Internationally Bestselling Book, ‘Pay it Forward,’ to be Published as New Middle Grade Novel
NEW YORK, NY – Paula Wiseman Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, has announced today that Pay It Forward, an adult novel that inspired a highly successful movement of the same name, will now be available for younger readers as a middle-grade novel. The book, featuring new content, will be published on August, 19, 2014. The original book was made in to a movie starring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and Haley Joel Osment in 2000.
The author is donating a portion of her proceeds from this book to the Pay it Forward Foundation. The Global Pay It Forward Day is today, April 24th. To find out more about the movement here: http://www.pifexperience.org/.
In Pay It Forward, twelve-year-old Trevor is tasked by his social studies teacher to come up with a plan to change the world. Trevor’s idea is simple. Do a good deed for three people and ask them to “pay it forward” to three others who need help. He imagines a vast movement of kindness and goodwill spreading beyond his small California town and to the world. When changes start to happen, including an inexplicable national drop in crime rates, a journalist discovers Trevor is the source of the random acts of kindness causing a difference. Word spreads and Trevor is invited to Washington to meet the President. He becomes national hero. But though Trevor is determined to see the good in everyone, the world may not be as kind.
Publisher of Paula Wiseman Books says, “Pay It Forward Young Readers Edition is an important book with a message that cannot help but make the world a better place. Read it and tell your friends to do the same!”
Catherine Hyde adds, “I wrote a novel about a child who changed the world through kindness because I thought children were uniquely suited to the role. It wasn’t until the book and movement really exploded–and parents and teachers began clamoring for a kid-suitable edition–that I realized kids are its ideal audience. Looking at the movement that’s sweeping the world after the adult edition and movie, I absolutely can’t wait to see the change the children will make when they read Trevor’s story.”
Catherine Ryan Hyde is the bestselling author of novels, including Pay It Forward, Where We Belong, and When I Found You. She lives in California with her dog, Ella. Visit her at catherineryanhyde.com.
Simon & Schuster owns acquired North American, Audio, and Ebook rights for Pay It Forward in a deal with Michael Vidor at The Hardy Agency.
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