YA star Jarratt jumps to adult novels with Trapeze

Carnegie Medal-nominated YA author Laura Jarratt is swapping children’s books for adults, and has struck a deal with Trapeze.

Editorial director Phoebe Morgan acquired world, all-language rights to Jarratt’s first adult book Mother, which explores "every parent’s worst nightmare", together with a second title, The Disappeared, from Ariella Feiner at United Agents.

When lawyer Lizzie plunges her car into a lake one night, she is forced to choose between her daughters as there is only time to pull one girl out of the sinking vehicle. As the consequences of Lizzie’s decision come to light, Mother takes the reader into a mystery full of grief, suspense and drama. Morgan said: "Emotional, relatable and with a side portion of suspense, Mother gripped me from the first page and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. Laura creates an all-too-believable story that will resonate with readers the world over, and I cannot wait to launch her on the Trapeze list."

Jarratt previously published YA fiction, and was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize with her novel Skin Deep. She has also been nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Trapeze will publish Mother in paperback, e-book and audio format in 2020, with Disappeared to follow in 2021.