Krista Marino at Delacorte has acquired, in a seven-figure preempt, author Ashok Banker's The Rise Trilogy, pitched as Six of Crows meets An Ember in the Ashes, with a cast featuring LGBTQIA, PoC, and differently abled protagonists. The #ownvoices series follows a young thief and her gang as they battle to overthrow a brutal tyrant and stay a demon invasion. Publication of the first book is planned for fall 2018; John Cusick at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management brokered the deal for North American English rights.
Janine O'Malley at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has bought in a preempt Nadine Jolie Courtney's All-American Muslim Girl, a contemporary YA novel inspired by the author's own experiences as a Muslim-American. This coming-of-age story follows a 16-year-old girl as she struggles with the feeling of being caught between two worlds and the difficulties of being a modern Muslim teenager in America today. Publication is scheduled for spring 2019; Jess Regel at Foundry Literary + Media negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Alessandra Balzer at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has acquired world English rights to two new YA novels by Katie Cotugno. The Calling follows two sisters who are hiding a dark secret about who—and what—they are. 9 Days and 9 Nights, the sequel to 99 Days, follows Molly Barlow to Europe the summer after her first year of college. Traveling with her new boyfriend, her life is turned upside-down when she has a chance meeting with the boy who stole her heart last summer. Publication is slated for spring 2018 and summer 2019; Sara Shandler and Joelle Hobeika at Alloy Entertainment did the deal.
Jennifer M. Brown at Knopf has bought Silver Meadows Summer, a middle grade novel by Emma Otheguy, in which 11-year-old Carolina moves with her family from Puerto Rico to upstate New York so her father can find work. In their new home, Carolina's parents encourage her to assimilate by sending her to summer camp. Publication is set for spring 2019; Adriana Dominguez at Full Circle Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Emma Ledbetter at Atheneum has acquired, at auction, the first two solo picture books by Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Honor recipient Christian Robinson. Portal is a wordless picture book following a girl and her cat into a parallel world. Small Problems is a picture book examining perspective—and our place in the universe—through concerns expressed by creatures big and small. Publication is planned for spring 2019 and spring 2020, respectively; Steven Malk at Writers House handled the deal for world rights.
Jennifer Besser at Putnam has bought a picture book from Newbery Medalist Matt de la Peña (l.) and bestselling illustrator Loren Long. Love is a story about the strongest bond there is and the diverse and powerful ways it connects us all. Publication is slated for January 2018; Steven Malk at Writers House negotiated the deal for world rights.
Caitlyn Dlouhy at S&S/Dlouhy has acquired North American rights to Alison McGhee's Baby Be, a universal story of how babies and their dads connect through the freedom and joy of dance, celebrating the unconditional love between parent and child. Coretta Scott King Honor and Schneider Family Book Award-winner Sean Qualls will illustrate. A publication date has not yet been announced; Sara Crowe represented the author, and Holly McGhee represented the illustrator, both at Pippin Properties.
Karen Greenberg at Knopf has bought world rights to Gretchen McLellan's (l.) picture book, Button and Bundle, to be illustrated by Gillian Flint, about best friends who do everything together—until one of them has to move away. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author and Alli Brydon at Bright USA represented the illustrator.
Julie Bliven at Charlesbridge has bought world rights to debut author Cathy Breisacher's Cavekid Birthday, a picture book featuring two Stone Age best friends bartering for the perfect gift. Roland Garrigue will illustrate; publication is slated for 2019. Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Agency represented the author and Claire Easton at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Louise May at Lee & Low has acquired world rights to Johnny Tunes and the Gandy Dancers by Pamela M. Tuck and her late husband, Joel Tuck, a picture book about a boy who finds a way to join his older brothers repairing railroad tracks in the early 1900s by becoming a "caller," singing work songs to help the railroad crews maintain their synchronized movements. Keith D. Shepherd will illustrate; publication is set for fall 2018. The authors represented themselves for the deal.
