Krista Marino at Delacorte Press has acquired North American rights to Fourteen Dreams by The Replacements author Brenna Yovanoff, in a preempt. Pitched as Say Anything meets Donnie Darko, the story is about a high-achieving girl who falls for the most imperfect boy in school through a series of mysterious dreams, which change how she feels about herself, her future, and love. Publication is planned for spring 2016; Sarah Davies at the Greenhouse Literary Agency did the two-book deal.
Caitlyn Dlouhy at Atheneum has acquired When I Was the Greatest author Jason Reynolds's next two YA novels. Long Way Down is a novel in verse about the consequences of street violence, and a second novel centers on a crew of young musicians who find their audience in the most unlikely of places. Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties negotiated the two-book deal.
Emily Meehan at Hyperion has bought world English rights to Nantucket Blue author Leila Howland's new untitled YA about an hardworking 18-year-old student at prestigious Carter Academy, who is rejected from every college due to a misstep sophomore year. Knowing only a huge risk can save her, she moves to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. Publication is slated for 2016; Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger, Inc. brokered the two-book deal.
Krista Vitola at Delacorte Press has bought Dana Alison Levy's companion to The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher, called A Fletcher Summer. In the story, the Fletchers must use any means necessary to stop a greedy developer masquerading as a visiting artist from tearing down the lighthouse on their beloved Rock Island. Publication is set for spring 2016; Marietta Zacker at Nancy Gallt Literary Agency did the deal for North American rights.
Margaret Raymo at HMH has bought Search and Spot #1 and #2 by Laura Ljungkvist, author-illustrator of Follow the Line and Pepi Sings a New Song. It's a pair of seek-and-find picture books in which the reader uncovers objects hidden in a wide variety of patterns. The first book will be published in fall 2015; John Rudolph at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management brokered the deal for world rights.
David Linker at HarperCollins Children's Books has acquired the first six books in Calista Brill's (l.) Little Wing series, illustrated by Jennifer Bell. This picture book and I Can Read series follows an baby dragon as he explores his fairytale-inspired world. The first book is planned for summer 2016; Justin Rucker of Shannon Associates represented Bell, and Brill was unagented in the deal for world rights.
Sally Doherty at Henry Holt has acquired Bossy Flossy, a picture book by Paulette Bogan (Lulu the Big Little Chick). Her new book features a very bossy young lady who meets her match (and her new best friend) when she least expects it. Publication is scheduled for spring 2016; Victoria Wells Arms at Wells Arms Literary negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Debra Dorfman and Marisa Polansky at Scholastic have acquired environmental educator Heather L. Montgomery's untitled nonfiction picture book about the rudest and crudest bugs with bad manners, including little-known bug facts. It's set for publication in 2015; Stefanie Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary did the deal.
Phoebe Yeh at Crown Books for Young Readers has acquired Nisha Sharma's My So-Called Bollywood Life, a multicultural teen romance about Winnie Mehta, a Bollywood film groupie who is dumped by her boyfriend Raj via Facebook status as senior year begins, and an additional untitled YA novel. Publication is slated for spring 2016; Antonella Iannarino at David Black Agency did the deal for USCPOM, non-exclusive Europe rights. Producer Susan Cartsonis (Aquamarine; Beastly) has optioned the book for filmmakers Gurinder Chadha and Paul Mayeda-Berges to adapt.
Phoebe Yeh also bought Kevin Emerson's Breakout, the story of young rocker and anti-hero Anthony who pens his first song lyrics and is unwittingly thrust into a free speech rebellion at his school, and an additional untitled YA novel. Breakout is slated for spring 2015 publication; George Nicholson at Sterling Lord Literistic sold USCP, non-exclusive open market rights.
Margaret Ferguson at Farrar, Straus & Giroux has bought North American rights at auction to Lisa Williamson's debut novel The Art of Being Normal. It's a story of an unlikely love triangle between 14-year-old David who has always wanted to be a girl; Leo, a tough guy from the wrong side of town who is trying to stay out of trouble; and the gorgeous Alicia, who thinks Leo is something he is not. Publication is set for spring 2016; Catherine Drayton at InkWell Management brokered the deal on behalf of Catherine Clarke at Felicity Bryan in the U.K.
Andrew Karre at Carolrhoda Lab has acquired an untitled debut YA novel by writer and professor Shannon Gibney It tells the story of Alex, an African-American teenage girl who has gained a reputation as an elite baseball player thanks in part to her famous white father. Alex is also a transracial adoptee coming to terms with her race and her two families. Publication is set for late 2015 or early 2016; Gibney represented herself in the deal for world rights.
Wesley Adams at Farrar, Straus & Giroux has bought Secrets of Selkie Bay, a middle-grade magical realism novel by Shelley Moore Thomas. When Cordie's little sister claims their missing mother has turned into a selkie, Cordie has only herself to blame, since she's the one who made up that lie in the first place. But in order to discover the truth of what happened to their mother, Cordie must take a treacherous journey to the hidden Selkie Isle. Publication is set for spring 2015; Joanna Volpe of New Leaf Literary & Media did the deal for world English rights.
Andrea Cascardi at Egmont USA has bought Anywhere but Paradise, a debut middle-grade historical novel by Anne S. Bustard. It tells the story of Peggy Sue Bennett, a fish out of water in post-statehood Hawaii, baffled by local customs and bullied by an eighth grader for being white. Bustard is the former co-owner of Toad Hall Children's Bookstore in Austin, Tex. The book is scheduled for spring 2015; Emily Mitchell at Wernick & Pratt did the deal for North American English rights.
Georgia McBride of Month9Books has acquired, and Ashlynn Yuhas will edit, literary agent Aoife Lennon-Ritchie's debut novel, a middle-grade fantasy called The Extremely Epic Viking Legend of Yondersaay for Tantrum Books, a line of middle-grade books that will launch this fall. The story follows brother and sister Ruairi and Dani, who while spending the holidays with their grandmother on the legendary island of Yondersaay, get into trouble after Ruairi is mistaken for the lost Boy King of Denmark, kidnapped by Vikings, and intended to be sacrificed at sundown. The first book in the series will be published in fall 2015; Ali McDonald brokered the deal for U.S. and audio rights.
Sally Doherty at Henry Holt bought world English rights to Pigloo, a picture book by Anne Marie Pace (Vampirina Ballerina) to be illustrated by Lorna Hussey. Pigloo is an explorer destined for greatness so an expedition to the North Pole is a natural aspiration; all that's needed is snow, and maybe a little help from his older seemingly disinterested sister. It is set to publish in 2016; Linda Pratt at Wernick & Pratt Agency represented the author, and Eunice McMullen at Eunice McMullen Ltd. represented the illustrator.
Paula Wiseman at Simon & Schuster has bought world rights to This Is a Good Story, a picture book written by E.B. White Read-Aloud Book Award Honor author Adam Lehrhaupt, illustrated by Magali Le Huche. It's slated for fall 2016; Alexandra Penfold at Upstart Crow Literary represented the author and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Jeffrey Salane at Scholastic bought world rights to Tool School, written by Joan Holub and illustrated by James Dean, the team behind Mighty Dads. The new collaboration is a manners book about a special school where Hammer, Saw, Wrench and other mischievous tool friends learn proper behavior. A pub date has not yet been set; Liza Voges at Eden Street represented the author and Deborah Warren at East West Literary represented the illustrator.
