Simon & Schuster Announces Publication of New Series by Mike Lupica
NEW YORK, NY – Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers will publish New York Times bestselling author Mike Lupica’s new middle-grade series called HOME TEAM. Each HOME TEAM novel will tell the story of one of four friends living in a fictional town called Walton. It’s a diverse group of strong, sports-loving kids, who each face unique adversities but won’t back down. Sports will play a large part in the stories, but these books are also about friendship, family, strength in conviction and the importance of never giving up.
Justin Chanda, Vice President and Publisher of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, acquired World rights to four books via Esther Newberg of ICM. Chanda will edit the series.
“Mike writes the books that I would have loved to read as a kid,” said Justin Chanda. “To have a chance to edit him, to have a novelist and sportswriter of his caliber on our list, to work on books that tell kids that you can always pick yourself up when you are knocked down— it’s a dream come true.”
The first book in the series, The Only Game, will be published in Spring 2015. This is Jack Callihan’s story, star pitcher destined for the Little League World Series…until the day he quits. His teammates are stunned, so is his family, so is his town. Jack has a secret that is keeping him away from the sport he loves, but with the help of some unexpected new friends, he might just find his way back to the only game.
“The truth is, I write the kind of books I wanted to read when I was a boy, the kind that kept me turning pages,” says Lupica. “In the end, they’re about all the kids I ever coached, including my own. I know how important sports are to them. But I also know that loyalty and friendship are just as important. These stories are written in that spirit.”
Mike Lupica is the author of multiple bestselling books for young readers that have sold over four million copies, including QB 1, Heat, Travel Team, Million-Dollar Throw, and The Underdogs. He has carved out a niche as the sporting world’s finest storyteller. Mike lives in Connecticut with his wife and their four children. When not writing novels, Mike Lupica writes for New York’s Daily News, appears on ESPN’s The Sports Reporters and hosts The Mike Lupica Show on ESPN Radio. You can visit Mike Lupica at www.mikelupicabooks.com.
ABOUT SIMON & SCHUSTER CHILDREN’S PUBLISHING
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, one of the leading children’s book publishers in the world, is comprised of the following imprints: Aladdin, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Beach Lane Books, Libros para niños, Little Simon®, Margaret K. McElderry Books, Paula Wiseman Books, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Simon Pulse, and Simon Spotlight®. While maintaining an extensive award-winning backlist, the division continues to publish acclaimed and bestselling books for children of all ages. In addition to numerous Caldecott, Newbery, and National Book Award winners, Simon & Schuster publishes such high-profile properties and series as Eloise, Olivia, Raggedy Ann & Andy™, Henry & Mudge®, The Hardy Boys®, Nancy Drew®, the Dork Diaries series, the Mortal Instruments series, Mike the Knight, and the original Cupcake Diaries and Creepover series. For more information about Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com.
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