Justin Chanda at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers has bought To All the Boys I've Loved Before, a YA novel by Jenny Han; Zareen Jaffery will edit. It tells the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her letters have been mailed, causing all her past crushes to confront her about the letters. Publication is set for April 2014; Emily Van Beek of Folio Jr. / Folio Literary Management was the agent.
Neal Porter has acquired world rights to author-illustrator Jessixa Bagley's debut picture book, Boats for Papa, for his imprint at Roaring Brook Press. The book, about a young beaver named Buckley who carves ever more intricate boats out of driftwood to send to his absent father, will be published in spring 2015. Alexandra Penfold of Upstart Crow Literary brokered the two-book deal.
Sarah Landis at HarperTeen has bought YA debut fantasy novel After by feministfiction.com author Rhiannon Thomas. One hundred years after falling asleep, Sleeping Beauty wakes up to the kiss of a handsome prince and a broken kingdom that has been dreaming of her return, but as her wedding day draws near, Aurora must uncover what has happened while she slept, and must decide whether to marry the prince or run. Publication is planned for winter 2015. Kristin Nelson of Nelson Literary Agency brokered the two-book deal for North American rights.
Karen Chaplin at HarperCollins has acquired North American rights to Please Don't Tell, a YA debut by 20-year-old Laura Tims. The novel, a contemporary thriller, follows a girl who seeks revenge on the boy who ruined her sister's life, but who finds herself falling for the one guy who's off limits, and is blackmailed by a stalker who knows her secret. Publication is scheduled for fall 2015; Sarah Davies of the Greenhouse Literary Agency did the two-book deal.
Louise May at Lee & Low has acquired Monica Brown's Maya's Blanket, a DIY-inspired picture book about a creative and resourceful girl who transforms her favorite blanket into new things, with the help of her artsy Abuelita. Brown's picture books have been awarded the Américas Award for Children's Literature, the NAACP Image Award, the Christopher Award, and the NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor, among many others. Publication is planned for 2015; Stefanie Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary was the agent.
Allison Wortche at Knopf has bought world rights in a pre-empt to author-illustrator Jennifer Gray Olson's Ninja Bunny, which follows a sometimes stubborn rabbit as he navigates the rules of becoming a super-awesome ninja warrior. Publication is set for spring 2015. Kerry Sparks at Levine Greenberg Literary Agency did the two-book deal.'
