Sita Brahmachari (born 1966) is a British author known for her work in children's and young adult literature. Her debut novel, Artichoke Hearts, later published in the United States as Mira in the Present Tense, won the 2011 Waterstones Children's Book Prize.

Sita Brahmachari
Sita Brahmachari at Guernsey Book Festival
Sita Brahmachari at Guernsey Book Festival
Born1966 (age 57–58)
Derby, England
EducationBristol University, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Notable awardsWaterstones Children's Book Prize (2011)

Early life and education

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Brahmachari was born in Derby, England in 1966.[1][2] Her father was a doctor from Kolkata, who emigrated from India in the 1950s, and her mother was a nurse from Lake District.[3][2][4]

After completing her A-levels, Brahmachari worked as an au pair in France, and attended Le Cours Florent Drama College.[3] She later attended Bristol University and completed a Master of Arts at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.[3]

Career

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Brahmachari's debut novel, Artichoke Hearts, which was later published in the United States as Mira in the Present Tense,[5] was based on her mother-in-law[2][6] and published by Macmillan in 2011. The book won the 2011 Waterstones Children's Book Prize.[2][6] The novel was followed by Jasmine Skies, which was nominated for the Carnegie Medal.[7]

The following year, Brahmachari took on the position of Writer-in-Residence at the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants. The same year, she became Patron of Reading at Fortismere School.[8]

Brahmachari also wrote the script for The Arrival, a play based on a graphic novel by Shaun Tan, which was produced by Kristine Landon-Smith in 2013.[9][10]

In 2015, Brahmachari was appointed as an online writer-in-residence with BookTrust for a six-month term.[7]

She has also been a human rights ambassador for Amnesty International.[11]

Awards and recognitions

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In 2018, Tender Earth was on the IBBY honour list for writing. In 2018, Where the River Runs Gold was selected as the Waterstone's Children’s Book of the Month (July 2019).[12] In 2020, When Secrets Set Sail was selected as a Blackwell’s Children’s Book of the Month.[13] In 2021, When Shadows Fall was named one of the best children's books of the year by The Guardian[14] and The Times.[15]

Awards for Brahmachari's writing
Year Title Award Result Ref.
2011 Artichoke Hearts Waterstones Children's Books Prize Winner [16]
2012 Artichoke Hearts Redbridge Children's Book Award Winner [17]
2012 Artichoke Hearts Carnegie Medal Longlist [18]
2013 Jasmine Skies Carnegie Medal Longlist [19]
2014 Kite Spirit UKLA Book Award Longlist [20]
2016 Red Leaves Carnegie Medal Nominee [21]
2018 Tender Earth Little Rebels Award Shortlist [22]
2018 Tender Earth IBBY Certificate of Honour Winner [23]
2018 Tender Earth Carnegie Medal Nominee [24]
2018 Worry Angels Jhalak Prize Longlist [25]
2019 Worry Angels Carnegie Medal Nominee [26]
2019 Zebra Crossing Soul Song Carnegie Medal Nominee [26]
2023 When Shadows Fall Carnegie Medal Shortlist [27]

Publications

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Novels

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Mira Levenson series

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  1. Artichoke Hearts. Macmillan Publishers. 2011. ISBN 9780330517911.[28]
  2. Jasmine Skies. Macmillan Publishers. 2012. ISBN 9781447205180.[29]
  3. Tender Earth. Macmillan Publishers. 2017. ISBN 9781509812509.[30]

Standalone books

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Novellas

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Plays

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Contributions

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References

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  1. ^ "Sita Brahmachari". panmacmillan.com. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  2. ^ a b c d Pauli, Michelle (10 February 2011). "Tribute to 'totally funky grandma' wins Waterstone's children's book prize". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  3. ^ a b c Lacey, Hester (27 February 2021). "Sita Brahmachari: 'My dad's storytelling skills shaped my life. He had stories pouring out of him'". Financial Times. Retrieved 2023-10-05. ProQuest 2506201661
  4. ^ Brahmachari, Sita (15 October 2014). "Sita Brahmachari: the importance of diverse names in children's books". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  5. ^ Israel, Betsy (8 November 2013). "Matzo Masala". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  6. ^ a b Singh, Anita (10 February 2011). "First-time author wins Waterstone's Children's Book Prize". The Telegraph. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Booktrust's New Writer in Residence Announced". The Guardian. 17 February 2015. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  8. ^ "Sita Brahmachari Visit". Fortismere School. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  9. ^ Gardner, Lyn (22 March 2013). "The Arrival – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  10. ^ Cook, Mark; Gardner, Lyn (16 March 2013). "This week's new theatre". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Refugee Week 2020". Amnesty International. 2023-10-06. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  12. ^ "Where the River Runs Gold Sita Brahmachari". Waterstones. 2023-10-06. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  13. ^ "When Secrets Set Sail by Sita Brahmachari is Blackwell's Book of the Month". MBA Literary Agents. 2020-08-20. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  14. ^ Williams, Imogen Russell (2021-12-06). "The best children's and YA books of 2021". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  15. ^ Jones, Nicolette; O’Connell, Alex (2023-09-15). "42 best books for children 2021". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  16. ^ "A truly great granny: Last night Sita Brahmachari won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize for her moving first novel, inspired by the last years of a beloved grandmother". The Times. 10 February 2011. ProQuest 850550710
  17. ^ "Redbridge - Redbridge Children's Book Awards". London Borough of Redbridge. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  18. ^ Rodrigues, Tania (2023-10-05). "Artichoke Hearts longlisted for Carnegie Award". taniarodrigues.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  19. ^ "Jasmine Skies - Sita Brahmachari". ivybridgebookshop.com. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  20. ^ "UKLA Book Award 2014 Longlists". ukla.org. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  21. ^ "Nominations published for the CILIP Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Medals 2016". The Yoto Carnegies. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  22. ^ "Previous Shortlists & Winners". The Little Rebels Children’s Book Award. 2016-12-12. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  23. ^ "IBBY Honour List 2018". ibby.org. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  24. ^ "Nominations published for the CILIP Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Medals 2018". yotocarnegies.co.uk. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  25. ^ "2018". Jhalak Prize. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  26. ^ a b "Nominations published for the CILIP Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Medals 2019". yotocarnegies.co.uk/. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  27. ^ Shaffi, Sarah (2023-03-17). "Carnegie medal for writing announces all-female shortlist". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  28. ^ Reviews of Artichoke Hearts
  29. ^ Reviews of Jasmine Skies
  30. ^ O’Connell, Alex (8 July 2017). "Review: Tender Earth (10+) by Sita Brahmachari". The Times. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  31. ^ Bennett, Sandra (Spring 2015). "Red Leaves". The School Librarian. 63 (1): 34. ProQuest 1664837908
  32. ^ Thompson, Helen (Winter 2020). "When Secrets Set Sail". The School Librarian. 68 (4): 243. ProQuest 2507262454
  33. ^ Krajewski, Ellen (Winter 2021). "When Shadows Fall". The School Librarian. 69 (4): 60. ProQuest 2617715410
  34. ^ Davda, Frances Breslin (Spring 2015). "Brace Mouth, False Teeth". The School Librarian. 63 (1): 50. ProQuest 1664838027
  35. ^ Hinton, Nigel (Summer 2016). "Car Wash Wish". The School Librarian. 64 (2): 116. ProQuest 1800368507
  36. ^ Baskeyfield, Elizabeth (Spring 2018). "Worry Angels". The School Librarian. 66 (1): 36. ProQuest 2015740403
  37. ^ Reviews of Corey's Rock
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