Robyn Burwell at Blink YA Books has signed a three-book deal with Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander, for three contemporary YA fiction titles. Though part of a collection, each title will stand alone and feature new characters facing different issues. The first book is scheduled for summer 2017; Arielle Eckstut at Levine, Greenburg, Rostan negotiated the deal.
Cindy Loh at Bloomsbury has acquired world rights to two projects from BuzzFeed books editor Isaac Fitzgerald. The first new book is an untitled YA novel loosely based on his BuzzFeed article “Confessions of a Former Former Fat Kid,” to be published in early 2018 and edited by Nancy Miller, who co-acquired the project and edited Fitzgerald's Pen & Ink and Knives & Ink for Bloomsbury's adult list. The second project, an untitled picture book to be edited by Sarah Shumway, tells the story of a girl whose grandfather inspires voyages of imagination in an exploration of life's lessons and the pair's special bond. Charlotte Sheedy of the Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Kristen Pettit at HarperTeen has bought a debut novel by Deborah Schaumberg called The Tombs, a historical fantasy set in a Five Points-era New York City. In the book, a girl discovers she is an aura-seer, and must free her mother, whose power she inherited, from the storied, real-life prison where seers are being experimented upon by a madman and used as pawns to suppress and control the commoners. Publication is planned for winter 2018; Daniel Lazar at Writers House sold North American rights.
Pam Gruber at Little, Brown's Poppy imprint has acquired North American rights to Tamsyn Murray's Instructions for a Second-Hand Heart, a contemporary YA novel about two teens whose lives collide when one receives a heart transplant donated by the other's twin brother who died in a tragic accident. Publication is slated for fall/winter 2017; Samantha Miller at Usborne Publishing did the deal.
Wendy Loggia at Delacorte has bought Amelia Brunskill's The Window, a psychological YA thriller about a girl who thought she knew her twin sister better than anyone else… or does she? Publication is set for spring 2018; Bridget Smith at Dunham Literary sold world rights.
Ari Lewin at Putnam has acquired Glistronauts, a YA debut by Constantine Singer. It's the story of a 17-year-old boy who, after receiving a letter seemingly written by his own hand that eerily predicts future tragic events, bands with a group of runaways racing against time to save the planet from a global conspiracy. Fall 2018 is the projected pub date; Jason Anthony at Lippincott Massie McQuilkin sold world English rights.
Viana Siniscalchi at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has bought Derek Milman's YA debut Scream All Night, a dark comedy in which a young man, legally emancipated from his eccentric family, inherits their failing B-horror movie studio and must save the family legacy, even if that means facing the monsters—both on screen and off—that have haunted him since his escape. It's tentatively scheduled for spring 2018; Victoria Marini at the Irene Goodman Agency sold North American rights.
Ann Rider at HMH has taken world rights to Lit Giants by author-illustrator Elizabeth Haidle, in a preempt. The middle-grade nonfiction anthology features graphic novel biographies of renowned writers of the past 100 years, in a two-book deal, to be published in spring 2019 and spring 2020. Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary negotiated the deal.
Robin Herrera at Oni Press has acquired world rights to the middle grade graphic novel The Lemonade Affair, written by Jarod Pratt (l.) and illustrated by Jey Odin. The story follows 10-year-old genius Robbie, who opens a state-of-the-art lemonade stand that can make any flavor of lemonade imaginable. However, he finds himself in competition with Daphne, another kid on his block who sells lemonade, and their ensuring Lemonade War might just put the whole city in danger. Publication is slated for 2019; the authors were unagented.
Kristen Mohn at Capstone has bought world rights to Vietnamese-American poet Bao Phi's debut picture book A Different Pond, about the immigrant experience and the working poor. Based on the author's childhood, the story centers on a boy's early-morning fishing trips with his father to catch food for the family before the long workday begins. Thi Bui will illustrate, with publication scheduled for fall 2017. The author and illustrator represented themselves.
Anne Schwartz at Random House's Schwartz & Wade Books has acquired world rights to Newbery Honor author Patricia C. McKissack's (l.) What Is Given from the Heart, Reaches the Heart, to be illustrated by debut illustrator April Harrison. In the story, a boy struggles to find the perfect gift for a family in need. It's set for spring 2019; Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown represented the author and the illustrator represented herself.
Julie Matysik at Running Press Kids has bought world rights to Sharon Chriscoe's Fire Truck Dreams, to be illustrated by Dave Mottram, about a fire truck preparing for bed, nestling in for the night, then dreaming of a parade in his honor. Publication is planned for fall 2018; Jessica Sinsheimer at the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency represented the author and Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright USA represented the illustrator.
Andrea Welch and Allyn Johnston at S&S/Beach Lane have acquired world rights to Who Eats Orange? by Dianne White (l.), a nonfiction picture book that explores the rainbow of colors in the diets of different animals. Robin Page will illustrate; publication is scheduled for summer 2018. Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal for the author in a multiple-bid scenario; the illustrator represented herself.
Anne Hoppe at Clarion has bought Jacque Lynn Schiller's Space Matter, a debut picture book that explores negative space by encouraging readers to look twice at their everyday surroundings and notice the significance of spaces that we otherwise take for granted. It's tentatively slated for fall 2018; Tanusri Prasanna of Hannigan Salky Getzler negotiated the deal for world rights.
Farrin Jacobs at Little, Brown has acquired No Name but Kareem, the first memoir for young readers by basketball superstar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Adapted from his forthcoming adult memoir Coach Wooden and Me with his longtime collaborator Raymond Obstfeld, the book will focus on his relationship with three important coaches in his life. Publication is planned for fall 2017; Frank Weimann at Folio Literary Management sold world rights.
Susan Rich at Little, Brown has bought educator and Nerdy Book Club/Nerd Camp co-founder Colby Sharp’s middle grade anthology, The Creativity Project, in a preempt. The book highlights creativity in a myriad of formats as more than 40 contributors, including Sherman Alexie, Sophie Blackall, Kate DiCamillo, Jennifer L. Holm, Grace Lin, Naomi Shihab Nye, R.J. Palacio, Dav Pilkey, Andrea Davis Pinkney, Lemony Snicket, Dan Santat, among many others, challenge each other, and readers, to transform creative prompts into works of literary genius using fiction, nonfiction, comics, illustrations, and more. Publication is scheduled for spring 2018; Molly O’Neill at Waxman Leavell Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Ruta Rimas at McElderry Books took world rights, in a preempt, to a YA novel by Tessa Gratton (the Blood Journals series) called Slaughter Moon. Every seven years, the isolated town of Three Graces sends its bravest and best teen boy into the Devil's Forest to face the devil and almost always a terrible death, in exchange for prosperity. This year, though, the tradition is broken when three teens with their own complicated loyalties, loves, and motives run into the forest. Publication is scheduled for summer 2018; Laura Rennert of Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Cheryl Klein at Scholastic's Arthur A. Levine Books has bought Give Me Some Truth, a YA novel by Eric Gansworth, whose previous novel, If I Ever Get Out of Here, was an American Indian Youth Literary Awards Honor Book. The new novel follows two Tuscarora teens from upstate New York as their lives and desires intersect in complicated ways: Carson, a high school senior who founds a band in an effort to become the first "reservation rock god," and Mynah, a 15-year-old artist and drummer who pursues a dangerous relationship. It's slated for 2018; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret did the deal for world rights.
Alex Ulyett at Viking has acquired Perfect Ten author L. Philips's Sometime After Midnight. The story, pitched as #AlexFromTarget meets queer Prince Charming, follows a teen music prodigy who questions love and his life plan after becoming an Internet sensation when the handsome socialite he met at a concert shares his photo on social media. Publication is set for summer 2018; Brent Taylor at the TriadaUS Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Martha Mihalick at Greenwillow has bought We'll Fly Away, the third YA novel by Bryan Bliss. In the book, Luke and Toby have been best friends since childhood, and have dreamed of escaping their small North Carolina town. Now in high school, escape is finally within their reach: Luke is a state wrestling champion and a scholarship will be his ticket out—and he's going to make sure Toby can get out with him, until everything spins out of control. Publication is scheduled for summer 2018; Michael Bourret at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret did the deal for North American rights.
Sarah McCabe at Simon Pulse has acquired Sanctuary by debut YA author Caryn Lix. In this SF novel, 17-year-old Kenzie is a junior guard on a space station prison for teenaged criminals with powers and is taken hostage by inmates. When an alien attack puts the entire station in danger, Kenzie must decide who to trust and how to find a way off. Publication is planned for summer 2018; Caitie Flum at Liza Dawson Associates sold world English rights in a two-book deal.
Holly West at Feiwel and Friends has bought a nonfiction middle-grade book by Emmy Award-winning journalist Anna Redding. The book will be a kid-friendly history of Google, with an eye to all things past and present, and a peek at where things are heading. Publication is set for summer 2018; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Kate O'Sullivan at HMH has acquired Don Brown's The Unwanted, a nonfiction graphic-novel-style account of the Syrian refugee crisis, exposing the harsh realities of living in, and trying to escape, a war zone. It's slated for fall 2018; Jennifer Laughran at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency sold world rights.
Sky Pony Press has bought Rachel Hruza's middle grade debut, Back Words, a novel about friendship, first love, and the importance of being yourself; Becky Herrick will edit. In the book, 13-year-old Truth vows to keep her scoliosis and back brace a secret, only to find that one lie inevitably leads to another. Publication is scheduled for fall 2017; Lisa Jane Weller of Broadland Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Sylvie Frank at S&S's Paula Wiseman Books has acquired world rights to What Can You Do with a Toolbox? by HGTV stars, cousins, and best friends John Colaneri (l.) and Anthony Carrino(center), about construction and community. Maple Lam will illustrate; publication is slated for fall 2018. The authors represented themselves and Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary & Media represented the illustrator.
Neal Porter at Roaring Brook's Neal Porter Books has bought world rights to Ohana Means Family, a cumulative picture book by Ilima Loomis, illustrated by Kenard Pak, in which preparations for a family luau become a celebration of Hawaii and its culture. It's planned for spring 2019; Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary represented the author and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the artist.
Christy Ottaviano at Macmillan's Christy Ottaviano Books has acquired world rights to Elise Broach's picture book Bull-Dozing, to be illustrated by Barry Jackson. It's the story of a little bulldozer and his struggle to behave according to the house rules of his human parents. Publication is set for 2019; Edward Necarsulmer IV at Dunow, Carlson & Lerner represented the author and Rick Richter at Zachary Shuster Harmsworth represented the illustrator.
Toni Markiet at HarperCollins has bought Peterrific, a picture book spin-off of the Pinkalicious series by author-illustrator Victoria Kann. Peter loves to build with his blocks, and decides to build a tower that will reach the moon. Will the moon be made of cheese? Can he catch a shooting star? Publication is scheduled for May 2017; Paul Sennott of Sennott & Williams brokered the deal for world rights.
Anne Schwartz at Random House's Schwartz & Wade Books has acquired author-illustrator Daniel Miyares's Night Out, in which a lonely boy receives a mysterious invitation to go on a magical nighttime adventure. It's slated for summer 2018; Studio Goodwin Sturges sold world rights.
Anne Hoppe at Clarion Books has bought literary agent and author Marie Lamba's picture book A Day So Gray, about children chasing the winter blahs away by discovering colors in the winter landscape. A pub date has not been set yet; Jennifer De Chiara at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency sold world rights.
Tamar Mays at HarperCollins has acquired Lots of Cats by debut author-illustrator E. Dee Taylor, about a lonely witch who realizes mixing friendship and magic can sometimes lead to “cat”astrophes. Publication is planned for summer 2018; Teresa Kietlinski of Bookmark Literary did the deal for world rights.
