Katherine Rundell

Katherine Rundell is an English author, born in 1985 in Zimbabwe. She has written several books for children and young adults, and is known for her commitment to nature and the environment. Many of her novels have been adapted for television and film.

Rundell’s writing career began at the age of 14 when she wrote her first novel, The Eleventh Trade. This book was set in Zimbabwe and dealt with the circumstances of war. She has since written a further 11 novels, mainly targeting the 9-12 age group. Her most renowned novel, The Explorer, won the Costa Children’s Book Award in 2017 and is the story of four children who are stranded in the Amazon jungle in a hot air balloon.

Aside from writing, Rundell enjoys being outside and has an affinity with other natural settings – such as the sea, skies and trees. Nature is a key theme in her writing, and recurs in much of her work. Her specific interest in endangered species has also inspired several of her novels, such as Rooftoppers, which is about a girl called Sophie, who was abandoned as a baby atop a building; The Wolf Wilder, which follows a young girl and her wild pack of wolves; and The Marvels, which is the story of a large family over the course of 300 years.

Rundell’s ability to capture relationships, especially between parent and child, is a big part of her success. Her stories often feature characters whose parents have died or forgotten them, and these characters then have to learn how to construct a new family for themselves. This has resulted in her winning the Nestle Gold Award for ‘most inspiring Author’ in 1998.

Rundell has also written some non-fiction works, including the series Lady Bird’s Wildlife Adventure and Lady Bird’s Nature Activity Book. These are educational books that explain the natural environment to young learners, and provide interactive activities to engage them in understanding more about the environment. In addition to these, Rundell has written many articles and spoken at events to show her support for saving endangered species and preserving nature.

Rundell is an author who aims to educate and inspire her readers with her words and her actions. Her work celebrates nature and the environment, and the importance of family relationships. She has been recognised by a variety of awards, including the Nestle Gold Award and the Costa Children’s Book Award. Whether it is fiction or non-fiction that she is writing, Rundell is a powerful force for inspiring young and old readers alike to cherish and protect our environment.