"Perera was born in London to an Irish mother and Sri Lankan father. She worked as an English teacher in secondary schools in London before becoming responsible for a unit for excluded boys. She gained an MA in Writing for Children at Winchester University and has since had six children’s books published, including the critically acclaimed Guantanamo Boy which was shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book Award and nominated for the Carnegie Medal. She learned about the plight of children held at Guantanamo Bay at a benefit event held by the human rights charity, Reprieve."