T.S. Ferguson at Harlequin Teen has acquired Adi Alsaid's untitled third YA novel, the story of Carlos, a wealthy Mexican teen who is struggling to come to terms with his older brother's death – and unbeknownst to his family, is hearing and seeing messages from that brother. Convinced by his brother's spirit to risk everything to pursue his dreams, Carlos runs away from his sheltered life in Mexico City and apprentices himself to a famous American chef, finding love and a sense of purpose along the way. Publication is slated for 2017; Annie Stone at Alloy Entertainment brokered the deal for world English rights.
Jenny Bak at Jimmy Patterson Books has bought a YA novel called Of Blood and Shadow by Kerri Maniscalco. The debut gothic thriller, inspired by the Ripper murders, is about a Victorian-era lord's daughter who defies society expectations by secretly apprenticing as a forensics examiner, and soon finds herself embroiled in the investigation of a serial killer who is stalking London's East End. The book is scheduled for fall 2016; Barbara Poelle at Irene Goodman Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Aimee Friedman at Scholastic has bought Keep Me in Mind, a contemporary YA novel from Jaime Reed, about a girl who doesn't remember and the boy who can't forget her. Publication is planned for April 2016; Kathleen Ortiz and Danielle Barthel of New Leaf Literary & Media negotiated the deal for world rights.
Kate Farrell at Henry Holt has acquired Heather Demetrios's new YA novel, Bad Romance, about a 16-year-old girl who tries to reclaim her life from bad relationships with three men: her father, an alcoholic ex-Marine; her stepfather, who would rather she didn't exist; and her dangerously abusive boyfriend. A publication date has not yet been set; Brenda Bowen at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates did the deal for world English rights.
Susan Van Metre at Abrams has bought Eisner-nominated author-illustrator Dylan Meconis's debut Queen of the Sea, a hybrid graphic novel/historical fantasy inspired by the early life of Queen Elizabeth I, about a girl raised in a convent on a small island, whose happy life is shattered when she discovers the convent is actually a political prison... and she herself one of its most dangerous prisoners. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018; Barry Goldblatt at Barry Goldblatt Literary brokered the deal for world English rights.
Jennifer M. Brown at Knopf has acquired Ben Costa and James Parks's graphic novel series, Rickety Stitch and the Gelatinous Goo, about a walking, talking, singing skeleton bard who embarks on an epic quest with his gelatin sidekick to discover his origins in a world of ogres, gnomes, haunted woods, and a kick-butt knight who is not all she seems; Stephen Brown will edit. Publication will start in summer 2017; Daniel Lazar at Writers House negotiated the three-book deal for North American rights.
Diane Landolf at Random House has bought a debut middle-grade novel from TV producer/director Doreen Spicer-Dannelly. For the Love of Double Dutch tells the story of a girl who must salvage her double-dutch dreams after her parents' rocky relationship takes her away from Brooklyn – and her beloved team – to spend the summer with her cousin in North Carolina. Publication is slated for fall 2017; Regina Brooks at Serendipity Literary brokered the deal for North American rights.
Christian Trimmer at Simon & Schuster has preempted picture-book author Susan Hood's debut middle-grade novel, Lifeboat 12. The story, based on true events, follows six boys who survived a major naval disaster in September 1940. Publication is planned for fall 2017; Brenda Bowen at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates did the deal for world English rights.
Sylvie Frank at S&S /Paula Wiseman has acquired Wesley King's The Sun Race, a middle-grade novel told in three voices about a school field trip to the Carlsbad Caverns that goes horribly wrong. Publication is set for fall 2017; Brianne Johnson at Writers House negotiated the deal for world rights.
Rotem Moscovich at Disney-Hyperion has bought a debut middle-grade novel by Mary Winn Heider. In The Mortification of Fovea Munson, a 13-year-old girl is forced to spend her summer vacation working at her parents' cadaver lab, where friendships form under the most unlikely circumstances. Publication is scheduled for summer 2018; Tina Wexler at ICM brokered the two-book deal for world English rights.
Alessandra Balzer at HarperCollins imprint Balzer + Bray has acquired author-illustrator Kelly Light's The Smiley Family Album, a picture book about a discovered photo album which tells one family's story, generation to generation, from snapshots in sepia to Kodachrome to Polaroid to selfie. Publication is planned for fall 2017; Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown Ltd. negotiated the deal for world rights.
Michael Joosten at Doubleday has bought author-illustrator Jonathan Bentley's Where Is Bear? The picture book tells the story of a boy and his best friend – an actual bear – and their search to find Bear's missing stuffed animal... a teddy bear. Publication is slated for summer 2017; Charlotte Bodman of Hardie Grant Egmont did the deal for North American rights.
Jessica Almon at Razorbill has acquired Richelle Mead's The Glittering Court, a romantic fantasy series set in a mix of Elizabethan and frontier worlds, which follows three girls as they embark on a journey in search of empowerment and love. Publication is planned for April 2016; Jim McCarthy at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management negotiated the three-book deal for world English rights.
Kaylan Adair at Candlewick has bought two novels by Lindsay Eagar. Eagar's debut, Hour of the Bees, part of a previous two-book contract, is slated to publish in March 2016. Candlewick has bought these two additional titles to make Eagar a staple of Candlewick lists through 2019. The books for this latest deal are untitled and will publish in 2018 and 2019; Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary did the deal for world English rights.
Lori Benton at Scholastic has acquired two YA novels written by Peadar Ó Guilín. The as-yet-untitled books tell the story of a girl, ravaged by a childhood disease, who fights to defend herself against an evil that targets the children of Ireland. Publication is scheduled for fall 2017; Bronwen Bennie at David Fickling Books brokered the deal for North American rights.
David Gale at Simon & Schuster has bought Chris Miles's debut novel,Spurt, about Jack Sprigley, an eighth grader and former reality TV star who decides to fake puberty to avoid embarrassment. Publication is slated for spring 2017; Daniel Lazar at Writers House negotiated the deal for North American rights on behalf of Hardie Grant Egmont.
Allison Wortche at Knopf has acquired Cath Crowley's Words in Deep Blue, about two teens who find their way back to each other while working in an old bookstore full of secrets and crushes, love letters and memories, grief and hope. Publication is set for spring 2017; Catherine Drayton at InkWell Management brokered the deal for North American rights.
Simon Boughton at Roaring Brook has preempted Pam Smy's Thornhill, a dark yet ultimately uplifting novel that explores themes of bullying, identity, and friendship. Publication is scheduled for fall 2017; Bronwen Bennie at David Fickling Books negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Leslie Shumate at Poppy/NOVL has bought April Lindner's Far from Over, a digital original novella and spinoff of her novel Love, Lucy, about restless traveler Jesse Palladino as he leaves behind his summer romance in Rome and must decide where his heart lies. Publication is slated for May 2016; Amy Williams at the Williams Company did the deal for world rights.
Tiffany Liao at Razorbill has acquired Evan Kuhlman's (l.) Blobby Blobson, illustrated by Merrill Rainey, first in an illustrated middle grade series. It features the adventures of a blob boy from the sewer who tries to fit in at a suburban middle school. Publication is planned for spring 2017; John Cusick at Folio Literary Management represented the author and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator in the two-book deal for world rights.
Krista Vitola at Delacorte has bought a middle-grade novel by Emma Carroll, called In Darkling Wood. In the story, a girl named Alice is shipped off to her estranged grandmother's house when her brother receives the chance for a heart transplant, and finds herself entangled in a battle to save the magical woods next to her grandmother's home. Publication is scheduled for spring 2017; Lizzie Bishop at Faber and Faber brokered the two-book deal for U.S. rights.
Jennifer Greene at Clarion has acquired at auction Nana in the Country by Lauren Castillo. This was part of a previously unreported deal that encompassed Caldecott Honor book Nana in the City. Nana in the Country finds Nana visiting her grandson, who sets out to share with her all the lovely things the country has to offer. Publication has not yet been set; Paul Rodeen at Rodeen Literary Management negotiated the deal for world rights.
Laura Godwin at Holt has bought Catherine Macorol's debut picture book, tentatively titled Lumi's Dreams. The series features a girl, her best stuffed animal friend, and their magical, dreamed-up adventures. Publication for the first book is slated for fall 2017; Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions brokered the three-book deal for world rights.
Sylvie Frank at S&S/Wiseman has acquired Susan Verde's picture book Hey, Wall, in which a boy brings his community together to create a mural in this celebration of urban art. John Parra is set to illustrate. Publication is planned for spring 2018; Erica Rand Silverman at Sterling Lord Literistic negotiated the deal for world rights; Stefanie Von Borstel and Adriana Dominguez at Full Circle Literary represented the illustrator.
Kathy Landwehr at Peachtree has bought Fantastic Flowers by Susan Stockdale, a picture book celebrating the surprising and often extraordinary shapes of flowers. Publication is set for March 2017; Gina Maccoby at Gina Maccoby Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Marlo Scrimizzi at Running Press Kids has acquired a picture book from author-illustrator Vern Kousky. The Blue Songbird tells the story of a young bird without a special song of her own who flies off to seek advice from birds all around the world to find her own voice. Publication is scheduled for spring 2017; Elana Roth Parker at Red Tree Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
