PRH Children’s snaps up two feminist YA novels

Penguin has snapped up the rights to two feminist YA books with plans to publish in 2020. 

PRH Children’s has bought a feminist teen series about an aspiring female comic by Rebecca Elliott, with the first book in the series Pretty Funny to be published in March 2020. 

Commissioning editor Naomi Colthurst and editor Emma Jones bought world rights including audio in two books from Laetitia Rutherford at Watson Little. The books will be published under the Penguin imprint. Rights have already been sold in the US, France and Germany and Pretty Funny will continue to be a focus at Bologna Book Fair. 

The publisher said: “Rebecca’s comic masterpiece takes a hilarious look at timely issues such as body positivity, single-parent family life and the confusing ups and downs of a being a teen feminist.”

Penguin has also landed St Mary’s Catholic School Presents The Vagina Monologues by Flynn Meaney (pictured right), “a bold and funny feminist YA novel for the Snapchat generation”.

Editorial director Natalie Doherty bought world rights from Gemma Cooper at The Bent Agency. St Mary’s Catholic School Presents The Vagina Monologues will be published under the Penguin imprint in June 2020.  

Doherty said: “I fell in love with this hilarious, sparky and inspiring feminist YA novel from the first page. It had the Penguin team crying with laughter - it’s the funniest book you'll read all year, and a completely fresh and modern take on the much-loved boarding school story. It’s perfect for readers who loved Louise Rennison and Holly Smale and are ready for something a little edgier.  Flynn is a serious comic talent and we can’t wait to introduce her to readers.”