We are thrilled to announce that Lauren Gardner has sold World Rights in a three-book deal for Rachel Faturoti to Polly Lyall-Grant, Commissioning Editor at Hachette Children’s Group. The first book, Sadé and Her Shadow Beasts, an illustrated middle grade novel about grief and the healing power of imagination will publish in paperback, e-book and audio on 7th July 2022 on the Hodder Children’s Books imprint.
Sadé and Her Shadow Beasts follows twelve-year-old Sadé after her mum passes away. Her dad isn’t ready to talk about the memories of Sadé’s mum, so she finds herself escaping frequently to her own imaginary world. But scary beasts live there, and soon they seep into her real world too. As it becomes harder to separate the real from the imaginary, Sadé’s anxiety worsens. But with the help of her sisters, an anonymous grief counselling group at school, and the power of spoken word, can Sadé find the courage to stop the beasts once and for all?
Suitable for readers aged 9+ and perfect for fans of Disney’s ONWARD and Patrick Ness’ A Monster Calls, Sadé and Her Shadow Beasts is a modern classic in the making.
Polly Lyall-Grant, Commissioning Editor at Hachette Children’s Group said:
‘Rachel has written a gorgeous story with a protagonist that will stay with you long after you’ve finished the book – Sadé worries that she’s too quiet, but it’s her thoughtful nature that enables her to create her own big, colourful world, which helps her to process a myriad of emotions following the death of a parent. Rachel’s filmic style transports readers between worlds seamlessly and makes the important yet difficult theme of grief accessible for this age group. We are very proud to be Rachel’s middle-grade publisher, and we can’t wait to introduce readers to more of Rachel’s worlds in the years to follow.’