Viola Davis is co-writing a middle-grade novel with her friend Lavaille Lavette, People magazine reports.
Henry Holt and Co. will publish the duo’s Girl, I Think My Grandma’s a Spy next year. The press says it will be the first installment of “an action-packed series filled with humor, heart, and undercover hijinks!”
Davis, the celebrated actor known for her roles in films including Doubt, Fences, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, is the author of three previous titles: the children’s book Corduroy Takes a Bow, co-written with B.G. Hennessy and illustrated by Jody Wheeler; the memoir Finding Me; and the thriller Judge Stone, co-written with James Patterson. Lavette is an editor and the author of the Adventures of Roopster Roux series of children’s books.
Girl, I Think My Grandma’s a Spy will follow Jazzlyn, a 13-year-old girl who is initially annoyed that her grandmother, Mae, is moving in with the family. Jazzlyn soon discovers that Mae has a secret life and gets caught up in it herself.
Davis and Lavaille said in a statement, “There’s something incredibly special about creating a story with a friend. From imagining the world of Jazz and Grandma Mae to shaping every twist and surprise, Girl, I Think My Grandma’s a Spy has been a joyful creative journey. We hope young readers are swept up in the adventure, embrace their imaginations and fall in love with these characters as much as we have.”
Girl, I Think My Grandma’s a Spy is slated for publication on March 2, 2027.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
