Betsey's Birthday Surprise

Malorie Blackman has written over seventy books for children and young adults, including the bestselling Noughts & Crosses series, Pig-Heart Boy, Boys Don't Cry and Chasing the Stars. Many of her books have also been adapted for stage and television, including a BAFTA-award-winning BBC production of Pig-Heart Boy and a Pilot Theatre stage adaptation by Sabrina Mahfouz of Noughts & Crosses. There is also a major BBC production of Noughts & Crosses, with Roc Nation (Jay-Z's entertainment company) curating the soundtrack as executive music producer. In 2005 Malorie was honoured with the Eleanor Farjeon Award in recognition of her distinguished contribution to the world of children's books. In 2008 she received an OBE for her services to children's literature, and between 2013 and 2015 she was the Children's Laureate. Malorie also co-wrote the Doctor Who episode Rosa. The sixth and final novel in her Noughts & Crosses series, Endgame, was published by Penguin Random House Children's in Autumn 2021. Malorie’s autobiography Just Sayin’ was published by #MerkyBooks in summer 2023. In 2026 Malorie was made awarded a DBE (Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the King's 2026 Birthday Honours, for services to literature.