Hachette acquires 'feisty' YA graphic novel duology from Rachel Faturoti and Flo Woolley

Hachette Children’s Group has acquired a "feisty, groundbreaking" YA graphic novel duology from Rachel Faturoti and debut illustrator Flo Woolley. Lizzie Clifford, editorial director at Hachette Children’s Group, acquired world rights to Black Dolls in a two-book deal secured with Alice Sutherland-Hawes at ASH Literary, and illustration world rights in a two-book deal secured with James Wills at Watson Little Ltd.

Black Dolls Volume 1 will publish in paperback on 3rd July 2025, with Volume 2 following in 2026.

The "explosive, high drama" YA graphic novel features four Black teen girls forming a pop-punk band to take on the music industry. 

Clifford said: "Black Dolls Volume 1 is packed with attitude, spiky humour and big dreams. YA readers will wildly cheer as our protagonists demand their spotlight! Black Dolls is all about not letting the world define who you are and what you can be—a kick-ass tour de force delivered in edgy, vibrant punk aesthetic illustrations which will deeply resonate with YA graphic novel fans. I couldn’t be prouder to be publishing much needed UK YA Black Hachette Children’s Group."

Faturoti said: "I am so excited for Black Dolls to exist! We desperately need more Black representation in UK YA graphic novels, and it’s been a pleasure bringing these girls to life. I can’t wait for readers to meet the band and to root for them too."

Woolley said: "I’m really honoured to be working on such a fun and important project—the script and characters are so full of life, it’s such a treat to draw. As a lover of everything punk, especially live music, I hope I have brought it all to life—the electricity of performance, the joy of finding new friends and coming into yourself, the comedy and angst of being a teenager. Music connects us in the most unexpected ways, and this is at the core of Black Dolls."