JUST SAYIN': MY LIFE IN WORDS

By Malorie Blackman

Synopsis

For over thirty years, her books have helped to shape British culture, and inspired generations of younger readers and writers. The Noughts and Crosses series, started in 2000, sparked a new and necessary conversation about race and identity in the UK, and are already undisputed classics of twenty-first-century children's literature. She is also a writer whose own life has been shaped by books, from her childhood in south London, the daughter of parents who moved to Britain from Barbados as part of the Windrush Generation, and who experienced a childhood that was both wonderful and marred by the everyday racism and bigotry of the era. She was told she could not apply to study her first love, literature, at university, in spite of her academic potential, but found a way to books and to a life in writing against a number of obstacles.

Sample Player

Narrator	Malorie Blackman
Length	7hrs 30mins
Catalogue No.	16381
Publisher	Merky Books Digital; 2022

Other audiobooks by Malorie Blackman

A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E.

Eliot always thought his mum was a boring secretary in a boring office. Then the police inform him that she is on the run accused of industrial espionage. He can't believe his mum is a spy!

BOYS DON'T CRY

In Boys Don't Cry, bestselling author Malorie Blackman explores the unchartered territory of teenage fatherhood. You're waiting for the postman - he's bringing your A level results. University, a career as a journalist - a glittering future lies ahead. But when the doorbell rings it's your old girlfriend; and she's carrying a baby. Your baby. You're happy to look after it, just for an hour or two. But then she doesn't come back - and your future suddenly looks very different.

CHECKMATE

Sequel to Knife Edge (616460). Callie Rose loves her mum but doesn't understand what's going on. Why does nana Meggie look at her mum like that? Why doesn't mum ever hug her? Slowly Callie Rose finds out the truth about her past, her mum's past and her dad's with a little help from jude.

CLOUD BUSTING

This is a series of 26 short poems telling the story of Sam and Davey. It's all about bullying and friendship, secrets and lies, and the terrible thing that happened one day .

CROSSFIRE

Book 5 of 'Noughts and Crosses' series, sequel to 'Double Cross' (617048). Years have passed since Sephy Hadley - a Cross - first met Callum McGregor - a Nought. Their love was forbidden, powerful - and deadly. But old wounds from the past are hard to heal, and when you're playing a game as dangerous as they are, it won't be long before someone gets caught in the crossfire.

DANGEROUS REALITY

Dominic is captivated by the fascinating possibilities of virtual reality. His mum, a scientist, develops the Virtual Interactive Mobile System, but a bizarre fault sends it dangerously haywire. Is someone trying to sabotage the project?

DEAD GORGEOUS

Nova’s parents are obsessed by running their hotel and don’t pay her much attention. Liam is permanently stuck at the hotel and can’t attract his brother’s attention. When Nova meets Liam things start to look up but the problem is that only she can see him.

DOUBLE CROSS

Book 4 of 'Noughts and Crosses' series, sequel to 'Checkmate' (616870). Everyone assumes the bomb that killed Callie Rose’s grandmother was the work of a Nought terrorist. But Callie Rose knows the truth and her fear of the past leaves her afraid for her future.

ENDGAME

It is 20 years in 2021 since Malorie Blackman's groundbreaking series began with Noughts & Crosses, which charted the deeply forbidden romance between Sephy (a Cross) and Callum (a nought) - a love affair which had repercussions for their families for generations. Endgame, the breathtaking conclusion to the series, influenced by the unprecedented global events of recent years, is full of twists and turns and emotions, with its incredible characters reaching a dramatic conclusions to their stories.

FORBIDDEN GAME

Shaun is thrilled when he is allowed to go on the school trip, but he is soon fighting for his life when a dangerous game goes wrong.

HACKER

When Vicky's father is accused of stealing over a million pounds from the bank where he works, she is determined to prove his innocence.

HOSTAGE

When Angela is kidnapped and held to ransom she needs all her skill and bravery to survive.

KNIFE EDGE

Sequel to 'Noughts and Crosses' (616377). The story of Sephy and Callum continues with Sephy struggling to bring up her mixed-race child in an apartheid society.

NOUGHTS AND CROSSES

Callum is a nought, a second class citizen in a world run by Crosses. Sephy is a cross, the daughter of a powerful man. The two meet and eventually fall in love but a life together is a hopeless dream that is about to become a horrifying nightmare.

NOUGHTS AND CROSSES: A BBC RADIO FULL-CAST DRAMATISATION

A thrilling adaptation of Malorie Blackman's bestselling novel about young love in a dystopian world. Callum and Sephy have known each other since they were babies. His Mum used to work for hers as housekeeper and they played together and became best friends. Then Callum's mother lost her job and they had to start meeting in secret. Because Callum is a Nought - a second class citizen - and Sephy a Cross one of the elite. And Noughts and Crosses can't mix... In this segregated society Noughts are nonentities - discriminated against, denigrated and denied decent education. But now Callum's passed the entrance exams and been allowed into Sephy's posh school. Surely this is his first step to a better life one where he and Sephy can be together? Only it doesn't work out that way. Instead of acceptance the couple face opposition, intimidation and violence. They know they're made for each other - but the world keeps tearing them apart. And soon bigger things will prevail.

OPERATION GADGETMAN!

Beans dad is known as gadgetman because of the weird devices he invents. When he invents something that could be used to steal millions of pounds he is kidnapped! Beans and her friends use her Gadgetman Spy Kit to rescue Dad before he is forced to hand over his secrets.

PIG-HEART BOY

Cameron desperately needs a heart transplant and is fed up with watching life go by, so when he is offered experimental, controversial and risky surgery he has to go for it, even though his new heart will be from a pig!

TELL ME NO LIES

Mike has a terrible secret that will haunt him forever! He is desperate to blend into the background of his new school, but Gemma thinks she recognises him, and she is out to get him!

THIEF

12 year old Lydia, accused of theft, runs away to bleak empty moors and is transported into the future. How can she return to her own time?

WE'RE GOING TO FIND THE MONSTER

A rip-roaring adventure from superstar pairing Malorie Blackman and Dapo Adeola. Join two intrepid adventurers as their imaginations transform their house into a wild wonderland - and their big brother becomes a mighty monster. A joy to read with its cumulative refrain, and full of funny, relatable characters, this is a contemporary celebration of creativity, fantasy and family.

WHIZZIWIG

Whizziwig is a small, friendly alien, a long way from home, who can grant wishes. But the wishes have to be made by accident, so it isn't long before some funny things start to happen.