McNicoll's second book to Knights Of

Elle McNicoll has written a new middle-grade novel, Show Us Who You Are, to be published by Knights Of in March next year. 

The second novel from the neurodivergent children’s author centres on Cora, a 12-year-old girl who becomes involved with the Pomegranate Institute, where AI is being used to create holograms of people to comfort their grieving families. As she digs deeper however, she realises there is a darker aim: to wipe out any trace of neurodivergence and create "perfect versions" of people like her.

The story, exploring friendship, grief, loss, and "what really makes us who we are, will publish on 4th March 2021 (£6.99, paperback original), featuring a cover from neurodivergent illustrator Kay Wilson. World rights were acquired by editorial director Eishar Brar from Lauren Gardner at the Bell Lomax Moreton Agency. 

Brar, editorial director, Knights Of, said: "We are beyond excited to be publishing Elle’s second middle-grade in 2021. Set in the near future, Show Us Who You Are has Elle’s gorgeous writing, twists and turns that will keep readers gripped, and a moving friendship at its heart. Elle is so committed to accurately representing Neurodivergent characters in her books; it’s a real honour to continue this work with her."

McNicoll said: "Writing my second book during lockdown was more intense than my first but knowing that it would be worked on and supported by Knights Of and Eishar is what allowed me to do it. I am very aware, as an author, that I'm working with an exceptional team and I can't wait for readers to meet Cora and Adrien."

It follows McNicoll’s bestselling debut, A Kind of Spark, which was published earlier this year and selected as Blackwell’s Children’s Book of the Year, Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month for October, and the Times and Sunday Times Book of the Week.