Monica Hughes

Monica Hughes, OC (November 3, 1925 – March 7, 2003) was an English-Canadian author of books for children and young adults, especially science fiction. She also wrote adventure and historical novels set in Canada, and the text for some children's picture books. She may be known best for the Isis trilogy of young-adult science fiction novels (1980–1982).

Life

Monica Hughes lived in many different countries, including Egypt, Scotland, England and Zimbabwe. She was the daughter of Phylis Fry and E.L Ince. Both her parents worked at the University of Liverpool, where her father was a mathematician and her mother a biologist.

In her school years, her teachers always encouraged her to write and join essay writing competitions. Hughes attended Edinburgh University from 1942-1943. While in school, Hughes' academic studies were interrupted as a result of World War II. She joined the Military service, the Women's Royal Naval Service, from the years 1943-1946, cracking German codes. After returning from the war, Hughes went back to school to study Meteorology. She married Glen Hughes on April 22, 1957 and together they had 4 children.