Within WWII she served in the Women's Royal Naval Service.

Awards
Within 1981, she received the Vicky Metcalf Award.

Within 1982, she won the Canada Council Children's Literature Award for The Guardian of Isis. Around 1983, she won the award over again for Hunter in the Dark.

She received a Phoenix Award in 2000 for her novel Keeper of the Isis Light.

She was appointed as a Companion to the Order of Canada on October 18, 2001, and invested into a Sequentially in August 31, 2002.

Bibliography
Gold Fever Trail: A Klondike Adventure, 1974. Crisis on Conshelf Ten, 1975 (series: Crisis on Conshelf Ten). Earthdark, 1977 (series: Crisis on Conshelf Ten). The Tomorrow City, 1978. Beyond the Dark River, 1979. Keeper of the Isis Light, 1980 (series: Isis). The Guardian of Isis, 1981 (series: Isis). The Isis Pedlar, 1982 (series: Isis). Ring-Rise Ring-Set, 1982. The Beckoning Lights, 1982. The Treasure of the Long Sault, 1982. Hunter in the Dark (collection), 1982. My Name Is Paula Popwich, 1983. Space Trap, 1983. Devil on My Back, 1984 (series: Arc One). Sandwriter, 1985 (series: Sandwriter). The Dream Catcher, 1986 (series: Arc One). Blaine's Way, 1986. Log Jam, 1987. Spirit River, 1988. The Promise, 1989 (series: Sandwriter). The Refuge, 1989. Invitation to the Game, 1990. The Crystal Drop, 1992. The Golden Aquarians, 1995. Castle Tourmandyne, 1995. Where Have You Been, Billy Boy?, 1995. The Dirty Car, 1996. Lost at the School Fair, 1996. The Seven Magpies, 1996. The Faces of Fear, 1997. Skyways: Copymasters (with Betty Root), 1998. The Story Box, 1998. What If...? (editor, anthology), 1998. The Other Place, 1999. Storm Warning, 2000. The Maze'', 2002.