Jocelyn Davies at HarperTeen has acquired a contemporary YA novel by Pushing Perfect author Michelle Falkoff. Questions I Want to Ask You is about a boy who receives a letter from his mother on his 18th birthday—except his mother is dead, or that's what he's always believed. When he embarks on a journey to find her, he unearths questions about both of his parents that make him rethink where he comes from and where he's going. Publication is scheduled for summer 2018; Richard Abate at 3 Arts Entertainment negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Pam Gruber at Little, Brown has bought Rule, a YA fantasy series by Ellen Goodlett, in a two-book deal at auction. A dying king's three illegitimate daughters are summoned to the palace to compete to become his successor, but each hides a dangerous secret that could keep her from the throne. Publication is planned for fall 2018; Joelle Hobeika and Hayley Wagreich at Alloy Entertainment brokered the deal for world English rights.
Alice Jerman at HarperTeen has acquired at auction, in a six-figure deal, Laura E. Weymouth's debut YA fantasy, The Weight of Worlds, billed as Lev Grossman's The Magicians meets C.S. Lewis's Narnia. The story follows two troubled sisters, bound together by blood and fate, as they struggle to find their place in our world after spending years ruling as queens in a realm of myth and magic. Publication is set for fall 2018; Lauren Spieller at Triada US Literary Agency did the two-book deal for North American rights.
Joy Peskin at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has bought Meant to Be author Lauren Morrill's Better Than the Best Plan, a YA novel about a teenage girl who enters foster care for what she thinks is the first time, only to find out she has been down this path before. Publication is slated for winter 2019; Stephen Barbara at Inkwell Management negotiated the two-book deal for world English rights.
Anne Heltzel at Abrams has acquired bestselling author A.G. Howard's Stain, a high-fantasy gothic fairytale retelling inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's The Princess and the Pea, in which a mute princess, to win back her kingdom of daylight, save her prince, and conquer the land of the night, must prove herself everything a traditional princess is not. Publication is scheduled for January 2019; Jenny Bent at the Bent Agency did the deal for world English rights.
Alison Weiss at Sky Pony Press has bought world rights to Freak N Gorgeous, a YA speculative debut by Sebastian J. Plata. Told in dual POV, the story follows two teens from one school who experience separate "Inexplicable Developments" on the same morning: a boy who wakes up stunningly hot, and a girl who turns devastatingly ugly. When all the relationships in their lives strain as a result, the teens start using each other for personal gain—until sparks fly. Publication is planned for spring 2018; Melissa Edwards at Stonesong was the agent.
Elizabeth Bewley and Sarah Landis at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt have acquired world English rights for Meet Cute, a YA anthology of original short stories featuring tales of "how they first met" from Jennifer L. Armentrout, Dhonielle Clayton, Katie Cotugno, Jocelyn Davies, Huntley Fitzpatrick, Nina LaCour, Emery Lord, Katharine McGee, Kass Morgan, Julie Murphy, Meredith Russo, Sara Shepard, Nicola Yoon, and Ibi Zoboi. Publication is set for January 2018; Lanie Davis and Joelle Hobeika at Alloy Entertainment brokered the deal.
Julie Matysik at Running Press/RP Kids has bought a two-book middle grade series, Awesome Achievers, by kids' humorist Alan Katz. The series takes a look at unheralded heroes behind the world's most famous discoveries and scientific/technological endeavors. Publication is slated for summer 2018; Rick Richter at Aevitas Creative Management negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Janine O'Malley at FSG has acquired at auction Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo's debut middle grade novel Ruby in the Sky—winner of the 2016 SCBWI Work-in-Progress Award—and an untitled second book. The novel follows 12-year-old Ruby Moon Hayes, who doesn't want the kids at her new school to ask about her past or discover that her outspoken mother has been arrested. But disappearing isn't easy. The first book will be published in winter 2019, and the second in winter 2020; Stacey Glick at Dystel & Goderich did the deal for North American rights.
Emily Feinberg at Roaring Brook Press has bought world rights to Marina Cohen's middle-grade fantasy Box of Bones. When 12-year-old Kallie opens a mysterious puzzle box, her life begins to entangle with another world, where Liah, a young bone carver, journeys with her master to sell wares to a Wicked Queen. Publication is scheduled for winter 2019; John M. Cusick of Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management brokered the deal.
Kelsey Horton at Delacorte Press has acquired world English rights to Kathleen Benner Duble's untitled middle grade novel, a magical realist story about a strange town where residents can see the future, and a brave girl's adventure that could save or hurt the people she loves most. Publication is planned for spring 2019; Liza Voges at Eden Street Literary negotiated the deal.
Kheryn Callender at Little, Brown has bought Ashley Herring Blake's debut middle grade novel Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World. It tells of 12-year-old Ivy, whose house is destroyed when a tornado rips through town. In the storm's aftermath, Ivy begins to develop feelings for another girl at school. Publication is slated for spring/summer 2018; Rebecca Podos at the Rees Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Jill Davis at HarperCollins has acquired two books from Italian author-illustrator Beatrice Alemagna. The first book, On a Magical Do-Nothing Day, about a boy who discovers the joys of life outside on an otherwise horrible day, was published last year by Albin Michel and will be released in the U.S. in September. The second book, tentatively called The Incredible Astonishing Party of Harold Phillip Snipperpot, Alemagna's first picture book created with an American publisher, features an eccentric family and their son's outrageous birthday party, attended by wild animals. It is set for winter 2019; Alemagna represented herself.
Paula Wiseman at S&S/Paula Wiseman Books has bought Igloo Farm, a debut picture book by Calvin Shaw (l.) about the life of a family who live in a cozy igloo. The book will be illustrated by Oamul Lu; publication is scheduled for fall 2019. Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions negotiated the deal for world rights.
Anna Membrino at Random House has acquired world rights to Summer Supper by Rubin Pfeffer (l.), illustrated by Mike Austin, which follows the creation of a farm-to-table meal told only in words beginning with the letter “s.” Publication is slated for summer 2018. Pfeffer, an agent at Rubin Pfeffer Content, represented himself and the illustrator.
Peggy Schaefer at WorthyKids/Ideals has bought world rights to Katherine Schwarzenegger's (l.) picture book Maverick and Me. Based on the author's own work with dog rescues, the book tells the story of an abandoned puppy and the big-hearted girl who adopts him. Phyllis Harris will illustrate; publication is planned for September 2017. Nena Madonia Oshman at Dupree Miller & Associates represented the author and Janet DeCarlo at StoryBook Arts represented the illustrator.
Kieran Viola at Disney has bought CAKE co-founders Sona Charaipotra (l.) and Dhonielle Clayton's Rumor Game, a contemporary YA that follows three troubled young women as a high school rumor begins to spiral out of control with dangerous consequences, and only one girl has the power to set things right. But will she even want to? The release is set for summer 2019; Victoria Marini at Irene Goodman brokered the deal for North American rights.
Marissa Grossman at Razorbill has acquired Vanity Fair film critic Richard Lawson's debut YA novel, All We Can Do Is Wait, about five teenagers who must face the reality of their pasts and the prospect of very different futures when they meet one another in a hospital, where they're waiting to hear news about their loved ones after a disaster rocks Boston. Publication is scheduled for spring 2018; Brianne Johnson at Writers House negotiated the deal for world rights.
Mari Kesselring at North Star Editions has bought Kim Chance'sKeeper, following 16-year-old Lainey Styles, an SAT whiz and Ivy-bound straight arrow, whose interactions with a 200-year-old ghost lead her to discover she is a Keeper—a witch with the ability to wield a powerful yet missing spell book. Publication is projected for spring 2018; Caitlen Rubino-Bradway at LKG Agency did the deal for world rights.
Krista Vitola at Simon and Schuster has acquired Sean Easley's middle-grade debut, The Hotel Between Here, There, and Everywhere, in which twins Cam and Cass uncover the secrets of their missing father in a magical hotel whose doors lead its guests to places all over the world. Publication is planned for fall 2018; Erin Young at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret brokered the deal for world rights.
Mary Lee Donovan at Candlewick has bought Counting in Dog Years and Other Sassy Math Poems, a middle-grade collection of 29 math-themed poems by Betsy Franco, wherein kids can discover the numerical patterns in their friends' phone numbers, learn why grandpa and his dog are the same age, and what makes "mom time" a relative concept. Publication is slated for spring 2019; Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Becky Herrick at Sky Pony/Swirl has acquired Peppermint Cocoa Crushes by Laney Nielson, about a girl who pins her hopes on winning the talent show with her two best friends, but doesn't anticipate to what extent crushes and drama might upset her plans. Publication is scheduled for fall 2017; the author was unagented.
Jeffrey Salane at Little Simon has bought world rights to author-illustrator Sarah Lynne Reul's Pet the Pets, a novelty book inviting young readers to help unhappy pets feel better by scratching, patting, swirling, and pressing the pages before revealing a solution to each pet's dilemma under the flap. It is set for summer 2018; Emily Mitchell at Wernick & Pratt brokered the two-book deal, which includes an untitled sequel.
Jill Santopolo at Philomel has acquired Hannah Holt's (l.) SCBWI Work-in-Progress Award-winning manuscript, A Father's Love, to be illustrated by Yee Von Chan. The book is a celebration of how fathers in the animal kingdom love their children. Publication is planned for spring 2019; Laura Biagi at the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency represented the author for world English rights, and Emily Coggins at Astound Illustration Agency represented the artist for world rights.
Jessica Echeverria at Lee & Low has bought world rights in a two-book deal to Zombies Don't Eat Veggies, the debut picture book by husband-and-wife team Megan and Jorge Lacera. The story follows Mo Romero, a young zombie who convinces his zombie parents to try (and love!) vegetables. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018; John M. Cusick at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management negotiated the deal.
Barb McNally and Heather Hughes at Sleeping Bear Press have acquired world rights to The Hanukah Hamster, a picture book by PEN/Steven Kroll Award winner Michelle Markel about an immigrant cab driver who celebrates the holiday with a hamster left behind in his cab. Brazilian artist André Ceolin will illustrate. Publication is projected for fall 2018; Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary represented the author and Mela Bolinao at MB Artists represented the illustrator.
Michael Joosten at Doubleday has bought world rights to Todd Tarpley's (l.) Library Books Are Not for Eating. The story involves a teacher—who also happens to be a dinosaur—and the veritable book buffet she chomps through at school. Matt Hunt will illustrate; publication is planned for fall 2018. Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency represented the author and Arabella Stein at Bright Group International represented the artist.
Wendy McClure at Albert Whitman has acquired world rights to Mary Had a Little Lab by From Here to There author Sue Fliess, a twist on the nursery rhyme in which Mary is an aspiring inventor who makes sheep in her lab. Petros Bouloubasis will illustrate; publication is slated for spring 2018. Jennifer Unter at the Unter Agency represented the author and Lisa Musing at Advocate Art represented the artist.
Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear Press has bought world English rights to Rachel Kolar's Mother Ghost: Spooky Rhymes for Halloween, featuring twists on 13 classic nursery rhymes. Roland Garrigue will illustrate; publication is set for fall 2018. Victoria Selvaggio at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency represented the author and Claire Easton at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
