Stripes to launch YA anthology in support of homeless charity

Little Tiger fiction imprint Stripes is launching an anthology of UK Young Adult writing this autumn to mark its 10th anniversary and raise money for homeless charity Crisis. The book, entitled I’ll be Home for Christmas, will feature up to 14 stories based on the concept of “home”.

Publisher Jane Harris said the company wanted to celebrate its 10th anniversary “with a bang”, as well as build awareness of its Young Adult list. “We are known for our young illustrated fiction, but over the years we have moved up the age groups. We decided to focus on UK [contributors] because Crisis is a very UK-focused charity, but we also wanted to highlight the breadth of UK YA publishing at the moment and build links with the YA community.”

Katy Cannon, one of Stripes’ YA authors, is already confirmed as a contributor, as are fellow writers Holly Bourne, Sarah Crossan, Melvin Burgess, Julie Mayhew, Benjamin Zephaniah, Tom Becker, Non Pratt, Juno Dawson and Marcus Sedgwick.

Lauren Ace, Little Tiger’s brand director, said at least £1 from every book sold will go to Crisis, adding that Little Tiger was committed to giving the charity £10,000 through the proceeds from the anthology. “We wanted to raise awareness of the charity’s work among young adult readers,” she said. “Younger adults are at particular risk of homelessness: [according to Crisis figures] a staggering 8% of 16- to 24-year-olds recently reported being homeless. We will also be supporting Crisis in other ways. For example, an editor from the company will do a writing workshop as part of Crisis’ Skylight programme and Stripes staff will volunteer at Crisis at Christmas. Having said all that, we are keen for the anthology to represent our audience of young adult readers.”

The book’s endnotes will contain information about the Young Adult Literature Convention (YALC), including details about its formation. The endnotes will also include information about The Bookseller’s YA Book Prize and the authors shortlisted for the award in 2016. Little Tiger is also launching a competition, in conjunction with the YA Book Prize, to find an unpublished writer to contribute one of the 14 stories in I’ll be Home for Christmas. Entrants can submit their story, again on the theme of home, and the winner will be chosen by Harris and a number of the YA Book Prize 2016 judges.

The story will be published in the anthology and its author will also be invited to appear at this year’s YALC. Details of how to enter are on the YA Book Prize website. Entries close on 1st April.

I’ll be Home for Christmas will be published in paperback on 22nd September, priced £7.99.