Alex Wheatle (MBE) is a major voice in YA literature. Many of his acclaimed novels are inspired by his tough childhood experiences. Born in London to Jamaican parents, Alex spent much of his childhood in a Surrey children’s home. Following a short stint in prison following the Brixton uprising in 1981, and starting out as a founding member of the Crucial Rocker sound system, he began writing poetry and novels, becoming known as the Brixtonbard. Accolades include being longlisted for the Carnegie Medal, winning the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award, and being awarded an MBE for services to literature in 2008. Alex has written for adults as well as YA with major works including Brixton Rock and The Crongton Series. Find out more at his website or on Twitter.