Anne Fine
Author of The Diary of a Killer Cat
About the Author
Anne Fine was the second Children's Laureate in Britain between 2001 and 2003. She is a two time winner of the Carnegie Medal, Britain's most coveted children's literature award, and has also won the Guardian Children's Literature Award, the Whitbread Children's Novel Award twice, and a Smarties show more Prize. She also won the Publishing News Children's Author of the Year Award in 1990 and again in 1993. In 2010 she won the inaugural Good Writing Award. Her books for older children include the award winning The Tulip Touch, Goggle-Eyes, which was adapted for television by the BBC and The Devil Walks. Twentieth Century Fox filmed her novel Madame Doubtfire as Mrs Doubtfire, starring Robin Williams. She also writes critically acclaimed adult novels as well. Her work has been translated into twenty-five languages, and has over forty books to her credit. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by Anne Fine
Genie Genie Genie: "A Sudden Puff of Glittering Smoke", "A Sudden Swirl of Icy Wind", "A Sudden Glow of Gold" (1992) 22 copies
El gato asesino se enamora/ The Killer Cat Falls in Love (A La Orilla Del Viento) (Spanish Edition) (2015) 17 copies
A Shame to Miss: 2 (Selected by the 2001-3 Children's Laureate) (Ideal poems for middle readers): Collection 2 (2002) 12 copies
Bố là bà giúp việc 2 copies
Diário de um gato assassino 2 copies
Mörkö sängyn alla? 1 copy
Brutto gattaccio 1 copy
Gan yr iâr 1 copy
Non renseigné 1 copy
Killer Cat Collection: The Diary of a Killer Cat, and the Return of the Killer Cat (Chinese Edition) (2011) 1 copy
Same old story every year 1 copy
Poor Monty 1 copy
Associated Works
The Book Lovers' Appreciation Society: Breast Cancer Care Short Story Collection (2009) — Contributor — 97 copies, 1 review
War Girls: A Collection of First World War Stories Through the Eyes of Young Women (2014) — Contributor — 62 copies, 2 reviews
Flights of Fancy: Creative Inspiration from Ten Award-Winning Authors and Illustrators (2019) — Contributor — 35 copies, 10 reviews
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1947-12-07
- Gender
- female
- Education
- The University of Teesside
The University of Warwick
The University of Central England in Birmingham - Occupations
- teacher
information officer (for Oxfam)
children's book author - Awards and honors
- Royal Society of Literature (Fellow, 2003)
Children's Laureate (2001-2003)
Order of the British Empire (2003) - Agent
- David Higham Associates
- Relationships
- Fine, Cordelia (daughter)
Fine, Kit (husband|divorced) - Short biography
- Among the numerous awards she has won are the Carnegie Medal (twice), the Whitbread Children's Novel Award (twice) and the Guardian Children's Literature Award. She has twice been voted Children's Writer of the Year at the British Book Awards and became the Children's Laureate for 2001-3. She has written over forty books for children and adults. A life-long lover of poetry, she has also edited a series of poetry anthologies. She lives in the North East with her partner. (From the back cover of The More the Merrier).
- Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
- Places of residence
- Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK
California, USA
Arizona, USA
Michigan, USA
Canada
Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, UK (show all 7)
County Durham, England, UK - Map Location
- England, UK
Members
Reviews
Bei einem Buch mit diesem Titel musste ich einfach stehenbleiben, völlig egal um welche Art von Buch es sich nun handelt. Kurzes Reinlesen und es war klar: Das wird gekauft. Ich zitiere mal die ersten Sätze, die meine Entscheidung vielleicht nachvollziehbar machen:
'Okay, okay, hängt mich ruhig auf! Ja, ich hab den Vogel getötet. Du lieber Himmel, ich bin nun mal eine Katze! Es ist sozusagen mein Job, durch den Garten zu schleichen und süßen, schnuckeligen kleinen Piepmätzen show more aufzulauern, die kaum von einer Hecke zur anderen fliegen können. Was soll ich machen, wenn sich mir so ein armes gefiedertes Flatterbällchen praktisch ins Maul wirft? Es ist schließlich fast direkt auf meinen Pfoten gelandet. Es hätte mir ja wehtun können! Okay, okay, da habe ich es halt ein bisschen geknufft...." uswusw.
Dazu die herrlichen Zeichnungen von Axel Scheffler, der die Katze Kuschel überhaupt nicht kuschelig darstellt, sondern wie einen Gefängnisinsassen grau mit Streifen und einem leicht verschlagenen Blick (zumindest am Anfang). Da konnte ich nicht widerstehen - und ein weiteres Kinderbuch ziert nun mein Bücherregal ;-)
Der oben zitierte Ton zieht sich durch das ganze Büchlein (knapp 55 Seiten) und mit jedem toten Getier, das Kuschel anbringt, wird sein Erklärungsbedarf größer. Ich habe mich köstlich dabei amüsiert ebenso wie über Axel Schefflers Bilder, die so überhaupt nicht lieblich-zart-kuschelig sind. Herrlich, wie Kuschel mühsam das Karnickel durch die Katzenklappe zerrt. Oder wie der Vater der Familie in einem burkaähnlichen Gewand durch die Nacht robbt... Ich bin mir sicher, dass sich auch Kinder darüber amüsieren können, wenn auch vielleicht auf eine andere Art als Erwachsene.
Die eigentliche Geschichte basiert zwar auf einem uralten Witz, aber zum einen kennen Kinder ihn vermutlich noch nicht und falls doch (wie die meisten Erwachsenen), hat man trotzdem seinen Spaß daran. Denn Anne Fine hat das Ganze so toll ausgeschmückt und der Katze einen solch klasse Tonfall gegeben, dass das Alles fast wie neu klingt. Herrlich! show less
'Okay, okay, hängt mich ruhig auf! Ja, ich hab den Vogel getötet. Du lieber Himmel, ich bin nun mal eine Katze! Es ist sozusagen mein Job, durch den Garten zu schleichen und süßen, schnuckeligen kleinen Piepmätzen show more aufzulauern, die kaum von einer Hecke zur anderen fliegen können. Was soll ich machen, wenn sich mir so ein armes gefiedertes Flatterbällchen praktisch ins Maul wirft? Es ist schließlich fast direkt auf meinen Pfoten gelandet. Es hätte mir ja wehtun können! Okay, okay, da habe ich es halt ein bisschen geknufft...." uswusw.
Dazu die herrlichen Zeichnungen von Axel Scheffler, der die Katze Kuschel überhaupt nicht kuschelig darstellt, sondern wie einen Gefängnisinsassen grau mit Streifen und einem leicht verschlagenen Blick (zumindest am Anfang). Da konnte ich nicht widerstehen - und ein weiteres Kinderbuch ziert nun mein Bücherregal ;-)
Der oben zitierte Ton zieht sich durch das ganze Büchlein (knapp 55 Seiten) und mit jedem toten Getier, das Kuschel anbringt, wird sein Erklärungsbedarf größer. Ich habe mich köstlich dabei amüsiert ebenso wie über Axel Schefflers Bilder, die so überhaupt nicht lieblich-zart-kuschelig sind. Herrlich, wie Kuschel mühsam das Karnickel durch die Katzenklappe zerrt. Oder wie der Vater der Familie in einem burkaähnlichen Gewand durch die Nacht robbt... Ich bin mir sicher, dass sich auch Kinder darüber amüsieren können, wenn auch vielleicht auf eine andere Art als Erwachsene.
Die eigentliche Geschichte basiert zwar auf einem uralten Witz, aber zum einen kennen Kinder ihn vermutlich noch nicht und falls doch (wie die meisten Erwachsenen), hat man trotzdem seinen Spaß daran. Denn Anne Fine hat das Ganze so toll ausgeschmückt und der Katze einen solch klasse Tonfall gegeben, dass das Alles fast wie neu klingt. Herrlich! show less
Simon Martin and his classmates are problematic. Labeled as emotionally deficit and intellectually challenged, this motley group of "Room 8's" are perceived as too stupid to participate in the difficult projects for the science fair.
Instead, each are given the task of a parent-child experiment. For the duration of 21 days each student must tote around a six pound bag of flour and "parent" their ward. At the end of that time all flour bags will be weighed and checked for cleanliness.
What show more ensues is a laughable, heartwarming tale of those, like Simon, who take the responsibility seriously, and those who give up, punting the sack of flour baby smack in the river.
Winner of the British Carnegie Medal (the British equivalent to the US Newbery award), the author created a wonderful, insightful balance between humor and seriousness, depicting a range of emotions from the perspective of student, teacher and parent.
There is a touching, poignant beauty of Simon grappling with his father's abandonment when he was six weeks old and his commitment to taking care of his flour baby in the manner he would have wanted his father to care for him.
What I liked most about the book is that the author did not resort to cuteness, nor did she feel the need to wrap up the ending in a big red bow of cheer.
While changed by the insights of the difficulty of parenting, Simon and his peers remained realistically problematic.
This was listed in 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up.
Highly recommended. show less
Instead, each are given the task of a parent-child experiment. For the duration of 21 days each student must tote around a six pound bag of flour and "parent" their ward. At the end of that time all flour bags will be weighed and checked for cleanliness.
What show more ensues is a laughable, heartwarming tale of those, like Simon, who take the responsibility seriously, and those who give up, punting the sack of flour baby smack in the river.
Winner of the British Carnegie Medal (the British equivalent to the US Newbery award), the author created a wonderful, insightful balance between humor and seriousness, depicting a range of emotions from the perspective of student, teacher and parent.
There is a touching, poignant beauty of Simon grappling with his father's abandonment when he was six weeks old and his commitment to taking care of his flour baby in the manner he would have wanted his father to care for him.
What I liked most about the book is that the author did not resort to cuteness, nor did she feel the need to wrap up the ending in a big red bow of cheer.
While changed by the insights of the difficulty of parenting, Simon and his peers remained realistically problematic.
This was listed in 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up.
Highly recommended. show less
This is quite a gripping story for younger teens. Tulip is a complex character. On the one hand she is cold, cruel and calculating, but on the other, thanks to her abusive home life, she is extremely vulnerable. At times I felt really sorry for Tulip, but I also sympathised with Natalie, Tulip's only friend. She is mesmerised by the excitement Tulip brings to her life, yet senses that there is something dark and dangerous about Tulip and the games she invents, but breaking away from Tulip show more comes at a cost. Overall, this book is a compelling little read and raises the issue, are people born evil or do their circumstances make them so? Three and a half stars. show less
Superficially, this is a quick and charming children's book. A much beloved primary school teacher needs an idea for the school fete, the hero (one of the kids in her class) comes up with the idea, there is a very cute cow, the day is saved.
But it is a little bit boggling reading it as an adult.Lance likes Miss Mirabelle because she is better than all the other teachers, but all the other teachers have been dire, and she is quite dire too! It is quite uncomfortable when you realise you are show more on the side of the evil head teacher who doesn't like her walking across the nice wooden floor in her deeply impractical high heels. And then ending is so unresolved! On one hand, Lance realising that Miss Mirabelle isn't as wonderful as he thought, but cows are a dependable friend, is a good insight, but the fact that he comes to that conclusion by misunderstanding a conversation he overhears where Miss Mirabelle is trying to save him is... awkward!
But it is an interesting book, on many levels, and a fun read. For a book mostly about cow pats, it's surprisingly good! show less
But it is a little bit boggling reading it as an adult.
But it is an interesting book, on many levels, and a fun read. For a book mostly about cow pats, it's surprisingly good! show less
Lists
Cats in Fiction (1)
Gatti (1)
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 159
- Also by
- 9
- Members
- 7,736
- Popularity
- #3,152
- Rating
- 3.6
- Reviews
- 110
- ISBNs
- 1,040
- Languages
- 20
- Favorited
- 7
