Elise Howard at Algonquin Young Readers has bought world rights to two new YA novels from Nova Ren Suma, author of Imaginary Girls and 17 & Gone. The Walls Around Us, the first book, is the story of girls bound by fate and coincidence, one living and one dead. In two voices, they tell of haunting and being haunted by ghosts both real and imagined. It's scheduled for spring 2015; Michael Bourret at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management brokered the deal.
Nancy Inteli at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to Did You Know That I Love You? and a second, untitled picture book by debut author-illustrator Christa Pierce. Did You Know That I Love You? is a tribute to the joy and strength of love in the tradition of Guess How Much I Love You? Publication is planned for winter 2015; Steven Malk of Writers House held the auction.
Liz Szabla at Feiwel and Friends has bought a debut YA novel called Becoming Jinn and a second book by Lori Goldstein. The books will follow Azra, a girl whose genie powers have just awakened on her 16th birthday, and who must balance having to learn the rules of her ancestors with her desire to be a typical teen. The projected pub date for Becoming Jinn is spring 2015; Lucy Carson at the Friedrich Agency did the deal.
Abby Ranger at HarperCollins has acquired Dill & Bizzy: An Odd Duck and a Strange Bird, a debut picture book from two sisters, Vermont College of Fine Arts alum Nora Ericson (author, l.) and graphic designer Lisa Ericson (illustrator). In the book, a pair of eccentric feathered friends discover that what makes them odd and strange might also make them amazing, and perfect for each other. Publication is planned for winter 2016; Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger did the two-book deal for world rights.
Caitlyn Dlouhy at Atheneum has signed Caldecott Medalist David Small to illustrate Doreen Cronin's Bloom, a fairy tale in which a little girl, with the help of a mud fairy named Bloom, comes to understand that there is no such thing as ordinary. Publication is scheduled for 2016; Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties did the deal for world rights.
Jill Santopolo at Philomel has bought North American rights to two novels by Lisa Graff. In the first of the two books, Absolutely Almost, Albie Rubenstein is almost good at a lot of things, but he wonders if being an almost is enough. It's scheduled for publication in summer 2014; Stephen Barbara at Foundry Literary + Media brokered the deal.
Bethany Strout at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers has bought a debut novel, The Shine Between Us by Sarah Tomp. In the story, a girl will do anything to leave her small Appalachian town, including making and selling moonshine to finance her college education. But when she falls for a boy whose ties to the town run deep she must choose between him and the life she's always dreamed of. Publication is set for fall 2014; Catherine Drayton at InkWell Management held the auction for North American rights.
