Jill Santopolo at Philomel has acquired world English rights to Superheroes Are Everywhere by Kamala Harris(l.), illustrated by Mechal Renee Roe. In the book, the California senator shares stories of the family, friends, and public figures who inspired her throughout her life. Featuring a Hero Code, as well as a timeline of Sen. Harris's life and photographs from her personal collection, the book aims to empower young readers to see that we all can be heroes. Publication is scheduled for January 8, 2019; Mollie Glick and David Larabell at CAA represented the author, and James Burns at the Bright Agency represented the artist.
Simon Boughton at Norton Young Readers has bought North American rights to Printz Award winner and two-time Printz honoree Marcus Sedgwick's Snowflake, AZ, a YA novel set in an isolated desert community whose residents suffer from environmental illness brought about by exposure to chemicals, electricity, pollution—in short, to modern life. The novel is set for simultaneous publication in the U.S. and the U.K. in September 2019; rights were handled by Alex Webb on behalf of Sedgwick's U.K. publisher, Head of Zeus.
Amanda Maciel at Scholastic Press has acquired Where She Fell author Kaitlin Ward's new YA thriller, Lie to Me, about a girl with no memory of her near-death experience, who starts to suspect her new boyfriend is not what he seems. Publication is planned for January 2020; Sarah LaPolla at Bradford Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Kat Brzozowski at Feiwel and Friends has bought world English rights to Aminah Mae Safi's new book, an as-yet-untitled YA novel inspired by Empire Records. On the first day of summer, three teens— a bookstagrammer, an aspiring poet, and a girl living through her Britney moment— set out to save their dying local bookstore. Publication is slated for summer 2020; Lauren MacLeod at the Strothman Agency brokered the deal.
Marissa Grossman at Razorbill has acquired, at auction, Natalie Mae's The Kinder Poison, an ancient Egypt-inspired YA fantasy focusing on 16-year-old Zahru, who is chosen as a human sacrifice in a harrowing race across the desert among the three heirs to the throne. Publication is scheduled for spring 2020, with an untitled sequel to follow in 2021; Brianne Johnson at Writers House did the deal for world English rights.
Maggie Lehrman at Abrams has bought world rights to The Accidental Bad Girl author Maxine Kaplan's new YA novel Wench. Featuring the girl most fantasy epics don't even give a name—the tavern wench—the story follows the heroine on a journey to recover the rights to her lifelong home that finds her an unwilling accomplice to a band of thieves as the wielder of a magic quill with power even greater than the Queen. Publication is set for fall 2020; Ali McDonald at the Rights Factory negotiated the deal.
Samantha Gentry at Crown has acquired, at auction in a six-figure deal, actress and activist Skai Jackson's middle grade memoir Reach for the Skai: How to Inspire, Empower, and Clapback. Jackson, who is known for her roles on Disney Channel's Bunk'd and Jessie, discusses her lessons on life and rise to stardom, as well as the negative experiences that sometimes come with living in the spotlight. Publication is planned for fall 2019; Alyssa Reuben at Paradigm Talent Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Kira Lynn at Kane Miller bought North American rights to a four-book middle grade series, Kensy & Max, by Australian author Jacqueline Harvey. The action-adventure series features siblings forced to become spies when their parents go missing—and they find out just what their parents have been up to all along. Publication for all four books is slated for January 2020; Allison Hellegers at Rights People sold North American rights on behalf of Eleanor Shorne Holden at Penguin Random House Australia.
Arthur A. Levine at Scholastic/Levine has acquired world rights to Sparrowauthor Sarah Moon's middle grade novel Middletown. The story follows eighth-grader Eli, who's in love with her closest girl friend. Eli's life descends into chaos, however, when her older sister dupes social services into letting them live on their own after their mother is sent to court-ordered rehab. Publication is scheduled for 2020; Molly Ker Hawn at the Bent Agency negotiated the deal.
Kathryn Lane at Dundurn Press has bought Alisha Sevigny's debut middle grade, The Lost Scroll of the Physician, first in a historical adventure series set in ancient Egypt. In the book, a girl searches for the long-lost text that holds the cure for her little brother's illness—and may be the cause of their parents' untimely deaths; the orphan siblings race against time to find the priceless papyrus that will determine their fate—and the fate of the kingdom. The series will tentatively launch in summer 2019; Olga Filina and Ali McDonald at the Rights Factory did the three-book deal for North American rights.
Lucia Monfried at Dial has acquired debut author-illustrator Emily E. Neilson's as yet untitled picture book about a mermaid boy who loves to hug, until he comes across a blowfish who doesn't feel comfortable showing affection in the same exuberant way. Publication is set for summer 2020; Christy Tugeau Ewers at the CAT Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Namrata Tripathi at Penguin/Kokila has bought world rights to DeShanna (r.) and Trinity Neal's picture book, My Rainbow, the story of the rainbow wig that a mother makes for her beautiful black transgender daughter. Publication is planned for fall 2020; Naomi Davis at BookEnds Literary Agency represented the author.
Frances Gilbert at Doubleday has acquired world rights to The Passover Mouse by Joy Nelkin Wieder, illustrated by Shahar Kober. In the holiday-themed picture book about community and sharing, a little mouse upsets a village preparing for Passover when it steals a morsel of unleavened bread—or chometz—right after all the houses have been swept clean in accordance with Talmudic law, inspiring the neighbors to come together to help get ready. Publication is slated for spring 2020; Barbara Krasner at Olswanger Literary represented the author and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.
Marilyn Brigham at Amazon/Two Lions has bought world rights to Maureen Wright's Super Rooster Saves the Day!, illustrated by Rob McClurkan, a picture book about a winsome rooster named Ralph who dreams of being a superhero and finally gets his chance to save the world. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; the author represented herself, and Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright USA represented the illustrator.
Christy Cox at Little Bigfoot has acquired world English rights to two books by debut author Contessa Flanagan (l.), illustrated by Carolyn Conahan. I Don't Have a Dogand I Don't Have a Cat are humorous picture books about what it's really like owning a pet. The books will be published in spring 2020 and spring 2021; the author was unagented, and Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Barbara McNally at Sleeping Bear has bought world rights to How to Draw a Lion by John Platt and Moira Rose Donohue, a picture book about African animals. The book will be illustrated with the artwork done by young African artists who have studied under Platt, a N.Y.-based artist, and participated in his charitable organization, How to Draw a Lion. Author proceeds will be donated to the charitable organization. Publication is set for spring 2020; Jennifer Unter at the Unter Agency represented both authors.
Carol Malnor at Dawn Publications has acquired world rights to Plants Fight Back by Lisa Amstutz (l.), illustrated by Rebecca Evans. The nonfiction picture book introduces readers to a range of defenses some plants use when they're under attack. Publication is slated for fall 2020; Victoria Selvaggio at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
