Melanie Nolan at Knopf has acquired How to Hang a Witch author Adriana Mather's next YA series, currently untitled, in which a girl named November is shipped off to a secret boarding school that boasts an eye-for-an-eye punishment system. When a student is found murdered, November is the main suspect. Publication is planned for spring 2019; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio negotiated the two-book deal for North American rights.
Jocelyn Davies at HarperTeen has bought at auction Danielle Rollins's new YA series, Dark Stars, a time travel saga in the vein of Firefly and Doctor Who, about a girl from the past who stows away on a journey through time with a boy from the future, and finds herself caught between two groups: one that wants to protect the past, and one that wants to use time travel for their own dark agenda. The first book is scheduled for winter 2019; Mandy Hubbard at Emerald City Literary Agency brokered the three-book deal for world rights.
Jordan Brown at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has acquired two new YA novels by Rebecca Podos. The first, The Psychic Sisters of Saltville, is a work of magical realism about Ruby, a girl from a family of women with a particular gift: each has a premonition of her own death upon reaching her teenage years. When her great-aunt dies, Ruby sets out to uncover the family's macabre legacy, and begins to wonder whether they're the heroes or the villains of their story. Publication for the first book is set for winter 2019; the second is set for winter 2020. Lana Popovic at Chalberg & Sussman did the deal for North American rights.
Sarah Landis at HMH has bought Ever the Brave author Erin Summerill's new YA fantasy, Once a King. Set in the world of Summerill's Clash of Kingdoms series, the book follows 17-year-old Lirra, who's forced on the run with King Aodren after the murder of a high official. Together, they must find the true murderer to avert a war among the four kingdoms. Publication is slated for fall 2018; Josh Adams at Adams Literary negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Miriam Newman at Candlewick has acquired The Lost Coast, a YA novel by Amy Rose Capetta, in which 17-year-old Danny is drawn to the redwoods of California by a spell. The queer teen witches who cast it need Danny's abilities to bring back their friend who's gone blank—lost to the world. Publication is planned for spring 2019; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties brokered the deal for North American rights.
Erin Stein at Imprint has bought North American rights to Laurie Elizabeth Flynn's Last Girl Lied To. When a 17-year-old's best friend goes missing, she is faced with the reality that the girl she knew better than anyone might have been a carefully constructed lie, and her disappearance might not be an accident. Publication is scheduled for 2019; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency did the two-book deal.
Reka Simonsen at Atheneum has acquired A Nearer Moon and Audacity author Melanie Crowder's new middle-grade fantasy adventure series, Lighthouse Between the Worlds. The first installment tells the story of twin siblings who stumble upon a secret society tasked with protecting humanity from nightmares. The first book is set for publication in fall 2018; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency handled the two-book deal for North American rights.
Joy Peskin at FSG has bought Elly Swartz's Give and Take, a coming-of-age story in which 11-year-old Maggie learns that people are more than the things that hold their memories, thanks to her all-girls trap shooting team, her turtle, and a foster baby named Izzie. Publication is projected for winter 2019; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Becky Herrick at Sky Pony Press/Swirl has acquired world rights to Salted Caramel Dreams by Jackie Nastri Bardenwerper, a middle grade novel about a girl dealing with her best friend drifting away—and then needing her help when she least expects it. The book is scheduled for February 2018; the author was unagented.
Orli Zuravicky at Scholastic has bought world rights to Valorie Fisher's next two picture books beginning a new series, Now You Know, that uses photo-illustrations and infographics to explain topics from engineering to food. Publication is slated for 2018 and 2019; Carrie Hannigan at Hannigan Salky Getzler represented the author-illustrator.
Tamar Brazis at Abrams has won at auction Ishta Mercurio's (l.) Small World, a STEM-concept picture book that explores a girl's journey of growing up in the world and discovering its beauty and marvel. Jen Corace will illustrate; publication is planned for spring 2019. Laura Biagi at Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency represented the author for world English rights, and Steven Malk at Writers House represented the illustrator for world rights.
Nina Gruener at Cameron Kids has acquired world rights to Boats on the Bay, written by Jeanne Walker Harvey and illustrated by Grady McFerrin. The picture book features a day in the life of all the different boats that live and work on a busy bay. Publication is set for fall 2018; Deborah Warren of East West Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator was unagented.
David Levithan at Scholastic has acquired North American rights to Dear Ally, How Do You Write a Book?, a nonfiction debut by bestselling author Ally Carter, aimed at teens, tweens, and the grownups who want to write for them. In the book, Carter answers writing-related questions from teenagers and shares advice from top YA writers. Publication is planned for fall 2018, to coincide with NaNoWriMo; Kristin Nelson at Nelson Literary Agency negotiated the deal.
Emily Easton at Crown has bought Signs of Life by YA and adult author Megan Miranda. Pitched as a teen Contact meets Stranger Things, the story is about a girl and boy who connect when each discovers an inexplicable scientific frequency, which suggests their family tragedies are mysteriously connected. Publication is scheduled for spring 2019; Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary brokered the deal for world English rights.
Kieran Viola at Disney-Hyperion has acquired Prince in Disguise and It's Not Me, It's You author Stephanie Kate Strohm's new YA novel, La Vie En Rosie, a romantic comedy featuring two American teens who win coveted spots in a French culinary program and fall in love with food, Paris, and each other. Publication is slated for fall 2018; Molly Ker Hawn at the Bent Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Sarah Landis at HMH has bought in a preempt Alexa Donne's YA novel, Brightly Burning. Pitched as Jane Eyre in space, the debut follows a 17-year-old spaceship engineer who's hired away to the Rochester, a mysterious private ship, as she tangos with the mercurial, handsome young captain and discovers a conspiracy that threatens the safety of the fleet, which has been orbiting Earth for more than 200 years. Publication is set for June 2018; Elana Roth Parker at Laura Dail Literary Agency did the two-book deal for North American rights.
Alyson Day at HarperCollins has acquired Kiss Collector, a contemporary YA novel by Wendy Higgins. Seventeen-year-old Zae Monroe, brokenhearted by her cheating boyfriend and her parents' separation, decides it's time to turn the table on boys and take what she wants from them: kisses, as many as possible, with no emotional attachment. Publication is planned for fall 2018; Jill Corcoran at Jill Corcoran Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Amanda Maciel at Scholastic has bought world rights to Kaitlin Ward's YA thriller, The Caves, about a girl who falls to the center of the earth, but instead of burning like her science books say, she meets a group of survivors who might be in more danger escaping their cave than they are trapped inside. Publication is set for 2018; Sarah LaPolla at Bradford Literary Agency negotiated the deal.
Adam Rau and David Saylor at Scholastic/Graphix have acquired Amelia Erroway and the Boys with Wings, a science-fantasy adventure graphic novel for middle grade readers, written and illustrated by Betsy Peterschmidt. The debut graphic novel follows young, spirited Amelia as she navigates the trials and tribulations of adolescence through learning how to fly. Publication is scheduled for 2019; Allen Spiegel at Allen Spiegel Fine Arts did the deal for world rights.
Rhoda Belleza at Macmillan/Imprint has bought National Endowment for the Humanities fellow Jennie Englund's debut, Taylor Harper: Before and After. Told in a split narrative, the middle grade novel flips back and forth between two timelines: before and after a drunk driving accident, in which 13-year-old Taylor is a passenger and her brother is the driver. Publication is slated for fall 2019; Holly Root, now at Root Literary, handled the deal for world English rights; the deal was negotiated at Waxman Leavell Literary Agency.
Sonali Fry at Bonnier Publishing USA has acquired Fadeaway, a debut contemporary novel by Maura Stokes, for the company's new middle-grade imprint. The book follows 14-year-old Sam, reeling after the sudden death of her best friend, Reagan. When Sam starts hearing Reagan's voice and sensing her presence, she must make a choice: should she keep Reagan in her life, or discover who she is without Reagan by her side? Publication is planned for summer 2018; Melissa Nasson at Rubin Pfeffer Content did the deal for world rights.
Wendy McClure and Eliza Swift at Albert Whitman have bought world rights to two picture books written by Tara Luebbe (l.) and Becky Cattie, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff (r.). In I Am Famous, an only child learns that her parental paparazzi and adoring grandparents will be her biggest fans no matter the flaws in her performance—and in the sequel, I Used to Be Famous, she has to learn to share the spotlight. Publication for the first book is scheduled for spring 2018, with the second to follow in 2019; Tracy Marchini at BookEnds represented the authors, and Mela Bolinao at MB Artists represented the illustrator.
Erin Clarke at Knopf has acquired at auction North American rights to All Are Welcome, a picture book celebrating diversity and inclusivity in the classroom by Alexandra Penfold (l.), illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman. The book is slated for fall 2018; Susan Ginsburg at Writers House represented the author and Penfold, an agent at Upstart Crow Literary, represented the illustrator.
Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown has bought world rights to Rock What Ya Got, a picture book by Samantha Berger and illustrated by Kerascoët. With a format that breaks the fourth wall, the story is a reminder, especially for girls, about accepting who you are, rather than focusing on who you are not. Publication is set for fall 2018; Brenda Bowen at Sanford J. Greenburger represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrators.
Wendy McClure at Albert Whitman has bought world rights to the picture book Follow Me Down to Nicodemus Town written by A. LaFaye (l.) and illustrated by Nicole Tadgell. The book tells the story of young Dede and her family who, along with 40,000 Exodusters, joined the northern migration of African-Americans from the Jim Crow South of Reconstruction, to the pioneering Midwest, with hopes of staking a claim and securing a home to call their own. Publication is slated for fall 2019; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and Christina Tugeau at the CATugeau Agency represented the illustrator.
Jessica Garrison at Dial has acquired world rights to Jill Esbaum's How to Grow a Dinosaur, a picture book "guide" to becoming a big brother or sister, about a young dinosaur who can't wait to teach the new baby everything he knows, and who discovers the challenges and rewards of raising a freshly hatched sibling. Mike Boldt will illustrate; publication is scheduled for 2018. Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the artist.
Semareh Al-Hillal at Kids Can Press has bought Marsha Diane Arnold's (l.) Mine. Yours., a picture book set in China. The story features animals and games of China, in which Little Panda learns about belonging and other characters learn about sharing. Qin Leng will illustrate; publication is planned for fall 2018. Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary negotiated the deal for world rights on behalf of the author; the artist represented herself.
Alessandra Balzer at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has acquired in a preempt Lovely Beasts by Kate Gardner (l.), a picture book about how first impressions can be deceiving when it comes to certain animals. Heidi Smith will illustrate; publication is slated for fall 2018. Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions did the deal for world rights.
