Bookseller Barter's YA debut snapped up

Andersen Press has acquired a YA novel by debut author and bookseller Catherine Barter.

Troublemakers is about a girl called Alena, whose activist mother died when she was young, penned by Barter, the co-manager of Housmans bookshop in London, who also has a PhD in American Literature.

In the story, Alena is being raised by her half-brother and his boyfriend in east London when her area is suddenly targeted by a lone bomber.

Fiction editor Chloe Sackur acquired world rights from Laura Williams at PFD.

Sackur said: “I believe Catherine is a bright new star in British YA fiction. Troublemakers is an achingly honest coming-of-age novel about family, and the politicised world we live in. It’s got something to say for itself but it still wears its heart on its sleeve.”

The title will be published June 2017.