We are so proud and delighted to see Bookseller announce Katie Abey’s new projects with Scholastic, a deal negotiated by our fabulous Caroline Wakeman and Kate Johnson.

Scholastic UK has acquired The Crystal Club: Drama, Karma and Chaos, a highly illustrated middle-grade series about “embracing your weirdness”. Katie’s work is going from strength to strength and her ever increasing popularity is so well deserved. As the winner of the 2024 Scholastic Lollies Award for Funniest Children’s Book (ages nine to 12), Abey has illustrated more than 50 books. She is now writing as well, further proving her incredible talent.

The series will follow Ada Jade, as she sets up her brand-new lunchtime ‘Crystal Club’ to make friends at her new school. But Ada is a bit different from the other students – she celebrates her quirks and the things that make her different – an offbeat, charming heroine readers aged 8+ are sure to adore.

Scholastic said: ‘The brilliance of Ada Jade is that, unlike her peers, she isn’t embarrassed by her weirdness – she celebrates it. Katie’s creativity and passion for the project is infectious and we’re so excited to be publishing this unique new series by her’ – we couldn’t agree more and can’t wait to see the first in the series published in April 2027.

Congratulations, Katie!