HCG signs Ben Brooks’ fiction debut

Hachette Children’s Group (HCG) has acquired The Impossible Boy, the debut children’s fiction title from Ben Brooks, who wrote Stories For Boys Who Dare To Be Different for Quercus.

The Impossible Boy is about two best friends, Emma and Oleg, who invent a new classmate called Sebastian. Sebastian comes to life, dragging them into a series of adventures, but he isn’t from this world and a mysterious organisation wants to capture and erase him, said HCG.

Sarah Lambert, editorial director at HCG, acquired world rights excluding Spain to two books from Matthew Hamilton at The Hamilton Agency, and will publish on the Quercus imprint on 31st October.

“Ben is an immensely talented children’s novelist: The Impossible Boy is inspiring, heart-warming, but most of all, a rollicking Christmas adventure that middle-grade readers will adore,” said Lambert.