Uitgeverij Ploegsma, a division of WPG Uitgevers and a leading children’s book publisher in the Netherlands, has acquired the Dutch translation rights to Die fantastiese verdwyning van Charlie Prins (The Fantastic Disappearance of Charlie Prins) by Jaco Jacobs.

This novel, which is an adaptation of a screenplay Jacobs originally created for kykNET Storiefilms, was published in 2024 by Pan Macmillan South Africa. The film was released in 2023.

It tells the story of Ethan, a curious teenage boy who becomes fascinated by Charlie, the mysterious new girl at his school, after he witnesses her stealing a pair of socks. He can sense that she has a secret, but it is a dangerous secret, as he soon discovers.

The forthcoming Dutch translation comes in a milestone year for Jaco Jacobs, who is celebrating 25 years of writing children’s books, as well as the publication of his 300^th book this year.

“We are incredibly proud of Jaco’s continued success, both locally and internationally. Publishing your 300th book is an extraordinary achievement, and the fact that Charlie Prins will now also be published in the Netherlands is a testament to Jaco’s world-class storytelling talent,” says Miemie du Plessis, children’s book publisher at Pan Macmillan South Africa.

Several of Jacobs’ works have been published internationally over the years and translated into languages including English, Italian, Spanish and Slovenian, as well as Dutch.

Ploegsma previously published four novels by Jaco Jacobs in Dutch translation, and are looking forward to adding The Fantastic Disappearance of Charlie Prins to their offering.

About the book

Sometimes the universe owes you a pair of cool socks. Ethan is taken aback one Saturday morning when he sees the new girl in his class steal a pair of socks in broad daylight at a flea market stall. Everyone at school is already wondering about the girl who arrived at the school at the end of the previous term. Her name is Charlie Prins. She sits by herself during recess. She doesn’t seem to want to be noticed. What school did she go to before? Does she have brothers or sisters? Is she good at sports or public speaking or anything like that? No-one knows anything about her. Charlie is a mystery, one that Ethan can’t wait to unravel. But the secret she hides is bigger – and more dangerous – than he could ever have guessed.

With his signature blend of humour and compassion, Jaco Jacobs tells the story of someone desperate to disappear, and someone who can’t help but notice her. Instagram photos, board game cards and other visual elements make this whirlwind of a story an unforgettable reading experience for young teenagers.