Born in Dublin, Ireland and raised in Ottawa, Canada, Caroline calls both “home”. She graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Religious Studies. After working with children and youth for over fifteen years in roles such as teacher, seminar facilitator, mentor and coach, she began her writing career. Her fiction, non-fiction and poetry for children regularly appear in Highlights for Children, Guideposts for Kids, Living Faith for Kids, and Clubhouse Magazine.
Caroline’s humour columns for adults are published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, The Vancouver Sun, and The Ottawa Citizen. Her Lingerie Expose column received honourable mention in The Joker is Wild humour writing contest. Her non-fiction articles and commentary appear in numerous periodicals including The Word Among Us, Focus on Your Child, and Guideposts Magazine.
Over the years, she has been awarded bursaries and scholarships to attend writing conferences in both Canada and the US. Caroline received Canada Council for the Arts grants in 2006 to research and write Greener Grass, and again in 2007 for its sequel Wild Geese.
Caroline currently lives in Kanata, Ontario with her husband, Tony, and their children, Liam and Marion.
What will it cost a young teen to save her family during the Great Famine in Ireland?
(Red Deer Press, 2008)
Governor General's Literary Award, 2009, Children's Literature Text
Nominated, 2010 Red Maple Award, Forest of Reading
Shortlist, Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Awards, 2010
Starred review, Booklist
Shortlist, Book of the Year Award, 2009
Canadian Library Association
Finalist, Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People, 2009
Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice, 2009
"Ride with the powerful lilt of the style and you'll feel the terrible heartbeat of old famine Ireland herself! Pignat is a winner!"
- Brian Doyle, Author of Boy O'Boy and Pure Spring
"...a deeply moving and vividly rendered tale that all but lifts modern day readers into the heart of old Ireland itself....Caroline Pignat has done a magnificent job... it is as much an ode to these people and all that they endured as it is a remarkable work of historical fiction."
- Children's Book News
"Pignat’s writing is strong and detailed, bringing to life historical events in a personal and tangible way.. this is definitely an addition to any 'must read' list of young adult novels.
Highly Recommended."
- Canadian Materials Magazine
"True to Kit's voice, the plain rhythmic language... is lyrical but never ornate. The tension in the story and in the well-developed characters is always rooted in daily detail and it builds to the final question, which suggests a possible sequel: Will Kit make it onto the ship to Canada?"
- starred review in Booklist
Egghead
No one ever said growing up was easy: friendship, romance, bullying, rage and redemption are all part of it.
(Fitzhenry & Whiteside, Fall 2007)
Nominee, Snow Willow Award, 2009
Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice Association
Shortlist, Young Adult Book Award, 2009
Canadian Library Association
Honour Book, 2009 Red Maple Award,
Ontario Library Association
Listed, Books About Bullying Age 13 and up, Kids Help Phone
"...Pignat's first novel is a senitive examination of bullying and its psychological roots... the story is face paced and absorbing..."
- Booklist
"Pignat explores the sensitive issue of bullying from three different perspectives, weaving the narratives together to give the reader a sense of plot without overdoing any particular scene. . . At the climax of the story, the bullying escalates to a life-threatening incident, and the impact affects all three of the protagonists. With a sensitive ending that does justice to the characters, the situation, and reality, the issues are supported by Pignat's clear prose and sensitive treatment of the perspectives of three very different characters.
Highly Recommended"
- Canadian Materials
"The novel is satisfying and provocative, leaving readers with much food for thought. Hopefully more titles are on the horizon from this gifted writer."
- The StarPhoenix, Saskatoon
"Egghead is a sensitive portrayal of the dynamics behind bullying, peer pressure, and search for identity."
- The Bureau County Republican
Series of daily articles (April-December 2006) "The Gifts of the Holy Spirit" (April-June 2006) "Fruits of the Spirit" (April-June 2006) "Time to Go Back" (June-August 2006) Numerous puzzles and activities for children and families
The Word Among Us
Ship Shape
(September 2006)
The Word Among Us Family Edition
"Gratitude, Not Attitude" (November 2005) "Eyes to See" (September 2005) "The Gift of This Moment" (April 2005)
Guideposts for Kids
The Be-Attitudes of a Super Tween
(August 2005)
The Grist Mill Volume 13.
Lingerie Expose
(2005)
Focus on Your Child
Nurturing the Seeds of Self-Esteem
(March 2005)
LifeCanada News
Wonderwoman or Woman of Wonder
(August 2004)
The Vancouver Sun
An Evil Plot
(July 2004)
Guideposts Magazine
The View From Here
(July 2004)
The Ottawa Citizen
"All the Dirt on our Evil Plot" (June 7, 2004) "The Ultimate Survivor" (December 9, 2003) "Is It Cold Enough for You?" (January 23, 2003) "Surviving Basic Training" (December 11, 2002) "The Joy of Trash" (November 6, 2002) "A Misfit’s Lament" (November 2, 2002)
