Magabala Books acquires van Neerven’s middle-grade novel

Magabala Books has acquired world rights to Ruby’s Web, a middle-grade novel by Ellen van Neerven.

Beginning year 7, Ruby finds herself facing online bullying every day. Even her former best friend, Amber, is pretending not to know Ruby. As the debate around the Voice referendum grows momentum, Ruby receives more attention because of her online writing, and the “gap between the internet and real life [becomes] thinner”, said the publisher.

Van Neerven (they/them) is an award-winning author, editor and educator of Mununjali and Dutch heritage. They are the author of Comfort Food and Heat and Light (both UQP). Van Neerven is also an editor of Flock: First Nations Stories Then and Now (UQP), Unlimited Futures (edited with Rafeif Ismail, Fremantle Press) and, most recently, Shapeshifting (editied with Jeanine Leane, UQP).

Van Neerven said, “The deadly team at Magabala Books have believed in this project from the beginning. I am so happy to be publishing my first work for younger readers with Magabala and can’t wait for readers to meet Ruby and the other characters!”

Of van Neerven, Magabala editor and project manager Arlie Alizzi said, “They are one of the country’s most exciting and versatile writers and this book is a true gift, encouraging us to consider what it means to be resilient and to value creativity, uniqueness and sensitivity in our youth. It will start important conversations about how to address bullying and internet use, at a time where our country is debating what it means to access social media at a young age.”

Magabala plans publish Ruby’s Web on 24 February 2026.

Photo credit: Anna Jacobson.  

Category: Local news Rights and acquisitions