Street Child

Street Child SECTION 1 After leaving Upton Hall Convent School, About the book Berlie studied English at the University of Street Child is set in the second half of the 19th Durham and then Social Science at the century and tells the story of Jim Jarvis, a real- University of Liverpool. She later trained to life character whose plight inspired Dr Barnardo be an English teacher. Her teaching certificate to set up his children’s homes. included a creative writing course, for which she The novel charts Jim’s search for a home, had to write a short story. This short story was starting with his family’s eviction from their later broadcast on Radio Sheffield. The radio accommodation when his station then commissioned terminally sick mother her to write for a schools is unable to pay the rent. series, and this was the In a journey which charts start of a writing career his experiences, Jim meets that was to blossom many characters, some and grow. of whom offer support Berlie became a full- and friendship while time writer in 1983. She is others seek to exploit him. a writer of great versatility Eventually Jim is rescued and has written books from a harsh life on the for all ages, from picture streets by philanthropist books such as Blue John Dr Barnardo, and at last and Jinnie Ghost to junior he finds the ‘home’ that novels such as Street Child he has been desperately and Children of Winter seeking. The story is told and teenage novels like chronologically, with a Daughter of the Sea and short introduction in Deep Secret. Berlie has which Jim is invited to tell also adapted several of his story. her novels for the stage, The story is rich in including Street Child, historical detail, illuminating the lives of the and has written original radio plays, poetry and street children, the workhouse inmates, the libretti for children’s operas. lightermen, whelk sellers, servants and circus A writer of beautifully crafted prose and performers. For this reason there are strong thoughtful characterisation, Berlie has attracted cross-curricular links with the history topic the critical acclaim with her novels. She has twice Victorians. The book will also stimulate interest won the prestigious Carnegie Medal, for teenage in the life of a famous Victorian, Dr Barnardo. novels Granny was a Buffer Girl (1986) and Dear Nobody (1991). About the author Berlie Doherty was born in Knotty Ash, Facts and figures Liverpool, in 1943. Her interest in writing was FirstStreet published Child was by first Puffin published Books by in HarperCollins 1974. encouraged by her father, Walter Hollingsworth, Adaptedin 1994. Itby was Robert nominated Staunton for as the a playscriptCarnegie OxfordMedal and shortlisted for the Sheffield Award and the who was noted among his fellow workers for his University Press 1997 AdaptedFederation for of television Children’s in Book19 and Groups 2003 Award.(DVD storytelling skills. As a child, Berlie was an avid releasedIts popularity 2004) saw it abridged for BBC radio in reader. She particularly enjoyed character-led Audio2000 (see cassette: www.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/english/ Cover to Cover 1996 stories such as Little Women, Heidi, the What Winnerstreetchild.shtml). of the Phoenix Award 1993 Katy Did series and Dickens’ novels. PAGE 3 READ & RESPOND: Activities based 0n Street Child RR&R_streetchild_3to18_v2.indd&R_streetchild_3to18_v2.indd 3 119/06/20099/06/2009 112:21:542:21:54.

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