Cassandra Pelham at Scholastic/Graphix has acquired three books in a debut middle-grade graphic novel series by Jen Breach, illustrated by Douglas Holgate. The first book, Clem Hetherington and the Ironwood Race, follows an orphan named Clem and her robot brother as they enter a multi-day rally race to recover stolen artifacts. Publication for book #1 is set for 2017; Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented both author and illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Zoe Griffiths at Bloomsbury U.K. has acquired two as-yet-untitled books from Sarah Crossan, Cindy Loh will publish for Bloomsbury U.S. Crossan’s debut book, The Weight of Water, was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and the CLPE Poetry Award. Her latest novel, Apple and Rain, was also shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and will be published in the U.S. in May 2015. The first of her two new books will be released in 2016; Julia Churchill at A.M. Heath Literary Agency sold world English rights.
Kristin Rens at HarperCollins imprint Balzer + Bray has acquired Gretchen McNeil's (Ten; Get Even) next YA novel, Manic Pixie Dream Girl, about a math-minded control freak who loses her boyfriend to the quirky new girl in school, and then sets out to reinvent herself to win him back. It’s scheduled for fall 2016; Ginger Clark at Curtis Brown sold North American rights.
Andrew Karre and Carol Hinz at Lerner have bought a nonfiction picture book from author Cynthia Grady (l.) and Coretta Scott King award-winning illustrator Michele Wood. Like a Bird: Slave Songs and Their Meanings collects and interprets 14 African-American spirituals whose meanings may have been coded messages and communications leading slaves to successful revolts and escape to freedom. Publication is slated for fall 2016; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Liz Szabla at Feiwel and Friends acquired North American rights to Little Jupiter by Matthew Cordell, author-illustrator of Another Brother. In the new book, despite his mythological pals’ skepticism, young Pegasus, sets out on a quest to prove the existence of the unsavory and elusive creature known as “human.” Publication is set for fall 2016; Rosemary Stimola of Stimola Literary Studio negotiated the deal.
Mark Siegel at First Second Books has acquired The Playground, a debut graphic novel by Antoine Revoy. The middle-grade book tells the story of two children who encounter a mysterious ghost in a haunted playground. It’s scheduled for 2017; Revoy is unagented.
Liesa Abrams at Simon Pulse has acquired world rights to the tentatively titled Strange Girl by bestselling teen thriller author Christopher Pike. His new story is told from the perspective of a boy in love with a mysterious girl who seems to have an unearthly ability to heal, but the ability carries quite a cost. Publication is planned for December 2015; Jennifer Unter negotiated the deal for world rights.
Mark Siegel at First Second has acquired four new books by Sara Varon: Sweaterweather, a collection of some of Varon's earliest work; an untitled graphic novel about a donkey shoemaker; an untitled picture book about two friends, a dog and a bird; and Darwinia, a graphic novel with T.R. Simon about a monkey that sails around the world. Publication is scheduled for winter 2016 and onwards; Tanya McKinnon at McKinnon McIntyre brokered the deal for world rights.
Ruta Rimas at Margaret K. McElderry Books bought U.S., Canadian, and open-market rights to a young readers edition of Tilar Mazzeo's forthcoming book, Irena's Children, a biography of Irena Sendler (sometimes called the “female Oskar Schindler”), who saved over 2,000 children from the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II. The release of the young readers edition will be timed to the publication of the adult edition, which is Gallery's lead title for fall 2016. Stacey Glick at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management brokered the deal.
Andrew Harwell at HarperCollins has acquired Prettyboy, a debut novel, and a second untitled novel, by Karen Hattrup. When Frannie eavesdrops on her parents fighting, she discovers that her cousin Truman is gay, and his parents are so upset they are sending him to live with her family for the summer. When he arrives, they embark on an extraordinary eight weeks, a summer marked by slowly unraveling secrets. Publication is set for 2016. Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Julie Strauss-Gabel at Dutton has bought the YA debut of Riverman author Aaron Starmer. Students are exploding at Covington High School. In this black comedy, one spontaneous combustion is an anomaly, two is coincidence, and three marks a pattern. Publication is planned for 2016; Michael Bourret at Dystel & Goderich negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Regina Griffin at Egmont USA has acquired The Innkeeper's Daughter, the first YA novel by Cindy Trumbore, co-author of the Sibert Medal-winning Parrots Over Puerto Rico. Set in the mid-sixth century, when the clash between paganism and Christianity was at its height, the novel is a retelling of an epic Irish legend, in which an innkeeper's teenage daughter is swept up in court intrigue, a dark prophecy, and a choice between honor and love. The projected publication date is spring 2016; Susan Cohen at Writers House sold world rights.
Christy Ottaviano at Henry Holt's Christy Ottaviano Books has bought world rights to two more women’s history picture books from Tanya Lee Stone (l.) and Marjorie Priceman, the team behind Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors? The first (untitled) book, about computer programming pioneer Ada Lovelace, is due in fall 2016. Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author; the illustrator represented herself.
