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all have something to say about the very real pressures that teens have to face today. Yasmin ensures the reader cares about each character and when you realise that part of the novel is written in narrative verse it is even harder to believe this is a debut. Yasmin powerfully explores the demons that mental health issues can bring and in this ultimately hopeful novel illuminates how the power of friendship can literally be life-saving.


Felicity Alexander, Senior Commissioning Editor, Bonnier Zaffre: The Time Travel Diaries by Caroline Lawrence is brilliant new series. It follows the adventures of 12-year-old Alex Papas, who goes back in time – first to Roman London and then to Ancient Athens. It was inspired by the temple of Mithras near Bank station, which Alex uses as a portal, and also by the amphitheatre beneath Guildhall – and the story is made even more believable by the fact that local readers can see these sites for themselves. The tone is fresh, funny and surprising – and like everything Caroline writes, makes history feel incredibly real.


David Bennett, Boxer Books: Fifi Kuo is a Taiwanese artist, who trained at the Cambridge School of Art. Since graduation she has won the Macmillan Prize (Bronze), been shortlisted for the AOI World Illustration Awards and won merit in the iJungle Illustration Awards. She is brimming with ideas and enthusiasm and keen for her picture books to convey a meaningful message. The Perfect Sofa is a tribute to the perfect things we already have – we don’t need to spend time searching for them elsewhere. The characters are brilliant, the humour understated and the message real and relevant for today.


Barry Cunningham, Publisher, Chicken House: Fourteen foreign rights sales, several in ‘blind’ auctions and bids before the proof went out (at midnight naturally) – that’s how the buzz around Benjamin Read and Laura Trinder’s The Midnight Hour series began! I loved this story of a mysterious midnight world, with its outspoken heroine Emily and her hedgehog companion, from the first moment I saw its graphic novel beginnings in the office of Altitude Films – a film adaptation is currently in the works too. I love the humour, compassion and sheer excitement – one of our most exciting debuts ever!


Neil Burden, Child’s Play (International) Ltd: This year we are extremely excited to be publishing the first picture book from author/ illustrator Beth Waters. Child of St Kilda tells the story of one boy’s childhood experience of living in this remote and isolated community, shortly before the St Kildans were evacuated to the British mainland in 1930. Stunningly illustrated in monoprint, the book celebrates the unique culture that developed over thousands of years, and explains in simple terms the reasons for its failure. A sketchbook appendix details Beth’s own visit to these iconic islands and this is a spectacular addition to the current canon of highly-illustrated non-fiction.


Ginee Seo, Children’s Publishing Director at Chronicle Books: As soon as we saw Jay Fleck’s picture of Tiny T-Rex waving his little arms, and read Jonathan Stutzman’s tender, funny text, we fell in love with the character and knew he could begin a series for us. Tiny T-Rex and the Impossible Hug is a story of one friend determined to comfort another despite the fact that his tiny arms make hugging difficult. It’s a story of persistence despite the odds


4 Books for Keeps No.234 January 2019


and the importance of connection—all messages we need in these challenging times! We’ve already signed the second book, Tiny T-Rex and the Very Dark Dark, which is coming in Spring 2020.


Rosie Fickling, David Fickling Books Editor: I first met Ro 4 years ago; a sweet and quiet girl… with a secret. She’s the lead character in the incredible Paper Avalanche – a story that Lisa Williamson has carefully crafted and moulded over the past few years and one I couldn’t be more excited to see in the hands of readers. This is Lisa’s third book, and my favourite so far. You’ll understand why when you meet Ro, because you’ll get a glimpse of true kindness, true strength and best of all, that truest of friendships: the kind we all should experience (but sadly sometimes don’t).


Alison Dougal, Publishing Director of fiction Egmont: ‘Entering The Land of Roar truly feels like stepping inside a child’s imagination; we’ve been searching for something as magical, uplifting and funny as this for a long time. Middle-grade readers will be on the edge of their seats as they join twins Arthur and Rose on their incredible adventure through this world packed full of the best things you can imagine, but also the scariest things. We fell instantly in love with this gorgeous book and we’re having so much fun creating an incredible package to match. We can’t wait for it to launch in September!


Lindsey Heaven, Editorial Director, Electric Monkey: ‘Holly Jackson is a stunning new voice in YA thriller fiction. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is as addictive as the Serial podcasts and as hooky and clever as the very best crime blockbusters. Every plot twist had the entire team enthralled and texting each other throughout the night! We’re very proud to have Holly and this book on our list.’


Annie Eaton, Acting Editorial Director, Faber: It’s so hard to pick one favourite from the Faber list – there are so many brilliant reads coming next year! But I think The Hug has to be the most endearing and gorgeously illustrated picture books of 2019 – both for children and love-struck grown-ups!


Penny Thomas, Publisher, Firefly: I’m really excited to be publishing YA title Tulip Taylor by Anna Mainwaring this June. Tulip is fifteen and speaks for everyone who likes make-up and also likes to think they have a brain – particularly those generations brought up face to face with social media. Tulip is a make-up vlogger whose favourite book is her hefty dictionary. Challenged to go on ‘survival’ reality TV show, and struggling to escape her mother’s money-making schemes Tulip is set up to fail but is determined to prove she’s not just a pretty face. Think Pride and Prejudice meets I’m a Celebrity, for teens...


Julia Marshall, Publisher Gecko Press: I’ve chosen The Runaways by Ulf Stark, illustrated by Kitty Crowther. When Gottfried Jr decides to bust his cumudgeonly grandfather out of hospital for one last adventure, he weaves such a complex and beautiful series of lies that when he finally decides to tell the truth, no one believes him. Ulf Stark’s writing is wise and warm, his characters super life-sized, and he can do funny and sad in the same sentence. The Runaways has a beautifully satisfying plot and Ulf Stark’s characteristic understanding of fathers, sons, mothers and grandfathers. The illustrations from Kitty Crowther grow more beautiful the more you look at them.


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