Virginia Duncan at Greenwillow has bought North American rights to David Macinnis Gill's Uncanny, a new take on the gothic tradition, blending elements of witchcraft, history, and magic. When Willow Jane turns 16, chilling events begin to unfold: time freezes at random moments, a dead girl visits her bedside, and an ancient evil called the Shadowless rises from the grave, seeking the power Willow Jane now possesses. It's scheduled for summer 2017; Rosemary Stimola of Stimola Literary Studio did the six-figure, two-book deal.
Anna Roberto at Feiwel and Friends has acquired Tiffany King's Losing Leah, a YA psychological thriller told by an unreliable narrator, which follows a 16-year-old girl who was abducted as a child as she struggles to readjust to the outside world after being rescued from her captor. Publication is planned for spring 2018; Kevan Lyon at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Karen Wojtyla at McElderry Books has bought Josh Bellin's next novel, Freefall. On Earth, Cam and Sofie lived divided by prejudice, but when their starships crash-land on a hostile alien planet, they have to learn to live together – or die trying. Publication is set for 2017; Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Ari Yarwood at Oni Press has acquired world rights to the YA graphic novel I Want You by Madeleine Flores. The story follows a girl working in her brother's cat cafe who has a secret magical ability that allows her to get whatever she wishes for whenever she says “I want.” Publication is slated for 2018; Jen Linnan at Linnan Literary Management negotiated the deal for world rights.
Brett Wright at Bloomsbury has bought world rights to Kid Normal, the first novel for children from British radio personalities Chris Smith (l.) and Greg James, who are hosts on Radio 1 in the U.K. The book, which launches a humorous middle grade adventure series, stars Murph, an ordinary boy who feels out of place when his mom inadvertently enrolls him at a school for superheroes. U.S. publication is scheduled for spring 2018; Stephanie Thwaites from Curtis Brown brokered the deal.
Nick Eliopulos at Scholastic has acquired world rights to Dan Gemeinhart's middle grade novel Scar Island, about a group of boys at a reform school who have to fend off an oncoming hurricane. Publication is set for 2017; Bob Diforio and Pam Howell at D4EO Literary brokered two-book deal.
Wendy Lamb at Random House/Lamb has bought Tara Dairman's The Great Hibernation of St. Polonius-on-the-Fjord, a middle-grade novel set in an isolated community, following the chaos and comic adventures that take place after the traditional tasting of the Sacred Bear Liver goes horribly awry. Publication is slated for fall 2017; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Jennifer Brown at Knopf has acquired world rights to The Good Fight, a middle grade nonfiction title that chronicles the infighting between the founding fathers; by Anne Quirk (l.), illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley. Publication is planned for summer 2017; Nancy Gallt at Nancy Gallt Literary represented the author and the illustrator represented herself.
Grace Kendall at FSG has bought debut author-illustrator Aidan Cassie's Fork, a picture book about a stray dachshund named Sterling, who, in an effort to please his new family, tries to be useful as a fork and other increasingly silly household utensils. Publication is set for spring 2018; Wendi Gu at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates did the deal for world rights.
Cheryl Klein of Scholastic/Levine has acquired world rights to Adam Lehrhaupt's picture book,Wordplay. Jealous of all the things (and people, and places) that new-kid-on-the-playground Noun can BE, will Verb DO the right thing and lend a hand when it counts? Jared Chapman will illustrate. Publication is tentatively scheduled for summer 2017; Alexandra Penfold at Upstart Crow Literary represented the author and Rebecca Sherman of Writers House represented the illustrator.
Susan Van Metre at Abrams has bought Good Guys, Bad Guys, a picture book that captures the merry war of siblinghood, written by Joanne Rocklin and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. Publication is planned for spring 2019; Rocklin was represented by Erin Murphy of Erin Murphy Literary Agency in the deal for world rights, and Carpenter represented herself.
