Tracy Darnton is a keen reader and author of children’s and YA fiction, and a graduate of Bath Spa MA Writing for Young People, where she is now an Associate Lecturer.
Her latest novel Ready or Not is out in May 2022. It’s a thriller about a girl who goes missing during a game of hide-and-seek on holiday in Cornwall.
Her first YA novel The Truth About Lies is a thriller set on Dartmoor about a girl who remembers everything. Described by the Guardian as “thought-provoking and crisply written…an assured and charismatic debut”, The Truth About Lies was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2019.
Tracy won the YA Short Story Prize run by Stripes and the Bookseller and was published in I’ll Be Home for Christmas. Her short story became the basis of her YA novel, The Rules, published in 2020, about a girl on the run from her prepper dad. Described by the FT as a “heart-thuddingly nervy thriller” , and The Irish Times said: “this tense, taut novel is chillingly believable“.
Tracy also enjoys writing for much younger children and a couple of picture books are being published shortly. She lives in a village near Bath.
Twitter : @TracyDarnton
Instagram: @TracyDarnton
Recent Posts by Tracy Darnton
My Pet Goldfish by Catherine Rayner
There are so many books about pet cats and dogs, so it’s about time the humble goldfish has a spell ...
When Cucumber Lost his Cool by Michelle Robinson & Tom Knight
Are you in the cool gang? No? Well, Kevin the cucumber has a lot to teach you. But the other ...
The Secret Forest by Sandra Dieckmann
A gorgeous hardback cover with golden highlights is part of what makes this non-fiction spotting book The Secret Forest, from ...
The Bear and her Book by Frances Tosdevin & Sophia O’Connor
I’m sure The Bear and her Book by Frances Tosdevin & Sophia O’Connor is going to be a popular one ...
Fledgling by Lucy Hope
In Bavaria in 1900, a bedraggled cherub flies through Cassie’s window. Her parents are strange and distant and she relies ...
Clementine Florentine by Tasha Harrison & Mya Mitchell
What an enjoyable MG read! Even the eye-catching orange cover brings the fun. Clem and school enemy Callum reluctantly join ...
Libby and the Parisian Puzzle by Jo Clarke, illustrated by Becka Moor
“Libby always wanted to solve her very own mystery, but now she’s really faced with one she desperately wishes she ...
Escape Room by Christopher Edge
“When Ami arrives at The Escape, she thinks it’s just a game – the ultimate escape room with puzzles and ...
Dogs in Disguise by Peter Bently, illustrated by John Bond
Perfect for any dog-obsessed small person, Dogs in Disguise is a colourful, humourous rhyming story. Who doesn’t want to read ...
The Tale of the Whale by Karen Swann & Padmacandra
The Tale of the Whale is a beautifully illustrated story of a child’s friendship with a whale. A delight to ...
My Dad by Susan Quinn & Marina Ruiz
Here’s a definite for the Father’s Day wish list, delighting in the ordinary things a dad does day in, day ...
Outside, Inside by LeUyen Pham
How do you put what’s happened since March 2020 into a picture book to help children make sense of it ...
Ruffles and the Red, Red Coat by David Melling
For all the parents who’ve had the coat battle with a small child (and if you haven’t yet, it’s coming!), ...
The Best Worst Day Ever by Sophy Henn
We’ve all had days like Arthur, not going at all as he imagined he would. I feel his existential pain ...
Grandad’s Camper by Harry Woodgate
Grandad’s Camper is a gentle story of tales shared by widower Grandad of his travels with Gramps. His granddaughter encourages ...
Tisha and the Blossom by Wendy Meddour & Daniel Egnéus
What better day for me to pick this one up than Blossom Watch Day! I’m a big fan of the ...
Barbara Throws a Wobbler by Nadia Shireen
For any of us who’ve ever thrown a wobbler, or had to deal with a pre-schooler having a meltdown over ...
Don’t mess with a Princess! by Rachel Valentine & Rebecca Bagley
Do you like princesses but not pink glittery ones? Prefer your princesses in trainers and using their tights to traverse ...
Be More Bernard by Simon Philip & Kate Hindley
If you’re going to stand out from the crowd and escape the rat bunny race, what better way than a ...
Princesses Don’t Parp by Peter Bently & Eric Heyman
Prepare for much hilarity at bedtime with this irreverent tale, Princesses Don’t Parp by Peter Bently and Eric Heyman. Who ...
Grown-ups Never Do That! by Davide Cali & Benjamin Chaud
Grown-ups Never Do That! is the latest from the pairing of author Davide Cali and illustrator Benjamin Chaud ...
Don’t Worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton
Anyone – adult or child – would be drawn to pick up a distinctive Chris Haughton book. I’m a big ...
Rebel Dogs! Heroic Tales of Trusty Hounds Kimberlie Hamilton
Rebel Dogs! Heroic Tales of Trusty Hounds, by Kimberlie Hamilton, is an engaging book for doggy fans packed with tales ...
Rise Up: Ordinary Kids with Extraordinary Stories by Amanda Li & Amy Blackwell
A good non-fiction addition to a school library – though beware - I did turn the pages feeling like a ...
The dinosaur who lost her voice by Julie Ballard & Francesca Gambatesa
Dinosaur Milly Jo has an amazing singing voice but when she loses it in a freak lightning/palm tree accident, her ...
Lunch at 10 Pomegranate Street by Felicita Sala
Felicita Sala’s Lunch at 10 Pomegranate Street is a beautifully illustrated collection of recipes to feed the soul as well ...
Where the wise things are – How reviewing picture books helps me to write a better novel – Guest Post by Tracy Darnton
I have a pile of brand new picture books on my coffee table waiting to be reviewed for mybookcorner.com. My ...
There’s A Dragon In Your Book
Who doesn’t like dragons? Especially if they’re cute baby ones. But they do sneeze fire so watch out. There’s A ...
We Wear Pants
Bright and cheery? Check. Silly title? Check. Cute penguin with pants on his head? Check. Katie Abey’s book cover leapt ...
Mice In The City: London & New York
Mice in the City: London and Mice in the City: New York by Ami Shin. These gorgeous books make you want ...
One House for All
As part of my MA Writing for Young People at Bath Spa, I chose to look at why we have ...
Game of Stones
‘The Stone Age was boring’ begins Game of Stones by Rebecca Lisle and Richard Watson but, as I’m always telling my ...
Tracy Darnton – Best Book of 2017
Tracy Darnton, MG & YA reviewer for MyBookCorner, selects her Best Book of 2017… The One Memory of Flora Banks ...
Margot And Me
Fliss and her mum move from London to a Welsh farm to live with her spiky grandmother Margot so that ...
Me And Mister P
Me and Mister P is a charming book for younger readers 7+, from Marier Farrer. Arthur finds life unfair and ...
