Charlie Higson's 'heartfelt' middle-grade book goes to Puffin

Puffin will publish Worst. Holiday. Ever., a new middle-grade book by Charlie Higson pitched as "Adrian Mole for a new generation".

Amanda Punter, publishing director at Puffin, and editor Tom Rawlinson acquired world rights from Alexandra Cann, at Alexandra Cann Representation.

Worst. Holiday. Ever. is billed by Puffin as "a warm and funny story about facing fears, dealing with worries, and how it's OK to be anxious, scared, and sometimes a little bit brave". The publisher said:  "In main character Stan, Charlie has perfectly captured the voice of a shy and worried kid on the cusp of adolescence, and created an Adrian Mole for a new generation." It is aimed at readers aged 10 and above and is scheduled for publication on 28th May in paperback retailing at £6.99 as well an e-book and audio.

The synopsis reads: "Stan is going on holiday to Italy with his (fifth) best friend Felix and a load of strangers. He’s absolutely terrified. Luckily, his mum's given him an emergency list that includes how to survive a shark attack, and what to do if he gets kidnapped. Stan thinks that a better list would include how to cope with weird food, and what to do if he accidentally calls Felix's mum 'mum' in front of everybody. One thing's for certain, Stan's not going to come back the same boy he left. He just hopes he comes back at all."

Higson’s previous books include the Young Bond and The Enemy series, both published by Puffin.

He said: "Having finished a seven-book series (The Enemy) that had preoccupied me for nearly 10 years I wanted to write something fast and fun and very different. I hit on the idea of writing about a boy going on holiday with a family he didn’t really know very well. It felt pretty universal.

"Stan, the hero of my book, is a shy boy from an ordinary family who is thrown into a very different world when he’s asked to go on holiday with his much posher friend, Felix. He has to learn to grow up, fend for himself a bit and try to get over his homesickness and his shyness. As a shy boy myself this was a theme I wanted to explore and it was fun to write about a boy who was the opposite of Young James Bond. The book was inspired by things that happened to me on holidays when I was boy, and holidays with my own three boys."

Punter added: "Not only is Charlie Higson author of the phenomenally successful Young Bond and The Enemy series, he is of course just as well-known for his brilliant observational humour, and comic writing and performing for radio and TV. So we’re incredibly excited that Charlie has turned his hand to middle-grade humour for readers age 10+. Hilarious, honest and heartfelt, this new novel is also an important story about childhood (in particular, boyhood) worries and fears and learning how to be OK with being yourself. We can’t wait for readers to meet Stan, and join him on his holiday . . . which might turn out not to be so bad after all?"