OUP scoops Harvey gaming debut

Oxford University Press will publish Helen Harvey’s "powerful" debut, Emmy Levels Up.

World rights were acquired from Lauren Gardner at Bell Lomax Moreton and the novel will be published in the UK in April 2021. 

The debut explores friendship and bullying in the digital age. Online, Emmy is a gamer with lots of fans and followers. However, in real life Emmy is bullied by Vanessa, who says she is "a weirdo with bad handwriting and horrible fashion sense and no dad". Emmy needs to "level up", join forces with some new friends and beat the bullies. 

Clare Whitston, senior commissioning editor, said: “Helen is an incredible talent and we are really excited that she is joining our list. Emmy Levels Up is the most authentic depiction of bullying I have ever read in a children's novel and I absolutely love this book. It's heart-warming, and heart-breaking at the same time.”

Harvey said: “As a library worker and former teacher I know how important it is to discuss these issues in the classroom, and now more than ever children have to navigate the crossover between their ‘online’ and ‘real’ world. I look forward to going into schools and working with OUP to create classroom materials to bring these issues into the spotlight."