Kristen Pettit at HarperCollins has bought Kristen Ciccarelli's debut YA fantasy series, Askari, in a high six-figure pre-empt. It tells the story of a young dragon slayer facing an arranged marriage while civil war spreads through her homeland. She makes a pact with her father (the king) to bring him the head of the deadliest dragon in her kingdom in exchange for her freedom, but doesn't know that her father is hiding a life-changing secret. The first book in the series, Askari, is scheduled for fall 2017; Heather Flaherty at The Bent Agency did the three-book deal for North American rights.
Lauren Smulski and Margaret Marbury at Harlequin Teen, in a joint offer with Anna Baggaley at Harlequin U.K., have acquired world English rights to two novels at auction, by Sasha Alsberg (l.) and Lindsay Cummings. Zenith is a space opera adventure in which an all-girl crew of thieving space pirates must stop a ruthless dictator bent on igniting a galaxy-wide war. The book was originally serialized and the first part was self-published, debuting at #1 on the New York Times YA ebook bestseller list. Publication is slated for 2017; Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary & Media represented Alsberg and Peter Knapp at New Leaf Literary & Media represented Cummings.
Martha Mihalick at Greenwillow has bought world English rights to Legendry, a YA anthology of re-imaginings of East and South Asian mythology, folklore and fairy tales, to be edited by Ellen Oh (l.) and Elsie Chapman. The anthology will feature stories by Melissa de la Cruz, Julie Kagawa, Roshani Chokshi, Alexander Chee, Renee Ahdieh, Alyssa Wong, Aliette de Bodard, and more. Publication is set for summer 2018; Barry Goldblatt at Barry Goldblatt Literary represented Oh, and Victoria Marini at Gelfman Schneider/ICM represented Chapman.
Christian Trimmer at Simon & Schuster has acquired Christian McKay Heidicker's YA novel Throw Your Arm Across Your Eyes and Scream. Pitched as Pleasantville meets Cloverfield, the novel follows 15-year-old Phoebe, daughter of the woman who was carried to the top of the Empire State Building by King Kong, in a world where the horrors of 1940s and 50s sci-fi movies are everyday occurrences. Publication is planned for summer 2018; John M. Cusick of Folio Jr. / Folio Literary Management brokered the deal for world rights.
Virginia Duncan at Greenwillow has signed Brian Lies, author-illustrator of Bats at the Beach, for two untitled picture books, the first of which explores grief, and the anger that often accompanies it, through the story of a gardener who loses his beloved dog. It is scheduled for spring 2018; Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Katherine Jacobs at Roaring Brook has bought author-illustrator Stephanie Roth Sisson's Rachel's Wonder, a picture book about writer and ecologist Rachel Carson, her childhood, and her inspirations. It will be published in spring 2018; Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Erin Clarke at Knopf has acquired North American rights to The Littlest Viking by Alexandra Penfold (l.), illustrated by Isabel Roxas. It's a picture book about a little Viking whose world is turned upside down when an even littler—and louder—Viking arrives. Publication is slated for spring 2018; Susan Ginsburg of Writers House represented the author and Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties represented the artist.
Cassandra Pelham at Scholastic/Graphix has acquired world rights to two books in a YA graphic novel series by Amy Kim Kibuishi. They recount the story of Tabby Charon, who, after her father dies, travels to a distant world of magic and beauty where she meets a handsome boy and learns of her destiny. Publication of the first book is scheduled for 2019. Judy Hansen at Hansen Literary Management negotiated the deal for world rights.
Stacey Barney at Putnam has bought world English rights for a YA duology from Renée Ahdieh. The first book, Flame in the Mist, is set against the backdrop of feudal Japan, where Mulan meets Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness. Publication is slated for May 2017; Barbara Poelle at Irene Goodman Literary brokered the deal.
Anne Heltzel at Abrams/Amulet has acquired Noteworthy by Riley Redgate, in which 17-year-old Jordan disguises herself as a boy, auditions for her elite boarding school's all-male a cappella group, and discovers a world of tradition, rivalry, and debauchery. Publication is set for spring 2017. Caryn Wiseman at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency did the two-book deal for world rights.
Lisa Yoskowitz at Little, Brown has bought, in a pre-empt, Tracy Barrett's Marabel and the Book of Fate, about a world in which everything is predestined; the overlooked twin sister of the Chosen One must go against her fate to save her brother – and the entire kingdom. Publication is planned for fall 2017; Joelle Hobeika, Annie Stone, and Hayley Wagreich at Alloy Entertainment negotiated the three-book deal for world English rights.
Brett Wright at Bloomsbury has won at auction Krista Van Dolzer's Don't Solve the Puzzle, a middle-grade murder mystery set at a math camp, with built-in logic puzzles that readers can solve alongside the main character. Publication is scheduled for winter 2019; Brent Taylor at the TriadaUS Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Margaret Ferguson at FSG/Margaret Ferguson Books has acquired Christina Uss's debut middle-grade novel, The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle, about a girl who loves her home in the Nearly Silent Monastery, but the pull of friendship leads her on a coast-to-coast cycling adventure, complete with hauntings, runaway stallions, lucky inventions, and a mysterious black-clad pursuer. It's set for publication in spring 2018; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Dana Chidiac at Dial has bought Elissa Brent Weissman's The Length of a String, a middle grade novel that tells the story of Imani, an adopted Jewish girl who wonders about her birth parents as she prepares for her bat mitzvah. When her great-grandmother Anna passes away, Imani discovers Anna's diary, which chronicles her escape from World War II Luxembourg and adoption by a new family in Brooklyn. Publication is slated for summer 2018; Flip Brophy at Sterling Lord Literistic negotiated the deal for world rights.
Shelly Lyons at Capstone Press has acquired world English rights toMolly Mac Wants Her Tooth Back by author-illustrator Marty Kelley, the first of four chapter books featuring first-grade whirlwind Molly Mac. It will be published in spring 2017; Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary did the four-book deal.
Alyson Day at HarperCollins has bought world rights to Paige Keiser's debut as author-illustrator in Bently All Alone, in which a tiny pig finds an unlikely friendship with a chick whose love of mud wallowing and oinking gives way to more chicken-like activities as she grows up, and Bently must adjust to his friend's new personality. It's planned for winter/spring 2019; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal for world rights.
Julie Matysik at Running Press Kids has acquired Jannie Ho's Bear and Chicken, a picture book about a defrosted chicken who is convinced that Bear is going to eat him for lunch. Publication is scheduled for fall 2017; Mela Bolinao at MB Artists negotiated world rights.
Sylvie Frank at S&S/Paula Wiseman Books has bought world rights to a picture book biography of a little-known journalist by Lesa Cline-Ransome, with 2016 Golden Kite winner John Parra illustrating. Publication is slated for fall 2019; the author represented herself, and Adriana Dominguez and Stefanie Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary represented the artist.
Kelly Delaney at Knopf has acquired Megan Maynor's (l.) The Sandcastle That Lola Built, a reimagining of This Is the House That Jack Builtas a busy day at the beach, to be illustrated byHannah and Sugar author-illustrator Kate Berube. Publication is set for summer 2018; Minju Chang at Bookstop Literary Agency represented the author and Lori Kilkelly at Rodeen Literary Management represented the illustrator.
Carolrhoda Books has bought world rights to Laurie Friedman's (l.) Merry Christmas, Mary Christmas!; Anna Cavallo will edit. The picture book tells the tale of a family that over-celebrates Christmas, much to the dismay of the daughter, Mary, who is not thrilled with her family's exuberance. Kathryn Durst is on board to illustrate. Publication is scheduled for fall 2017; Susie Cohen of PearlCo Literary Agency represented the author and Alexandra Gehringer of Bright USA represented the illustrator.
