Patrice Lawrence has been appointed the new Waterstones children's laureate, a role she plans to use to champion reading as a tool for fostering connection amid societal fragmentation. The author of acclaimed young adult novels such as Orangeboy and Needle succeeds Frank Cottrell-Boyce, receiving the laureate medal at a ceremony hosted by poet and broadcaster Lemn Sissay at London's Barbican Centre on Tuesday.
Lawrence's Vision for a Divided World
Launching her two-year tenure, Lawrence emphasized that stories can help children 'feel seen, understood and, most importantly, valued.' She stated: 'We are living in a divided world where many people feel isolated – we need this now, more than ever.' Her laureateship will prioritize shared reading to cultivate belonging and community, especially for marginalized children, and will celebrate the 'unsung heroes' who nurture young readers.
In an interview with the Guardian, Lawrence expressed a desire to build an evidence base demonstrating how books impact children's lives, particularly for those in care, refugee children, and children of prisoners.
A Celebrated Career
Lawrence, 59, has become one of Britain's most distinguished children's authors since Orangeboy won the Waterstones children's book prize and the Bookseller YA book prize in 2017. She has since published 16 books, spanning picture books and young adult novels, including People Like Stars, Is That Your Mama?, and Granny Came Here on the Empire Windrush. She received an MBE for services to literature in 2021 and was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2023.
Born to Trinidadian parents in Sussex, her writing often centers on foster care and contemporary Black British life, stemming from a lack of representation she felt as a young reader.
Impact and Support
Diana Gerald, CEO of BookTrust, which manages the laureate role, said Lawrence's appointment 'gives a much-needed voice to the vulnerable children pushed to the edge of our society.' Nick Campbell, children's campaign manager at Waterstones, added: 'Patrice is recognised as an essential voice in children's literature, and booksellers love to recommend her work. Her irresistibly compelling novels illuminate the lives of today's young people.'
Outgoing laureate Cottrell-Boyce focused his tenure on the transformative power of reading for pleasure, aligned with the UK's National Year of Reading. Past laureates include Quentin Blake, Michael Morpurgo, Jacqueline Wilson, Michael Rosen, Julia Donaldson, Malorie Blackman, Lauren Child, and Cressida Cowell.
