Hilary McKay in conversation with Nicolette Jones

Hilary McKay writes novels for children that often feature eccentric and deeply endearing characters and describe the escapades and traumas of family life in hilarious detail. She is well known for her series about the Casson family and also The Exiles. Her latest novel The Skylarks’ War (winner of The Costa Children’s Book Award 2018) brings us the wonderful character of Clarry, a young girl who shows great strength in the face of adversity and is unfailingly kind. Set against the brutal backdrop of the First World War we are drawn into the vivid world of this story, of Clarry, Peter, Rupert and Simon the Bony One, of love, family and loss.

Nicolette Jones, is a writer, journalist, literary critic and broadcaster, and has been the children’s books reviewer of the Sunday Times for more than two decades. A Royal Literary Fund Fellow, and a nominee for the 2012 Eleanor Farjeon Award for outstanding service to the world of children’s books, she is an experienced book prize judge and professional chair of literary events. She has worked with us at The Children's Bookshow for many years, and interviewees have included Judith Kerr, John Burningham, Hilary McKay, Maria Parr and Stefan Casta.