David Levithan at Scholastic has acquired world English rights to a new novel in the bestselling The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. The “Untitled Panem Novel” (title not final) will revisit the world of Panem 64 years before the events of the Hunger Games, on the morning of the reaping of the Tenth Hunger Games. Publication is scheduled for May 19, 2020; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio negotiated the deal.
Cindy Loh at Bloomsbury has bought Rachel Vincent's Lullaby Doe, about a teenage girl in a poor Southern community who, after discovering a dead baby in her high school locker room, becomes the center of a scandal that swells into a nationwide social media obsession, testing her relationships with friends and family. Publication is planned for winter 2021; Ginger Clark at Curtis Brown Ltd. brokered the deal for world rights.
Nick Thomas at Levine Querido has acquired a debut novel by Darcie Little Badger (l.), Elatsoe, a ghostly YA set in a contemporary America shaped by the ancestral magics and knowledge of its Indigenous and immigrant peoples. When Elatsoe's beloved older cousin dies under mysterious circumstances, Elatsoe must track down his murderer in a town none too willing to give up its dark secrets. The book will be illustrated by Rovina Cai, illustrator of And the Ocean Was Our Sky; publication is set for fall 2020. Michael Curry at Donald Maass Literary Agency represented the author and sold world rights in a preempt; the artist was unagented.
Hannah Allaman at Disney-Hyperion has bought The Drowning Summer by The Devouring Gray author Christine Lynn Herman. The YA contemporary fantasy with shades of The Great Gatsby follows two Long Island teenagers and fledgling mediums as they investigate a murder that rocked their small town six years earlier when three teenagers were found drowned with sand dollars laid over their eyes. Publication is slated for spring 2021; Kelly Sonnack at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency did the deal for North American English rights.
Andrew Karre at Dutton has acquired debut author Laura Zimmermann's My Eyes Are Up Here, a YA novel about a high school sophomore struggling to rediscover her sense of self in the year after her body decided to change all the rules. Tina Dubois at ICM Partners negotiated the deal for world English rights; publication is scheduled for summer 2020.
Christy Ottaviano at Macmillan/Ottaviano has acquired world rights to a YA biography in verse of sculptor Augusta Savage by award-winning poet Marilyn Nelson (l.) and Tammi Lawson, curator of the Arts and Artifacts Division at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. The book, set for 2021, will include archival materials and chronicle Savage's life and legacy as one of the most important artists and leaders of the Harlem Renaissance; Regina Brooks at Serendipity Literary Agency negotiated the deal.
Mabel Hsu at HarperCollins/Tegen has bought Corey Ann Haydu's Tree, a middle grade novel inspired by the Greco-Roman myth about Daphne and Apollo. The book follows Daphne, a girl who feels most herself in the outdoors, usually next to a river where she has always felt safest. But when a new friendship with classmate Apple turns toxic, the river does what it always has, protects Daphne—by turning her into a tree. Publication is planned for winter 2022; Victoria Marini at Irene Goodman Literary Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Hallie Warshaw at Lerner/Zest has acquired “I'm Here. I'm Queer. What the Hell Do I Read?” blogger Lee Wind's debut middle grade nonfiction book, The Queer History Project: No Way, They Were Gay? The book reveals the surprising and often hidden true stories of men who loved men, women who loved women, and people who lived outside gender boundaries. Publication is set for fall 2020; Marietta Zacker at Gallt & Zacker did the deal for world rights.
Andrew Eliopulos at HarperCollins has bought, in a five-house auction, North American rights to the middle grade graphic novel The Accursed Vampire and an untitled sequel by Madeline McGrane. The Accursed Vampire stars a group of small, very old vampire friends who find a home in the sleepy town of Baneberry. Publication is slated for 2021 and 2022; Linda Camacho at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency handled the deal.
Sylvie Frank at S&S/Wiseman has acquired Noah McNichol and the Backstage Ghost by Martha Freeman. In the middle grade novel, Noah's theater teacher literally (and ironically) breaks her leg and the drama club is left bereft of a director for their No-Trauma-Drama production of Hamlet. The perfect person to take on such a task is Noah's grandfather, but there's just one problem: he's a ghost. Publication is scheduled for spring 2021; Jennifer Mattson at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author for world rights.
Ben Rosenthal at HarperCollins/Tegen has bought North American rights to Zeus: Dog of Chaos by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, author of A Dog Like Daisy. The middle grade novel is told from the viewpoint of Zeus, a diabetic alert dog for a tuba-playing boy who does not want to be defined by his illness. The book will publish in summer 2020; Josh Adams at Adams Literary negotiated the deal.
Annie Berger at Sourcebooks Young Readers has acquired North American rights to Nicole Lesperance's The Nightmare Thief and a sequel, about a 12-year-old girl who makes and sells dreams in her family's shop. When a sinister new customer tries to blackmail the girl into making nightmares for her, she must decide whether to protect her family or protect unknown dreamers from her family's magic. Publication is planned for fall 2020; Kathleen Rushall at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Alice Jerman at HarperCollins has bought, at auction, Three Feathers, a debut middle grade fantasy adventure by Jennifer Adam about a fumbling young hedgewitch who must save a herd of mythical stormhorses and uncover the truth about her past and powers, in a world of wicked queens, crow spies, magical hounds, and ancient Celtic folklore. The author adopts and trains wild mustangs on her third-generation farm in Missouri. Publication is slated for spring 2021; Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord Literistic handled the two-book deal for world rights.
Jenne Abramowitz at Scholastic and Lauren Fortune at Scholastic UK have bought, in a four-book deal, Lucky Bunnies by Catherine Coe (l.) (The Owls of Blossom Wood), an early chapter series set in the magical world of Bright Burrow. Hidden from human eyes, a group of multi-colored bunnies have sweet and gentle adventures in this happy, positive world. Publication is planned for fall 2019 and summer 2020; Chie Boyd will illustrate. Penny Holroyde at Holroyde Cartey brokered the deal for world rights, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 made the deal for the illustrator.
Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown has acquired On the Day the Horse Got Out, a picture book debut by author and artist Audrey Helen Weber. Written in the spirit of classic nonsense nursery rhymes, the story celebrates disruption as it follows a horse's wild romp toward freedom and its ripple effects. Publication is scheduled for spring 2021; Hannah Mann at Writers House did the deal for world rights.
Courtney Burke at Page Street Kids has bought debut author-illustrator Kitty Moss's picture book Gone Bone Gone. When Balthazar the dog loses his precious bone, he frantically rips his house apart trying to find it. Publication is slated for fall 2020; Adria Goetz at Martin Literary Management negotiated the deal for world rights.
Dana Chidiac at Dial has acquired William C. Morris Debut Award winner and Asian/Pacific American Award winner Adib Khorram's debut picture book, Seven Special Somethings: A Nowruz Story, in which Kian helps his family celebrate the Persian New Year by building a special sofreh haft-seen. The book will be illustrated by debut illustrator Daby Zainab Faidhi; publication is set for spring 2021. Molly O'Neill represented the author in the deal for world rights, and the illustrator was unagented.
Tamar Brazis at Viking has bought world English rights to Piglette, a debut picture book by Katelyn Aronson (l.), illustrated by Eva Byrne, about a pristine pig who leaves her farm and family in pursuit of perfection. When her sophisticated snout leads her all the way to a perfumery in Paris, she thinks she's found paradise. Publication is planned for summer 2020; Christa Heschke at McIntosh & Otis represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Alexis Orgera and Chad Reynolds at Penny Candy have acquired world rights to Eunice and Kate by Mariana Llanos (l.). The picture book tells the story of two best friends who learn the value of respecting each other's dreams. Italian illustrator Elena Napoli will illustrate. The book will be published in spring 2020; the author was unagented, and the illustrator was represented by Atlanta Japp at Advocate Arts.
Joni Sussman at Kar-Ben has bought world rights to The Singer and the Scientist by Lisa Rose (l.). When singer Marian Anderson is denied a hotel room because she is African-American, Albert Einstein steps up to help, beginning a lifelong friendship. Isabel Muñoz will illustrate; publication is scheduled for spring 2021. Leslie Zampetti at Dunham Literary represented the author, and Robbin Brosterman at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Chris Myers and Michelle Frey at Random House's new Make Me a World imprint have acquired Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poets and Arab American Book Award winner Safia Elhillo's Nima on the Other Side. The YA novel in verse melds the real with the surreal, as teenage Nima struggles to fit into her white suburban town, while grappling with the phantom of a life not chosen and a girl who may be more real than she seems. Publication is set for spring 2021; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal for North American rights.
Jessica Harriton at Razorbill has bought, in a preempt, Jennifer Yen's debut, A Taste for Love, a Pride & Prejudice-inspired YA rom-com about 18-year-old Liza Yang, who agrees to help her traditional, opinionated mother with her annual baking competition, only to find out it's a set-up: all of the contestants are young Asian-American men her mother has handpicked for Liza to date. Publication is slated for spring 2021, and a second standalone novel will follow in 2022; Jessica Watterson at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Allison Moore at Bloomsbury has acquired, at auction, Brooke Davis's YA debut, When We Come Home. Pitched as Sadie meets The Glass Castle, the story follows a teen girl who infiltrates a small-town family's life to get revenge on behalf of the only mother she's ever known (who was wronged by the family's patriarch as a teen herself), exploring themes of loyalty, betrayal, gender dynamics, and the power of anger. Publication is planned for spring 2021; Victoria Doherty Munro at Writers House brokered the two-book deal for world English rights.
Rick Bleiweiss at Blackstone has bought Nemesis and the Swan, a debut historical YA by Lindsay Bandy. The novel is set during the turbulent days of the French Revolution, when a disenchanted aristocrat, fleeing her family's past demons, attempts to navigate a Paris in upheaval while trying to reconnect with the young apprentice she fell in love with, only to face dangerous consequences that may lead her to the guillotine. The book will be published in 2021; Cate Hart at Corvisiero Literary Agency handled the deal for world rights.
Annie Berger at Sourcebooks Fire has acquired Jesse Sutanto's debut, The Obsession, and a second novel. Pitched as a YA version of You meets Enough, the novel follows the classic story of boy meets girl, boy stalks girl, girl gets her revenge. Publication is scheduled for spring 2021; Uwe Stender at TriadaUS Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Kristin Rens at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has preempted North American rights to Backyard Bears author Amy Cherrix's In the Shadow of the Moon, a YA nonfiction narrative chronicling the space race from the dual perspectives of the two controversial and flawed men who helped humankind set foot on the moon. The book is set for fall 2020 publication; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal.
Andrea Tompa at Candlewick has bought world rights to The Blue Stars, a middle-grade graphic-novel series co-written by Kekla Magoon (l.) and Cynthia Leitich Smith and illustrated by Molly Murakami, in her children’s book debut. The series stars two cousins, Riley Halfmoon and Maya Dawn, who embrace their different strengths to become a superhero duo in their school and in their community. The first book, Mission One: The Principal Problem, will be published in fall 2022; Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown represented both authors, and the illustrator represented herself.
Christy Ottaviano at Macmillan/Ottaviano has acquired world rights to an untitled middle grade softball nonfiction book by Jennie Finch, Olympic gold and silver medalist, world champion pitcher, and NCAA record holder for most consecutive wins. The book will cover training techniques, fuel-based nutrition, leadership and teamwork on the field, dynamic warm-ups, balancing different positions, and the keys to injury prevention. Publication is slated for 2021; Erin Kane and Jennifer Keene at Octagon brokered the deal.
Sheila Keenan at Viking has bought two middle-grade graphic novels by Iasmin Omar Ata. The first book is a realistic coming-of-age story with a dose of magic realism, featuring a Muslim-American girl who's experiencing pressure from her family and Islamaphobic prejudice and bullying from her classmates, and is helped on her journey to selfhood by a djinn (genie). Publication is planned for fall 2021, with book two following in summer 2022; Judy Hansen at Hansen Literary represented the author in the auction for world rights.
Andrea Davis Pinkney at Scholastic has acquired King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender (formerly known as Kheryn Callender), second in the deal that began with the Lambda Literary and Stonewall Award-winning Hurricane Child. The novel follows 12-year-old Kingston James, who questions his own identity when he helps his gay best friend run away from an abusive household, and they build their own paradise down by the Bayou where King believes his dead older brother has turned into a dragonfly. Publication is scheduled for February 2020; Beth Phelan at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency did the deal for North American rights.
Nancy Inteli at HarperCollins has bought Queer, There, and Everywhere author Sarah Prager's (l.) Rainbow Revolutionaries, an illustrated collection of true stories celebrating 50 LGBTQIA+ figures who changed history, for middle graders. The book will be illustrated by Sarah Papworth; publication is set for summer 2020. Carrie Howland at Howland Literary represented the author, and Susan McCabe at Lilla Rogers represented the artist in the deal for world rights.
Krestyna Lypen at Algonquin has acquired Nicole Melleby's How to Become a Planet, in which 11-year-old Pluto struggles with her depression and anxiety diagnosis, which feels like a big black hole sitting on her chest and making it too hard to do anything. She makes efforts to find balance with an assist from the friendly voice on the Hayden Planetarium Astronomy Question and Answer Hotline. Publication is slated for spring 2021; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented the author in the two-book deal for world rights.
Alyson Heller at Aladdin has bought Reese Eschmann's debut, an untitled middle grade novel about two friends in Chicago who race onto a malfunctioning magical train to save a dog and, in the process, encounter a mechanical dragon, fight nefarious gummy worms, and learn to love themselves exactly as they are. The book is planned for publication in spring 2021; Danielle Burby at Nelson Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Sarah Shumway at Bloomsbury has acquired A Book of Questions, a middle grade novel in verse by Ellen Hagan, co-author of Watch Us Rise with Renée Watson. As Beatrice Miller navigates the hills and valleys of seventh grade, she asks the kinds of questions we all do: “Who am I? Who will I be in the future? And will my outside ever match the way I feel on the inside?” Publication is scheduled for winter 2021; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal for world English rights.
Karen Nagel at Aladdin has bought rights to The Adventures of Allie & Amy, a four-book series by Stephanie Calmenson (l.) and Joanna Cole, author of the Magic School Bus series, for the QUIX line. The chapter books, which will be illustrated by James Burks, star best friends Allie and Amy, along with the kids in their neighborhood and Madame Lulu, a fortune teller. The first title will be published in spring 2020; Susan Cohen at Writers House represented the authors, and Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Tamar Mays at HarperCollins has acquired, in an exclusive submission, world rights to the first four books in a new I Can Read series, Ty's Travels, by Jada Jones author Kelly Starling Lyons (l.). Nina Mata will illustrate; publication of the first two books is expected in fall 2020. Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy T. Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Neal Porter at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has bought world rights to Maya Myers's (l.) Not Little, a picture book about a very little girl who stands up to a bully in a very big way, illustrated by Hyewon Yum. Publication is slated for fall 2021; Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the author, and Sean McCarthy at Sean McCarthy Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Tamar Brazis at Viking has acquired, at auction, world rights to Tesla by VCFA student Azadeh Westergaard (l.), a nonfiction biography about the famed inventor. Júlia Sardà (Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein) will illustrate. Brazis also acquired a second untitled picture book by Westergaard. Publication for Tesla is set for summer 2021; Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Trident Media Group represented the author, and by Rebecca Sherman at Writers House represented the artist.
Carol Hinz at Lerner/Carolrhoda has acquired world rights to Dads. The celebration of diverse fathers and children reunites the team behind the book Their Great Gift: author John Coy (l.) and photographer Wing Young Huie. Publication is planned for spring 2020; Andrea Cascardi at Transatlantic Agency represented the author, and the photographer represented himself.
Brett Duquette at Little Bee has bought world rights to Janet Lawler's (l.) Kindergarten Hat, illustrated by Geraldine Rodríguez, a picture book in which shy Carlos Abredo is nervous to start his first day of kindergarten until a special teacher brightens his day. Publication is scheduled for summer 2020; Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the author, and James Burns at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Jennifer Adams at Sounds True has acquired world rights to The Breathing Book, a picture book teaching breathing techniques and mindfulness by husband-and-wife team Christopher Willard (l.) and Olivia Weisser, illustrated by Alison Oliver. Publication is slated for winter 2020; Carol Mann at the Carol Mann Agency represented the authors, and Susan Hawk at Upstart Crow Literary represented the illustrator.
