Norman, Lilith (1927-2017), was an Australian author of children’s books. She won praise for the frank realism of her novels. Norman’s first novel, Climb a Lonely Hill (1970), describes the struggle of two children to survive in the Australian outback after they are stranded in a truck accident. The outback is Australia’s rural interior. The Shape of Three (1971) deals with two babies who were accidentally switched in the hospital after birth and the later controversy over which family they should accept. In A Dream of Seas (1978), a lonely boy dreams of becoming a seal after the death of his father by drowning.
Norman’s other novels include The Flame Takers (1973), My Simple Little Brother (1979), and Grandpa (1998). The Hex (1989) is a collection of short stories. Norman wrote the texts for three picture books for children—The Paddock (1992), Aphanasy (1994), and The Beetle (1995).
Norman was born on Nov. 27, 1927, in Sydney, Australia, where she also was educated. Norman worked as a librarian for much of the time from 1947 to 1970. She served as children’s librarian at the Sydney Public Library from 1966 to 1970. She held the position of assistant editor of The School Magazine from 1970 to 1976, and the position of editor from 1976 to 1978. She then became a full-time writer. Norman died on Dec. 22, 2017.
