
also available on audio or in ebook format.
McCaughrean has won several awards for her writing, counting: the Carnegie Medal,
Britain’s most highly-acclaimed book award, for her novel Pack of Lies; the Michael L. Printz
Award for her novel The White Darkness; and she is the only three time winner of the Whitbread
Children’s Award, Britain’s equivalent of the Newbery Medal, which she won for her novels A
Little Lower Than Angels, Gold Dust and Not the End of the World. She has won numerous other
awards for her children and young adult books: Newsweek Best Picture Book for Children for
Grandma Chickenlegs, which she also won a Best Book to Read Aloud award for; and Best Book
with Facts for Britannia: 100 Great Stories from British History.
McCaughrean is passionate about her writing and bringing the joy of reading to youth. She
often visits schools and encourages adolescents to act out her stories. She reflects:

I write for much the same reasons as I did when I was a child of eight, forever scribbling
stories in an exercise book for no-one’s benefit but my own: I like to go somewhere else
and become someone else. Most of my central characters lack confidence but overcome
their timidity or low self-esteem to win through in the end, so I suppose there is a kind of
wish-fulfilment at work. The one thing that makes writing a better pastime than reading is
that you can make things turn out the way you want in the end! I like working in
children’s books, because it gives rise to such a variety of jobs. One month it may be a
picture book, the next a retelling, the next a play, a short story or the start of the next
novel. I still keep thinking someone will penetrate my guilty secret—that I have been
masquerading as a writer all these years while all I was really doing was enjoying myself,
pursuing my passion.
Bibliography
www.McCaughreanmccaughrean.co.uk
http://www.contemporarywriters.com/authors/?p=auth519D18CE02e1d19B88MmGxE8D571
www.McCaughreanmccaughrean.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCaughrean_McCaughrean
www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/McCaughrean-mccaughrean/
One Thousand and One Arabian Nights (illustrated by Stephen Lavis), Oxford University Press,
1982
The Canterbury Tales, (illustrated by Victor Ambrus), Oxford University Press, 1984
A Little Lower Than The Angels, Oxford University Press, 1987
A Pack of Lies, Oxford University Press, 1988
Blackberry Bunny, Tiger Books, 1989
Henry Hedgehog’s Hat, Tiger Books, 1989
Hoppity Hare’s Adventures, Tiger Books, 1989
Little Brown Mouse, Tiger Books, 1989
Piggy Goes to Market, Tiger Books, 1989
The Rabbits’ New Home, Tiger Books, 1989
Tiny Chick’s Tail, Tiger Books, 1989
Yellow Duckling’s Story, Tiger Books, 1989
El Cid, (illustrated by Victor Ambrus), Oxford University Press, 1989
My First Earth Book, Crocodile, 1989
My First Space Book, Crocodile, 1989
Saint George and the Dragon, (illlustrated by Nicki Palin), Oxford University Press, 1989
The Story of Christmas, Templar, 1989
The Story of Noah and the Ark, Templar, 1989
Fires’ Astonishment, Secker & Warburg, 1990
The Maypole, Secker & Warburg, 1990
The Cherry Tree, Oxford University Press, 1991
The Princess and the Moon, Oxford University Press, 1991
The Snow Country Princess, Oxford University Press, 1991
Vainglory Cape, 1991
Over the Deep Blue Sea, Oxford University Press, 1992
The Orchard Book of Greek Myths, (illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark), Orchard Children’s
Books, 1992
Gold Dust, Oxford University Press, 1993
The Odyssey, (illustrated by Victor Ambrus), Oxford University Press, 1993
Baabra Lamb, (illustrated by Colin Smithson), Longman, 1994
Blue Moo, (illustrated by Colin Smithson), Longman, 1994
Blue Moon Mountain, Golden, 1994
Good Dog, (illustrated by Colin Smithson), Longman, 1994
Gregorie Peck, (illustrated by Colin Smithson), Longman, 1994
Stories from Shakespeare, (illustrated by A. Maitland), Orion Children's Books, 1994
The Orchard Book of Stories from the Ballet, Orchard Children's Books, 1994
Cowboy Jess, (illustrated by Lizzie Sanders), Orion Children's Books, 1995
The Little Angel, (illustrated by Ian Beck), Orchard, 1995
Myths and Legends of the World: The Golden Hoard, (illustrated by Bee Willey), Orion
Children’s Books, 1995
On the Day the World Began, (illustrated by Norman Bancroft-Hunt), Longman, 1995
The Quest of Isis, (illustrated by David Sim), Longman, 1995
Wizziwig and the Crazy Cooker, (illustrated by Wendy Smith), Orchard Children’s Books, 1995
Wizziwig and the Singing Car, (illustrated by Wendy Smith), Orchard Children’s Books, 1995
Wizziwig and the Sweet Machine, (illustrated by Wendy Smith), Orchard Children's Books, 1995
Wizziwig and the Weather Machine, (illustrated by Wendy Smith), Orchard Children's Books,
1995
Cowboy Jess Saddles Up, Orion Children’s Books, 1996
King Arthur and the Round Table, (illustrated by Alan Marks), Macdonald Young Books, 1996
Lovesong, Richard Cohen Books, 1996
Moby Dick, (illustrated by Victor Ambrus), Oxford University Press, 1996
Myths and Legends of the World: The Silver Treasure, (illustrated by Bee Willey), Orion
Children’s Books, 1996
Plundering Paradise, Oxford University Press, 1996
Daedalus and Icarus, Orchard, 1997
Forever X, Oxford University Press, 1997
God’s People: Stories from the Old Testament, (illustrated by Anna Cheplar), Orion Children’s
Books, 1997
Jason and the Golden Fleece, Orchard, 1997
Myths and Legends of the World: The Bronze Cauldron, (illustrated by Bee Willey), Orion
Children’s Books, 1997
Persephone and the Pomegranate Seeds, Orchard, 1997
Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa, Orchard, 1997
Princess Stories, (illustrated by Lizzie Sanders), Doubleday, 1997
The Adventures of Odysseus, (illustrated by Tony Ross), Orchard, 1997
The Adventures of Odysseus, Orchard, 1997
The Ideal Wife, Richard Cohen Books, 1997
The New Windmill Book of Greek Myths, Heinemann Educational Publishers, 1997
The Orchard Book of Ballet Stories, (illustrated by Angela Barret), Orchard Children’s Books,
1997
The Orchard Book of Greek Gods and Goddesses, (illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark),
Orchard Children’s Books, 1997
The Twelve Labours of Heracles, Orchard, 1997
The Wooden Horse, Orchard, 1997
Theseus and the Minotaur, Orchard, 1997
Unicorns! Unicorns!, (illustrated by Sophie Windham), Orchard, 1997
Aesop’s Fables, (illustrated by Jonathan Hateley), Longman, 1998
Casting the Gods Adrift, A & C Black, 1998
Hope On A Rope: an African Creation Myth, (illustrated by Joanna Troughton), Longman, 1998
Myths and Legends of the World: The Crystal Pool, (illustrated by Bee Willey), Orion Children’s
Books, 1998
The Story of the Nativity, (illustrated by Ruth Wickings), Doubleday , 1998
Never Let Go, (illustrated by Jason Cockroft), Hodder Children’s Books, 1998
Noah and Nelly, (illustrated by Anthony Lewis), Orchard Children’s Books, 1998
The Orchard Book of Starry Tales, (illustrated by Sophy Williams), Orchard Children’s Books,
1998
A Sheepless Night, (illustrated by Mike Spoor), Oxford Literacy Web, 1999
Beauty and the Beast, (illustrated by Gary Blythe), Doubleday, 1999
Brave Magic, (illustrated by Cathie Falstead), Hippo, 1999
Britannia: 100 Great Stories from British History, (illustrated by Richard Brassey), Orion
Children’s, 1999
God’s Kingdom: Stories from the New Testament, (illustrated by Anna Cheplar), Orion
Children’s Books, 1999
Golden Myths and Legends of the World, Orion Children’s Books, 1999
Pilgrim’s Progress, (illustrated by Jason Cockroft), Hodder Children’s Books, 1999
Silver Myths and Legends of the World, Dolphin, 1999
The Hay Cart, (illustrated by Mike Spoor), Oxford Literacy Web, 1999
The Nutcracker, (illustrated by Nicki Palin), Oxford University Press, 1999
The Orchard Book of Roman Myths, (illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark), Orchard, 1999
The Stones are Hatching, Oxford University Press, 1999
Too Big!, (illustrated by Peter Bailey), Corgi Pups, 1999
What Am I For?, (illustrated by Mike Spoor), Oxford Literacy Web, 1999
The Great Chase, (illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark), Rigby Literacy (USA), 2000
A Shot in the Dark, Orchard, 2000
Always Elephant, (illustrated by Sylvia Boschetti), Rigby Literacy (USA), 2000
Athena and the Olive Tree and Other Stories, (illustrated by Tony Ross) Orchard, 2000
Britannia on Stage: 25 Plays from British History, (illustrated by Richard Brassey), Orion
Children’s, 2000
Burning the Books, Orchard, 2000
City of Dreams, Orchard, 2000
Grandma Chickenlegs, (illustrated by Moira Kemp), Doubleday, 2000
Hermes Tricks the Gods, Orchard, 2000
How The Reindeer Got Their Antlers, (illustrated by Heather Holland), Orchard, 2000
My First Oxford Book of Stories, (illustrated by Ruby Green), Oxford University Press, 2000
Phaeton and the Sun Chariot, Orchard, 2000
Romulus and Remus, Orchard, 2000
Tales of Robin Hood, Pelican, 2000
The Orchard Book of Love and Friendship, (illustrated by Jane Ray), Orchard Children’s Books,
2000
Zeus Conquers the Titans, Orchard, 2000
Cat and Rat Fall Out, Ginn Lighthouse, 2001
Daredevils and Desperadoes: 20 Stories from British History, (illustrated by Richard Brassey),
Dolphin, 2001
Ghosts, Rogues and Highwaymen: 20 Stories from British History, (illustrated by Richard
Brassey), Dolphin, 2001
Knights, Kings and Conquerors: 20 Stories from British History, (illustrated by Richard Brassey),
Dolphin, 2001
Movers, Shakers and Record Breakers: 20 Stories from British History, (illustrated by Richard
Brassey), Dolphin, 2001
Pioneers at Piano Ridge, (illustrated by Chris Molan), Oxford University Press, 2001
Rebels and Royals: 20 Stories from British History, (illustrated by Richard Brassey), Dolphin,
2001
Starry Tales, (illustrated by Sophy Williams), Simon & Schuster, 2001
Stop The Train, Oxford University Press, 2001
The Kite Rider, Oxford University Press, 2001
World Myths and Legends, (illustrated by Bee Willey; originally published as ‘Myths and
Legends of the World: The Golden Hoard, The Silver Treasure, The Crystal Pool, The Bronze
Cauldron’), Orion, 2001
Bright Penny, (illustrated by Paul Howard), Viking, 2002
Gilgamesh—the Hero, (illustrated by David Parkins), Oxford Unviersity Press, 2002
My Grandmother’s Clock, (illustrated by Stephen Lambert), Collins Children’s Books, 2002
Six Storey House, (illustrated by Ross Collins), Hodder Children’s Books, 2002
The Greeks on Stage: 25 Plays from Greek Myths, (illustrated by Richard Brassey), Orion
Children’s Books, 2002
Dancing the Night Away, (illustrated by Carolyn King), Oxford University Press, 2003
Doctor Quack, (illustrated by Ross Collins), Hodder Children’s Books, 2003
Dog Days, Hodder Children’s Books, 2003
Hercules, Orion Children’s Books, 2003
Jalopy, (illustrated by Ross Collins), Orchard Children’s Books, 2003
Odysseus, Orion Children’s Books, 2003
Oxford Treasury of Fairy Tales, (illustrated by Sophy Williams), Oxford University Press, 2003
Perseus, Oxford University Press, 2003
Show Stopper!, Oxford University Press, 2003
The Jesse Tree, (illustrated by Bee Willey), Lion, 2003
Theseus, Orion Children’s Books, 2003
Not the End of the World, Oxford University Press, 2004
Questing Knights of the Faerie Queen, Hodder, 2004
Sky Ships and Other Stories, A & C Black, 2004
Smile!, Oxford University Press, 2004
Fig’s Giant, (illustrated by Jago), Oxford University Press, 2005
Mo Hodder, Children’s Books, 2005
The White Darkness, Oxford University Press, 2005
Wenceslas, Hodder Children’s Books, 2005
Blue Moon Mountain, (illustrated by Nicki Palin), Templar, 2006
Cyrano, Oxford University Press, 2006
Doctor Faustus, Oxford University Press, 2006
Father and Son, (illustrated by Fabian Negrin), Hodder Children's Books, 2006
Peter Pan in Scarlet, Oxford University Press, 2006
The Longest Story in the World, Oxford University Press, 2006
Greek Heroes, Oxford University Press, 2007
King Arthur and the Round Table, (illustrated by Alan Marks), Corgi Children's Books, 2007
The Nativity Story, (illustrated by Sophy Williams), Doubleday, 2007
Tamburlaine’s Elephants, Usborne Publishing, Ltd., 2007
Magical Princess Stories (contributor), Orchard Children's Books, 2009
The Death Defying Pepper Roux, Oxford University Press, 2009