Hodder Children's to publish second title by Brittney Morris

Hodder Children's Books will publish Brittney Morris' YA title The Cost of Knowing in March 2021, the second title in a two-book deal. The first book, Slay, was published in October 2019.

Polly Lyall Grant, commissioning editor, won UK and Commonwealth rights to both titles at auction from Jenny Meyer at Jenny Meyer Literary Agency on behalf of Quressa Robinson at Nelson Literary Agency.

The Cost of Knowing follows 16-year-old Alex who lives with his younger brother, Isaiah, in a quiet neighbourhood in Chicago. Recently, their neighbours have been on high alert, often calling the cops, for no reason other than they don’t fit with their stereotype of what safe looks like. When Alex experiences a vision of the future, showing him that Isaiah might die, he knows he must do everything he can to save his little brother.

Grant said: "I couldn’t be prouder to publish Brittney’s second story in the UK—brothers Alex and Isaiah have love so strong, you can feel its power through the pages. Brittney has created an evocative story about grief and memory, that simultaneously shines a glaring light on prejudice, racism, and the injustices that permeate our world today."

Morris commented: "As a black woman, I set out to write a book that speaks alongside black men, and not over them. This is my love letter to the black men who had to grow up too early, and for whom the task of being carefree and joyful and black and male might seem impossible."