Juno Dawson and Alex T Smith team up for YA story

Author Juno Dawson and illustrator Alex T Smith have teamed up to create a YA novel, which will be published by Barrington Stoke in October next year.

Dawson’s Grave Matter is about a boy who is desperate to see his love, who died in a car crash, again. It will be illustrated in a black and white, gothic illustration style by Smith, the author and illustrator of the Claude series (Hodder Children’s Books).

Editor Emma Hargrave acquired world rights directly from the author, and from Caroline Thomson at Arena Illustration on behalf of the artist.

Dawson (pictured) said: “I first asked Alex if he’d like to collaborate on a ghost story about two years ago at the Edinburgh International Book Festival and I’m so thrilled it’s all come together for Barrington Stoke. I think together we’ve created a gorgeously gothic, evocative book that will be treasured, hopefully, for years to come.”

Grave Matter will be published as part of Barrington Stoke’s collection of YA titles, which also includes books by Non Pratt and Phil Earle.