The Wilderness of Girls

by Madeline Claire Franklin

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.

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Pub Date Jun 11 2024 | Archive Date Jun 18 2024

Zando | Zando Young Readers

Mystery & Thrillers | Teens & YA

Talking about this book? Use #TheWildernessofGirls #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!

Description

A 2025 YALSA William C. Morris Award Finalist, An Indie Next Pick, A B&N Best Book of 2024An unflinching YA debut about a troubled teen who discovers a pack of feral girls in the woods and is swept up in the ensuing mystery: Are the Wild Girls of Happy Valley lost princesses from a faraway land, as they believe, or are they brainwashed victims of a deranged kidnapper?In her ambitious debut perfect for fans of Sadie and The Hazel Wood, Madeline Claire Franklin crafts a gripping exploration of how the world teaches young girls to cage their wildness—and what happens when they claw themselves free. After being placed in foster care, Rhi is hungry for a fresh start and begins working at the Happy Valley Wildlife Preserve. While in the woods, she stumbles upon a surreal sight: a pack of wolves guarding four feral and majestic girls. After Rhi gains their trust, they reveal that they’re princesses from another land, raised by a magical prophet they call Mother—and they're convinced Rhi is their lost fifth sister.Unsure what to believe, Rhi ushers the girls to civilization, where they’re met with societal uproar and scrutiny, dubbed by the ravenous media and true crime junkies as “The Wild Girls of Happy Valley.” Desperate to return to their kingdom, the girls look to Rhi for help. Rhi knows the girls are deluded, but at the same time she’s drawn in by their boldness and authenticity—traits she is afraid she has lost within herself. And when Rhi witnesses strange phenomena she can’t quite explain, the line between fantasy and reality grows blurry.As the hunt for answers intensifies, Rhi must make a decision that will change the course of her lives and the lives of her Wild Girls forever.

Marketing Plan

Early Outreach

Early bound manuscript mailing to booksellers for pre-pub blurbs
Personalized Indie Next mailing to independent booksellers who love YA thrillers
Cover reveal with influencer partners prompting readers to "Join the Wild Girls of Happy Valley"

Trade & Retailer

Extensive early outreach and mailings to secure account picks and book club features
Galley promotions at key bookseller and librarian conferences including regional shows NVNR, NEIBA, MPIBA, Winter Institute and TLA and ALA Annual
Trade review, regional trade association, and educator and librarian advertising
NetGalley and Edelweiss Promotions
Zando Trade newsletter spotlight, and indie bookstore pre-order campaign, pitching Talking Leaves in Buffalo

Media & Events

National and regional media outreach to TV, radio, podcast, print, and online venues targeting genre, queer, Jewish, true crime, and disabled media outlets pitching for interviews and features
Pitch for "most anticipated" lists to pop culture, general interest, literary, genre, and feminist outlets including coverage in Best Books of the Year roundups, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Pride Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, holiday gifting, etc
Pitch for appearances at trade conferences NTTBF (March), TLA (April), and festivals YALLFest (Nov)
Author appearances virtual/in-person talks at bookstores, schools, libraries, festivals, and cultural institutions

Consumer

Branded Happy valley merch included in pre-order promotions, mailings, and at consumer conferences
Big mouth mailings to popular YA and Thriller writers such as Nova Ren Suma, Angeline Boulley, and Alaina Urquhart
Social strategy with creative content pulling from the themes in the book
Tik Tok campaign partnering with BookTok creators that leans into the true crime angle targeting fans of Courtney Summers and Trang Thanh Tran
Book Club Outreach including a downloadable discussion guide
ZYR Fall Thrillers Campaign launching Fall 2024 featuring The Wilderness of Girls and The Dark We Know that will include group ads, prize pack giveaway, and a live virtual event between the two authors

Advertising

Digital ads on Fantasy, Thriller, and book sites
Podcast advertising
YouTube, TikTok, and Meta advertising
Goodreads campaign
Holiday Gift Guides

Early Outreach

Early bound manuscript mailing to booksellers for pre-pub blurbs
Personalized Indie Next mailing to independent booksellers who love YA thrillers
Cover reveal with influencer partners...