David Fickling has secured world rights, for both his eponymous imprint at Scholastic and the Graphix imprint, for Philip Pullman's first original graphic novel, illustrated by Fred Fordham. The Adventures of John Blake: Mystery of the Ghost Ship is currently being serialized in The Phoenix, a weekly children's publication available in the U.K. The comics will be collected into the full-color graphic novel, to be published simultaneously in June 2017 in the U.K., U.S., and Canada. Caradoc King of A.P. Watt at United Agents brokered the deal.
Marissa Grossman at Razorbill has acquired And We're Off, the debut novel from Dana Schwartz, arts and culture writer at the New York Observer and the creator of @DystopianYA and @GuyInYourMFA. Pitched as Adi Alsaid's Let's Get Lost meets Gilmore Girls, the story centers on a teenage girl whose travel plans are upended when her mother decides to join her on her summer trip across Europe. Publication is scheduled for May 2017; Dan Mandel at Sanford Greenburger negotiated the deal for world rights.
Anne Schwartz at Random House/Schwartz & Wade has bought Fatal Throne, a book about Henry VIII and his six wives, coordinated by Candace Fleming. Fleming and six other authors will each contribute a story from different points of view: M.T. Anderson, Jennifer Donnelly, Stephanie Hemphill, Deborah Hopkinson, Linda Sue Park, and Lisa Ann Sandell. Publication is slated for fall 2017; Ethan Ellenberg at the Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Matt Ringler at Scholastic has won at auction world rights to Unconventional, a YA novel told from three points of view by Alison Cherry, Lindsay Ribar, and Michelle Schusterman. The story is about a drummer, a fanfiction author, and an amateur taxidermist – at three separate conventions within one convention center – who stumble into a life-changing friendship. Publication is set for 2018; Holly Root at Waxman Leavell Literary Agency represented Cherry, Brenda Bowen at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates represented Ribar, and Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary represented Schusterman.
T.S. Ferguson at Harlequin Teen has acquired two YA horror novels from Amy Lukavics. The first book, The Ravenous, pitched as The Virgin Suicides meets Pet Sematary, tells the story of five sisters who turn to murder when the youngest of them dies and comes back to life craving human flesh. Publication is planned for October 2017; Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary brokered the deal for North American rights.
Zareen Jaffery at S&S's Salaam Reads has preempted world rights to Saints, Misfits, Monster and Mayhem, the debut YA novel by teacher and artist Sajidah Kutty. The novel follows 15-year-old Janna Yusuf, daughter of the only divorced mother at the mosque, as she examines her faith and relationships in the wake of an assault. The book will be Salaam's first YA novel. Publication is slated for summer 2017; John M. Cusick of Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management negotiated the deal.
Kathy Dawson at Penguin's Kathy Dawson Books has bought Julie Israel's debut YA novel, Juniper Lemon's Happiness Index, the story of a 16-year-old girl who vows to deliver a love letter that her older sister, Camilla, wrote on the day she died and addressed only to “You” – as soon as she figures out who “You” is. Publication is scheduled for summer 2017; Susan Hawk did the deal for world English rights.
Natashya Wilson at Harlequin Teen has acquired world English rights for Kelly deVos's Fat Girl on a Plane. This body-positive debut YA novel follows teen fashion student Cookie Vonn across two timelines, before and after a major weight loss that she falsely believed would solve all of her problems. As Cookie pursues a career as a high fashion designer, she learns what it means to be and feel beautiful and how finding love requires learning to love herself. Publication is planned for fall 2017; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Nicholas Eliopulos at Scholastic Press has bought Jeffrey Salane's The Haunting of Hounds Hollow, a middle-grade novel in which man's best friend is loyal for life... and beyond. Lucas Trainer has just moved to the middle of nowhere – a town called Hounds Hollow, where ghostly dogs prowl at night. It's up to Lucas to determine whether the ghosts mean him harm, or whether they're protecting the town from an even more terrifying threat. Josh Adams at Adams Literary negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Catherine Onder at Bloomsbury has acquired Tinysaurus Wrecks, written and illustrated by Mark Chambers. The book tells what happens when an artist doodles a teeny-tiny Tyrannosaurus Rex that then comes alive and jumps off the page; it will feature a combination of art and photography of real-life items. Publication is slated for spring 2018; Alli Brydon at Bright USA sold world rights for the two-book deal.
Joy Peskin at FSG has acquired The Big Bed, written by Bunmi Laditan, a blogger, author, and humorist also known as The Honest Toddler. The book features a clever little girl who tries to interest her father in his own big bed so she can sleep in her parents' bed with her mother. Tom Knight is on board to illustrate. Publication is scheduled for winter 2018; Anne Moore Armstrong of Bright USA represented the illustrator in this deal for world rights.
Sarah Shumway at Bloomsbury has acquired two interactive picture books from Jessica Young, author of the Finley Flowers series: Play This Book and Pet This Book. The first will show children how different instruments are played, while the second will demonstrate how different animals are cared for. Daniel Wiseman is illustrating; publication is slated for summer 2018. Kelly Sonnack at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented Young, and Teresa Kietlinski at Bookmark Literary represented Wiseman in the deal for world rights.
Meredith Munday at Sterling has bought world rights to Tammi Sauer's latest picture book, Caring for Your Lion, at auction. Troy Cummings will illustrate the book, about a boy who sends away for a pet and receives a lion instead of a cat. Publication is set for May 2017; Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary represented Sauer, and Ronnie Ann Herman at the Herman Agency represented Cummings.
Frances Gilbert at Doubleday has acquired world rights to Tammi Sauer's Wordy Birdy, illustrated by David Mottram in a preempt, including a sequel. The first book, which is planned for spring 2018, tells the story of a very chatty bird whose inability to pay attention gets her into a few scrapes; the second book will follow in spring 2019; Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author and Alli Shaloum at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Lauren Bisom at Henry Holt has bought This Is the Dancer written by Michelle Meadows (l.) and illustrated by Ebony Glenn. It's a picture book biography of Janet Collins, regarded as the true first black ballerina to dance for a classical ballet company and an inspiration to others that followed. It's scheduled for winter 2018; the author was represented by Rosemary Stimola of Stimola Literary Studio, and the illustrator was represented by Anne Moore Armstrong of the Bright Agency.
Nancy Paulsen at Penguin's Nancy Paulsen Books has acquired world rights to Linda Ashman's (l.) When the Storm Comes, a look at how animals and humans take shelter during a storm, to be illustrated by Taeeun Yoo. Publication is slated for 2019; Jennifer Mattson at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author and Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties represented the illustrator.
