Rock the Boat secures Allison Sweet Grant's debut YA novel

Oneworld’s Rock the Boat has secured Allison Sweet Grant’s debut YA novel, I Am the Cage.

Editorial director Shadi Doostdar acquired UK and British Commonwealth rights, including audio, from Alexis Hurley on behalf of Richard Pine at InkWell Management, and the book will be published on 20th February 2025 as a paperback original.  

"I Am the Cage is a powerful, coming-of-age story about 19-year-old Elisabeth, who hides herself from the world in a cosy cabin, far away from the memories that haunt her," the synopsis says. "After a snowstorm plunges the town into darkness, Elisabeth reluctantly accepts help from Noah, the young sheriff. As the two grow close, Elisabeth begins to realise that embracing the dark might be the only way to let the light in."

Grant said: "At the heart of it, I Am the Cage is a story about confronting the darkest parts of your past and reclaiming your future. It is an authentic portrayal of trauma, healing and the importance of human connection. That’s why I’m so delighted to be partnering with Rock the Boat. With a keen grasp of complex characters and evocative events in storytelling, they bring the ideal combination of expertise and effusiveness."

Doostdar added: "Allison’s writing blew me away from the first page. I was instantly transported to the cosy cabin in Fish Creek and revelled in the beautiful simplicity of Elisabeth’s new life. But I Am the Cage is so much more than a nostalgic, joyous read about being snowed in with a new love interest: It is an exquisite exploration of the power of real human connection and how vulnerability can be harnessed to heal old wounds and build resilience."