Sherryl Jordan (born 8 June 1949) is a

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

writer for children and young adults, specialising in fantasy and historical fiction. She has written a number of children's and young adult works published in New Zealand and overseas. She is best known for her books '' The Juniper Game'' and '' The Raging Quiet''. She received the Margaret Mahy Medal for her contribution to children's literature, publishing and literacy in 2001.

Biography

Jordan was born on 8 June 1949 in Hawera, New Zealand, and grew up in Normanby, near

Mount Taranaki Mount Taranaki (), also known as Mount Egmont, is a dormant stratovolcano in the Taranaki region on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. It is the second highest point in the North Island, after Mount Ruapehu. The mountain has a secon ...

. Her adult life has been spent in

Tauranga Tauranga () is a coastal city in the Bay of Plenty region and the fifth most populous city of New Zealand, with an urban population of , or roughly 3% of the national population. It was settled by Māori late in the 13th century, colonised by ...

. Her early work in children's literature was as an illustrator, and she has written picture books, middle grade fiction, and young adult fiction. Her knowledge of sign language and her experience working as a teacher aide with deaf children is a clear influence on her historical fiction, ''The Raging Quiet''.

Bibliography

Jordan's books have been published by a range of publishers internationally. * 1981 ''

The Silent One ''The'' () is a grammatical Article (grammar), article in English language, English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite ...

'' (Illustrations – text by

Joy Cowley Cassia Joy Cowley (; born 7 August 1936) is a New Zealand author best known for her children's fiction, including the popular series of books Mrs. Wishy-Washy. Cowley started out writing novels for adults, and her first book, ''Nest in a Fal ...

) * 1983 ''Mouse'' (Illustrations) * 1985 ''Mouse Monster'' (Illustrations) * 1984 ''The Firewind and the Song'' * 1985 ''Matthew's Monster'' * 1986 ''Matthew's Monsters'' * 1988 ''No Problem Pomperoy!'' * 1989 ''Kittens'' * 1989 ''The Wobbly Tooth'' * 1990 ''Rocco'' (published in the USA as ''A Time of Darkness'') * 1990 ''Babysitter Bear'' * 1991 ''The Juniper Game'' * 1991 ''The Wednesday Wizard'' (Denzil series, book one) * 1992 ''Denzil's Dilemma'' (Denzil series, book two) (published in the US as ''Wizard for a Day'') * 1993 ''The Other side of Midnight'' * 1993 '' Winter of Fire'' * 1994 ''Tanith'' * 1994 ''Wolf-Woman'' * 1995 ''Sign of the Lion'' * 1996 ''Secret Sacrament'' * 1997 ''Denzil's Great Bear Burglary'' (Denzil series, book three) * 1999 ''The Raging Quiet'' * 2002 ''The Hunting of the Last Dragon'' * 2007 ''The Silver Dragon'' (Denzil series, book four) * 2007 ''Time of the Eagle'' * 2010 ''Finnigan and the Pirate''s * 2012 ''Ransomwood'' * 2013 ''The Freedom Merchants'' *2018 ''The Raging Quiet'' *2018 ''Ratbag'' *2018 ''The Anger of Angels'' *2021 ''The King's Nightingale''

Awards

Jordan has won a number of prestigious awards. Her books have been shortlisted for awards in New Zealand, the UK, the USA, Belgium and Germany. * 1981

Whitcoulls Whitcoulls is a major New Zealand book, stationery, gift, games & toy retail chain. Formerly known as Whitcombe & Tombs, it has 54 stores nationally. Whitcombe & Tombs was founded in 1888, and Coulls Somerville Wilkie in 1871. The companies mer ...

national illustrating competition for ''The Silent One'' * 1982

AIM Children's Book Awards The New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults are a series of literary awards presented annually to recognise excellence in children and young adult's literature in New Zealand. The awards began in 1982 as the New Zealand Governme ...

Book of the Year for ''The Silent One'' * 1988 Choysa Bursary Award for ''Rocco'' * 1991

Fiction Winner for ''Rocco'' * 1992

Esther Glen Award The Esther Glen Award, or LIANZA Esther Glen Junior Fiction Award, is the longest running and the most renowned literary award, literary prize for New Zealand children's literature. History The prize was called into being in memory of New Zeal ...

s shortlist for ''The Juniper Game'' * 1992

s shortlist for ''The Wednesday Wizard'' * 1992

Fiction shortlist for ''The Wednesday Wizard'' * 1992

Fiction shortlist for ''The Juniper Game'' * 1993

Junior Fiction shortlist for ''Denzil's Dilemma'' * 1993 Iowa University (USA): Won a writing residency for the International Writing Programme * 1993 American bookseller magazine "Pick of the List" for ''Winter of Fire'' * 1994

Senior Fiction shortlist for ''Winter of Fire'' * 1994

American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults The American Library Association's Best Fiction for Young Adults, previously known as Best Books for Young Adults (1966–2010), is a recommendation list of books presented yearly by the YALSA division (Young Adult Library Services Association Th ...

for ''Winter of Fire'' * 1994 Children's Book of the Year by Bank Street School of Education (USA) for ''Winter of Fire'' * 1995

Senior Fiction shortlist for ''Tanith'' * 1995

s shortlist for ''Tanith'' * 1995

for ''Tanith'' (Wolf-Woman) * 1995 Voted one of the "Young Adults" choices (USA) for ''Winter of Fire'' * 1999 The USA School Library Journal Best of Award for ''The Raging Quiet'' * 2000 Storylines Notable Books List Senior Fiction list for ''The Raging Quiet'' * 2001

Storylines Margaret Mahy Award The Margaret Mahy Award, officially the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal and Lecture Award, is a New Zealand literary prize presented to a person who has made a significant contribution to children's literature, publishing or literacy. Presented ann ...

* 2001 Wirral Paperpack of the Year for ''The Raging Quiet'' * 2001 Buxtehude Bulle Prize for Best Young Person's Book of the Year for ''The Juniper Game'' * 2002

IBBY The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) is an international non-profit organization committed to bringing books and children together. The headquarters of the IBBY are located in Basel, Switzerland. IBBY history In 1952, Jella Lepm ...

Honour Book Writing for ''The Raging Quiet'' * 2005 Storylines Notable Books List – Young Adult Fiction list for ''The Hunting of the Last Dragon'' * 2008

s shortlist for ''Time of the Eagle'' * 2008 Storylines Notable Books List Young Adult Fiction list for ''Time of the Eagle'' * 2010 Storylines

Gaelyn Gordon Award The Gaelyn Gordon Award is awarded annually by the Children's Literature Foundation (now called the Storylines Children's Literature Foundation) to a well-loved work of New Zealand children's fiction. History This award is named after Gaelyn Go ...

for ''Denzil's Dilemma'' * 2011 Storylines Notable Books List Junior Fiction list for ''Finnigan and the Pirates'' * 2011

New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards The New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults are a series of literary awards presented annually to recognise excellence in children and young adult's literature in New Zealand. The awards began in 1982 as the New Zealand Governme ...

Junior Fiction winner for ''Finnigan and the Pirates'' *2021 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards Young Adult Fiction shortlist for ''The King's Nightingale''

References

External links

Sherryl Jordan
at Read NZ * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Jordan, Sherryl New Zealand women children's writers People from Hāwera People from Tauranga 1949 births New Zealand fantasy writers 20th-century New Zealand people New Zealand children's writers Living people