David Baldacci To Write The Finisher, a Fantasy Novel for Children

Scholastic has acquired The Finisher, a fantasy novel for children by novelist David Baldacci.

"It was my long-held dream to write this story and I am thrilled to be working with a world-class publisher like Scholastic to bring it to readers everywhere," said Baldacci.

The Finisher, scheduled to be published in March 2014, is centered on fourteen-year-old Vega Jane, who lives in the village of Wormwood, where life is nasty, brutish and short. Villagers have been told that there is nothing outside of Wormwood except for the Quag, a foul forest filled with terrifying beasts. No one comes, no one goes, and Wormwood has stayed this way for generations — until Vega's mentor Quentin Herms disappears. Quentin leaves Vega a secret message hinting that there's a way out of Wormwood, and something extraordinary on the other side. As Vega begins to investigate, she realizes that Wormwood is a village built on dangerous lies. And that powerful people are willing to kill in order to keep it that way. Soon Vega is careening down a path that will either lead straight to the truth … or straight to an early grave.

Baldacci's most recent book for young readers, Day of Doom, the final book in the bestselling multi-platform The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers story arc, was published by Scholastic in March 2013.

(via press release)