Julie Strauss-Gabel at Dutton has bought two books from The Forest of Hands and Teeth author Carrie Ryan. The first title, a YA romantic thriller, is called Turnabout, and follows a young woman who is thrust into a web of intrigue in a campaign to avenge her parents' murders. Publication is scheduled for early 2015. The Forest of Hands and Teeth, first in a YA zombie trilogy published by Delacorte Press, has been translated into more than 18 languages and is currently in feature film development. Merrilee Heifetz at Writers House did the new deal for world English rights.
Andrew Karre at Carolrhoda Lab has acquired Emily Kate Johnston's Prairie Fire, a sequel to Johnston's spring 2014 debut, The Story of Owen, about a modern-day dragon slayer. In Prairie Fire, which pubs in spring 2015, Owen and his bard Siobhan join the Oil Watch, the international organization charged with protecting the world from vicious, carbon emission-eating dragons. Josh Adams at Adams Literary negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Tim Ditlow at Amazon Children's Publishing's Skyscape imprint has acquired a debut fantasy novel by Lori M. Lee called The Gates of Thread and Stone. In the story, a teenage girl must keep her ability to manipulate the threads of time a secret, but when her brother goes missing, she risks getting caught up in a revolution in order to save him. Robin Benjamin will edit, for publication in spring 2014. Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary and Media did the two-book deal for world English rights.
Laura Arnold at Razorbill has bought The Lonesome Young, a novel by Alyssa Day writing as Lucy Connors, pitched as Romeo and Juliet meets Justified. In the book, a Kentucky bad boy and a blue-blooded good girl fall for each other, reigniting the long-standing feud between their families now fueled by drug-running and financial backstabbing. It's the first in a series, and is scheduled for winter 2014. Jim McCarthy at Dystel & Goderich did the two book-deal for world rights.
Bethany Strout at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers has bought a middle grade debut called If You Find This by Matthew Baker, in the vein of The Goonies meets Holes. In the book, a misfit 11-year-old boy embarks on an elaborate scavenger hunt through smugglers' tunnels and shipwrecks to find the priceless heirlooms that can save his house from being sold. Publication is scheduled for fall 2014. Sarah Burnes at the Gernert Company brokered the two-book deal for North American rights.
Lisa Sandell at Scholastic Press has acquired two YA novels from Sara B. Larson, including a sequel to her January 2014 debut, Defy, in which the fiercest member of a prince's elite guard (actually a girl disguised as a boy) realizes she has deeper feelings for the prince than she thought possible. Josh Adams at Adams Literary sold North American rights.
Julia Maguire at Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers preempted North American rights for two books from author-illustrator Ben Clanton. The first of the two, Something Extraordinary, is an autobiographical picture book which explores the world, wishes, and ingenuity of an imaginative boy. Publication is planned for spring 2015; Marietta Zacker at Nancy Gallt Literary Agency negotiated the deal.
