Sita Brahmachari (born 1966) is a British author known for her work in children's and young adult literature. Her debut novel, Artichoke Hearts, later published in the United States as Mira in the Present Tense, won the 2011 Waterstones Children's Book Prize.
Sita Brahmachari | |
|---|---|
 Sita Brahmachari at Guernsey Book Festival | |
| Born | 1966 (age 57–58) Derby, England |
| Education | Bristol University, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama |
| Notable awards | Waterstones Children's Book Prize (2011) |
Early life and education
editBrahmachari was born in Derby, England in 1966.[1][2] Her father was a doctor from Kolkata, who emigrated from India in the 1950s, and her mother was a nurse from Lake District.[3][2][4]
After completing her A-levels, Brahmachari worked as an au pair in France, and attended Le Cours Florent Drama College.[3] She later attended Bristol University and completed a Master of Arts at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.[3]
Career
editBrahmachari's debut novel, Artichoke Hearts, which was later published in the United States as Mira in the Present Tense,[5] was based on her mother-in-law[2][6] and published by Macmillan in 2011. The book won the 2011 Waterstones Children's Book Prize.[2][6] The novel was followed by Jasmine Skies, which was nominated for the Carnegie Medal.[7]
The following year, Brahmachari took on the position of Writer-in-Residence at the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants. The same year, she became Patron of Reading at Fortismere School.[8]
Brahmachari also wrote the script for The Arrival, a play based on a graphic novel by Shaun Tan, which was produced by Kristine Landon-Smith in 2013.[9][10]
In 2015, Brahmachari was appointed as an online writer-in-residence with BookTrust for a six-month term.[7]
She has also been a human rights ambassador for Amnesty International.[11]
Awards and recognitions
editIn 2018, Tender Earth was on the IBBY honour list for writing. In 2018, Where the River Runs Gold was selected as the Waterstone's Children’s Book of the Month (July 2019).[12] In 2020, When Secrets Set Sail was selected as a Blackwell’s Children’s Book of the Month.[13] In 2021, When Shadows Fall was named one of the best children's books of the year by The Guardian[14] and The Times.[15]
| Year | Title | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Artichoke Hearts | Waterstones Children's Books Prize | Winner | [16] |
| 2012 | Artichoke Hearts | Redbridge Children's Book Award | Winner | [17] |
| 2012 | Artichoke Hearts | Carnegie Medal | Longlist | [18] |
| 2013 | Jasmine Skies | Carnegie Medal | Longlist | [19] |
| 2014 | Kite Spirit | UKLA Book Award | Longlist | [20] |
| 2016 | Red Leaves | Carnegie Medal | Nominee | [21] |
| 2018 | Tender Earth | Little Rebels Award | Shortlist | [22] |
| 2018 | Tender Earth | IBBY Certificate of Honour | Winner | [23] |
| 2018 | Tender Earth | Carnegie Medal | Nominee | [24] |
| 2018 | Worry Angels | Jhalak Prize | Longlist | [25] |
| 2019 | Worry Angels | Carnegie Medal | Nominee | [26] |
| 2019 | Zebra Crossing Soul Song | Carnegie Medal | Nominee | [26] |
| 2023 | When Shadows Fall | Carnegie Medal | Shortlist | [27] |
Publications
editNovels
editMira Levenson series
edit- Artichoke Hearts. Macmillan Publishers. 2011. ISBN 9780330517911.[28]
- Jasmine Skies. Macmillan Publishers. 2012. ISBN 9781447205180.[29]
- Tender Earth. Macmillan Publishers. 2017. ISBN 9781509812509.[30]
Standalone books
edit- Kite Spirit. Macmillan Publishers. 2013. ISBN 9780330517928.
- Red Leaves. Macmillan Publishers. 2014. ISBN 9781447262985.[31]
- Where the River Runs Gold. Hachette Australia. 2019. ISBN 9781510105416.
- When Secrets Set Sail. Hachette Book Group. 2020. ISBN 9781510105430.[32]
- Swallow's Kiss. Illustrated by Jane Ray. Pop Up Projects CIC. 2021. ISBN 9781838323509.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - When Shadows Fall. Illustrated by Natalie Sirett. Little Tiger. 2022. ISBN 9781788953160.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)[33]
Novellas
edit- Brace Mouth False Teeth. Barrington Stoke. 2014. ISBN 9781781124000.[34]
- Car Wash Wish. Barrington Stoke. 2016. ISBN 9781781125236.[35]
- Worry Angels. Illustrated by Jane Ray. Barrington Stoke. 2017. ISBN 9781781126950.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)[36] - Corey's Rock. Illustrated by Jane Ray. Otter-Barry Books. 2018. ISBN 9781910959978.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)[37] - Zebra Crossing Soul Song. Barrington Stoke. 2018. ISBN 9781781126967.
- The River Whale. Orion Children's Books. 2021. ISBN 9781510109148.
Plays
edit- Landon-Smith, Kristine (2013). The Arrival. Methuen Drama. ISBN 9781472535009. Based on the original illustrated novel by Shaun Tan.
Contributions
edit- Re-Imagine India-UK Cultural Relations in the 21st Century (Bloomsbury 2014) ISBN 978-9382951346
- I'll Be Home for Christmas (Little Tiger 2016) ISBN 978-1847157720
- Here I Stand (Walker Books 2016) ISBN 1406373648
- A Country of Refuge (Unbound 2016) ISBN 978-1783522682
- A Country to Call Home (Unbound 2018) ISBN 978-1783526048
- Diverse Shorts (The English and Media Centre 2018) ISBN 978-1906101510
- One Snowy Night. Illustrated by Alison Edgson. Little Tiger. 2019. ISBN 9781788950039.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - The Book of Hopes (Bloomsbury Children's Books 2020) ISBN 978-1526629883
- Iridescent Adolescent (The English and Media Centre 2020) ISBN 978-1906101688
- Swallowed by a Whale - How to Survive the Writing Life (British Library 2020) ISBN 9780712353038
- Letters From Lockdown (Hodder & Stoughton Home 2021) ISBN 978-1526364364
- Poems for Schools (Magma Poetry 2023)
- Our Rights - Stories and Poems About Children's Rights (Otter-Barry 2023) ISBN 9781913074210
References
edit- ^ "Sita Brahmachari". panmacmillan.com. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
- ^ a b c d Pauli, Michelle (10 February 2011). "Tribute to 'totally funky grandma' wins Waterstone's children's book prize". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ a b c Lacey, Hester (27 February 2021). "Sita Brahmachari: 'My dad's storytelling skills shaped my life. He had stories pouring out of him'". Financial Times. Retrieved 2023-10-05. ProQuest 2506201661
- ^ Brahmachari, Sita (15 October 2014). "Sita Brahmachari: the importance of diverse names in children's books". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- ^ Israel, Betsy (8 November 2013). "Matzo Masala". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- ^ a b Singh, Anita (10 February 2011). "First-time author wins Waterstone's Children's Book Prize". The Telegraph. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Booktrust's New Writer in Residence Announced". The Guardian. 17 February 2015. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ "Sita Brahmachari Visit". Fortismere School. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ Gardner, Lyn (22 March 2013). "The Arrival – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- ^ Cook, Mark; Gardner, Lyn (16 March 2013). "This week's new theatre". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- ^ "Refugee Week 2020". Amnesty International. 2023-10-06. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ "Where the River Runs Gold Sita Brahmachari". Waterstones. 2023-10-06. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ "When Secrets Set Sail by Sita Brahmachari is Blackwell's Book of the Month". MBA Literary Agents. 2020-08-20. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ Williams, Imogen Russell (2021-12-06). "The best children's and YA books of 2021". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ Jones, Nicolette; O’Connell, Alex (2023-09-15). "42 best books for children 2021". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ "A truly great granny: Last night Sita Brahmachari won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize for her moving first novel, inspired by the last years of a beloved grandmother". The Times. 10 February 2011. ProQuest 850550710
- ^ "Redbridge - Redbridge Children's Book Awards". London Borough of Redbridge. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ Rodrigues, Tania (2023-10-05). "Artichoke Hearts longlisted for Carnegie Award". taniarodrigues.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
- ^ "Jasmine Skies - Sita Brahmachari". ivybridgebookshop.com. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
- ^ "UKLA Book Award 2014 Longlists". ukla.org. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
- ^ "Nominations published for the CILIP Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Medals 2016". The Yoto Carnegies. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ "Previous Shortlists & Winners". The Little Rebels Children’s Book Award. 2016-12-12. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ "IBBY Honour List 2018". ibby.org. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
- ^ "Nominations published for the CILIP Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Medals 2018". yotocarnegies.co.uk. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
- ^ "2018". Jhalak Prize. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ a b "Nominations published for the CILIP Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Medals 2019". yotocarnegies.co.uk/. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
- ^ Shaffi, Sarah (2023-03-17). "Carnegie medal for writing announces all-female shortlist". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ Reviews of Artichoke Hearts
- Hoffman, Mary (26 February 2011). "Artichoke Hearts by Sita Brahmachari – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- "Mira in the Present Tense". Kirkus Reviews. 2013-06-25. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- "Mira in the Present Tense by Sita Brahmachari". Publishers Weekly. August 5, 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- "Mira in the Present Tense (Artichoke Hearts)". Booklist. 2013-09-01. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- Salvadore, Maria B. (2013-10-01). "Mira in the Present Tense". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- Israel, Betsy (8 November 2013). "Matzo Masala". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- ^ Reviews of Jasmine Skies
- "Jasmine Skies". Booklist. 2014-09-15. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- Salvadore, Maria B. "Jasmine Skies". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- Baker, Audrey (Autumn 2012). "Jasmine Skies". The School Librarian. 60 (3): 175. ProQuest 1503782440
- ^ O’Connell, Alex (8 July 2017). "Review: Tender Earth (10+) by Sita Brahmachari". The Times. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- ^ Bennett, Sandra (Spring 2015). "Red Leaves". The School Librarian. 63 (1): 34. ProQuest 1664837908
- ^ Thompson, Helen (Winter 2020). "When Secrets Set Sail". The School Librarian. 68 (4): 243. ProQuest 2507262454
- ^ Krajewski, Ellen (Winter 2021). "When Shadows Fall". The School Librarian. 69 (4): 60. ProQuest 2617715410
- ^ Davda, Frances Breslin (Spring 2015). "Brace Mouth, False Teeth". The School Librarian. 63 (1): 50. ProQuest 1664838027
- ^ Hinton, Nigel (Summer 2016). "Car Wash Wish". The School Librarian. 64 (2): 116. ProQuest 1800368507
- ^ Baskeyfield, Elizabeth (Spring 2018). "Worry Angels". The School Librarian. 66 (1): 36. ProQuest 2015740403
- ^ Reviews of Corey's Rock
- "Corey's Rock". Kirkus Reviews. 2019-04-09. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- Morpurgo, Clare (Spring 2019). "Corey's Rock". The School Librarian. 67 (1): 37. ProQuest 2402509335