Knights Of lands Pilgrim's 'unforgettable' debut middle-grade fantasy

Inclusive publisher Knights Of has scooped Zo and The Forest of Secrets and a second untitled book in an "incredible", middle-grade fantasy adventure duology by award-winning Trinidadian writer Alake Pilgrim.

Editorial director Eishar Brar acquired world rights from Isobel Gahan at Curtis Brown. Pilgrim submitted an entry to the Knights Of open submissions live chat in late 2019, and since then has been working with Brar to develop her children’s debut. 

Publishing on 2nd June 2022 as a paperback original, Zo and The Forest of Secrets is the publisher’s middle-grade highlight of the year. An Afrofuturism-influenced adventure story set on the island of Trinidad, the debut explores themes of friendship and eco-consciousness. 

"When Zo decides to run away from home, she isn’t scared; after all, she knows the island like the back of her hand," the synopsis reads. "But, as she journeys through the once-familiar forest, terrifying creatures and warped visions begin to emerge. With a beast on her heels and a lost boy thrown into her path, could a mysterious abandoned facility hold answers? Zo must unravel the secrets of the forest before she is lost in them forever."

Brar said: "Alake first came to us via our open submissions, and working with her to help develop her debut middle-grade was an incredible and inspiring experience. As a writer, she is completely dedicated to her craft, and committed to bringing children around the world relatable characters and immensely readable fiction. We are overjoyed to be publishing Zo and The Forest of Secrets this year, the first in a duology, and to be introducing young readers to a mythical, fast-paced adventure featuring an unforgettable heroine."

Pilgrim added: "I have a child who, like the children in this book, fought to live, and found some new friends along the way. I wrote Zo and The Forest of Secrets inspired by my son’s tenacity and heart. It’s a fantastical adventure starring two island children, Zo Joseph and Adri Khan, who work together in the wild, to battle mutant creatures and dangerous adults who try to manipulate them and their gifts. It’s a book about friendship, the environment, survival, and protecting whom and what you love, set on the island of Trinidad.

"Every child deserves to be the hero of their own stories. Like the islands I come from, people in this book are from different cultural backgrounds. My hope is that you’ll see something of yourself in these pages and root for, learn and laugh along with these characters. I am so thrilled to have an amazing publisher like Knights Of, who see the value of stories for all. Knights Of are true champions of children’s literature, and it means the world to be on this journey with them."