Cath Howe

Cath Howe is a British children’s author best known for writing thoughtful and emotionally engaging middle-grade novels. Her books are widely read in schools and focus on real-life experiences, friendships, and the emotional challenges children face as they grow up. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked as a primary school teacher, an experience that strongly influences her storytelling. Her background in education helps her create realistic characters and situations that resonate with young readers, particularly in school settings.

She is best known for her debut novel Ella on the Outside, which won the North Somerset Teachers’ Book Award and was shortlisted for several other prizes. The book explores themes of friendship, loneliness, and belonging, and has been praised for its sensitive and honest portrayal of childhood emotions. Her style is accessible and relatable, making her books suitable for children aged around 8–12. Other notable titles include Not My Fault, How to be Me, and My Life on Fire, all of which continue her focus on realistic situations and emotional growth. Cath Howe’s writing often focuses on friendship and relationships, emotional wellbeing and empathy, family life and change and school experiences and social challenges. She explores children’s complicated lives and how they navigate through tricky times. She also writes fiction series like, ”Call the Puffins,” aimed at readers aged 5+. 

Today, Cath Howe continues to write and also visits schools and literary events, runs workshops on writing and performing, where she encourages children to read, write, and explore their own stories. Cath is also a member of The Society of Authors, CWISL (Children’s Writers and Illustrators for Stories and Literacy), and NAWE (National Society for Writers in Education).