{{Short description|English writer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox person | birth_name = Danielle Nadine Jawando | birth_date = June 1988<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DLkkYgUNHSs/?hl=en|title=June turned 37/fave Capricorn took me to see my fave Virgo|author=Danielle Jawando|via=Instagram|date=1 July 2025}}</ref> | birth_place = Manchester, England | alma_mater = {{Plainlist| * University of East London {{small|(BA, MA)}} * University of Greenwich {{small|(PGCE)}} }} | occupation = | years_active = | website = }} '''Danielle Nadine Jawando''' (born June 1988) is an English writer best known for her young adult novels. Her second novel ''When Our Worlds Collided'' (2022) won the Jhalak Prize and the YA Book Prize.
==Early life and education== Jawando was born in Manchester to an Irish-Nigerian father and an Irish-Ghanaian mother. Her father also has Brazilian heritage through his grandfather.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.voice-online.co.uk/entertainment/books/2020/03/05/the-new-star-of-ya-fiction/|title=The new star of YA fiction|work=The Voice|first=Darell J|last=Philip|date=5 March 2020|accessdate=28 August 2024}}</ref> Jawando attended Oakwood High School (now Chorlton High School).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/manchesterdesignfactory/docs/4157_chs_spotlight_apr19__17_rbg|title=De colonising the classroom|work=The Spotlight|date=2019|accessdate=28 August 2024|page=3}}</ref> She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 2009 and a Master of Arts (MA) in 2012, both in Creative Writing from the University of East London (UEL). After completing her MA, Jawando pursued a Post-Graduate Certificate (PGCE) at the University of Greenwich.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Burns |first=Karen |date=2018 |title=Rising star in the literary world |url=https://issuu.com/universityofeastlondon/docs/0614030_alumni_magazine_pr_digital_ |accessdate=28 August 2024 |work=Alumni Magazine: Now and Then |publisher=University of East London |page=28}}</ref> She later received the 2021 Alumni Change Maker Award from UEL.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uel.ac.uk/about/alumni/alumni-achievement-awards|title=Alumni Achievement Awards|website=University of East London|accessdate=28 January 2025}}</ref>
==Career== Jawando began her career teaching English and Creative Writing at a further education college (FEC)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newwritingnorth.com/journal/interview-with-danielle-jawando/|title=Interview with Danielle Jawando|work=New Writing North|first=Sophie|last=Koranteng|date=20 March 2020|accessdate=26 October 2024}}</ref> and started her writing career upon publishing the short story "Paradise 703" for ''DeadInk''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://prettylittlememoirs.com/when-our-worlds-collided-by-danielle-jawando/|title=Book Review: When Our Worlds Collided by Danielle Jawando|work=Pretty Little Memoirs|author=Becca Jayne|date=26 April 2022 |accessdate=26 October 2024}}</ref> In 2015,<ref name="rz 20">{{Cite web|url=https://www.readingzone.com/authors/danielle-jawando/|title=Danielle Jawando|website=Reading Zone|date=2020|accessdate=24 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theportico.org.uk/workshops|title=Creative Writing workshops|website=The Portico Library|accessdate=26 October 2024}}</ref> Jawando worked as a storyline writer for the ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cultureword.org.uk/writer-of-the-month-danielle-jawando/|title=Writer of the Month: Danielle Jawando|website=Culture Word|accessdate=22 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07kh140|title=Danielle Jawando|work=The Dead Good Show|author=Simone Riley|publisher=BBC Radio Manchester|accessdate=22 September 2024}}</ref> She became an Associate Lecturer in Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Roehampton, as well as a Writer-in-Residence at ''New Writing North''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wp.lancs.ac.uk/lancaster-words/featured-writers-and-artists/|title=Featured Writers and Artists|website=Lancaster University: Lancaster Words|date=19 January 2017 |accessdate=26 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bookcornerhalifax.com/2018/08/09/festival-of-words/|title=Festival of Words|website=The Book Corner|date=9 August 2018|accessdate=26 October 2024}}</ref>
Her short story "The Deerstalker" was a finalist in the 2017 We Need Diverse Books competition.<ref name="rz 20"/> In 2019, she wrote a non-fiction installment of Laurence King Publishing's ''Little Guides to Great Lives'' series on Maya Angelou.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://etanaeditions.com/en/collections/danielle-jawando|title=Danielle Jawando|website=Etana Editions|accessdate=21 September 2024}}</ref> Jawando signed a two-book deal with Simon & Schuster, through which she published her debut fiction novel ''And the Stars Were Burning Brightly'' in 2020. Set in Wythenshawe, the novel follows 15-year-old Nathan who grapples with his older brother Al's suicide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/class-book-review-and-stars-were-burning-brightly|title=Class book review: And the Stars Were Burning Brightly|work=Tes Magazine|first=David|last=Gower|date=15 March 2024|accessdate=24 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://booksupnorth.com/kids-review-and-the-stars-were-burning-brightly/|title=Kid's Review: And the Stars were Burning Brightly|work=Books Up North|first=Sarah|last=Tyson|date=20 August 2020|accessdate=26 October 2024}}</ref> ''And the Stars Were Burning Brightly'' won Best Senior Novel at the Great Reads Award and was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize,<ref name="tb ws may 21">{{Cite web |last=Bayley |first=Sian |date=26 May 2021 |title=Jawando and Pearson shortlisted for Waterstones Children's Book Prize |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/danielle-jawando-and-jenny-pearson-shortlisted-waterstones-children-s-book-prize-1261173 |accessdate=24 September 2024 |work=The Bookseller}}</ref> the YA Book Prize,<ref name="tb ya may 21">{{Cite web |date=22 May 2021 |title=Danielle Jawando reads from And the Stars Were Burning Brightly - YA Book Prize 2021 |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/broadcast/videos/danielle-jawando-reads-from-and-the-stars-were-burning-brightly--ya-book-prize-2021 |accessdate=10 September 2024 |work=The Bookseller}}</ref> the Jhalak Prize,<ref name="mcl apr 21">{{Cite web |date=15 April 2021 |title=Manchester writers named on longlist for Jhalak Prize 2021 |url=https://www.manchestercityofliterature.com/news/manchester-writers-named-on-longlist-for-jhalak-prize-2021/ |accessdate=10 June 2023 |work=Manchester City of Literature}}</ref> and the Branford Boase Award.<ref name="bba 21">{{Cite web |title=Branford Boase Award 2021 – The Shortlist Interviews |url=https://branfordboaseaward.org.uk/interview-and-the-stars-were-burning-brightly/ |accessdate=13 June 2023 |work=Branford Boase Award}}</ref> It was also longlisted for the Carnegie Medal.<ref name="tg feb 21">{{Cite journal |last=Flood |first=Alison |date=18 February 2021 |title='Outstanding' Carnegie medal longlist includes three previous winners |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/feb/18/outstanding-carnegie-medal-longlist-includes-three-previous-winners |accessdate=17 June 2021 |journal=The Guardian}}</ref>
Jawando's second novel ''When Our Worlds Collided'' was published in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://culturefly.co.uk/book-review-when-our-worlds-collided-by-danielle-jawando/|title=Book Review: When Our Worlds Collided by Danielle Jawando|work=Culturefly|first=Megan|last=Davies|date=29 March 2022|accessdate=24 September 2024}}</ref> ''When Our Worlds Collided'' won the Jhalak Prize,<ref name="tg may 23">{{Cite journal |last=Shaffi |first=Sarah |date=25 May 2023 |title=Travis Alabanza and Danielle Jawando win 2023 Jhalak prizes for writers of colour |url=https://theguardian.com/books/2023/may/25/travis-alabanza-danielle-jawando-win-jhalak-prize-writers-colour |accessdate=1 June 2023 |journal=The Guardian}}</ref> the YA Book Prize,<ref name="it aug 23">{{Cite news |last=Doyle |first=Martin |date=25 August 2023 |title=Alice Winn wins Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize; Danielle Jawando awarded YA Book Prize |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/2023/08/25/alice-winn-wins-waterstones-debut-fiction-prize-danielle-jawando-awarded-ya-book-prize/ |accessdate=10 September 2024 |newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref> and the Diverse Book Award.<ref name="tb oct 23">{{Cite web |last=Bayley |first=Sian |date=26 October 2023 |title=Jawando, Amuah, Sirdeshpande and Williams triumph at Diverse Book Awards |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/jawando-amuah-sirdeshpande-and-williams-triumph-at-diverse-book-awards |accessdate=24 September 2024 |work=The Bookseller}}</ref> It was also shortlisted for the Books Are My Bag Readers' Choice Award and longlisted for the Carnegie Medal. It was also called a book to change the world by Laura Bates.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-05-27 |title=Books to change the world: Dua Lipa, Sadiq Khan, Sebastian Barry and more share their picks |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/may/27/books-to-change-the-world-dua-lipa-sadiq-khan-sebastian-barry-and-more-share-their-picks |access-date=2025-11-04 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In 2023, Bernardine Evaristo in ''British Vogue'' named Jawando a breakthrough Black British female novelist.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Evaristo |first=Bernardine |date=2023-03-26 |title=Bernardine Evaristo: 2023 Is A Breakthrough Year For Black British Women Novelists |url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/black-british-female-authors |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=British Vogue |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Jawando then signed another two-book deal with Simon & Schuster,<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/ss-bags-life-affirming-ya-from-jawando-in-two-book-deal|title=S&S bags 'life-affirming' YA from Jawando in two-book deal|journal=The Bookseller|first=Ruth|last=Comerford|date=4 May 2022|accessdate=22 September 2024}}</ref> through which she published her third novel ''If My Words Had Wings''. The novel follows a teenager named Tyrell who discovers his voice through spoken word poetry in a young offenders' prison. It explores the disparities within the justice system, mental health and Joint Enterprise.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/article/2024/may/28/young-adult-books-roundup-reviews-four-eids-and-funeral-king-of-nothing-if-my-words-had-wings-iris-green-unseen|title=Young adult books roundup – reviews|work=The Guardian|first=Fiona|last=Noble|date=28 May 2024|accessdate=26 October 2024}}</ref> Suzi Feay of ''Financial Times'' named ''If My Words Had Wings'' one of the best summer 2024 YA novels.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/566ca5d8-0fe3-4fb0-abea-9cf9dc36acf9|title=Best summer books of 2024: Young adult|work=Financial Times|first=Suzi|last=Feay|date=21 June 2024|accessdate=26 October 2024}}</ref> ''If My Words Had Wings'' was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal and shortlisted for the YA Book Prize, UKLA Book Awards, Diverse Book Awards and the Peter's Children's Book of the Year.
==Publications== ===Novels=== * ''And the Stars Were Burning Brightly'' (2020) * ''When Our Worlds Collided'' (2022) * ''If My Words Had Wings'' (2024)
===Non-fiction=== * ''Maya Angelou'' (2019)
===Short stories=== * "Paradise 703" in ''DeadInk'' (2012) * "The Deerstalker" (2017)
==Awards== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+Awards for Jawando's writing !Year !Title !Award !Category !Result !{{Ref heading}} |- | rowspan="6" | 2021 | rowspan="6" |''And the Stars Were Burning Brightly'' | colspan="2" | YA Book Prize | {{sho}} | <ref name="tb ya may 21" /> |- | Jhalak Prize | Children's and Young Adult | {{sho}} | <ref name="mcl apr 21" /> |- | Carnegie Medal | | {{nom|Longlisted}} | <ref name="tg feb 21" /> |- | Waterstones Children's Book Prize | Older Fiction | {{sho}} | <ref name="tb ws may 21" /> |- | Branford Boase Award | | {{sho}} | <ref name="bba 21" /> |- | Lancashire Book of the Year | | {{sho}} | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/author-receives-lancashire-book-of-the-year-award-2021|title=Author receives Lancashire Book of the Year Award 2021|work=In Your Area|date=4 November 2021|accessdate=26 February 2024}}</ref> |- | 2022 | rowspan="5" |''When Our Worlds Collided'' | Books Are My Bag Readers' Awards | Young Adult Fiction | {{sho}} | <ref name="bim oct 22">{{Cite web |date=6 October 2022 |title=Shortlist for Books Are My Bag Readers Awards announced |url=https://booksirelandmagazine.com/shortlist-for-books-are-my-bag-readers-awards-announced/ |accessdate=8 November 2022 |work=Books Ireland}}</ref> |- | rowspan="4" | 2023 | Jhalak Prize | Children's and Young Adult | {{won}} | <ref name="tg may 23" /> |- | Carnegie Medal | | {{nom|Longlisted}} | <ref name="pp feb 23">{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Porter |date=15 February 2023 |title=England's Yoto Carnegie Medals Name Their 2023 Longlists |url=https://publishingperspectives.com/2023/02/englands-yoto-carnegie-medals-name-their-2023-longlists/ |accessdate=29 June 2023 |work=Publishing Perspectives}}</ref> |- | colspan="2" | YA Book Prize | {{won}} | <ref name="it aug 23" /> |- | Diverse Book Awards | YA Fiction | {{won}} | <ref name="tb oct 23" /> |- | rowspan="5" | 2025 | rowspan="5" | ''If My Words Had Wings'' | colspan="2" | Carnegie Medal | {{nom|Longlisted}} | |- | colspan="2" | YA Book Prize | {{sho}} | <ref>{{Cite web |title=Four debuts shortlisted for the YA Book Prize 2025 alongside three former winners |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/four-debuts-shortlisted-for-the-ya-book-prize-2025-alongside-three-former-winners |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=The Bookseller |language=En}}</ref> |- | UKLA Book Awards | 11–14+ | {{sho}} |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Webb |first=Lily |date=2025-03-18 |title=UKLA Book Awards 2025 Shortlist |url=https://ukla.org/ukla-book-awards-2025-shortlist/ |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=UK Literacy Association |language=en-GB}}</ref> |- | Diverse Book Awards | YA | {{sho}} | <ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-10 |title=The Diverse Book Awards 2025 - Shortlist |url=https://www.thediversebookawards.co.uk/2025-shortlist |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=Diverse Book Awards |language=en-UK}}</ref> |- | Peter's Children's Book of the Year | Teen Fiction | {{sho}} | <ref>{{Cite web |title=Peters Children's Book of the Year shortlists announced! - Peters |url=https://peters.co.uk/news-page?srsltid=AfmBOoqQAItP0w3v9CAerKfxFSKgLdydutjsAzVpMyhNLgEBqKcFH9Vb |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=peters.co.uk}}</ref> |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Academics of Manchester Metropolitan University Category:Academics of the University of Roehampton Category:Alumni of the University of East London Category:Alumni of the University of Greenwich Category:Black British women writers Category:British women writers of young adult literature Category:English people of Brazilian descent Category:English people of Ghanaian descent Category:English people of Irish descent Category:English people of Nigerian descent Category:Writers from Manchester Category:1988 births Category:Living people