Polly Ho-Yen

Polly Ho-Yen is a British author known for her critically acclaimed children's novels. Her debut work, "Boy in the Tower," published in 2014 by Random House Children's Publishers, earned widespread recognition, including a Carnegie Medal nomination and shortlist placements for the Blue Peter Book Award and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. She followed this success with two more novels, "Where Monsters Lie" (2016) and "Fly Me Home" (2017), both of which were also nominated for the Carnegie Medal.

Before becoming a full-time writer, Ho-Yen worked in publishing and later as a primary school teacher in London, where she began writing stories early in the mornings before her teaching duties. Her background in education and her passion for storytelling have shaped her writing style, which often explores themes of resilience and imagination. She now dedicates her time to writing and frequently visits schools across the UK to engage with young readers. Ho-Yen resides in Bristol with her husband and daughter.