Oneworld acquires Afrikaans middle grade novel

Oneworld’s Rock the Boat imprint has acquired world language rights for Jaco Jacobs’ A Good Night for Shooting Zombies, a middle grade novel that "tackles important issues with a big heart."

Martin’s life changes the day his dad is killed in a car accident. No one talks about it, his mum refuses to leave the house, and his only consolation through the sleepless nights is maths.  Until he forms an unlikely friendship with his neighbour who dreams of making a zombie movie. The two are plunged head first into a wild adventure, pulling everyone they know along with them. A Good Night for Shooting Zombies was shortlisted for the Found in Translation award and has been made into a popular film in Afrikaans.

Commissioning editor Shadi Doostdar said: "Jaco is the dream children’s author, with an unrivalled knack for capturing the struggles and triumphs of tweenagers like Martin. His stories depict the characters so vividly and endearingly, you cannot help falling in love with them in all their imperfect glory."

Miemie du Plessis, from the originating Afrikaans publishing house, LAPA, said: "South Africa has wonderful authors with great stories to tell and we applaud Oneworld for having the vision and taking the lead in bringing the work of bestselling South African children’s book author, Jaco Jacobs, to an international audience."

Earlier this year Rock the Boat acquired Jacobs’ novel A Good Day for Climbing Trees, which was shortlisted by the BookTrust’s In Other Words initiative to promote children’s books in translation. It will be published in paperback in April 2018 and illustrated with line drawings by Brooklyn-based designer Jim Tierney.

Jacobs said: "I am really excited about this opportunity to once again work with the fantastic team at Oneworld. Their passion and enthusiasm for children’s books is really remarkable, and I am honoured that they have chosen another one of my books to introduce to a worldwide market."

Jacobs is the most popular and prolific children's book author in Afrikaans. He has published more than 120 books and over a million copies have been sold. Jacobs is also a well-known columnist, blogger, freelance journalist and translator. He lives in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Written in Afrikaans and translated into English by Kobus Geldenhuys, A Good Night for Shooting Zombies will be published in October 2018.