Frances Hardinge is a British children's writer born in Kent in 1973. Her debut novel, Fly by Night, was published in 2006 and won the Branford Boase Award, establishing her as a significant voice in children's literature. The novel was also listed as one of the School Library Journal Best Books. Beyond her debut, Hardinge has built a body of work that has earned consistent recognition within the literary community. She has been shortlisted for and received a number of awards for both her novels and short stories, demonstrating range and sustained quality across different formats.