Scholastic to Publish Children's Fantasy Novel by David Baldacci

Posted on August 14, 2013

Scholastic has acquired North American rights to The Finisher, a new children's fantasy novel by David Baldacci. The is aimed at readers ages 9 to 13. It will be released on March 4, 2014.

David Baldacci said in a statement, "It was my long-held dream to write this story and I am thrilled to be working with a world-class publisher like Scholastic to bring it to readers everywhere."

The Finisher follows the adventures of a determined young heroine named Vega Jane. Vega, 14, lives in the village of Wormwood, where life is nasty, brutish and short. Villagers have been told that there is nothing outside of Wormwood except for the Quag, a foul forest filled with terrifying beasts. No one ever leaves Wormwood and no one ever visits. Wormwood has been this way for generations. Until one day Vega's mentor Quentin Herms disappears. Quentin leaves Vega a secret message hinting that there is a way out of Wormwood, and something extraordinary on the other side. As Vega begins to investigate, she realizes that Wormwood is a village built on dangerous lies. And that powerful people are willing to kill in order to keep it that way.

Photo: Scholastic