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Simon & Schuster Children’s Books has scooped the middle-grade debut from Beth Garrod, author of the Super Awkward series for teens, in a two-book deal.
Amina Youssef, commissioning editor, acquired world rights from Gemma Cooper at The Bent Agency. First title Sister Switch will be published in July 2021, with a second book to follow in Spring 2022.
The publisher explained: “Sister Switch is a snort-out-loud funny middle-grade with all the hallmarks of the best body-swap comedies. Lily Mavers and her older sister Erin do not get on. It doesn’t help that Lily has little in common with her overachieving, Grade A student sis. But after an emergency trip to the Hairy Godmother hairdressers, Lily and Erin leave with much more than a new look – the sisters have undergone a full-on body switch! A story of sibling rivalry and friendship, with a dusting of magic and a super commercial package, Sister Switch is perfect for summer reading.”
Garrod is the author of the Super Awkward series (Scholastic). She has a background in TV and she has worked for CBBC and MTV among others, helping launch “everything from mental health campaigns to the Radio 1 Teen Awards”.
She said: “I couldn’t be more excited to join the amazing S&S family, especially with my first middle-grade book. I love escaping with books that make me laugh – now more than ever – and it’s been a total treat to get to write one with all my favourite themes; friendship, family and meddling magical hairdressers.”
Youssef added: “Super funny, super accessible and super commercial, Beth was made to write middle-grade. Her ability to combine laugh-out-loud comedy with mischievous magic and a high-concept twist makes for knock-out reading and we are delighted to have welcomed Beth into the S&S family!”