For the historical novel Journey to the River Sea, she won the Smarties Prize in category 9 11 years and made the Carnegie, Whitbread, and Blue Peter shortlists. She was also a finalist for the 2010 Guardian Prize at the time of her death. Her last book, The Abominables, was one of eight books on the longlist for the same award in 2012.
She has written over 23 titles, including children's fiction, adult fiction, and non-fiction.