I thought this trend was over already

But instead, the crossover appeal of crime and thriller types moving towards younger readers has yet to be exhausted. This news from my favorite source ever:

Bestelling author and ex-special forces soldier Andy McNab and Robert

Rigby’s BOY SOLDIER, an action adventure for teenagers, to John Rudolph

at Putnam, in a nice deal, for two books, by Philippa Milnes-Smith at

Lucas Alexander Whitley. Rights also sold to Random House UK and Germany; TV rights were optioned to Zenith Entertainment, in association with Janet Fillingham Assocs.

Oh, color me impressed. Although at least it doesn’t sound as dire as this does.

Sadly, Andrew Vachss continues to disappoint me by failing to try such an endeavor for himself. Can’t you see him rewriting OLD YELLER, but in his version, the dog’s a Black Mastiff named Pansy?*

• (Actually, Vachss has written a children’s book, but it was meant “for adults” and thereby doesn’t count.)