Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers To Publish A New Young Adult Series With New York Times Bestselling Author Lauren DeStefano

NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Lauren DeStefano, the New York Times bestselling author of The Chemical Garden trilogy has signed on to write a brand-new utopian series with Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. The new series will be published in Spring 2014 and will be called The Internment Chronicles. The title of the first book is Perfect Ruin. In addition to the new series, two short stories will be published as eBooks to complement the story. The final book of The Chemical Garden Trilogy, Sever, goes on sale February 12, 2013. 

On Internment, the floating island in the clouds where fifteen-year-old Morgan Stockhour lives, getting too close to the edge can lead to madness. Even though Morgan's older brother Lex was a Jumper, Morgan vows never to end up like him. She tries her best not to mind that her life is orderly and boring, and if she ever wonders about the ground, and why it is forbidden, she takes solace in her best friend, Pen, and her betrothed, Basil.

Then a murder, the first in a generation, rocks the city. With whispers swirling and fear on the wind, Morgan can no longer stop herself from investigating, especially when she meets Judas. He is the boy being blamed for the murder—betrothed to the victim—but Morgan is convinced of his innocence. Secrets lie at the heart of Internment, but nothing can prepare Morgan for what she will find—or who she will lose. 

"With each book in the Chemical Garden Trilogy, Lauren DeStefano amazed more and more readers," says Justin Chanda Vice President  Publisher of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. "Just wait until they read Perfect Ruin!"

Lauren DeStefano adds, "I am over the moon and thrilled to take readers to a different world with this new series. After a great run with my Chemical Garden books, it was just amazing that Simon & Schuster and I could fall in love all over again with new characters as we embark on this latest journey, and it's something that I can't wait to share with readers."

Senior Editor Alexandra Cooper negotiated the deal for North American rights and audio with Barbara Poelle at the Irene Goodman Literary Agency. Translation rights will be handled by Baror International. The first book will be published on April 1, 2014.

ABOUT SIMON & SCHUSTER CHILDREN'S PUBLISHING
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, one of the leading children's book publishers in the world, is comprised of the following imprints: Aladdin, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Beach Lane Books, Libros para ninos, Little Simon®, Margaret K. McElderry Books, Paula Wiseman Books, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Simon Pulse, and Simon Spotlight®. While maintaining an extensive award-winning backlist, the division continues to publish acclaimed and bestselling books for children of all ages. In addition to numerous Caldecott, Newbery, and National Book Award winners, Simon & Schuster publishes such high-profile properties and series as Eloise, Olivia, Raggedy Ann & Andy™, Henry & Mudge®, The Hardy Boys®, Nancy Drew®, the Dork Diaries series, the Mortal Instruments series, Mike the Knight, and the original Cupcake Diaries and Creepover series. For more information about Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com.

Simon & Schuster, a part of CBS Corporation, is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com.

SOURCE Simon & Schuster