Sarah Loving (who writes as S L Powell) was born in 1960 in Shetland. By the age of seven she had moved to the Isle of Wight (via Somerset, Norfolk, Dorset, Australia and Dumfries), where she lived until she was grown up. She currently lives in a house in Oxford with her husband and daughter. In 2007 Sarah left her job as a teacher to concentrate on writing. She now combines writing with a part-time job as an administrator for a charity (which is a lot more interesting than it sounds).

'Without a shadow of doubt, Fifty Fifty is one of the best first books I have everread.' Nicola Patrick, Librarian, The Henry Box School'Riveting story' Irish Examiner'A powerful and challenging first novel with a convincing central character. The title is key to the book(1)s dilemmas S the themes of animal rights and genetics are topical and the book has the pace of a thriller whilst managing to give a balanced view of both sides of the debate on a difficult subject and to show all the characters in a sympathetic way as they express their different views.' The School Librarian'Totally gripping, so many twists and turns that you might think you(1)ve figured it all out but you haven(1)t. The storytelling is fantastic Powell definitely has skill with writing and especially writing for teens... A thrilling story that isn(1)t hindered by romance on every page, totally had me questioning my own ethics.' Inkscratchers blog

• Key themes:* Animal testing* Activism* Animal rights* Independence* Terminal illness: Huntington's disease* Family