HarperCollins Children’s Books buys two ‘unputdownable’ titles from Boucherat

HarperCollins Children’s Books has acquired two books by debut author Max Boucherat.

Natalie Doherty, publishing director, bought world rights in the two titles from Anne Clark at Anne Clark Literary Agency. The Last Life of Lori Mills will be published in paperback in July 2024, with a sequel coming in 2025.

The publisher says: “Gaming, adventure, heart, humour and an incredible friendship combine in this unforgettable middle-grade debut about a haunted videogame, narrated by a super-sparky 11-year-old girl in the space of a single night. This is the middle-grade’s answer to Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow (Gabrielle Zevin/Chatto & Windus) by way of ’Goosebumps’.”

The synopsis of The Last Life of Lori Mills reads: “Eleven-year-old Lori is home alone for the first time in her life, and she’s immediately done all the things she’s TOTALLY NOT allowed to do: 1. Turned the heating up to the max. 2. Built a GIANT blanket fort in the living room. 3. Switched on Voxminer, aka the greatest game in the history of the universe.

“But quickly, Lori realises something is wrong. She can hear strange whispers coming from the screen – and soon, they’re in the house with her. Could it be Voxminer’s most terrifying legend: Shade Girl? Trapped in her home as the doors and windows start to vanish and her phone goes dead, Lori must use all her bravery, wits, gaming skills – and the love and deep bond she shares with her BFF, Shoelace – to survive until Mum gets home…”

Boucherat said: “I’m so, so thrilled to be working with Natalie and the team at HarperCollins Children’s Books, completely blown away by their enthusiasm, and totally thankful they let me keep some of my more groan-worthy puns. I’m also profoundly grateful to my agent, Anne Clark, for taking a chance on Lori. And, naturally, I apologise in advance for all the scenes involving eggs. And slime. And for even vaguely suggesting that a pizza sandwich with cookies in it is, in any sense of the term, a good idea.”

Doherty said: “The whole team at HarperCollins fell in love with this unique debut overnight. One of the first reactions was ‘I’ve never read anything like it’, and that only begins to sum up how original and special it is: an unputdownable, heart-pounding blend of video games, adventure, and the incredible bond between two 11-year-old best friends, all wrapped up in one of the most engaging voices I’ve come across.

“Books like Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow have made gaming one of the hottest topics in fiction, and we think middle-grade readers will take Lori to heart in the same way. It’s a one-of-a-kind book that will leave you seeing the world a little differently, and we’re absolutely thrilled to be launching it into the world next year.”