I didn't even enter a bookshop until I was 14 because I couldn't afford books until I got my first Saturday job, but by the time I was six or seven, I spent practically every Saturday down my local library reading as much as I could and getting out as many books as I could. Malorie Blackman affordbookbookshop share on social
Teenagers are some of the most passionate, dynamic and creative people I know. Yet, too often, this creative spark is left to flicker precariously and sometimes fade entirely. Malorie Blackman creativedynamicfade Change image and share on social
I would like to champion diverse forms like graphic novels and works told in verse and diverse writers and illustrators and diverse authors as well. Malorie Blackman authorchampiondiverse Change image and share on social
I think what we need, especially in publishing, is more commissioning editors and editors who are people of colour. Malorie Blackman colourcommissioneditor Change image and share on social
What I would like to do is make sure every primary school child has a library card, so where parents don't get their children library cards, we'll see if we can get schools to step in and make sure that every child has one. Malorie Blackman cardchildlibrary share on social
When I was a teenager, reading for me was as normal, as unremarkable as eating or breathing. Reading gave flight to my imagination and strengthened my understanding of the world, the society I lived in, and myself. More importantly, reading was fun, a way to live more than one life as I immersed myself in each good book I read. Malorie Blackman bookbreatheeat share on social
The worst thing about being the laureate has been the attitude of a tiny minority of adults who haven't liked some of the things I'm supposed to have said and who have used it as an opportunity to be verbally abusive and nasty, but I haven't let it rule my world! Malorie Blackman abusiveadultattitude share on social
The best thing about being Children's Laureate has definitely been all the children and teens I've met. Malorie Blackman childhavelaureate Change image and share on social
I subscribe to the online Urban Dictionary's definition of nerd: 'one whose IQ exceeds his weight'. I'm also keen on the same Urban Dictionary's definition of geek: 'the person you pick on in high school and wind up working for as an adult'. I happily proclaim myself a book nerd/reading geek and proud of it. Malorie Blackman adultbookdefinition share on social
Part of my job as Children's Laureate is to visit schools and talk about my love of books and stories and encourage them all to do it as well - to read, to write, to never be afraid of their own voice. Because we all have something to say. Malorie Blackman afraidbookchild share on social