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`!Aidan Chambers`! (27 December 1934 – 11 May 2025) was a British author of `F33f`_`[children's`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Children's_literature]`_`f and `F33f`_`[young-adult novels`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Young_adult_literature]`_`f. He won both the British `F33f`_`[Carnegie Medal`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Carnegie_Medal_for_Writing]`_`f`:cite-ref-medal1999-1-0[`F5bf`_`[1`#cite-note-medal1999-1]`_`f] and the American `F33f`_`[Printz Award`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Michael_L._Printz_Award]`_`f`:cite-ref-printz2003-2-0[`F5bf`_`[2`#cite-note-printz2003-2]`_`f] for `*`F33f`_`[Postcards from No Man's Land`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Postcards_from_No_Man's_Land]`_`f`* (1999). For his "lasting contribution to children's literature" he won the biennial, international `F33f`_`[Hans Christian Andersen Award`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Hans_Christian_Andersen_Award]`_`f in 2002.`:cite-ref-ibby2002-3-0[`F5bf`_`[3`#cite-note-ibby2002-3]`_`f]`:cite-ref-ibby-chambers-4-0[`F5bf`_`[4`#cite-note-ibby-chambers-4]`_`f]

>>Contents

• `F0af`_`[Life and career`#life-and-career]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[Awards and honours`#awards-and-honours]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[Books`#books]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[Novels for young adults`#novels-for-young-adults]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[Novels for children`#novels-for-children]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[Short stories`#short-stories]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[Criticism and education`#criticism-and-education]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[See also`#see-also]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[Notes`#notes]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[References`#references]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[Further reading`#further-reading]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[External links`#external-links]`_`f

-─

>>Life and career

Born near `F33f`_`[Chester-le-Street`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Chester-le-Street]`_`f, County Durham on 27 December 1934, Chambers was an only child, and a poor scholar; considered "slow" by his teachers, he did not learn to read fluently until the age of nine.`:cite-ref-5[`F5bf`_`[5`#cite-note-5]`_`f] After two years in the `F33f`_`[Royal Navy`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Royal_Navy]`_`f as part of his `F33f`_`[national service`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=National_service]`_`f, Chambers trained as a teacher and taught for three years at `F33f`_`[Westcliff High School`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Westcliff_High_School_for_Boys]`_`f in `F33f`_`[Southend-on-Sea`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Southend-on-Sea]`_`f before joining an `F33f`_`[Anglican monastery`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Anglican_religious_order]`_`f in `F33f`_`[Stroud`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Stroud]`_`f, Gloucestershire in 1960. His young-adult novel `*Now I Know`* (1987) is based partly on his experiences as a monk.

His first plays, including `*Johnny Salter`* (1966), `*The Car`* and `*The Chicken Run`* (1968), were published while he was a teacher at `F33f`_`[Archway School`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Archway_School]`_`f in `F33f`_`[Stroud`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Stroud]`_`f.

Chambers left the monastery in 1967 and became a freelance writer a year later. His works include the "Dance sequence" of six novels (1978 to 2005): `*`F33f`_`[Breaktime`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Breaktime_(novel)]`_`f`*, `*`F33f`_`[Dance on My Grave`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Dance_on_My_Grave]`_`f`*, `*`F33f`_`[Now I Know`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Now_I_Know_(novel)]`_`f`*, `*`F33f`_`[The Toll Bridge`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=The_Toll_Bridge]`_`f`*, `*`F33f`_`[Postcards from No Man's Land`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Postcards_from_No_Man's_Land]`_`f`* and `*`F33f`_`[This is All: The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=This_Is_All:_The_Pillow_Book_of_Cordelia_Kenn]`_`f`*.`:cite-ref-6[`F5bf`_`[6`#cite-note-6]`_`f] He and his wife, Nancy, founded Thimble Press and the magazine `*`F33f`_`[Signal`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Signal:_Approaches_to_Children's_Books]`_`f`* to promote literature for children and young adults. They were awarded the `F33f`_`[Eleanor Farjeon Award`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Eleanor_Farjeon_Award]`_`f for outstanding services to children's books in 1982. From 2003 until 2006, he was the president of the `F33f`_`[School Library Association`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=School_Library_Association]`_`f.

Chambers died after a short illness on 11 May 2025, at the age of 90.`:cite-ref-7[`F5bf`_`[7`#cite-note-7]`_`f]`:cite-ref-8[`F5bf`_`[8`#cite-note-8]`_`f]`:cite-ref-9[`F5bf`_`[9`#cite-note-9]`_`f]`:cite-ref-10[`F5bf`_`[10`#cite-note-10]`_`f]

>>Awards and honours

Chambers won two major annual `F33f`_`[book awards`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Literary_award]`_`f for `*Postcards from No Man's Land`*, published by `F33f`_`[The Bodley Head`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=The_Bodley_Head]`_`f in 1999, one being the `F33f`_`[Carnegie Medal`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Carnegie_Medal_for_Writing]`_`f from the `F33f`_`[Library Association`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Chartered_Institute_of_Library_and_Information_Professionals]`_`f, recognising the year's best children's book by a `F33f`_`[British subject`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=British_subject]`_`f.`:cite-ref-medal1999-1-1[`F5bf`_`[1`#cite-note-medal1999-1]`_`f] The other was the `F33f`_`[Michael L. Printz Award`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Michael_L._Printz_Award]`_`f for specifically young-adult literature, recognising the first US edition published three years later.`:cite-ref-printz2003-2-1[`F5bf`_`[2`#cite-note-printz2003-2]`_`f]`:cite-ref-11[`F5bf`_`[a`#cite-note-11]`_`f]

He also received several general awards and honours.

• 1979 `F33f`_`[Children's Literature Association`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Children's_Literature_Association]`_`f Award for Literary Criticism

• 1982 `F33f`_`[Eleanor Farjeon Award`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Eleanor_Farjeon_Award]`_`f for Outstanding Services to Children's Books (shared with wife Nancy)

• 2002 `F33f`_`[Hans Christian Andersen Award`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Hans_Christian_Andersen_Award]`_`f in recognition of his distinguished body of writing.`:cite-ref-ibby2002-3-1[`F5bf`_`[3`#cite-note-ibby2002-3]`_`f]

• 2003 Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy from `F33f`_`[Umeå University`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Umeå_University]`_`f

• 2008 Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the `F33f`_`[University of Gloucestershire`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=University_of_Gloucestershire]`_`f

• 2009 Elected Fellow of the `F33f`_`[Royal Society of Literature`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Royal_Society_of_Literature]`_`f`:cite-ref-12[`F5bf`_`[11`#cite-note-12]`_`f]

• 2010 `F33f`_`[National Association for the Teaching of English`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=National_Association_for_the_Teaching_of_English]`_`f (NATE) Award for Lifetime Services to English Education

• 2011 Honorary Doctorate of Literature from `F33f`_`[Oxford Brookes University`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Oxford_Brookes_University]`_`f

>>Books

>>>Novels for young adults

• `*Cycle Smash`* (1967)

• `*Marle`* (1968)

• `*Snake River`* (1975)

• `*`F33f`_`[Breaktime`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Breaktime_(novel)]`_`f`* (1978)`:cite-ref-13[`F5bf`_`[12`#cite-note-13]`_`f]

• `*`F33f`_`[Dance on My Grave`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Dance_on_My_Grave]`_`f`* (1982)

• `*`F33f`_`[Now I Know`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Now_I_Know_(novel)]`_`f`* (1987)

• `*`F33f`_`[The Toll Bridge`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=The_Toll_Bridge]`_`f`* (1992)

• `*`F33f`_`[Postcards from No Man's Land`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Postcards_from_No_Man's_Land]`_`f`* (1999)

• `*`F33f`_`[This is All: The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=This_Is_All:_The_Pillow_Book_of_Cordelia_Kenn]`_`f`* (2005)

• `*Dying to Know You`* (2012)

>>>Novels for children

• `*Seal Secret`* (1980)

• `*The Present Takers`* (1984)

Chambers also compiled and edited many other children's books, several concerning ghosts. He edited `*Ghosts Four`* under the pseudonym Malcolm Blacklin.

>>>Short stories

• `*The Kissing Game: Short Stories of Defiance and Flash Fictions`* (2011)`:cite-ref-14[`F5bf`_`[13`#cite-note-14]`_`f]

>>>Criticism and education

• `*The Reluctant Reader`* (1969)

• `*Introducing Books to Children`* (1973, 1983)

• `*Booktalk: occasional writing on literature and children`* (1985)

• `*The Reading Environment`* (1991)

• `*Tell Me: Children, Reading and Talk`* (1993)`:cite-ref-15[`F5bf`_`[14`#cite-note-15]`_`f]

• `*Reading Talk`* (2001)

• `*Tell Me: Children, Reading and Talk with The Reading Environment`* (2011)`:cite-ref-16[`F5bf`_`[15`#cite-note-16]`_`f]

• `*The Age Between: Personal Reflections on Youth Fiction`* Fincham Press (2020)

>>See also

>>Notes

`:cite-note-11`!a.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-11]`_`f The `F33f`_`[American Library Association`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=American_Library_Association]`_`f awards program first distinguished young-adult books (Printz Award) from children's books (Newbery Medal) for 1999 publications. The newer, young-adult award alone is open to first US editions of "old" works by non-American authors.

>>References

`:cite-note-medal1999-1`!1.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-medal1999-1-0]`_`f (Carnegie Winner 1999). Archived 5 March 2012 at the `F33f`_`[Wayback Machine`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Wayback_Machine]`_`f. Living Archive: Celebrating the Carnegie and Greenaway Winners. `F33f`_`[CILIP`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=CILIP]`_`f. Retrieved 17 August 2012.

`:cite-note-printz2003-2`!2.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-printz2003-2-0]`_`f "2003 Printz Award". `F33f`_`[Young Adult Library Services Association`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Young_Adult_Library_Services_Association]`_`f (YALSA). American Library Association. (ALA). "The Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature". YALSA. ALA. Retrieved 1 October 2013.

`:cite-note-ibby2002-3`!3.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-ibby2002-3-0]`_`f (Hans Christian Andersen Awards 2002). `F33f`_`[International Board on Books for Young People`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=International_Board_on_Books_for_Young_People]`_`f (`!IBBY`!). "Hans Christian Andersen Awards". IBBY. Retrieved 23 July 2013.

`:cite-note-ibby-chambers-4`!4.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-ibby-chambers-4-0]`_`f "Aidan Chambers" (pp. 106–107, by Eva Glistrup). `*The Hans Christian Andersen Awards, 1956–2002`*. IBBY. `F33f`_`[Gyldendal`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Gyldendal]`_`f. 2002. Hosted by `F33f`_`[Austrian Literature Online`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Austrian_Literature_Online]`_`f. Retrieved 23 July 2013.

`:cite-note-5`!5.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-5]`_`f "Aidan Chambers – official web site". `*aidanchambers.co.uk`*. Retrieved 2 November 2020.

`:cite-note-6`!6.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-6]`_`f `:citerefsattaur2007`aSattaur, Jennifer (2007). "Aidan Chambers: Master Literary Choreographer (review)". `*Children's Literature Association Quarterly`*. `!32`! (1): 78–80. `F33f`_`[doi`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Doi_(identifier)]`_`f:10.1353/chq.2007.0021. `F33f`_`[ISSN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISSN_(identifier)]`_`f 1553-1201.

`:cite-note-7`!7.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-7]`_`f `:citerefrapp-2025`aRappé, Maxine (12 May 2025). "Britse jeugdschrijver Aidan Chambers (90) overleden, Bart Moeyaert: "Hij was allesbepalend"". `*`F33f`_`[VRT`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=VRT_(broadcaster)]`_`f`* (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 May 2025.

`:cite-note-8`!8.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-8]`_`f `:citerefde-veen2025`ade Veen, Thomas (12 May 2025). "Door jongeren serieus te nemen, kreeg Aidan Chambers ze enthousiast voor lezen". `*`F33f`_`[NRC`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=NRC_(newspaper)]`_`f`* (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 May 2025.

`:cite-note-9`!9.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-9]`_`f "Aidan Chambers obituary: Pioneer of the young adult novel". 20 May 2025.

`:cite-note-10`!10.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-10]`_`f `:citerefappleton2025`aAppleton, Jon (29 May 2025). "Aidan Chambers obituary". `*The Guardian`*.

`:cite-note-12`!11.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-12]`_`f "Chambers, Aidan". `*Royal Society of Literature`*. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2025.

`:cite-note-13`!12.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-13]`_`f `:citerefchambers2010`aChambers, Aidan (2010). "Finding the Form: Toward a Poetics of Youth Literature". `*The Lion and the Unicorn`*. `!34`! (3): 267–283. `F33f`_`[doi`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Doi_(identifier)]`_`f:10.1353/uni.2010.a404264. `F33f`_`[ISSN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISSN_(identifier)]`_`f 1080-6563.

`:cite-note-14`!13.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-14]`_`f London: The Bodley Head. `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 978-0-370-33197-3

`:cite-note-15`!14.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-15]`_`f `:citerefchambers1993`aChambers, Aidan (1993). Tell Me: Children, Reading & Talk (Report). Primary English Teaching Association, Laura Street, Newtown, New South Wales.

`:cite-note-16`!15.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-16]`_`f Thimble Press. `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 978-0-903355-54-4

>>Further reading

• Greenaway, Betty (2006). `*Aidan Chambers: Master Literary Choreographer`*. `F33f`_`[The Scarecrow Press`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=The_Scarecrow_Press]`_`f. `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 978-0-8108-5087-3.

• Chambers, Nancy, ed. (2009). `*Reading the Novels of Aidan Chambers`*. Thimble Press. `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 978-0-903355-53-7.

>>External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to

Aidan Chambers

Italian `F33f`_`[Wikiquote`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Wikiquote]`_`f has quotations related to: `!Aidan Chambers`!

• Official website

• Aidan Chambers at `F33f`_`[British Council`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=British_Council]`_`f: Literature

• Aidan Chambers at the `F33f`_`[Internet Speculative Fiction Database`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Internet_Speculative_Fiction_Database]`_`f

• Aidan Chambers at `F33f`_`[IMDb`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=IMDb_(identifier)]`_`f

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