Lynne Reid Banks is a prolific British author, renowned for her extensive body of work that caters to both children and adults. Born on July 31, 1929, in London, Lynne was the unique offspring of James and Muriel Reid Banks. Her childhood was marked by the tumult of World War II, during which she was evacuated to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. However, the end of the war heralded her return to her homeland.

Her educational journey took her to St Teresa's School in Surrey. Before embarking on her illustrious writing career, Banks pursued varied interests; she dabbled in acting and broke new ground as one of Britain's first female television journalists. This diverse background paved the way for her literary debut in 1960 with the publication of The L-Shaped Room, which quickly rose to bestseller status and was later adapted into a movie bearing the same name, followed by two sequels, The Backward Shadow and Two is Lonely.

Banks' most notable contribution to children's literature is The Indian in the Cupboard, a captivating novel that has enchanted over 15 million readers worldwide and inspired a successful film adaptation. Over her career, she has penned forty-eight books, including a biography of the Brontë family titled Dark Quartet, and its sequel, Path to the Silent Country, focusing on Charlotte Brontë.

In 1962, Banks made a significant life change by emigrating to Israel, where she spent eight years teaching on an Israeli kibbutz named Yas. This period of her life reflects her adventurous spirit and commitment to education and culture.