Whitney Ross at Tor has bought author Cora Carmack's first YA fantasy series, featuring a world shaped by violent, magical storms and ruled by those who can control them. The first volume, Roar, follows a teenage girl who is the sole heir to her family's kingdom, but has yet to show any trace of storm magic; she dons a disguise and runs away with a group of storm chasers to face a tempest, steal a piece of its soul, and return home with enough magic to control her own future. The first book is planned for winter 2017; Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary and Media negotiated the six-figure, three-book deal for North American rights.
Anna Bloom at Scholastic has acquired four books in Sarah Aronson's chapter-book series, The Worst Fairy Godmother Ever. The first story is about a girl who longs to be the perfect fairy godmother, but is matched with the most un-princess-like girl of all. The first two books are slated for summer 2017; Sarah Davies at the Greenhouse Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Elizabeth Bewley at HMH pre-empted world rights to Lost Stars, a YA novel by Lisa Selin Davis. Based on the author's Modern Love column in the New York Times, the story centers on a teenage girl grappling with her sister's death and her own place in the universe over the course of a fateful summer. Publication is set for fall 2016; Faye Bender at the Book Group brokered the deal.
Jennifer Klonsky for HarperTeen has bought Sarah Mlynowski's I See London, I See France, in which 19-year-old Sydney decides at the last minute to have the summer she's longed for: traveling through Europe with her best friend. But while they dodge (and chase) boys, drama, and their own personal demons, Sydney falls head over heels for a guy she can't have. The first book is scheduled for publication in summer 2017; the second book is untitled and not yet scheduled. Laura Dail at Laura Dail Literary Agency negotiated the two-book deal for North American and audio rights.
Kate Sullivan at Delacorte preempted Katherine Webber's Wing Jones, in which the title character is a biracial teen growing up in 1990s Atlanta, and is reeling from her older brother's drunk-driving accident. When she discovers running, her speed might contain the answers she and her family need. Claire Wilson of Rogers, Coleridge & White sold North American rights in a two-book deal, with simultaneous U.S. and U.K. publication set for winter 2017.
Catherine Wallace at HarperTeen has acquired Kasie West's By Your Side, about a girl who is accidentally locked in a library with the boy nobody knows but everyone talks about, and must find a way to escape. Publication is slated for winter 2017; Michelle Wolfson at Wolfson Literary Agency did the deal for North American rights.
Susan Dobinick at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has preempted Planaria Price (l.) and Helen West's nonfiction YA memoir Claiming My Place: Coming of Age in the Shadow of the Holocaust. This eyewitness account tells the story of Barbara Reichman, West's mother, who took on a different identity and hid in plain sight to make it through the war. The book is planned for winter 2017; Rena Rossner of the Deborah Harris Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Meredith Mundy at Sterling has acquired a picture book by folksingers Justin Lansing (l.) and Joe Mailander, also known as the Okee Dokee Brothers, calledCan You Canoe? And Other Adventure Songs, to be illustrated by Brandon Reese. The title is scheduled for spring 2016, to coincide with the release of the next Okee Dokee Brothers album. Jennifer Mattson at Andrea Brown Literary represented Mailander and Lansing, and Danielle Smith at Red Fox Literary represented Reese in the two-book deal for world rights.
Marlo Scrimizzi at Running Press Kids has boughtWhat a Beautiful Morning by Arthur A. Levine, to be illustrated by Katie Kath, in which Grandma's support helps a boy accept his grandfather's gradual memory loss, and to enjoy the moments they still have together. Publication is slated for fall 2016; Susan Cohen at Writers House represented the author and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Maria Modugno at Penguin Random House has preempted Sara O'Leary's Maud and Grandmaud, to be illustrated by Kenard Pak. In the book, a girl visits her grandmother's house for a sleepover; they have breakfast for dinner, watch old films, and enjoy other simple pleasures made sweeter for doing them together. The book will be co-published with Tara Walker at Penguin Random House Canada/Tundra Books in summer 2018. Jackie Kaiser of Westwood Creative Artists represented O'Leary and Kirsten Hall of Catbird Agency represented Pak in the deal for world rights.
Liz Szabla at Feiwel and Friends has acquired Wolf in the Snow written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell, in which a girl, caught in a fierce blizzard, stumbles upon a lost wolf pup and must choose to find her own way home or return the pup to its pack. Publication is planned for fall 2016; Rosemary Stimola of Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal for North American rights.
Jennifer Greene at Clarion has bought world rights for Camille Andros's (l.) debut Charlotte the Scientist Is Squished, to be illustrated by Brianne Farley. In the story, bunny Charlotte, a serious scientist, uses the scientific method to solve her problem – being squished by her many brothers and sisters. Publication is scheduled for spring 2017; the two-book deal was negotiated by Lori Kilkelly at Rodeen Literary Management for the author and Paul Rodeen at Rodeen Literary Management for the illustrator.
Marlo Scrimizzi at Running Press Kids has bought Sharon Chriscoe's Race Car Dreams, to be illustrated by David Mottram, about a race car preparing for bed, plus a second untitled book. Publication for the first title is set for fall 2016; Jessica Sinsheimer at the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency represented the author and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Group represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Taylor Norman at Chronicle Books has acquired world rights to Drew Beckmeyer's debut picture book, The Long Island, in which five protagonists get to wondering what's on the other side of their island, and can't stop until they find out. Publication is planned for spring 2018; the author was unagented.
