Linda Newbery has previously been shortlisted for both the Carnegie Medal (twice) and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. Winner of the Costa Book Award 2006 for SET IN STONE. She is a high-profile reviewer, awards judge and speaker in schools and at conferences and writing courses. Top quality fiction for the 9-12s - at a time when so much emphasis is placed on books for teens. Insightful writing, strong characterisation and a gripping plot are hallmarks of Linda's third book for Orion. Total UK sales of AT THE FIREFLY GATE (Ottaker's Book of the Month, October 04) and LOST BOY are over 26,000 copies.

Winner of Nestle Children's Book Prize: Age 9-11 (Silver) 2007.

'An interesting and touching story of two young boys dealing with the arrival of their new baby sister and their parent's marriage break up in their own strange and unique way... A must read book for parents and children alike.' -- Nina Smith, Cotswold Bookstore BERTRAM'S BUYER'S GUIDE 'a very strong psychological drama... Josh and Jamie are battling demons that most children will recognise as demons of their own and the book's great pace and tension building with keep them reading.' -- Jill Murphy THEBOOKBAG.CO.UK 'I thoroughly enjoyed this book... well-crafted... The characters are believable, the problem is well depicted; the tension it creates is tangible, and the solution comes as a great relief.' -- Mark Betteney WRITE AWAY 'Atmospheric and empathetic, this is an intense novel about two brothers.' CAROUSEL 'this beautifully told story is haunting and memorable.' -- Nicholas Tucker THE INDEPENDENT 'expertly contrasts knowledge and understanding against fears and doubt. Stepping beyond mere sibling rivalry, childhood neurosis is depicted here with an astute accuracy, but also with compassion and perception... The tectonics of familial relationships and alliance are related with extraordinary power and prowess.' -- Jake Hope ACHUKA 'presents a moving and insightful portrayal of a common family situation, given extra dramatic tension by Jamie's lion persona and by the links between animal and human behaviour as observed by Josh, a thoughtful, sympathetic narrator who grows in empathy and self-knowledge in a very satisfying way throughout the book.' -- Sue Roe THE SCHOOL LIBRARIAN 'A highly enjoyable book written wtih a lot of humour, very strong characters adn times we can imagine ourselves in. This is a brilliant book full of wonderful ideas, funny descriptions which really giv eyou the scene... I would recommend it to anyone.' -- David Shapira TEEN TITLES

Linda Newbery always wanted to be a writer, but only began submitting work to publishers when she became a secondary school teacher. She now writes full-time from her home in a Northamptonshire village, which she shares with her husband and their cats. She has published poetry, short stories, picture books and novels for young people of all ages.