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Scholastic has acquired Phantom Hearts, a new graphic novel that explores mental health and first love, by Rosie Talbot.
Lauren Fortune, fiction publisher at Scholastic UK, secured world rights from Maddy Belton at the Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency, with publication scheduled for September 2024. This is part of a two-book deal with a novel set to follow in 2025.
Scholastic describe Phantom Hearts as “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder meets Heartstopper with a supernatural murder mystery twist".
The synopsis explains: “Sixteen-year-old Malia is popular, pretty and smart, but underneath her carefully crafted façade she’s struggling with anxiety. When a school bus crashes killing some of her fellow students, Malia is thrown into a further emotional spiral as she remembers the students; rebel and dropout Shepherd; volatile track star Russ; and brainy Emil. When Malia meets Keezy, the cute daughter of the local mechanic, the two begin to question the motive for the crash. As Malia and Keezy start to uncover secrets, Malia starts to see ghosts wherever she goes."
Talbot, a Waterstones bookseller who also creates content on Tiktok with over 135,000 followers and 4.6 million likes, said: “I’m hoping this soulful coming-of-age story focusing on mental health, identity and first love will resonate with readers.”
Fortune said: “Her story has given us all chills and we will be pairing her with the perfect illustrator for a major launch next autumn."