Melanie Cecka Nolan and Stephen Brown at Knopf have acquired four YA projects by David Levithan, two of which will be co-written with Rachel Cohn. The first of two new novels from Levithan – titles and publication dates to be announced – will be a standalone, followed by a sequel to Every Day. The sequel will conclude the story of A, a character who changes bodies on a daily basis but is always in love with the same girl, Rhiannon. The new collaborations include a sequel, The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily (scheduled for fall 2016), as well as Sam and Ilsa, a story that features brother-sister twins and a fateful end-of-the-year party. Bill Clegg at the Clegg Agency brokered the deal for all four books for North American rights; Jennifer Rudolph Walsh at WME represented Rachel Cohn.
Jody Corbett at Scholastic has bought Fonda Lee's untitled YA novel about a bio-enhanced teen soldier who must struggle for his freedom and the safety of the planet when he taken hostage by an extremist group intent on overthrowing alien governance of Earth. Publication is set for spring 2017; Jim McCarthy at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management negotiated the deal for world rights.
Pam Gruber at Little, Brown has acquired The Hearts We Sold, a blend of horror and sci-fi by Emily Lloyd-Jones, about a girl who trades her heart to a demon and becomes part of a gang of “heartless” teens trying to save the world. Publication is slated for spring 2017; Josh Adams at Adams Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Wendy Loggia at Delacorte has bought Jessica Brody's Addie Montgomery's Shortcut to Growing Up, about a 12-year-old girl, tired of her immature classmates and overprotective parents, who makes a wish to be 16... and her wish comes true, with bittersweet consequences. Publication is scheduled for 2017; Jim McCarthy at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Lisa Sandell at Scholastic has acquired Jane B. Mason's YA novel, Without Annette. The book, set at an elite boarding school, tells the story of a girl who must forge her own path in the wake of a crumbling relationship. Publication is slated for summer 2016; Josh Adams at Adams Literary brokered the deal for North American rights.
Connie Hsu at Roaring Brook has bought Cilla Lee-Jenkins: Future Author Extraordinaire, a debut middle-grade novel by Susan Tan. The book is told through the “memoirs” of a surely-soon-to-be renowned nine-year-old girl, exploring her mixed Chinese and American heritage, school, birthdays, time-traveling theories, and the impending birth of a new sibling. Publication is set for 2017, with a second book to follow in 2018. Dan Lazar at Writers House negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Kaylan Adair at Candlewick has acquired Melanie Heuiser Hill's debut, Giant Pumpkin Suite, a middle-grade novel about a girl who is singularly focused on winning the upcoming Bach Cello Suites Competition, until a serious accident changes the course of the summer. Publication is scheduled for fall 2017; Carrie Hannigan at Hannigan Salky Getzler Agency did the deal for world English rights.
Beverly Horowitz at Delacorte has bought Rachel Swaby's The Investigators: 33 Women Who Changed Science and the World, a middle-grade adaptation of her book Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science and the World. Publication is planned for fall 2016; Mackenzie Brady Watson at New Leaf Literary & Media brokered the deal for U.S., Canadian and open market rights.
Katie Cunningham at Candlewick has acquired Broadway actress and author-illustrator Jessica Love's debut picture book, Julián at the Mermaid Parade, about a boy who, while visiting his grandmother at her home in Coney Island on the day of the annual Mermaid Parade, is inspired to dress up like a mermaid himself. Publication is slated for spring 2018; Meredith Kaffel at DeFiore and Company did the deal for world rights.
Frances Gilbert at Doubleday has preempted Kelly DiPucchio and AG Ford's Littles: A Love Story, a rhyming tribute to babies.” Publication is set for summer 2017; Steven Malk at Writers House negotiated the deal for world rights.
Joanna Cardenas at Viking has signed Charles Santoso to illustrate The Society for Underrepresented Animals, written by Julie Falatko. The story follows a group of misfits who become annoyed when a bunny infiltrates their meeting of Underrepresented Animals in Picture Books. Publication is scheduled for summer 2017; Justin Rucker of Shannon Associates did the deal for world rights.
Sonali Fry at Little Bee has bought Sue Fliess's Race!, a picture book about a little car that defies the odds during a big race; Edward Taylor is set to illustrate. Publication is slated for summer 2017; Jennifer Unter of the Unter Agency represented the author, and James Burns of the Bright Agency USA represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Amelia Hansom at Compendium has bought M.H. Clark's (l.) You Belong Here, to be illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault. The rhyming verse describes landscapes and the animals that live there – each where it belongs – and reminds children that they are right where they belong as well. Publication is slated for summer 2016. The author was unagented; Kirsten Hall of Catbird Productions represented Arsenault in the deal for world rights.
