Barrington Stoke signs Keith Gray’s ‘comic and compelling’ teen novella 

Barrington Stoke has signed The List by Keith Gray, described as a “comic and compelling” teen novella.

World rights were acquired by publisher Ailsa Bathgate, from Lucy Juckes at Jenny Brown Associates, with publication scheduled for July 2024.

The publisher says: “The author’s unrivalled talent for sensitively and convincingly capturing the realities of teenage life shines through in this late-summer tale of friendship, change and setting the past to rights.”

The List’s synopsis reads: “It’s the end of the summer and Denny is having to move away with his mum now that she’s found a good job, but he’s not planning on leaving quietly. He’s made a list of scores to settle and wrongs to right before he goes.”

“He asks his best friend, Jake, to help. Jake is absolutely gutted that Denny is leaving and worries what life will be like without him. Of course he’ll do anything to help, no matter how weird or unrealistic the items on Denny’s list might be. But the list is more powerful than either of them realise – it can make and break friendships.”

Gray said: “I see The List as the final part of a loose, thematic trilogy. The Climbers explored becoming friends, while The Den dealt with struggling to remain friends, and The List tackles separation and moving on. But it’s far from a miserable book! There’s always memories and hope, right?”