# Robin Klein

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Australian author of books for children (born 1936)

For the British entrepreneur and investor, see [Robin Klein (venture capitalist)](/source/Robin_Klein_(venture_capitalist)).

Robin Klein Born Robin McMaugh Klein 28 February 1936 (1936-02-28) (age 90) Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia Genre Children's, young adult fiction Notable works Hating Alison Ashley, Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left, Came Back to Show You I Could Fly

**Robin McMaugh Klein** (born 28 February 1936)[1] is an Australian author of books for children. She was born in [Kempsey, New South Wales](/source/Kempsey%2C_New_South_Wales), [Australia](/source/Australia), and now resides near [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne).

## Early life

Robin Klein is one of nine children.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]

## Career

Several of her books have been [short-listed](/source/Short_list) for the [Children's Book Council of Australia](/source/Children's_Book_Council_of_Australia) (CBCA) [Children's Book of the Year Award](/source/Australian_Children's_Book_of_the_Year_Award), including *[Hating Alison Ashley](/source/Hating_Alison_Ashley_(novel))* (also a [film](/source/Hating_Alison_Ashley_(film)) starring [Delta Goodrem](/source/Delta_Goodrem)) and *[Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left](/source/Halfway_Across_the_Galaxy_and_Turn_Left)* (filmed as a television series for the [Seven Network](/source/Seven_Network) in 1992). Klein's novel *[Came Back to Show You I Could Fly](/source/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](/source/Children's_Book_of_the_Year_Award%3A_Older_Readers). It was filmed as *[Say a Little Prayer](/source/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](/source/Boss_of_the_Pool)*, have also won or been short-listed.

Robin Klein suffered an [aneurysm](/source/Aneurysm) rupture, and while she survived, since 2005, she has lived in a [nursing home](/source/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 *[Letters From Robin](https://lettersfromrobin.com/)* in 2022. The book details his correspondence and friendship with Klein during the height of her career.[5]

## Awards

- Special mention – Critici in Erba Prize at [Bologna](/source/Bologna_Children's_Book_Fair) for *The Giraffe in Pepperell Street* (1978)[6]

- Won – [CBCA](/source/Children's_Book_Council_of_Australia) [Children's Book of the Year Award: Younger Readers](/source/Children's_Book_of_the_Year_Award%3A_Younger_Readers) for *Thing* (1983)[7]

- Won – Human Rights Literature and Awards (1989)[8]

- Won – [CBCA](/source/Children's_Book_Council_of_Australia) [Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers](/source/Children's_Book_of_the_Year_Award%3A_Older_Readers) for *[Came Back to Show You I Could Fly](/source/Came_Back_to_Show_You_I_Could_Fly)* (1990)[7]

- Won – [Canberra's Own Outstanding List: Fiction for Older Readers Award](/source/COOL_Award) for *[People Might Hear You](/source/People_Might_Hear_You)* (1991)[9]

- Won – [Dromkeen Medal](/source/Dromkeen_Medal) (1991)[10]

- Won – [Canberra's Own Outstanding List: Fiction for Older Readers Award](/source/COOL_Award) for *[Came Back to Show You I Could Fly](/source/Came_Back_to_Show_You_I_Could_Fly)* (1992)[11]

## 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](/source/Ann_James)

- *Tearaways* (Viking, 1990, first published as *Stories to Make You Think Twice*)

### Penny Pollard books

*illustrated by [Ann James](/source/Ann_James)*

1. *Penny Pollard's Diary* (Oxford University Press, 1983)

1. *Penny Pollard's Letters* (Oxford University Press, 1984)

1. *Penny Pollard in Print* (Oxford University Press, 1986)

1. *Penny Pollard's Passport* (Oxford University Press, 1988)

1. *Penny Pollard's Guide to Modern Manners* (Oxford University Press, 1989)

1. *Penny Pollard's Scrapbook* (Hodder Children's Books Australia, 1999)

### *Thing* books

1. *Thing* (Oxford University Press, 1982) illustrated by Alison Lester

1. *Thingnapped!* (Oxford University Press, 1984)

1. *Thing Finds a Job* (Hodder Headline, 1996), illustrated by Alison Lester

1. *Thing's Concert* (Hodder Headline, 1996), illustrated by Alison Lester

1. *Thing's Birthday* (Hodder Headline, 1996), illustrated by Alison Lester

1. *Thingitis* (Hodder Headline, 1996), illustrated by Alison Lester

### The Melling Sisters trilogy

1. *All in the Blue Unclouded Weather* (Viking, 1991)

1. *Dresses of Red and Gold* (Viking, 1992)

1. *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](/source/Rolf_Heimann)

- *[People Might Hear You](/source/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](/source/Hating_Alison_Ashley_(novel))* (Puffin Books, 1984)

- *Thalia, the Failure* (Ashton Scholastic, 1984), illustrated by Rhyll Plant

- *The Enemies* (Angus & Robertson, 1985), illustrated by [Noela Young](/source/Noela_Young)

- *[Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Halfway_Across_the_Galaxy_and_Turn_Left#Television_series)*, adapted by Michael Harvey and John Reeves (1991–1992)

#### Stage

- *Hating Alison Ashley: The Play*, adapted by Richard Tulloch

- *[Boss of the Pool](/source/Boss_of_the_Pool#Play)*, adapted by [Mary Morris](/source/Mary_Morris)

#### Film

- *[Say a Little Prayer](/source/Say_a_Little_Prayer)*, based on *[Came Back to Show You I Could Fly](/source/Came_Back_to_Show_You_I_Could_Fly)*, adapted and directed by [Richard Lowenstein](/source/Richard_Lowenstein) (1993)

- *[Hating Alison Ashley](/source/Hating_Alison_Ashley_(film))*, adapted for the screen by Chris Anastassiades and Christine Madafferi (2005)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Klein, Robin, 1936–"](https://librariesaustralia.nla.gov.au/search/display?dbid=auth&id=35073028). *Libraries Australia*. Retrieved 16 February 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Robin Klein](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0458958/bio). IMDb.com

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [""Storymakers: Robin Klein""](https://www.nfsa.gov.au/sites/default/files/05-2017/storymakers_robin_klein_tn.pdf) (PDF). NFSA. Retrieved 7 January 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Robin Klein: (author/organisation) | AustLit: Discover Australian Stories"](https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A16968). *austlit.edu.au*. Retrieved 23 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Letters from Robin: A Voyage Around My Author"](https://lettersfromrobin.com/). *Letters from Robin: A Voyage Around My Author*. Retrieved 30 May 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-hamilton_6-0)** ["CYSS \[NSW\] Nancy Booker Honour Lecture 2000 by Margaret Hamilton"](http://www.alia.org.au/groups/cysnsw/awards/nancy.booker.html). ALIA Children's and Youth Services (NSW). Retrieved 11 August 2007.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CBCA_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CBCA_7-1) [""CBCA Awards 1946 on""](https://cbca.blob.core.windows.net/documents/National/CBCA%20Awards%201946%20on.pdf) (PDF). Children's Book Council of Australia. Retrieved 7 January 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["1989 Human Rights Medal and Awards"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070901021228/http://humanrights.gov.au/about/hr_awards/1989.html). Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission. Archived from [the original](http://www.humanrights.gov.au/about/hr_awards/1989.html) on 1 September 2007. Retrieved 11 August 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["*People Might Hear You* by Robin Klein – Awards"](https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C389232?mainTabTemplate=workAwards). Austlit. Retrieved 7 January 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Previous recipients: Dromkeen Medal"](https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/about-us/scholarships-awards/dromkeen-awards/dromkeen-medal/previous-recipients). *State Library Victoria*. Retrieved 7 January 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["*Came Back to Show You I Could Fly* by Robin Klein – Awards"](https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C238782?mainTabTemplate=workAwards). Austlit. Retrieved 7 January 2026.

## Further reading

- [MS 9301- Papers of Robin Klein (1936 – )](http://nla.gov.au/nla.ms-ms9301) National Library of Australia (Retrieved 11 August 2007)

- [CYSS (NSW) Nancy Booker Honour Lecture 2000 by Margaret Hamilton](http://www.alia.org.au/groups/cysnsw/awards/nancy.booker.html) (Retrieved 11 August 2007)

- [Biography of Robin Klein (1936–)](http://www.answers.com/topic/robin-klein-children-s-author) Answers.com

- [1989 Human Rights Medal and Awards](https://web.archive.org/web/20070927020536/http://www.humanrights.gov.au/hr_awards/1989.html)

## External links

- [Penguin Books author profile](https://web.archive.org/web/20070830155036/http://penguin.com.au/lookinside/author-profile.cfm?AuthId=0000001022)

- [Fan site](https://web.archive.org/web/19990128222509/http://hem.passagen.se/danielho/HalfwayAcrossTheGalaxy/) for the *[Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left](/source/Halfway_Across_the_Galaxy_and_Turn_Left)* television series

- [Sophie Masson describes Klein's illness](http://www.clubtroppo.com.au/2005/04/06/do-audiences-hate-alison-ashley-too/)

- [Robin Klein](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0458958/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Say a Little Prayer (movie)](http://www.answers.com/topic/say-a-little-prayer-film?cat=entertainment)

- [Children's literature portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Children%27s_literature)

v t e Children's Book of the Year Award for Younger Readers 1982–1989 Rummage by Christobel Mattingley (1982) Thing by Robin Klein (1983) Bernice Knows Best by Max Dann (1984) Something Special by Emily Rodda (1985) Arkwright by Mary Steele (1986) Pigs Might Fly by Emily Rodda (1987) My Place by Nadia Wheatley (1988) The Best-Kept Secret by Emily Rodda (1989) 1990–1999 Pigs and Honey by Jeanie Adams (1990) Finders Keepers by Emily Rodda (1991) The Magnificent Nose and Other Marvels by Anna Fienberg (1992) The Bamboo Flute by Garry Disher (1993) Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda (1994) Ark in the Park by Wendy Orr (1995) Swashbuckler by James Moloney (1996) Hannah Plus One by Libby Gleeson (1997) Someone Like Me by Elaine Forrestal (1998) My Girragunji by Meme McDonald and Boori Pryor (1999) 2000–2009 Hitler's Daughter by Jackie French (2000) Two Hands Together by Diana Kidd (2001) My Dog by John Heffernan (2002) Rain May and Captain Daniel by Catherine Bateson (2003) Dragonkeeper by Carole Wilkinson (2004) The Silver Donkey by Sonya Hartnett (2005) Helicopter Man by Elizabeth Fensham (2006) Being Bee by Catherine Bateson (2007) Dragon Moon by Carole Wilkinson (2008) Perry Angel's Suitcase by Glenda Millard (2009) 2010–2019 Darius Bell and the Glitter Pool by Odo Hirsch (2010) The Red Wind by Isobelle Carmody (2011) Crow Country by Kate Constable (2012) The Children of the King by Sonya Hartnett (2013) City Of Orphans: A Very Unusual Pursuit by Catherine Jinks (2014) The Cleo Stories: The Necklace and the Present by Libby Gleeson (2015) Soon by Morris Gleitzman (2016) Rockhopping by Trace Balla (2017) How To Bee by Bren MacDibble (2018) His Name Was Winter by Emily Rodda (2019) 2020–present The Little Wave by Pip Harry (2020) Aster's Good, Right Things by Kate Gordon (2021) A Glasshouse of Stars by Shirley Marr (2022) Runt by Craig Silvey (2023) Scar Town by Tristan Bancks (2024) Laughter Is the Best Ending by Maryam Master (2025) Picture Book (1955–present) Early Childhood (2001–present) Older Readers (1946–present) Eve Pownall Award for Information Books (1988–present)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Robin Klein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Klein) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Klein?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.