Tara Weikum at HarperTeen bought North American rights to a trilogy by 23-year-old debut novelist Tahereh Mafi, in a pre-empt. The first title, Shatter Me, pubs this November; the story follows Juliette, a girl who kills people with her touch. According to the publisher, the series blends "a crumbling dystopian world with a compelling heroine who has inexplicable powers." The U.S. acquisition follows a number of foreign sales, with rights bought in 13 countries including Brazil, China, France, Germany, and Russia, Jodi Reamer at Writers House was the agent.
Kira Lynn at Kane Miller Books acquired world rights to Dare to Dream... Change the World, an illustrated anthology from Jill Corcoran, containing biographical and inspirational poems that seek to inform, inspire, and ignite middle graders to imagine, persevere and to act. The collection, which is due in fall 2012, will contain works by 28 poets, and is slated to be the first in a series of poetry anthologies. Ronnie Ann Herman and Jill Corcoran at The Herman Agency did the deal.
Anne Heltzel at Razorbill bought world rights in a pre-empt to two novels by debut writer Alex Morel, for six figures. The first book, Alive, is about a suicidal girl whose death plot goes awry when her plane crashes in the wilderness and she must fight for survival. Alex Morel is the pseudonym of an "entertainment industry insider," according to Heltzel, who also bought a second, untitled YA novel. Brenda Bowen of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates was the agent.
Anne Heltzel at Razorbill also bought world rights to William Harlan Richter’s Dark Eyes, in which a 16-year-old runaway embarks on a search for her biological mother, only to find herself embroiled in a deadly race against Russian gangsters, in a book pitched as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for teens. The two-book deal was negotiated by Kari Stuart at ICM.
Jocelyn Davies at Razorbill bought world rights to Nora Price’s Zoe Letting Go, a debut novel in which Zoe’s letters to her best friend go unanswered, and as clues unfold, the mysteries of their intense friendship and battles with anorexia are revealed. The deal was brokered by Seth Fishman at The Gernert Co.
Jocelyn Davies at Razorbill also bought world rights to an untitled psychological thriller from Sean Olin, author of Killing Britney and the forthcoming Brother/Sister—a dark look at how the lives of two California siblings spiral violently out of control one summer, with deadly consequences. The deal was negotiated by Richard Abate at 3 Arts Entertainment.
Julie Scheina at Little, Brown has acquired world English rights to Jennifer Rush’s debut Altered, pitched as Dollhouse meets Prison Break for teens, in a three-book deal. In the novel, 17-year-old Anna finds herself on the run from her father’s enigmatic Agency, along with the four teen boys the Agency had been experimenting on, in a mystery of erased memories, secret identities, and genetic alteration. Publication is scheduled for fall 2012. Joanna Volpe at Nancy Coffey Literary & Media Representation did the deal.
Alvina Ling at Little, Brown has bought world rights for Chris Barton and Tom Lichtenheld’s companion picture book to Shark vs. Train, for publication in spring 2013. Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency is the agent for the author, and Amy Rennert at the Amy Rennert Agency is the agent for the artist.
