Jessica Almon at Razorbill has, in a pre-empt, acquired Seafire, a speculative trilogy by Natalie C. Parker, which follows the captain of an all-female ship intent on taking down a corrupt warlord's powerful fleet. Publication of the first book is set for fall 2018; Lanie Davis and Joshua Bank at Alloy Entertainment negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Kate Farrell at Henry Holt has bought Monique Bonneau's debut YA novel, The Pursuit of Miss Heartbreak Hotel. The story follows two teen girls, once best friends but now estranged, as their connection is rekindled—and tested—in their common struggle with identity and sexuality. Publication is planned for spring 2019; Brent Taylor at the Triada U.S. Literary Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Eileen Rothschild at Wednesday Books has acquired North American rights at auction to The Sky in the Deep, a debut novel by Adrienne Young. Set in a Viking Age-inspired world, the YA fantasy explores a young warrior's journey after her brother commits an act of betrayal. Publication is slated for spring/summer 2018; Barbara Poelle at Irene Goodman Literary Agency did the two-book deal.
Emily Feinberg at Roaring Brook Press has bought Go with the Flow, a coming-of-age graphic novel by Lily Williams (l.) and Karen Schneemann. Undeterred by their school's apathy toward female health, four best friends come up with a period-positive plan that turns into a menstrual revolution, threatening to turn their school lives and friendship upside-down. The book is scheduled for spring 2019; Minju Chang at Bookstop Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Carol Hinz at Millbrook Press has acquired Here Be Dragons, a middle-grade nonfiction book by Carlyn Beccia, which delves into the myths behind famous monsters such as Bigfoot, the Kraken, and Frankenstein to explore the real science and history beneath. Publication is set for fall 2019; Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary brokered the deal for world English rights.
Susan Dobinick at Bloomsbury has bought Down the Hill: One Girl's Story of Walking into History, a middle-grade nonfiction-in-verse book by I Dissent author Debbie Levy (l.) and Jo Ann Allen Boyce. The book is about Boyce's experiences as one of the Clinton 12, a group of black high school students who, in 1956, broke the color barrier in public schools in the South by integrating Clinton High School in Tennessee. Publication is slated in winter 2019; Caryn Wiseman at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented both authors in the deal for world rights.
Liz Kossnar at Simon & Schuster has acquired The Fisherman and the Whale by debut author-illustrator Jessica Lanan, a wordless picture book depicting the rescue of a whale ensnared in discarded fishing nets. Publication is planned for spring 2019; Ed Maxwell at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates did the deal for North American rights.
Jenny Broom at Frances Lincoln has bought Grace Easton's debut picture book Cannonball Coralie, about a girl named Coralie who, after joining the circus, must thwart the evil ringmaster with the help of her friend Lion. Publication is scheduled for spring 2018; Alli Brydon at Bright USA negotiated the deal for world rights.
Ken Geist at Scholastic has acquired world rights to We've Got the Whole World in Our Hands, a picture book celebration of what connects us all, illustrated by Rafael Lopez with the text adapted from the original lyrics by Reverend F.W. McGee. Publication is planned for fall 2018; Adriana Dominguez and Stefanie Von Borstal from Full Circle Literary represented the illustrator.
Abby Ranger at HarperCollins has bought in a pre-empt world rights to Ninja Baby author David Zeltser's (l.) picture book Codzilla, about a large codfish who just wants a little peace and quiet in the library—and comes up with an unusual way to get it. Jared Chapman will illustrate; publication is set for fall 2018. Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author and Rebecca Sherman at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Meredith Mundy at Sterling Children's Books has acquired Daddies Do by Lezlie Evans (l.), illustrated by Elisa Ferro—a picture book that looks at the ways kids and fathers interact. Publication is slated for spring 2018; Christa Heschke at McIntosh and Otis represented the author for world English rights, and Tom Thorogood at Good Illustration Ltd. represented the artist for world rights.
Tamar Mays at HarperCollins has bought world rights to an untitled holiday picture book written by Mylisa Larsen (l.) and illustrated by Taia Morley, about a group of students who begin to suspect their teacher has a secret, hinted at by his shiny boots, his white beard, and his jolly laugh. Publication is set for fall 2019; Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented both author and illustrator in the deal.
Christian Trimmer and Jean Feiwel at Henry Holt have acquired world English rights to Children of Blood and Bone, the first title in a debut YA trilogy by Tomi Adeyemi in a seven-figure preempt. Tiffany Liao will edit. The trilogy is a fantasy adventure that draws inspiration from African culture and contemporary issues of race and power; it will be published in early 2018. Jonathan Yaged at Macmillan negotiated the deal with Alexandra Machinist and Hillary Jacobson at ICM Partners.
Lisa Sandell at Scholastic has bought a new stand-alone YA novel from Jennifer A. Nielsen, author of the Ascendance trilogy. Resistance is based on the story of Jewish teenagers who pioneered new ways to fight back against the Nazis in WWII Poland. Publication is set for fall 2018; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Jordan Brown at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has acquired North American rights to Mindee Arnett's new fantasy duology. Onyx and Ivory follows the daughter of a traitor and the rebel prince who were once childhood friends and first loves before betrayals broke them apart; now they must work together to uncover a sinister new threat to the kingdom. Publication of the first book is slated for summer 2018; Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media brokered the two-book deal.
Virginia Duncan at Greenwillow has bought a debut middle grade novel, The Book of Boy, by the author of the Dairy Queen series, Catherine Gilbert Murdock. The story is set in the years after the Black Death, when an orphan with a mysterious past befriends a relic thief posing as a pilgrim en route to Rome. The two must cross the chaos of Europe while hiding the secrets that could kill them both. Publication is scheduled for winter 2018; Jill Grinberg at Jill Grinberg Literary Management negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Becky Herrick at Sky Pony Press has acquired Pumpkin Spice Secrets by Hillary Homzie for Sky Pony's new Swirl line. When a tween girl spills her drink on a cute boy at the coffee shop, she gets an instant crush—but her best friend has a crush on him, too. It's set for fall 2017; Victoria Wells Arms at Wells Arms Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Kieran Viola at Disney-Hyperion and Brittany Rubiano at Disney Press have bought world rights to TV writers and authors Joshua Pruett (l.) and Scott Peterson's middle grade novel, Shipwreckers, about an adventure up the Amazon with a cocky riverboat captain who won't stop making jokes, and his young sidekicks, a protective brother and his impulsive sister. Publication is planned for summer 2019; Julie Kane-Ritch at the Gotham Group represented Scott Peterson, and Deborah Warren at East/West Literary represented Joshua Pruett.
Bethany Buck at Sky Pony Press has acquired world rights to the first two books in debut author Jeri Anne Agee's early chapter book series, The Life and Times of Birdie Mae Hayes, about a plucky girl from Alabama who discovers that she has a touch of a sixth sense, which has been passed down through the women in her family. The books will be illustrated by Bryan Langdo; publication is scheduled for fall 2017. The author and illustrator are unagented.
Justin Chanda at Simon & Schuster has bought world rights to author-illustrator Lucy Ruth Cummins's latest picture book, Stumpkin, the story of a blighted stemless pumpkin who frets about his fate as Halloween approaches. Publication is slated for summer 2018; Emily van Beek of Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management negotiated the deal.
Neal Porter at Roaring Brook/Porter has acquired Home Is a Window, a picture book by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard about all the cherished things that make up home, and the difficulty of leaving them behind. The book will be illustrated by Chris Sasaki; publication is set for spring 2019. Alexandra Penfold at Upstart Crow Literary represented the author and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Ada Zhang at Sterling has bought world rights to a picture book from Little Red Cuttlefish author Henry Herz (l.). Cap'n Rex & His Clever Crew tells the story of dinosaur pirates sailing the seven seas in search of buried treasure. Whenever they encounter an obstacle, the crew members are quick to give up—until Cap'n Rex teaches them to think outside the box. Benjamin Schipper will illustrate; publication is scheduled for fall 2017. Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator is unagented.
Eliza Berkowitz at Sterling Children's Books has acquired world rights to Over at the Construction Site, written by Bill Wise and illustrated by Claire Lordon. The picture book explores a day at a construction site where mom and dad vehicles encourage their little ones to push, mix, lift, dig, and more. Publication is slated for spring 2018; the author and illustrator are unagented.
