Alessandra Balzer at HarperCollins's Balzer + Bray imprint has acquired Dumplin' by Julie Murphy, author of the forthcoming Side Effects May Vary. Her new book, a contemporary YA novel, follows Willowdean, a “card-carrying fat girl” who is determined to take on her small town's beauty pageant (run by her mother), until she realizes that what’s holding her back may not be everyone else’s perception of her but her own. Publication is scheduled for 2015; Molly Jaffa at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management brokered the deal for North American rights.
Phoebe Yeh at Crown has acquired world English rights, in a preempt, to an illustrated middle-grade novel by debut author Alison DeCamp. Set in the 1890s and illustrated with advertisements and images of the period, The Stupendous Scrapbook of (Somewhat Manly) Stan tells of a boy's quest to find his father in the logging camps of Michigan, negotiating his troublesome family and a host of lumberjacks in the process. Publication is scheduled for summer 2015; Sarah Davies of the Greenhouse Literary Agency brokered the three-book deal.
Krista Vitola at Delacorte has bought a contemporary YA novel by Amy Dominy, called A Matter of Heart. In the book, 16-year-old Abby is on track to win the state swim championships and qualify for the Olympic trials, when the diagnosis of a deadly heart condition forces Abby to discover who she is without the one thing that has defined her entire life. Publication is planned for spring 2015; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Christian Trimmer at Simon & Schuster has acquired a debut novel by Jen Brooks, called World Maker. It stars Jonathan Aubrey, a high school senior who creates an alternate world in which Kylie Simms is his girlfriend but who botches things up when he attempts to kiss the real Kylie, causing both of his worlds to unravel. Alexandra Machinist at Janklow & Nesbit did the two-book deal for world rights.
Tara Weikum at Harper Collins has acquired North American rights to two middle-grade novels by National Book Award Medalist Thanhha Lai. The first book in the deal, Listen Slowly, features a 12-year-old Southern California girl who reluctantly takes a summer trip to Vietnam; publication is planned for winter 2015. Rosemary Stimola of Stimola Literary Studio brokered the six-figure deal.
Christy Ottaviano at Henry Holt's Christy Ottaviano Books has pre-empted a middle-grade novel by debut author Jennifer Bertman. Book Scavenger launches a contemporary mystery series that involves cipher-cracking, book-hunting, and a search for treasure through the streets of San Francisco. Publication is scheduled for fall 2015; Ammi-Joan Paquette of Erin Murphy Literary Agency brokered the three-book deal for world rights.
Liz Waniewski at Dial has bought Imposter by Antony John, a thriller pitched as "Gossip Girl meets John Grisham." The story follows 18-year-old Seth, who moves to Los Angeles and gets swept up in a glamorous world, but suddenly realizes that Hollywood is about more than making movies – it's about staying alive. Publication is slated for winter 2015; Ted Malawer at Upstart Crow Literary did the deal for world English rights.
Bethany Strout at Little, Brown has pre-empted a debut YA novel by Kendall Kulper called Salt & Storm, set in a whaling community in the late 1800s. In the story, a 16-year-old descendent of the island witch learns she will be murdered, and must prevent her own death and discover the secrets of her family's magic. Publication is set for fall 2014; Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger did the two-book deal for world rights.
