Polis Books has acquired the U.S. and Canadian rights to publish, Into the River by Ted Dawe, a book that was banned in New Zealand several weeks.
The YA novel was banned in New Zealand, making it illegal for booksellers to own or sell, after the NZ Booksellers Association received complaints about the work from Christian groups. The controversial book won the New Zealand Post Children’s Book award in 2013 and was the first book to be banned in New Zealand in more than 20 years.
Polis Books plans to publish the book in the U.S. and Canada in June 2016.