Beverly Horowitz at Delacorte Press has acquired Tianxia Bachang's The City of Sand, first in the Ghost Candle series, a bestseller in China. The novel follows a teenage boy and his best friend as they lead an unlikely group of archeologists on an adventure deep into China's Taklimakan Desert in search of the lost city of Jingjue. Publication is planned for fall 2017; Jenny Savill at Andrew Nurnberg Associates negotiated the deal for U.S./Canadian/open market rights.
Liesa Abrams at Simon Pulse has bought Amy Reed's Our Stories, Our Voices, an anthology inspired by the election, with essays by top YA authors exploring diverse experiences of injustice, empowerment, and growing up female in America, meant to offer hope and solidarity to young readers. Publication is projected for summer 2018; Amy Tipton at Signature Literary Agency did the deal for world English rights.
Kate Egan at KCP Loft has acquired world English rights to Alisha Sevigny's YA novel, Summer Constellations, in which a young woman, desperate to keep developers from buying her family's cherished summer campground, is doubly disappointed when her summer love shows up with his new girlfriend. A handsome, friendly boy who offers to help is a welcome distraction, but their relationship hits a snag when he reveals that his father is the developer. Publication is scheduled for spring 2018; Alison McDonald of the Rights Factory brokered the deal.
Jenny Bak at Little Brown/Jimmy Patterson has bought a YA fantasy by Natasha Ngan, called Girls of Paper and Fire. Inspired by Asian mythology, it follows Lei, a girl who is taken from her remote village to serve in the Demon King's court. When Lei falls in love with another servant, putting both their lives in jeopardy, she must decide how far she's willing to go to fight for her love and her freedom. Publication is slated for spring 2018; Taylor Haggerty at Waxman Leavell negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Emily Meehan and Julie Rosenberg at Disney-Hyperion have acquired world rights to Click'd, the first middle grade novel by author Tamara Ireland Stone in a six-figure, two-book deal. The novel follows a seventh grader named Allie who builds an app that goes viral, giving her the chance to win a coding competition and one-up a tech-savvy boy in her school. When a glitch in the app surfaces, Allie has to win back her friends and work with the boy she was competing against. Click'd is set for fall 2017; Caryn Wiseman of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency did the deal.
Julia Sooy at Henry Holt's Godwin Books has bought George Brewington's Buckleby & Son's Very Strange Souvenirs, a middle-grade fantasy adventure pitched as Eva Ibbotson meets Diana Wynne Jones, in a preempt. The story is about a boy who, while helping out at his father's undercover monster-trading store, discovers that the baby troll sleeping in the freezer is being sought by a criminal mastermind plotting the destruction of West Coast America. Publication is planned for winter 2019; Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary brokered the two-book deal for world English rights.
Julie Matysik at Running Press Kids has acquired Beth Vrabel's The Denture Club, about five kids forced to spend a day volunteering in an assisted living facility after committing separate pranks on the last day of eighth grade. Pitched as a middle-grade The Breakfast Club set in an old-age home, all the action takes place in the course of one day, as the five kids reveal what they've done, why they did it, and what they're going to do now. Publication is scheduled for spring 2018; Nicole Resciniti at the Seymour Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Christy Ottaviano at Holt's Christy Ottaviano Books has bought world rights to Papa Brings Me the World, written and illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats Award-winner Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw. It's a picture book celebration of inclusivity, imagination, and the rich diversity of global cultures, told through the story of a long-distance love between a child and her father, a photojournalist traveling the world. The book is slated for 2018; Jo-Lynne Worley at Worley Shoemaker Literary Management did the deal.
Nancy Inteli at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to Vivian the Dog Moves to the Big City and a second untitled photographic picture book by debut author Mitch Boyer. The books star Vivian the giant dachshund and are perfect for helping young readers deal with big changes. The first book is planned for fall 2017; Boyer was represented by Kim Schefler at Levine Plotkin & Menin.
Meredith Mundy at Sterling Children's Books has bought world rights to author-illustrator Maryann Cocca-Leffler's picture book Growing Season, about two best friends, an early bloomer and a late bloomer. Publication is set for spring 2019; the author-illustrator is unagented.
Claire Dorsett at Roaring Brook has acquired author-illustrator Sarah Lynne Reul's debut picture book, The Breaking News, about empathy and one girl's determination to help make things better after devastating news rocks her community. The book is slated for winter 2018; Emily Mitchell at Wernick & Pratt negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Kaylan Adair at Candlewick has bought world English rights to Melanie Heuiser Hill's debut picture book, Our Thanksgiving Table, which celebrates the joys of family, community, and a shared table. Jaime Kim will illustrate; publication is scheduled for August 2019. Carrie Hannigan at Hannigan Salky Getzler represented the author and Claire Easton at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Michelle Nagler and Rachel Poloski at Random House have acquired U.S. and Canadian rights for YouTube star and gaming phenomenon Ali-A's Game On!, an action-adventure graphic novel in which Ali-A must transform from gaming icon to real-life hero. Publication is set for fall 2017; Puffin UK did the deal.
Melanie Nolan at Knopf has bought at auction over five other bidders Kester "Kit" Grant's debut YA trilogy, A Court of Miracles, described as Les Miserables meets The Jungle Book. The story follows a young thief named Eponine (Nina), who goes head-to-head with the nobility as well as the leaders of Paris's criminal underground to save the life of her sister Cosette (Ettie) in the dangerous days following a failed French Revolution. Publication is scheduled to start in fall 2018; Josh Adams at Adams Literary negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Lisa Yoskowitz at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to debut author A.M. Morgen's The Inventors at No. 8, about a pompous — and disastrously unlucky — orphan who joins forces with his neighbor, 12-year-old wunderkind and brilliant scientist Ada Lovelace, when his family legacy is threatened by a nefarious group of criminals, in a cross-continent adventure that will change both of their lives forever. Publication is slated for spring 2018; Stephen Barbara at Inkwell Management brokered the two-book deal on behalf of Paper Lantern Lit.
Gavin Grant and Kelly Link at Small Beer Press have bought North American English rights to John Schoffstall’s debut YA novel Half-Witch, about a girl who must cross mountains in order to save her charming fraudster father, with her only hope for the perilous journey being a young witch who hates everyone, and whose magic appears to be alarmingly infectious. The book will pub in summer 2018; Sally Harding of the Cooke Agency did the deal.
Kelly Delaney at Knopf has acquired at auction In This Together Media's anthology Nevertheless, We Persisted, a collection of essays from actors, activists, politicians, athletes, business leaders, and others — including DeRay McKesson, Alia Shawkat, Azure Antoinette, and many more — about a time in their teen years when they were held back due to their race, gender, sexual identity, or other factors, but refused to take no for an answer. Publication is planned for fall 2018; Jess Regel at Foundry Literary + Media negotiated the deal for North American rights. 10% of royalties will be donated to Girls Write Now.
Natashya Wilson at Harlequin Teen has bought at auction Nancy Richardson Fischer's debut YA novel, Fly, the story of a teenage girl whose struggle with the legacy of her mother's mental health is brought into sharp focus when an internship forces her to consider the fate of a baby elephant that has been rejected by its mother. Publication is set for fall 2018 with a second novel to follow; Stephanie Rostan at Levine Greenberg Rostan brokered the deal for world English rights.
Matt Ringler at Scholastic has acquired world rights for three books in a new middle grade series from Snappsy the Alligator author Julie Falatko, to be illustrated by Colin Jack. The series, Two Dogs in a Trench Coat, follows the adventures of a pair of dogs who concoct a plan to disguise themselves as a human in order to follow their boy and make sure he's safe. In the first book, Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Go to School, they matriculate as a new student, which leads to mayhem as they experience gym, science, music, and the wonders of lunch. The first book is due out in 2018, with two books to follow in 2019. Danielle Smith at Lupine Grove Creative represented the author and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.
Sonali Fry at Little Bee has bought a four-book middle grade series, Ask Emily, by mother/daughter team Sheryl (r.) and Carrie Berk, authors of the Cupcake Club series. In the new series, seventh grader Emily Woods can't help minding other people's business and starts an “Ask Emily” blog where her peers can write in for help. But when the very cute Jackson moves into town and doesn't want her help making friends, Emily realizes she's crushing for the very first time. Publication is scheduled for September 2018; Rick Richter at Aevitas Creative Management negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Tamar Brazis at Abrams has acquired world English rights at auction to a debut picture book from Travis Jonker (l.), school librarian and creator of the 100 Scope Notes blog. The Very Last Castle is about a girl who wonders what goes on inside her town's lone remaining castle, until she receives an invitation to visit from the mysterious stranger who lives within its walls. Mark Pett will illustrate; publication is set for fall 2018. Stephen Barbara at InkWell Management represented the author and Pett was represented by Kerry Sparks at Levine Greenberg Rostan.
Jennifer Greene at Clarion has bought world rights to Fairy's First Day by Mustache Baby author Bridget Heos (l.), about a fairy's first day of fairy school, where she encounters all the typical new experiences a human child might find at preschool, but with fairy-like twists. Sara Not will illustrate. publication is slated for spring 2018. Liza Voges at Eden Street represented the author and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.
Karen Boss at Charlesbridge has acquired world rights to Erin Dionne's first picture book, Captain's Log: Snowbound, about how imagination can turn a snowy day into a journey to the South Pole. The book will be illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler. It's scheduled for fall 2018; Sally Harding of the Cooke Agency represented the author and Mela Bolinao of MB Artists represented the artist.
Emma Ledbetter at Atheneum has bought world rights to Duckworth, the Difficult Child by Michael Sussman, illustrated by Júlia Sardà. The picture book stars a kid with misguided parents whose literal readings of a parenting book lead to trouble. Publication is planned for spring 2019; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill of Red Fox Literary represented the author and Rebecca Sherman of Writers House represented the illustrator.
