PATRICE LAWRENCE MBE, FRSL
Author • Children’s Laureate
Children's Laureate Patrice Lawrence’s extraordinary literary journey is deeply intertwined with the borough of Hackney, serving as a raw and vibrant backdrop of her multi-award-winning novels that have reshaped the landscape of British children's literature.
Her creative career was nurtured in Hackney, where she lived for many years. Her acclaimed novel Orangeboy (2016) follows a young Black boy from Hackney navigating grief, peer pressure and gang violence, winning both the Bookseller YA Book Prize and Waterstones Children’s Book Prize in 2017. Lawrence received an MBE in 2021, became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2023 and was appointed Waterstones Children’s Laureate in 2026.
Why Hackney Matters?
For Patrice Lawrence, Hackney is a source of creative inspiration. She has drawn on the borough’s people, communities and social history in her writing, stating that “nearly all of my YA books are set and inspired by Hackney”. Her writing allows young readers to see their lives, communities and experiences reflected in literature.
Did you know?
Before becoming an established author, Patrice Lawrence worked in the charity sector and supported organisations including First Story and BookTrust to encourage young people’s creativity and love of reading.