Phoebe Yeh at Crown Books for Young Readers has acquired an anthology of short stories edited by Ellen Oh, cofounder and president of We Need Diverse Books. Stories for All of Us will feature original stories by Sherman Alexie, Jacqueline Woodson, Kwame Alexander, Walter Dean Myers, and more. Oh's grassroots organization formed last year to address the lack of diverse narratives appearing in children's literature. The book is set for spring 2017; Barry Goldblatt of Barry Goldblatt Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Stacey Barney at Putnam has bought a YA debut fantasy by Traci Chee in a preempt. The as-yet-untitled book follows a young woman's quest to save what remains of her family in a world where literacy is forbidden. It's scheduled for publication in early 2016; Barbara Poelle at the Irene Goodman Agency did the three-book deal for world English rights.
David Levithan at Scholastic preempted a middle-grade debut by Alex Gino called George, which tells a girl whom the world identifies as a boy. It's scheduled for fall 2015. Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Catherine Wallace of HarperTeen has bought Long May She Reign, a fantasy from Rhiannon Thomas in which a 17-year-old shy, socially awkward girl scientist is 23rd in line for the throne, but suddenly becomes queen when the entire court is assassinated by poison during a state dinner. Publication is planned for early 2017. Kristin Nelson at Nelson Literary Agency brokered the deal for North American rights.
Calista Brill at First Second has bought world rights to two middle-grade graphic novels from Mike Lawrence. The first volume of the series is Star Scouts, about a girl named Avani, who is bored with her local scout troop and joins an intergalactic one. Publication is slated for 2017; Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal.
Kristin Rens at Harper Collins imprint Balzer + Bray has acquired Brodi Ashton's Diplomatic Immunity, a standalone novel about a recent scholarship recipient who sets out to expose debauchery at her exclusive private school in Washington, D.C., only to find herself falling in love with the baddest boy of all. Publication is scheduled for spring 2016. Michael Bourret at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management brokered the deal for North American rights.
Susan Dobinick at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has bought world English rights to children's librarian Abby Cooper's debut Sticks and Stones in a preempt. The middle-grade novel follows Elyse Everett, who has an extremely rare skin condition in which the names people call her appear on her body, as she begins to navigate middle school. The book is set for spring 2016. Rebecca Sherman at Writers House did the two-book deal.
Jeannette Larson at HMH has acquired A Rambler Steals Home, a middle-grade debut by Carter Higgins. Derby Christmas Clark, a "rambler on the road" with her father and little brother, discovers that the small Virginia town they return to each year harbors secrets and hopes within its battered baseball stadium. Publication is scheduled for fall 2016. Rubin Pfeffer at Rubin Pfeffer Content negotiated the deal for world rights.
Melanie Cecka Nolan at Knopf has bought Hannah Barnaby's Some of the Parts, a YA novel about a girl who discovers that her brother's organs have been donated after a fatal car accident in which she was the driver. The book is slated for spring 2016. Linda Pratt at Wernick & Pratt Agency brokered the deal for North American English rights.
Grace Kendall at Farrar, Straus and Giroux bought at auction Louis Thomas's first two original picture books, Hug It Out!, a comical introduction to sibling rivalry, scheduled for winter 2017, and Wasn't Me!, about a boy who must learn to take responsibility for his actions, set for winter 2018. Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions did the two-book deal for world rights.
