Ken Wright and Alex Ulyett at Viking have acquired David Arnold's third YA novel, The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik, about a boy who – after an experience with hypnosis – finds everyone around him mysteriously changed, with only four "Strange Fascinations" from his previous life that still remain constant, so he sets out to investigate them discover what happened. Publication is planned for spring 2018; Daniel Lazar at Writers House did the deal for North American rights.
Zareen Jaffery at Simon & Schuster has bought rights to Always and Forever, Lara Jean, the conclusion to Jenny Han's To All the Boys I've Loved Before trilogy. While Lara Jean is having fun and keeping busy helping to plan her father's wedding, she can't ignore the big life decisions she has to make. As her senior year draws to a close, she wonders – when your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to? It's scheduled for April 2017; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management brokered the mid-six figure, three-book deal for North American rights.
Katie Cunningham at Candlewick has acquired Mourning at White Garden, the next graphic memoir from Honor Girl author Maggie Thrash. The book is based on the true events of May 14, 2001, when Maggie lost her cat somewhere within the walls of her parents' gigantic mansion, but the story blurs into surreal fiction when the search leads Maggie to a hallway she'd never noticed before, hiding a brother she didn't know she had. Publication is slated for 2018; Stephen Barr at Writers House negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Laura Schreiber at Disney-Hyperion has bought a YA fantasy duology from Melissa Landers. In the first novel, tentatively titled The Half King, a failed oracle must leave her temple sanctuary to serve an enigmatic young ruler who turns to shadow at sunset. In doing so, she discovers a disturbing truth about herself that shatters the fragile peace within the realm. Publication is scheduled to start in fall 2018; Nicole Resciniti of the Seymour Agency brokered the deal for world rights in an exclusive submission.
Rosemary Brosnan at HarperTeen has acquired at auction Gillian French's debut novel, Grit, about 17-year-old blueberry harvester Darcy Prentiss, a bad girl with a big heart, a big crush, and a devastating secret that eventually comes to light. Publication is planned for summer 2017; Alice Tasman at Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency did the two-book deal for North American rights.
Alix Reid at Carolrhoda Lab has bought Mary McCoy's YA novel I, Claudia, a contemporary retelling of I, Claudius set in a Los Angeles prep school, following the title character's rise to power – and subsequent fall – as she seizes control of the school's esteemed Honor Council and then loses everything. Publication is set for fall 2018; Patricia Nelson at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Howard Reeves at Abrams has acquired world rights to John Hendrix's first YA nonfiction title, Bonhoeffer. This illustrated biography recounts the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor who opposed the growing power of the Nazis and ultimately worked with spies in plotting to assassinate Hitler. Publication is slated for spring 2018; Rebecca Sherman at Writers House brokered the three-book deal, which includes a picture book based on a Bible story, on an exclusive submission.
Monica Jean at Delacorte has acquired North American rights to The Chocopocalypse, debut author Chris Callaghan's illustrated middle grade novel about a girl's adventure to save the world from the threat of no more chocolate. Publication is scheduled for fall 2017; Allison Hellegers at Rights People negotiated the deal on behalf of Elinor Bagenal and Barry Cunningham at Chicken House.
Mary Colgan at Boyds Mills/Calkins Creek has bought Justin Benton's debut middle grade novel, Moonshine, the story of 13-year-old Cub and his father who make backwoods moonshine as a way to survive the Great Depression. When members of the North Side Gang see how illegal liquor can turn a profit during Prohibition, Cub finds himself caught between crooked police and vicious gangsters. Publication is slated for fall 2018; Becca Stumpf at Prospect Agency did the deal for world English rights.
Bethany Buck at Sky Pony Press has acquired world rights for Vicki Berger Erwin's middle grade historical novel Different Days, in which an 11-year-old girl's parents of German descent are interned following the attack on Pearl Harbor, and Rosie is left to keep the family together. Publication is planned for fall 2017; the author is unagented.
Stacy Whitman at Lee & Low's Tu Books has bought world rights for New Visions Award honor recipient Alexandra Aceves's Children of the River Ghost, a YA horror novel in which 16-year-old Katie, reeling from bullying after her last relationship, moves to New Mexico and falls for a mysterious, beautiful girl who may be the ghost La Llorona. Publication is set for spring 2019; the author was unagented.
Alexandra Cooper at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to a new picture book from Sophie's Squash author Pat Zietlow Miller (l.). The new text, Remarkably You, is described as a celebration of individual expression; Patrice Barton. Publication is scheduled for spring 2019; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Christina Tugeau at CATugeau Artist Agency represented the illustrator.
Marissa Moss at Creston has bought world rights to a nonfiction picture book by Nancy Churnin, to be illustrated by Danny Popovici. In Manjhi Moves a Mountain a man is motivated by love to move a mountain, with only a hammer, chisel, and his own persistence. Publication is slated for fall 2017; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author and Lori Kilkelly at Rodeen Literary Management represented the illustrator.
Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown has acquired Anne Booth's and Sam Usher's Refuge, a retelling of the nativity story as the journey of three refugees – mother, father, and baby – reliant on the kindness of strangers. A charitable donation on U.S. copies sold will be made to the UNHCR. Publication is set for fall 2016; Kate Wilson at Nosy Crow negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Jennifer Greene at Clarion has bought world rights to Alastair Heim's next picture book, The Great Puppy Invasion, about what happens when a horde of puppies shows up in Strictville, a no-nonsense, no-fun town that has never seen puppies before. Kim Smith will illustrate; publication is set for fall 2017. Kelly Sonnack at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented both Heim and Smith.
