Emily Meehan and Laura Schreiber at Disney-Hyperion have acquired Amie Kaufman (l.) and Meagan Spooner's Unearthed, a YA duology pitched as Indiana Jones meets Lara Croft in space. Publication is scheduled for fall 2017 and fall 2018; Tracey Adams and Josh Adams at Adams Literary negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Greg Hunter at Carolrhoda has bought Master Diplexito and Mr. Scant, as well as two sequels, from debut author Bryan Methods. Oliver Diplexito, the meek son of a British industrialist, discovers the identity of Edwardian England's most notorious thief: Mr. Scant, his family butler. Too frightened to say no, Oliver assumes the dangerous role of Scant's apprentice. Publication begins in 2016, with books to follow in 2017 and 2018; Fiona Kenshole at Transatlantic Agency brokered the three-book deal for North American rights.
Anne Schwartz at Random House's Schwartz & Wade Books has acquired the first volume in Candace Fleming's new chapter-book series in which historical figures make their way into a contemporary setting. Publication is slated for spring 2017; Ethan Ellenberg at Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Christy Ottaviano at Christy Ottaviano Books/Macmillan has bought two YA novels by April Henry. The first book, a sequel to Girl, Stolen, is scheduled for 2017; the book, Run, Hide, Fight Back, is a thriller set in a shopping mall, and is scheduled for 2018. Wendy Schmalz at the Wendy Schmalz Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Sharyn November at Viking has acquired Funny Girl, a humor anthology for girls ages 9-12, curated by Betsy Bird and featuring short stories, personal essays, comics, and poetry from nearly 30 female writers, including Lisa Graff, Cece Bell, Jenni Holm, Shannon Hale, and Rita Williams-Garcia. A portion of the proceeds will support WriteGirl, a creative writing and mentoring organization for teen girls. Publication is set for spring 2017; Stephen Barbara at Inkwell did the deal for U.S., Canadian, and open market rights.
Jordan Hamessley at Adaptive Books has bought Amy Christine Parker's new YA novel, tentatively titled Orphan City. In the story, two orphaned siblings who are recruited to an elite school where almost every student develops superpowers, and the older sibling discovers the school's sinister plans for its students. Publication is slated for 2016; Lucienne Diver at the Knight Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Cheryl Klein at Scholastic's Arthur A. Levine Books has acquired world rights to Kyle Constantini Finds Her Way, a middle-grade novel by debut author Susie Salom. As Kyle participates in a problem-solving competition, she also navigates the maze of sixth-grade friendships, crushes, and trust, using T'ai chi, echolocation, twin ESP, and her lucky blue fedora. Publication is planned for fall 2016; John M. Cusick of Greenhouse Literary negotiated the deal.
Alyson Heller at S&S/Aladdin has bought Cindy Callaghan's Sydney MacKenzie Knocks 'Em Dead, about a girl who is forced to move into the creepy funeral home her family has inherited; she and her friends find a maze of abandoned tunnels and unearth a century-old secret. Publication is scheduled for fall 2016; Mandy Hubbard at D4EO Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Christy Ottaviano at Henry Holt's Christy Ottaviano Books has acquired two picture books by Adam Auerbach. The first, Monkey Brother, is a picture book about a boy and his little brother, a monkey, and is slated for 2017. Erica Rand Silverman at Sterling Lord Literistic negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Emily Feinberg at Roaring Brook Press has bought Big Cat, Little Cat, a picture book by Elisha Cooper, a story of friendship and family, seen through the eyes of two cats – one older and one younger – as they go through their daily lives. Publication is scheduled for winter 2017; Liz Darhansoff at Darhansoff & Verrill did the deal for world rights.
Susan Rich at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to One Minute Till Bedtime, an anthology of 150 original 60-second poems selected by Children's Poet Laureate Kenn Nesbitt (l.), illustrated by artist and designer Christoph Niemann, which features Lemony Snicket, Sharon Creech, Jack Prelutsky, Jane Yolen, Judith Viorst, Naomi Shihab Nye, Pat Mora, Nikki Grimes, and many others. The book is scheduled for fall 2016; Jill Corcoran of Jill Corcoran Literary Agency represented Nesbitt, and Liz Darhansoff at Darhansoff and Verril Agency represented Niemann.
Tamar Brazis at Abrams has bought at auction Kara LaReau's The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters, a middle-grade trilogy about two sisters, apparently abandoned by their parents, who are kidnapped by lady pirates and forced to endure excitement and solve mysteries. The first book will publish in fall 2016; Barry Goldblatt at Barry Goldblatt Literary negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Liz Szabla at Feiwel and Friends has acquired James Preller's Dead (But Cautiously Optimistic), pitched as The Walking Dead meets The Mysterious Benedict Society. In the “not-too-distant future,” a seventh-grade undead boy has to adjust to middle-school life as a zombie, and with three unlikely friends, he navigates a mystery involving global warming, disappearing bees, and billionaire developers... and more zombies. It's slated for fall 2016; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal for North American rights.
Liz Tingue at Razorbill has bought Emily Henry's The Love That Split the World, a debut novel for teens. In the story, Natalie navigates a cosmic phenomenon that allows her to see different versions and eras of her small Kentucky town, and the stakes are raised when she falls in love. Publication is scheduled for spring 2016; Lana Popovic of Chalberg & Sussman negotiated the deal for world rights.
Kate Sullivan at Delacorte has acquired author R. Zamora Linmark's YA debut, These Books Belong to Ken Z, an exploration of coming out and subsequent heartbreak, viewed through the lens of Oscar Wilde's work and life, and told through a variety of narrative forms including haikus, emails, imaginary dialogues, and lists. Publication is set for spring 2017; Kirby Kim of Janklow & Nesbit did the deal for world English rights.
Stacey Barney at Putnam has bought Katie Bayerl's YA debut A Psalm for Lost Girls, which centers on an abduction that forever alters the lives of three girls – one who has been missing, one who is living, and one who is dead and rumored to be a saint. It's slated for spring 2017; Erin Harris of Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management brokered the two-book deal for world rights.
Erica Finkel at Abrams has acquired Sara Biren's The Last Thing You Said, about a boy and a girl who are struggling after the death of his sister – her best friend – and can no longer avoid their grief or their feelings for each other. Publication is planned for 2017; Steven Chudney from the Chudney Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Joy Peskin at FSG has bought, in a preempt, Tami Lewis Brown's picture book biography of artist Keith Haring. The Radiant Man tells how Haring used New York as his canvas, bringing fine art into everyday people's lives, especially those of children. Publication is tentatively scheduled for 2017; Sarah Davies at the Greenhouse Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Paula Wiseman at Simon & Schuster's Paula Wiseman Books has acquired Lori Richmond's debut picture book, Pax and the Pigeon about an unlikely friendship between a boy and a bird. Publication is planned for spring 2017; Lori Kilkelly at Rodeen Literary Management did the deal for world rights.
Tracy Gates at Viking has bought Click!, a picture book about a dog, a cat, and a mysterious clicker that brings the protagonist nothing but trouble, by Frank W. Dormer. Publication is slated for spring 2016; Emily Mitchell of Wernick & Pratt Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Alyssa Pusey at Charlesbridge has acquired world rights for Baby Loves Aerospace Engineering and Baby Loves Quarks by Ruth Spiro (l.), illustrated by Irene Chan, a pair of picture books that connect our everyday world to the science that underlies everything. Publication is scheduled for fall 2016; the illustrator is now represented by CATugeau LLC, and Susan Hawk at the Bent Agency represented the author.
