If you are a K.A. Holt fan—and let’s be honest, aren’t we all?—then you know that she’s got a whole lot of good things coming up: BENBEE AND THE TEACHER GRIEFER launched the “Kids Under the Stairs” series, which is continuing this fall with BEN Y AND THE GHOST IN THE MACHINE, *plus* two more additional titles to round out the friend group (and the series).

But that’s not all! Were you, perhaps, hungry for some stand-alone story action from K. A.? Did you feel, perhaps, that she needed take on a new professional writing challenge? For instance, how about this: What about a novel told *entirely* through text messages and notice board announcements? HOW FUN WOULD THAT BE TO WRITE?

Well. I cannot speak to how much fun was had writing it (though I suspect: a fair amount!), but I can speak to the fact that this is a brilliant book and you don’t want to miss it! Here are the story and pub specifics:

Tiffany Colón at Scholastic Press has acquired World rights to HOUSE ARREST author K. A. Holt’s YOU KNOW THE DRILL, a middle-grade novel told entirely in texts and message board postings. The story follows three best friends across one entire school day as they realize an unplanned lockdown is not a drill, and find themselves using the much maligned school app to join forces with other students, discovering the true meaning of teamwork and bravery. Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency managed the deal, for publication in January 2022.

Hooray Kari, and hooray for us happy future readers!

--Joan