LONDON — Simon & Schuster Children’s Books has acquired multi-award-winning author Danielle Jawando’s middle-grade fantasy debut, Lostlands, in a six-figure, overnight pre-empt.
The deal covers the launch of a new fantasy adventure series by Jawando, whose prior young adult works include the award-winning novels When Our Worlds Collided and And the Stars Were Burning Brightly.
Plot and Publishing Details
Loosely inspired by the mythos of Peter Pan, Lostlands centers on a 12-year-old foster child named Ayo whose brother, Deji, mysteriously disappears. Ayo follows a mysterious voice into Shadowland, a magical island sustained by the imagination of forgotten and missing Black boys.
- Scheduled Release: Simon & Schuster UK has slated the first volume for publication in July 2027.
- Literary Pedigree: Jawando earned widespread critical acclaim, including the 2023 Jhalak Children’s and YA Prize and the YA Book Prize, for her previous work addressing systemic and social themes for older readers.
Editorial teams noted that the project represents a significant expansion into middle-grade fantasy adventure, blending contemporary social realism with mythical elements.
About the Author
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