I stumbled across Sally Gardner's
I, Coriander in the new books section of my school library. I was most fascinated by her biography at the back of the book which explained that she was dyslexic and didn't learn to read until she was 14. In addition, she had such struggles in school that she was placed in a school for maladjusted children. She pursued a career in art successfully, but then turned her attention to writing. Her writing style is AMAZING and you would never guess that this had ever been a struggle for her. Her books are an interesting blend of historical fiction and fantasy. For example,
I, Coriander, is set in England during the Puritan rule with Oliver Cromwell. However, in the midst of this historically accurate setting is an adventure into a fairy world.
The Red Necklace, that I have also recently read, blends the French Revolution with gypsy magic to create a believable, but mystical reading experience. I love these books and look forward to anything else she might write!
