As announced in The Bookseller, Andersen Press has signed Amelia Giudici’s thrilling and heartfelt debut, children’s novel ANYA AND THE LIGHT ABOVE THE OCEAN in a two-book deal.
The book follows Anya as she journeys the sea to search for her missing mum in the middle of a storm. Above the waves, she sees a strange window of light and reaches out to touch it. She wakes up some time later to calm seas and no sign of her mum. With her mum still missing, Anya is packed off to stay with an odd, unwelcoming couple. Trapped under their watchful gaze, she uncovers a shocking secret that changes everything she thought she knew. Anya must now battle to find the truth: about her mum, about the Light and about herself.
Amelia has said: “Anya and the Light Above the Ocean was inspired by the thought problems of personal identity and a desire to explore the experience of not being able to fully understand or articulate something about yourself. I’m thrilled to be publishing the story with Andersen Press.”
Charlie Sheppard, publishing director at Andersen Press, said “”After 30 years in children’s publishing, I was beginning to think there weren’t any stories I hadn’t seen before, no twists I couldn’t spot coming. And then Amelia’s incredible debut landed on my desk and reminded me that great writers can always find new stories and create new worlds, and that’s why we need them. Now more than ever. Amelia Giudici. Remember the name. She is a writer for today and tomorrow. She is special and I am thrilled to be bringing her writing to a wider audience.”
ANYA AND THE LIGHT ABOVE THE OCEAN will publish 26th February 2026.
For the full Bookseller announcement, click here.
