Awards

MBE for Services to Children's Literature 1999

The Twelfth Day of July - ZDF PReis der Leseratten, W.Germany 1986

Across the Barricades - Buxtehuder Bulle, W.Germany 1986

After Colette - Scottish Arts Council Award 1994

Tom and the Tree House - Scottish Arts Council Award 1994

Tug of War - shortlisted for 1989 Carnegie Medal, 1989 Federation of

Children's Book Groups Award, 1989 Sheffield Book Award, runner-up 1990

Lancashire Children's Book Club of the Year Award

The Sign of the Black Dagger - shortlisted for the Scottish Royal Mail Awards 2006

The Eleventh Orphan 
    - shortlisted for the Scottish Royal Mail Awards, 2009 
    - shortlisted for the United Kingdom Literacy Award, 2009 
    - shortlisted for the West Sussex Children's Book Award, 2009 
    - shortlisted for the The Lancashire School Libraries Award, 2009