Andersen Press to publish second historical YA from Wheatle

Andersen Press has acquired Kemosha of the Caribbean, the latest YA title from Alex Wheatle. 

Chloe Sackur, commissioning editor for fiction, bought UK and Commonwealth rights from Laura Susijn, of the Susijn Agency. It will be published in February 2022 and Andersen Press is planning a major press campaign with Wheatle, a large-scale industry proof drop and an exclusive cover reveal featuring artist Akilah Watts as part of this year’s online Young Adult Lit Convention event.

The synopsis reads: "In this swashbuckling new adventure, 15-year-old Kemosha and her 11-year-old brother have lived their young lives in slavery. Sold away to work in lawless Port Royal, Jamaica, Kemosha takes her chance to escape brutal treatment. With fortune on her side, Kemosha befriends Ravenhide, a man with a mysterious past who teaches her the art of swordfighting, and introduces her to the beautiful runaway Isabella. Yet Kemosha’s greatest test yet is upon the deck of the "Satisfaction": the ship of the notorious Captain Morgan. His next adventure on the high seas could be the making of Kemosha – and her one chance to free her brother."

Sackur commented: "Kemosha is a brilliant, brave heroine who not only survives in the ruthless world of the 17th-century Caribbean colonies, but dreams of freedom for her people. This book is a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat adventure which offers readers a meaningful perspective on those pirates and buccaneers who sailed and plundered on behalf of the English crown."

Wheatle added: "As a child I loved to read Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island and Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn. With Kemosha of the Caribbean I hope to catch that same sense of adventure, jeopardy, courage and suspense. It’s very much time for a young Black female heroine."

Andersen published Wheatle's first historical YA novel, Cane Warriors, in 2020.