Susan Van Metre at Abrams/Amulet has bought a new series by The Popularity Papers author Amy Ignatow, called The Mighty Odds, about a group of mismatched middle-schoolers who gain oddly limited powers (super strength but just in the thumbs; teleportation but only four inches to the left), and who reluctantly band together to combat dark forces. Publication will begin in fall 2016; Daniel Lazar at Writers House did the two-book deal for world rights.
Maria Barbo at HarperCollins's Katherine Tegen Books has bought a debut YA fantasy by Sarah Henning, tentatively titled Heartless and pitched as the never-before-told origin story of the sea witch from Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid" told in the vein of Wicked – from the villainess's point of view. Publication is set for fall 2017; Rachel Ekstrom at the Irene Goodman Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Louise May at Lee & Low Books has acquired Sparkle Boy, a picture book by Lesléa Newman (l.), illustrated by Maria Mola, about a little boy who loves to wear the same kind of shimmery skirt, glittery nail polish, and sparkly bracelet as his older sister. Publication is slated for spring 2017; Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown Ltd. represented the author for world English and Spanish rights, and Nicole Tugeau of Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator for world rights in all languages.
Tracy Mack at Scholastic has bought world rights to Bees in Trees by Ruth Horowitz (l.), illustrated by Blanca Gomez. In the picture book, next-door neighbors Abel and Beatrice have the perfect arrangement – Abel grows apples, Beatrice raises bees – until a sting escalates into a feud. It's scheduled for spring 2017; the author was represented by Linda Epstein of the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency, and the illustrator was represented by Rebecca Sherman of Writers House.
Kate O'Sullivan at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has acquired Town of Turtle, a picture book by Michelle Cuevas (l.), illustrated by Catia Chien, about an industrious but lonely turtle who solves his problems by building a town on his back. Publication is set for fall 2017; Emily van Beek of Folio Jr. / Folio Literary Management represented Cuevas and Steven Malk of Writers House represented Chien in the deal for world rights.
Emily Easton at Crown Books for Young Readers has acquired Megan Miranda's Fragments of the Lost, a YA psychological thriller in the vein of 13 Reasons Why. As a girl packs up her dead boyfriend's room, each item reveals a pattern of deception that leads her to wonder if you can ever really know another person. Publication is slated for fall 2017; Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary brokered the deal for world English rights.
Becky Shapiro at Scholastic has bought Heart of a Dolphin, a middle-grade novel by Catherine Hapka. When 11-year-old Annie Reed frees a dolphin trapped in a fishing line, it seems like a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. But then the dolphin returns the next day, striking up an unlikely friendship with Annie, and ultimately saving her life in more ways than one. Publication is set for spring 2016; Jaida Temperly and Joanna Volpe of New Leaf Literary & Media negotiated the deal for world rights.
Lauri Hornik of Dial Books for Young Readers has acquired The Black Hole Who Lives in Our House, a middle-grade novel by Michelle Cuevas about an isolated child who befriends a black hole – one that is unpredictable, capricious, and kind of cute. It's scheduled for summer 2017; Emily van Beek of Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management did the deal for world English rights.
Kelly Hashway at Leap Books Seek has bought world rights for S.A. Larsen's debut middle-grade novel Motley Education, in which a class assignment sends two friends on the journey of their lives battling creatures from Norse mythology to find a relic that is vital to saving both the spirit world and themselves. Publication isplanned for fall 2016; the project was unagented.
Julie Bliven at Charlesbridge has acquired world rights to a nonfiction picture book written by Steve Jenkins and illustrated by Robbin Gourley. A House on My Back (working title) uses dual layers of text to share how and why many animals make unusual homes for themselves. It will be released in 2017; the deal was unagented.
Mary Colgan at Boyds Mills Press has bought author-illustrator Wendy Wahman's latest picture book, Rabbit Stew, a story about two fox brothers collecting vegetables for their delicious “rabbit stew,” which worries their pet rabbit. Publication is scheduled for spring 2017; Erzsi Deak of Hen&ink Literary Studio negotiated the deal for world rights.
