Robin Klein

{{short description|Australian author of books for children (born 1936)}} {{for|the British entrepreneur and investor|Robin Klein (venture capitalist)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox writer  | name = Robin Klein | image = | caption = | birth_name = Robin McMaugh Klein | birth_date = {{birth date and age text|28 February 1936}} | birth_place = [[Kempsey, New South Wales]], Australia | death_date = | death_place = | genre = [[Children's fiction|Children's]], [[young adult fiction]] | movement = | notableworks = ''[[Hating Alison Ashley (novel)|Hating Alison Ashley]]'', ''[[Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left]]'', ''[[Came Back to Show You I Could Fly]]'' | influences = | influenced = | website = }}

'''Robin McMaugh Klein''' (born 28 February 1936)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Klein, Robin, 1936– |url=https://librariesaustralia.nla.gov.au/search/display?dbid=auth&id=35073028 |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=Libraries Australia}}</ref> is an Australian author of books for children. She was born in [[Kempsey, New South Wales]], [[Australia]], and now resides near [[Melbourne]].

==Early life== Robin Klein is one of nine children.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0458958/bio Robin Klein]. IMDb.com</ref> She had her first short story published at the age of 16. She worked in a number of jobs before becoming an established writer, including tea lady at a warehouse, bookshop assistant, nurse, copper enamelist, and program aide at a school for disadvantaged children.<ref>{{cite web|title="Storymakers: Robin Klein" |publisher= NFSA|url=https://www.nfsa.gov.au/sites/default/files/05-2017/storymakers_robin_klein_tn.pdf|access-date= 7 January 2026}}</ref> In 1981, she was awarded a Literature Board grant for writing, and since then, she has published more than 20 books. Robin Klein was educated at Newcastle Girls' High School.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A16968|title=Robin Klein: (author/organisation) {{!}} AustLit: Discover Australian Stories|website=austlit.edu.au|access-date=2019-10-23}}</ref>

==Career== Several of her books have been [[Short list|short-listed]] for the [[Children's Book Council of Australia]] (CBCA) [[Australian Children's Book of the Year Award|Children's Book of the Year Award]], including ''[[Hating Alison Ashley (novel)|Hating Alison Ashley]]'' (also a [[Hating Alison Ashley (film)|film]] starring [[Delta Goodrem]]) and ''[[Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left]]'' (filmed as a television series for the [[Seven Network]] in 1992). Klein's novel ''[[Came Back to Show You I Could Fly]]'' won a human rights award for literature in 1989 and also won the 1990 CBCA [[Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers]]. It was filmed as ''[[Say a Little Prayer]]'' in 1993.

Several of her other books have received awards in Australia, including the South Australian Festival Award for Literature, which she won in 1998 with ''The Listmaker''. Many others, including ''[[Boss of the Pool]]'', have also won or been short-listed.

Robin Klein suffered an [[aneurysm]] rupture, and while she survived, since 2005, she has lived in a [[nursing home]] and is no longer able to write or do significant publicity work for her books.

==Legacy== Editor and author Jon Appleton published the memoir ''[https://lettersfromrobin.com/ Letters From Robin]'' in 2022. The book details his correspondence and friendship with Klein during the height of her career.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Letters from Robin: A Voyage Around My Author |url=https://lettersfromrobin.com/ |access-date=2026-05-30 |website=Letters from Robin: A Voyage Around My Author |language=en}}</ref>

==Awards== * Special mention – Critici in Erba Prize at [[Bologna Children's Book Fair|Bologna]] for ''The Giraffe in Pepperell Street'' (1978)<ref name = "hamilton">{{cite web |title = CYSS [NSW] Nancy Booker Honour Lecture 2000 by Margaret Hamilton |publisher= ALIA Children's and Youth Services (NSW)|url= http://www.alia.org.au/groups/cysnsw/awards/nancy.booker.html |access-date = 2007-08-11}}</ref> * Won – [[Children's Book Council of Australia|CBCA]] [[Children's Book of the Year Award: Younger Readers]] for ''Thing'' (1983)<ref name=CBCA>{{cite web|title="CBCA Awards 1946 on" |publisher= Children's Book Council of Australia|url=https://cbca.blob.core.windows.net/documents/National/CBCA%20Awards%201946%20on.pdf|access-date= 7 January 2026}}</ref> * Won – Human Rights Literature and Awards (1989)<ref>{{cite web|publisher= Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission|url= http://www.humanrights.gov.au/about/hr_awards/1989.html|title= 1989 Human Rights Medal and Awards|access-date= 2007-08-11|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070901021228/http://humanrights.gov.au/about/hr_awards/1989.html|archive-date= 1 September 2007}}</ref> * Won – [[Children's Book Council of Australia|CBCA]] [[Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers]] for ''[[Came Back to Show You I Could Fly]]'' (1990)<ref name=CBCA /> * Won – [[COOL Award|Canberra's Own Outstanding List: Fiction for Older Readers Award]] for ''[[People Might Hear You]]'' (1991)<ref>{{cite web|title= ''People Might Hear You'' by Robin Klein – Awards|publisher= Austlit|url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C389232?mainTabTemplate=workAwards|access-date= 7 January 2026}}</ref> * Won – [[Dromkeen Medal]] (1991)<ref>{{cite web|title=Previous recipients: Dromkeen Medal|url=https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/about-us/scholarships-awards/dromkeen-awards/dromkeen-medal/previous-recipients|website=State Library Victoria|access-date= 7 January 2026}}</ref> * Won – [[COOL Award|Canberra's Own Outstanding List: Fiction for Older Readers Award]] for ''[[Came Back to Show You I Could Fly]]'' (1992)<ref>{{cite web|title= ''Came Back to Show You I Could Fly'' by Robin Klein – Awards|publisher= Austlit|url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C238782?mainTabTemplate=workAwards|access-date= 7 January 2026}}</ref>

==Bibliography==

===Collections=== * ''Ratbags and Rascals : Funny Stories'' (J.M. Dent, 1984), illustrated by Alison Lester * ''Snakes and Ladders : poems about the ups and downs of life'' (J.M. Dent, 1985), illustrated by [[Ann James]] * ''Tearaways'' (Viking, 1990, first published as ''Stories to Make You Think Twice'')

===Penny Pollard books=== ''illustrated by [[Ann James]]''

# ''Penny Pollard's Diary'' (Oxford University Press, 1983) # ''Penny Pollard's Letters'' (Oxford University Press, 1984) # ''Penny Pollard in Print'' (Oxford University Press, 1986) # ''Penny Pollard's Passport'' (Oxford University Press, 1988) # ''Penny Pollard's Guide to Modern Manners'' (Oxford University Press, 1989) # ''Penny Pollard's Scrapbook'' (Hodder Children's Books Australia, 1999)

===''Thing'' books=== # ''Thing'' (Oxford University Press, 1982) illustrated by Alison Lester # ''Thingnapped!'' (Oxford University Press, 1984) # ''Thing Finds a Job'' (Hodder Headline, 1996), illustrated by Alison Lester # ''Thing's Concert'' (Hodder Headline, 1996), illustrated by Alison Lester # ''Thing's Birthday'' (Hodder Headline, 1996), illustrated by Alison Lester # ''Thingitis'' (Hodder Headline, 1996), illustrated by Alison Lester

=== The Melling Sisters trilogy=== # ''All in the Blue Unclouded Weather'' (Viking, 1991) # ''Dresses of Red and Gold'' (Viking, 1992) # ''The Sky in Silver Lace'' (Penguin Books, 1995)

===Miscellaneous=== * ''The Giraffe in Pepperell Street'' (Hodder and Stoughton, 1978), illustrated by Gill Tomblin * ''Junk Castle'' (Oxford University Press, 1983), illustrated by [[Rolf Heimann]] * ''[[People Might Hear You]]'' (Puffin Books, 1983) * ''Oodoolay '' (Era Publications, c1983), illustrated by Vivienne Goodman * ''Brock and the Dragon'' (Hodder & Stoughton, 1984), illustrated by Rodney McRae * ''[[Hating Alison Ashley (novel)|Hating Alison Ashley]]'' (Puffin Books, 1984) * ''Thalia, the Failure'' (Ashton Scholastic, 1984), illustrated by Rhyll Plant * ''The Enemies'' (Angus & Robertson, 1985), illustrated by [[Noela Young]] * ''[[Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left]]'' (Viking Kestrel, 1985) * ''Serve Him Right!'' (Edward Arnold (Australia), 1985), illustrated by John Burge * ''You're on Your Own!'' (Edward Arnold, 1985) * ''Good For Something'' (Edward Arnold Australia, 1985) * ''Separate Places'' (Roo Books, 1985), illustrated by Astra Lacis * ''Games'' (Viking Kestrel, 1986), illustrated by Melissa Webb * ''[[Boss of the Pool]]'' (Omnibus in association with Penguin, 1986) * ''The Princess who Hated It'' (Omnibus Books, 1986), illustrated by Maire Smith * ''Robin Klein's Crookbook'' (Methuen Australia, 1987), illustrated by Kristen Hilliard * ''Don't Tell Lucy'' (Methuen Australia, 1987) * ''Birk, the Berserker'' (Omnibus Books, 1987), illustrated by Alison Lester * ''The Lonely Hearts Club'' (Oxford University Press, 1987), with Max Dann * ''I Shot an Arrow'' (Viking Kestrel, 1987), illustrated by Geoff Hocking * ''Christmas'' (Methuen, c1987), illustrated by Kristen Hilliard * ''Laurie Loved Me Best'' (Viking Kestrel, 1988) * ''Jane's Mansion'' (Shortland, 1988), illustrated by Melissa Webb * ''The Kidnapping of Clarissa Montgomery'' (Shortland, 1988), illustrated by Jane Wallace-Mitchell * ''Against the Odds'' (Puffin Books, 1989), illustrated by Bill Wood * ''Honoured Guest'' (Angus & Robertson, 1989) * ''[[Came Back to Show You I Could Fly]]'' (Viking Penguin, 1989) * ''The Ghost in Abigail Terrace'' (Omnibus Books, 1989), illustrated by Margaret Power * ''Boris and Borsch'' (Allen & Unwin, 1990), illustrated by [[Cathy Wilcox]] * ''Amy's Bed'' (Omnibus Books, 1992), illustrated by Coral Tulloch * ''Seeing Things '' (Penguin Books Australia, 1993) * ''Turn Right for Zyrgon'' (Puffin, 1994) * ''The Listmaker'' (Viking, 1997) * ''Barney's Blues'' (Puffin, 1998), illustrated by David Cox * ''The Goddess'' (Lothian, 1998), illustrated by Anne Spudvilas * ''Gabby's Fair'' (Omnibus Books, 1998), illustrated by Michael Johnson * ''Anything Happens'' * ''Tor Atar Gu'' (Abhishek Das Books)

===Adaptations===

====Television==== * ''Thing'' * ''Penny Pollard's Diary'' * ''[[Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left#Television series|Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left]]'', adapted by Michael Harvey and John Reeves (1991–1992)

====Stage==== * ''Hating Alison Ashley: The Play'', adapted by Richard Tulloch * ''[[Boss of the Pool#Play|Boss of the Pool]]'', adapted by [[Mary Morris]]

====Film==== * ''[[Say a Little Prayer]]'', based on ''[[Came Back to Show You I Could Fly]]'', adapted and directed by [[Richard Lowenstein]] (1993) * ''[[Hating Alison Ashley (film)|Hating Alison Ashley]]'', adapted for the screen by Chris Anastassiades and Christine Madafferi (2005)

==References== {{reflist}}

==Further reading== * [http://nla.gov.au/nla.ms-ms9301 MS 9301- Papers of Robin Klein (1936 – )] National Library of Australia (Retrieved 11 August 2007) * [http://www.alia.org.au/groups/cysnsw/awards/nancy.booker.html CYSS (NSW) Nancy Booker Honour Lecture 2000 by Margaret Hamilton] (Retrieved 11 August 2007) * [http://www.answers.com/topic/robin-klein-children-s-author Biography of Robin Klein (1936–)] Answers.com * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927020536/http://www.humanrights.gov.au/hr_awards/1989.html 1989 Human Rights Medal and Awards]

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070830155036/http://penguin.com.au/lookinside/author-profile.cfm?AuthId=0000001022 Penguin Books author profile] *{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/19990128222509/http://hem.passagen.se/danielho/HalfwayAcrossTheGalaxy/ Fan site]}} for the ''[[Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left]]'' television series *[http://www.clubtroppo.com.au/2005/04/06/do-audiences-hate-alison-ashley-too/ Sophie Masson describes Klein's illness] * {{IMDb name|0458958}} * [http://www.answers.com/topic/say-a-little-prayer-film?cat=entertainment Say a Little Prayer (movie)]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Klein, Robin}} [[Category:1936 births]] [[Category:20th-century Australian novelists]] [[Category:Australian children's writers]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Kempsey, New South Wales]] [[Category:Writers from New South Wales]] [[Category:Australian women children's writers]] [[Category:20th-century Australian women novelists]]