Barrington bags Wheatle tale

Barrington Stoke has signed a "sharply witty, suspenseful and heartfelt" YA novella by Alex Wheatle.

The publisher acquired world English-language rights to the title from Laura Susijn of the Susijn Agency. Wheatle’s Kerb-Stain Boys: The Crongton Broadway Robbery is a "brilliantly real, honest and funny tale" of teenage life on one of the toughest city estates. Barrington Stoke will publish on 15th October 2018.

Editorial director Ailsa Bathgate said the publisher is "absolutely delighted" to be bringing Wheatle’s "distinctive" voice to its YA list. "His unique use of language makes his writing hum with energy as he powerfully evokes the visceral angst and dark humour of the teenage experience," she said.

Wheatle, who is the author of several books including the Crongton series (Little, Brown), said: "I was excited to expand my Crongton world in novella form: I could pack a great story into it and concentrate on the build-up to a major incident in my characters’ lives."