A Selection of Miriam's Books
Videos:
Miriam Halahmy
Type of Artist:
Talks, Readings.
Details
Preferred age range:7yrs - university students
Maximum number in any one session:
I prefer class groups or two classes paired. However, I have spoken successfully to whole year groups.
No of sessions per day:
I am available in the mornings for up to two sessions.
Session Length:
Up to 60 minutes for each talk to either include signing or for signing to take place after the talk.
Areas prepared to travel to:
I live in London and prefer to remain within reach of home. However, I am open to further afield with an overnight stay if expenses are met.
Transport:
I travel by train.
Fees:
DBS/CRB:
No
Hold PLI (public liability insurance):
Yes, through Society of Authors
Website:
Twitter:
@miriamhalahmy
Titles include:
YA novels
Behind Closed Doors, Firefly Press
Hidden, Troika Books
Illegal, Troika Books
MG novels
Saving Hanno, The Emergency Zoo, Alma Books
Testimonials:
"Miriam Halahmy has been to my school, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, on many occasions, both as an individual author and taking part in our annual Reading Festival. Miriam engages with the students in a lively manner and is very eloquent and engaging when talking about her books, which are very popular in our school. Her sessions are creative - often asking students to act out scenes from her books and she has also visited with a theatre performance of Hidden which was wonderful. Miriam's books cover topics which are hugely relevant to our inner city students and have a wide appeal. I would highly recommend Miriam who is also a warm and lovely person."
Lesley Cheetham, Librarian, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School, Islington.
We had the pleasure of the Forest Forge Theatre Company performing Miriam Halahmy’s Hidden at Fortismere School in November 2018. The play was quite extraordinary; the acting was top-notch and the set brilliantly designed. It helped the students think about all aspects of racism, whether it was obvious name calling and bullying or the more tacit acceptance of others’ opinions on refuges and asylum seekers. After the play there was a talk-back session where the students could interact with the actors and production manager, and we were delighted that the author herself was also present to chat with the audience. Miriam was marvellous. She involved the students by asking them questions and using the answers to inform other aspects of her presentation. Every single Year 8 student (150 of them) was engaged and enthralled. The book, the play and the opportunity to speak to the author was talked about for many weeks after.
Gill Ward, Senior Librarian, Fortismere School, Muswell Hill.
Primary School testimonials
Miriam Halahmy was invited to our school as we were doing a WW2 topic and wanted a slightly different edge to engage our pupils. As Croydon is on the outskirts of London, as is the book, The Emergency Zoo, this also worked well. Having met Miriam previously I knew the students would find her engaging. This book also allowed us to look at other countries during world war 2 such as Germany and the Kindertransport.
Miriam engaged the children by giving a bit of background information to the book and by reading a section to them. The children then asked many questions and were keen to read her next book Saving Hanno. We had used this book for some writing pieces before she came in and the children were therefore keen to ask further questions.
The children really enjoyed the talk and talked about it afterwards out on the playground. Getting a postcard/ book mark each was also a nice touch and I would recommend Miriam to schools as a speaker.
Rosie Ellery, Assistant Head Teacher, St Peters Primary School, Croydon.
Our Y6 pupils at Akiva Primary School, North London, were fortunate enough to attend a talk given to the Association of Jewish Refugees by Miriam Halahmy in November 2018 to talk about her novel, “The Emergency Zoo.”The children were very engaged with the story which consolidated their general learning of WW2, whilst the added dimension of the animals had the children hooked, as it made them consider the time period from a very different perspective. Miriam welcomed and encouraged questions, responding with warmth and humour.
I would recommend Miriam for an author visit – her novel really got our pupils thinking in a different way about WW2.
Liz Papier, Year 6 Teacher, Akiva School