Quick Facts
Biography
Sherryl Jordan (born 8 June 1949) is a New Zealand 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. Her adult life has been spent in Tauranga. 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.
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.
- 1980 Whitcoulls national illustrating competition for The Silent One
- 1982 AIM Children’s Book Awards Book of the Year for The Silent One
- 1988 Choysa Bursary Award for Rocco
- 1991 AIM Children’s Book Awards Fiction Winner for Rocco
- 1992 Esther Glen Awards shortlist for The Juniper Game
- 1992 Esther Glen Awards shortlist for The Wednesday Wizard
- 1992 AIM Children’s Book Awards Fiction shortlist for The Wednesday Wizard
- 1992 AIM Children’s Book Awards Fiction shortlist for The Juniper Game
- 1993 AIM Children’s Book Awards 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 AIM Children’s Book Awards Senior Fiction shortlist for Winter of Fire
- 1994 American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults for Winter of Fire
- 1994 Children's Book of the Year by Bank Street School of Education (USA) for Winter of Fire
- 1995 AIM Children’s Book Awards Senior Fiction shortlist for Tanith
- 1995 Esther Glen Awards shortlist for Tanith
- 1995 American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults 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
- 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 Honour Book Writing for The Raging Quiet
- 2005 Storylines Notable Books List - Young Adult Fiction list for The Hunting of the Last Dragon
- 2008 Esther Glen Awards 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 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 Junior Fiction winner for Finnigan and the Pirates