Hachette Children's lands 'feminist Indiana Jones' tales from Bracken

Hachette Children's Group has acquired three titles from YA author Alexandra Bracken, with Quercus Children’s Books to publish a new duology starring a "feminist Indiana Jones" and one other standalone title. 

Silver in the Bone will launch the duology in spring 2023 and follows the story of a teenage relic hunter as she embarks on a dangerous mission through time and legend to retrieve an ancient ring and save her brother from a gruesome fate. A second title will follow in spring 2024. 

Kate Agar, editorial director, signed UK and Commonwealth rights from Cecilia de la Campa on behalf of Merrilee Heifetz at Writers House. The titles will be published simultaneously with Penguin Random House US imprint Knopf, which secured rights in a seven-way auction.

Agar said: "Alex’s own pitch for this project of a feminist, mystical Indiana Jones had everyone at HCG hooked before we’d even read the first page. We’re absolutely delighted to build on our existing publishing with Alex at such an exciting time in her career – and we know that Silver in the Bone is going to win her a legion of new fans."

Bracken commented: "I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to continue working with the wonderful team at Hachette, and to be able to take readers on a journey to discover these legendary relics and lost realms of magic."

Bracken is the author of the Passenger duology (Disney-Hyperion), The Darkest Minds series (Quercus Children's Books) and the standalone Lore (Quercus Children's Books).