This morning we learned (via GalleyCat) that Harlan Coben is venturing into YA territory with a three-book deal from Penguin Young Readers Group. The first book in the series will be published in 2011 and follow a teen investigating a family conspiracy.
If Coben’s Myron Bolitar books are any indication, the new series will be funny in addition to a page-turner. (Need an example of Coben’s humor? In an interview with BookPage, he said, “I love writing about the suburbs of America; it’s sort of a last battleground of the American dream. It’s where everyone, you and I and everyone else, fights to find some sort of happiness.” He stops himself before getting too profound. “Wow, that was deep, give me a moment. (short pause) OK, I’m OK.”)
When I recently posted an excerpt from John Grisham’s YA book on Facebook, a reader asked, “Is everyone jumping on the YA bandwagon? First Candice Bushnell, now Grisham…” I suspect many of you will have a similar reaction to Coben’s news.
Are you happy about this new series? Do you wish Coben would stick to his adult thrillers? Maybe this will sweeten the deal: Myron Bolitar and Win Lockwood will appear in the teen books.
Related in BookPage: our interview with Coben about Tell No One. Reviews of Coben’s books for adults.
