You are viewing your 1 free article this month. Login to read more articles.
Simon & Schuster Children’s Books has pre-empted a "groundbreaking" YA thriller by Soman Chainani. Publishing director Ali Dougal acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to Young World from Claire Wilson at RCW Literary Agency on behalf of Pete Knapp at Park & Fine Literary and Media. CAA is handling the film and TV rights, and fielding interest.
The synopsis reads: "Young World follows disaffected teenager Benton Young who, in a bid to impress a girl, posts a video online urging people to nominate him for President of the United States. The video goes viral... and Benton Young, age 17, is elected President.
"Soon, one election becomes a movement, and eight of the world’s biggest powers are run by teenagers. They have a chance to set the course of history. But then a leader is assassinated in cold blood, and the new American President is the chief suspect. Now, Benton isn’t just trying to save the world, but himself too."
Chainani is also the author of The School for Good and Evil.
The new book will be told in a mix of forms including narrative prose, diary entries, texts and articles and will publish in spring 2026. It will be released in a two-colour hardback format, supported by an interactive campaign in which the author will play a major role.
Chainani said: "Young World is such a special book to me, not only as my first YA novel, but also one that’s truly a big swing. Simon & Schuster is bold, fearless, and forward-thinking and truly the perfect home for it. I can’t wait for us to make waves with this one together."
Dougal said: "I knew as soon as I read the first page of Young World that we had to publish it. Soman is a master storyteller with a gift for anticipating the market; everything about his vision for this project, from the compelling ‘what-if’ scenario, to the storytelling medium, to the arresting visual aesthetic will have enormous appeal for our smart, politically engaged audience. Young World is going to be a sensational moment in youth culture and we’re thrilled to be launching it on Simon & Schuster’s soaring YA list."