Victoria Williamson
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Victoria Williamson is a primary school teacher with a Master's degree in special needs education. She has worked as a science teacher and teacher trainer in Cameroon and Malawi, an English as a foreign language teacher in China, and as a special needs teacher in the UK.
Victoria has been writing fiction since she was a child, and now writes full time for Middle Grade and YA, with a particular focus on creating diverse characters reflecting the many cultural backgrounds and special needs she has encountered, both as a teacher and as a volunteer. Having worked with children in Africa, Asia and across the UK with additional support needs such as Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Down's Syndrome, physical disabilities and behavioural problems, Victoria is passionate about creating inclusive worlds in her novels where all children can see a reflection of themselves in heroic roles. You can find Victoria on Twitter as @strangelymagical |
Victoria's experiences teaching young children in a deprived area, many of whom were asylum seekers, inspired her first novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of redemption and unlikely friendship between Glasgow bad girl Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema. The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle was published in Spring 2018 by Floris Books and in addition to being exceptionally well received on this side of the Atlantic, it achieved a Kirkus starred review on publication in the US a few months later.
Here's a taste of thew response from readers and educators:
"Deserves to be one of 2018's most lauded books. Tackling racism, discrimination and bullying head-on in a book aimed at upper primary children is no mean feat, but Victoria Williamson does it with great sensitivity ... This is a book that I wish every child would read"
@ThatBoyCanTeach, book blogger and teacher
"An uplifting story about the power of acceptance and friendship. I just loved it and it needs to be in every primary and secondary school library"
@BookloverJo, primary school librarian and blogger
"A truly transformational read. Intensely powerful and immensely poignant at the same time… such a groundbreaking, essential and accomplished debut that not only changes perceptions but also has the power to alter attitudes ... a writer to watch."
@TheReaderTeacher, book blogger and teacher
Here's a link to Victoria Williamson reading an excerpt of the novel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCa3k1oM-e4
Here's more of that pre-publication praise in full:
"A touching, thought-provoking adventure."
The Bookseller
“I tried to make notes the first time I read this, but kept getting so caught up that I forgot. Then I thought I should read it again to make sure it was as good as I thought it was. It was and is, in spades. This is one of the finest pieces of writing I have read in a very long time. It is relevant, moving, and quite extraordinary as a first novel. I was totally convinced by Caylin and Reema, and by the slow, deft revelation of their stories and characters — and the growth of their friendship, which seemed entirely organic and unforced. This is a novel of loss and love, and the fox story which stitches the two girls together is convincing and heartwarming, as well as just tragic enough. I think readers will absolutely love it, and I can absolutely see it on prize lists. If it’s not on the Branford Boase, I will happily eat my hat.”
“A beautiful story singing with love and hope, about finding your feet in a world turned upside down, while treasuring your past. Two exquisitely drawn characters from very different worlds, who find common ground through a burning hope and a passion to protect what matters most. Williamson has such a deep knowledge of her characters’ inner worlds and has created *two* distinct voices, belonging to two very different characters who I defy any reader not to root for from start to finish. I adored this book. A heart-shattering tale of survival and learning to trust again. Real, fresh, and unflinching. A celebration of the beauty and joy that can be found glinting on the greyest of days. Williamson deftly shows how it takes a child to see beyond the surface to find the beauty within.”
“Wonderfully written and an absolutely beautiful novel. Reema and Caylin come so vividly to life I felt their every joy and cried for every heartache. The story is a wonderful melding of cultures, mixing the heat and colours of Aleppo with the grit and humour of Glasgow. The girls' plight touched my heart and I found myself desperately rooting for them as they fought against adversity and for the survival of their little family of foxes.”
“The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle is an engaging, inspiring refugee story that subtly shows the reader how ultimately the differences between people are far outweighed by their common humanity. An essential read in today's political climate.”
“Brimming with hope, The Fox Girl and The White Gazelle is timely, surprising and beautiful. When we first meet Reema and Caylin, their situation and grim prospects are heart-breaking. As Victoria breathes life into their characters, sensitively layering them with nuanced detail, the reader comes to believes in them wholeheartedly. We share in their triumphs and heartaches alongside them and, as they start to realise the possibilities that do exist - even for them - so do we. Together, they and their reader start to appreciate something universally important; whatever differences may divide us, what we share as human beings far outweighs those differences and is so much bigger and SO much more important. As Reema and Caylin make those first few tentative steps towards understanding and friendship, the resultant uplifting wave of optimism and hope is so glorious I almost soared away with them myself. I can’t imagine a more important or inspiring message to convey in a book right now, and that Victoria has achieved that so successfully and with such sensitivity is a great achievement and should be welcomed by her readers and by us all.”
“In Reema and Caylin, Victoria has created two girls who are foreigners in their own homes, and I was cheering them on to become friends, despite their differences. It’s a salient reminder of how hard it is to be an outsider, which all young readers will empathise with, and the strength that comes from working together. Beautifully written, touching, and inspiring.”
“A well-crafted, inspiring debut and a wonderful read. The diverse cast of characters is sensitively drawn and felt so real I found myself suffering with them through all their bad decisions and cheering alongside them at each of their triumphs. Caylin and Reema’s story demonstrates the basic human truth that we are all more alike than we are different, and their interactions with each other, and with the world around them, offer an interesting exploration of what it really means to belong in today's society. And, if that's not enough, readers are treated to the occasional glimpse through the eyes of an urban fox. What's not to love?
Here's a taste of thew response from readers and educators:
"Deserves to be one of 2018's most lauded books. Tackling racism, discrimination and bullying head-on in a book aimed at upper primary children is no mean feat, but Victoria Williamson does it with great sensitivity ... This is a book that I wish every child would read"
@ThatBoyCanTeach, book blogger and teacher
"An uplifting story about the power of acceptance and friendship. I just loved it and it needs to be in every primary and secondary school library"
@BookloverJo, primary school librarian and blogger
"A truly transformational read. Intensely powerful and immensely poignant at the same time… such a groundbreaking, essential and accomplished debut that not only changes perceptions but also has the power to alter attitudes ... a writer to watch."
@TheReaderTeacher, book blogger and teacher
Here's a link to Victoria Williamson reading an excerpt of the novel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCa3k1oM-e4
Here's more of that pre-publication praise in full:
"A touching, thought-provoking adventure."
The Bookseller
“I tried to make notes the first time I read this, but kept getting so caught up that I forgot. Then I thought I should read it again to make sure it was as good as I thought it was. It was and is, in spades. This is one of the finest pieces of writing I have read in a very long time. It is relevant, moving, and quite extraordinary as a first novel. I was totally convinced by Caylin and Reema, and by the slow, deft revelation of their stories and characters — and the growth of their friendship, which seemed entirely organic and unforced. This is a novel of loss and love, and the fox story which stitches the two girls together is convincing and heartwarming, as well as just tragic enough. I think readers will absolutely love it, and I can absolutely see it on prize lists. If it’s not on the Branford Boase, I will happily eat my hat.”
- Lucy Coats, acclaimed author of Cleo, Cleo 2: Chosen, and the Beasts of Olympus series, among others.
“A beautiful story singing with love and hope, about finding your feet in a world turned upside down, while treasuring your past. Two exquisitely drawn characters from very different worlds, who find common ground through a burning hope and a passion to protect what matters most. Williamson has such a deep knowledge of her characters’ inner worlds and has created *two* distinct voices, belonging to two very different characters who I defy any reader not to root for from start to finish. I adored this book. A heart-shattering tale of survival and learning to trust again. Real, fresh, and unflinching. A celebration of the beauty and joy that can be found glinting on the greyest of days. Williamson deftly shows how it takes a child to see beyond the surface to find the beauty within.”
- Sarah Driver, Acclaimed author of the Huntress series, a Waterstones Book of the Month
“Wonderfully written and an absolutely beautiful novel. Reema and Caylin come so vividly to life I felt their every joy and cried for every heartache. The story is a wonderful melding of cultures, mixing the heat and colours of Aleppo with the grit and humour of Glasgow. The girls' plight touched my heart and I found myself desperately rooting for them as they fought against adversity and for the survival of their little family of foxes.”
- Claire McFall, twice winner of the Scottish Teen Book Award and bestselling author of Ferryman, Bombmaker, Black Cairn Point and Trespassers
“The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle is an engaging, inspiring refugee story that subtly shows the reader how ultimately the differences between people are far outweighed by their common humanity. An essential read in today's political climate.”
- Lu Hersey, MsLexia Children’s Book Award winning author of Deep Water
“Brimming with hope, The Fox Girl and The White Gazelle is timely, surprising and beautiful. When we first meet Reema and Caylin, their situation and grim prospects are heart-breaking. As Victoria breathes life into their characters, sensitively layering them with nuanced detail, the reader comes to believes in them wholeheartedly. We share in their triumphs and heartaches alongside them and, as they start to realise the possibilities that do exist - even for them - so do we. Together, they and their reader start to appreciate something universally important; whatever differences may divide us, what we share as human beings far outweighs those differences and is so much bigger and SO much more important. As Reema and Caylin make those first few tentative steps towards understanding and friendship, the resultant uplifting wave of optimism and hope is so glorious I almost soared away with them myself. I can’t imagine a more important or inspiring message to convey in a book right now, and that Victoria has achieved that so successfully and with such sensitivity is a great achievement and should be welcomed by her readers and by us all.”
- Eloise Williams, author of Gaslight, the 2017 Wales Arts Review’s Children’s Book of the Year and the forthcoming Seaglass
“In Reema and Caylin, Victoria has created two girls who are foreigners in their own homes, and I was cheering them on to become friends, despite their differences. It’s a salient reminder of how hard it is to be an outsider, which all young readers will empathise with, and the strength that comes from working together. Beautifully written, touching, and inspiring.”
- Nikki Sheehan, twice Carnegie-nominated author of Swan Boy and Goodnight, Boy, among others
“A well-crafted, inspiring debut and a wonderful read. The diverse cast of characters is sensitively drawn and felt so real I found myself suffering with them through all their bad decisions and cheering alongside them at each of their triumphs. Caylin and Reema’s story demonstrates the basic human truth that we are all more alike than we are different, and their interactions with each other, and with the world around them, offer an interesting exploration of what it really means to belong in today's society. And, if that's not enough, readers are treated to the occasional glimpse through the eyes of an urban fox. What's not to love?
- Rachel Hamilton, author of Louie lets Loose and Louie in a Spin, among others.
