Children's author Monica Hughes died of a stroke on March 7. Born in England, she moved to Canada in 1952 and settled there permanently after marrying Glen Hughes in 1957.
She began writing for young people in 1971, and wrote more than 30 children's books. Known mostly for her science fiction and the popular Isis series, she has been called "Canada's finest writer of science fiction for children" by critic Sarah Ellis in the Horn Book magazine.
Throughout her career she won numerous awards, including the International Board of Books for Young People Certificate of Honour in 1982, for Keeper of the Isis Light, and the Canada Council Children's Literature Award in 1981 and 1982 for Hunter in the Dark and Guardian of Isis.
