Emma Donoghue follows trend of authors to publish middle grade novels

Emma Donoghue, author of the international bestseller (and forthcoming film) Room, will publish a middle grade novel with Scholastic in February 2017. Called The Lotterys Plus One, the story follows a nine-year-old girl named Sumac Lottery, who has six siblings, two moms, and two dads, as her racist and homophobic grandfather comes to live with her family after almost burning his own house down.

Donoghue isn’t the only author dipping her toes into middle grade—which quickly seems to be turning into “the new YA.” Earlier this week, it was announced that Ally Condie, author of the Matched trilogy, will also publish a debut middle grade novel. Summerlost will be released with Dutton Children’s Books on April 5, 2016. The book follows 12-year-old Cedar, who finds solace in a new friendship at a theater company as she grieves for her dead father and younger brother.