Elizabeth Laird
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Laird is an author of many books for children, including picture books and books for older children. Her novels include Red Sky in the Morning
, Secrets of the Fearless and Kiss the Dust
.
in 1943, the fourth of five children. Her father was a ship's surgeon; both he and Laird's mother were Scottish. In 1945, Laird and her family returned to Britain and she grew up in South London
, where she was educated at Croydon High School
.
When she was eighteen, Laird started teaching at a school in Malaysia. She decided to continue her adventurous life, even though she was bitten by a poisonous snake and went down with typhoid.
After attending the university in Bristol, Laird began teaching English in Addis Ababa
, Ethiopia
. She and a friend would hire mules and go into remote areas in the holidays.
After a while at Edinburgh University, Laird worked in India
for a summer. During travel, she met her future husband, David McDowall, who she said was very kind to her when she was airsick on a plane. The couple were married in 1975 and have two sons, Angus and William.
Laird has also visited Iraq
and Lebanon
. She claims to dislike snakes, porridge and being cold but enjoys very dark chocolate, Mozart, reading and playing the violin in the Iraq Symphony Orchestra.
She currently lives in Richmond, London
with her husband.
Red Sky in the Morning
Red Sky in the Morning is a young adult novel by Elizabeth Laird, first published in 1988. The American title is Loving Ben.-Plot:Anna is very excited when her parents announce to her that they are having a baby. She sees this as her big chance to show that she is grown-up and can take care of the...
, Secrets of the Fearless and Kiss the Dust
Kiss the Dust
Kiss the Dust is a book written by Elizabeth Laird on the conflicts between the Kurds and the then Saddam Hussein-led Iraqis. It is a young adult historical fiction novel about a twelve-year-old Kurdish girl and her family's escape from Iraq over the border into Iran. The book was originally...
.
Biography
Laird was born in New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1943, the fourth of five children. Her father was a ship's surgeon; both he and Laird's mother were Scottish. In 1945, Laird and her family returned to Britain and she grew up in South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
, where she was educated at Croydon High School
Croydon High School
Croydon High School for Girls GDST is a leading non-denominational independent school for girls, located near Croydon, Greater London, England. It is one of the schools in the Girls' Day School Trust....
.
When she was eighteen, Laird started teaching at a school in Malaysia. She decided to continue her adventurous life, even though she was bitten by a poisonous snake and went down with typhoid.
After attending the university in Bristol, Laird began teaching English in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. She and a friend would hire mules and go into remote areas in the holidays.
After a while at Edinburgh University, Laird worked in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
for a summer. During travel, she met her future husband, David McDowall, who she said was very kind to her when she was airsick on a plane. The couple were married in 1975 and have two sons, Angus and William.
Laird has also visited Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. She claims to dislike snakes, porridge and being cold but enjoys very dark chocolate, Mozart, reading and playing the violin in the Iraq Symphony Orchestra.
She currently lives in Richmond, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
with her husband.
Selected bibliography
Laird has published a variety of works including young adult novels, picture books, short novels for beginning readers, short stories, retellings, and stories for students learning to speak English. Laird's inspiration for her stories come from her travels and personal experiences.Young adult
- Red Sky in the MorningRed Sky in the MorningRed Sky in the Morning is a young adult novel by Elizabeth Laird, first published in 1988. The American title is Loving Ben.-Plot:Anna is very excited when her parents announce to her that they are having a baby. She sees this as her big chance to show that she is grown-up and can take care of the...
aka Loving Ben (1988) - Kiss the DustKiss the DustKiss the Dust is a book written by Elizabeth Laird on the conflicts between the Kurds and the then Saddam Hussein-led Iraqis. It is a young adult historical fiction novel about a twelve-year-old Kurdish girl and her family's escape from Iraq over the border into Iran. The book was originally...
(1991) - Hiding Out (1993)
- Jay (1997)
- Jake's TowerJake's TowerJake's Tower is a young adult novel written by Elizabeth Laird. It was first published in 2001. The book was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and the Children's Book Award.-Plot summary:...
(2001) - The Garbage KingThe Garbage KingThe Garbage King is a fiction book for older children, written by Elizabeth Laird. Laird was inspired to write the book after living and working in Ethiopia, where she admired the children who lived on the streets of Addis Ababa for their ability to cope with the difficult conditions.-Plot...
(2003) - A Little Piece of GroundA Little Piece of GroundA Little Piece of Ground is a young adult novel by Elizabeth Laird. The book is about a twelve year old boy and his family struggling under the oppression of occupation in Israel/Palestine. It was first published by Macmillan in 2003 and reprinted by Haymarket Books in 2006. In 2003 it was a...
(2003) - Paradise End (2004)
- Secrets of the Fearless (2005)
- CrusadeCrusade (Laird novel)Crusade is a novel written by Elizabeth Laird and first published by Macmillan in 2007. It is set in the Third Crusade and focuses on a Saracen boy named Salim and an English boy called Adam. It was shortlisted for the 2007 Costa Children's Book Award....
(2007) - The Witching Hour (2009)
- hig school musical(2010)
Picture books
- Rosy's Garden (1979)
- A Book of Promises (1999)
- Beautiful Bananas (2004)
Awards and nominations
- Red Sky in the MorningRed Sky in the MorningRed Sky in the Morning is a young adult novel by Elizabeth Laird, first published in 1988. The American title is Loving Ben.-Plot:Anna is very excited when her parents announce to her that they are having a baby. She sees this as her big chance to show that she is grown-up and can take care of the...
- Highly Commended for the 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...
and shortlisted for the Children's Book Award. - Hiding Out - Winner of the Smarties Young Judges Award.
- Jake's TowerJake's TowerJake's Tower is a young adult novel written by Elizabeth Laird. It was first published in 2001. The book was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and the Children's Book Award.-Plot summary:...
- Shortlisted for the 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...
and the Guardian Children's Book Award. - The Garbage KingThe Garbage KingThe Garbage King is a fiction book for older children, written by Elizabeth Laird. Laird was inspired to write the book after living and working in Ethiopia, where she admired the children who lived on the streets of Addis Ababa for their ability to cope with the difficult conditions.-Plot...
- Winner of the Scottish Arts Council Children's Book of the Year award and the Stockport Book award. It has also been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, the Blue Peter Award, the Salford Children's Book Award, the Calderdale Children's Book Award, the Lincolnshire Young People's Book Award, the Stockton Children's Book of the Year, the West Sussex Children's Book Award, the Portsmouth Book Award and the Sheffield Children's Book Award. - A Little Piece of GroundA Little Piece of GroundA Little Piece of Ground is a young adult novel by Elizabeth Laird. The book is about a twelve year old boy and his family struggling under the oppression of occupation in Israel/Palestine. It was first published by Macmillan in 2003 and reprinted by Haymarket Books in 2006. In 2003 it was a...
- Winner of the 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:...
and has been shortlisted for the Southern Schools Book Award.