Krista Marino at Delacorte has bought Burn Our Bodies Down, the second novel from Rory Power, author of Wilder Girls. Stuck in a rundown apartment in the Middle of Nowhere, Nebraska, Margot has spent her whole life trying to get closer to her secretive, mercurial mother. When she discovers the name of her mother's hometown, Phalene, she thinks she's found the key. But Phalene is home to a hundred secrets, hidden between the floorboards of her grandmother's farmhouse, buried under the cornfields. And if Margot's not careful, she'll end up buried there, too. Publication is set for summer 2020; Kimberly Witherspoon and Jessica Mileo at InkWell Management sold rights for the U.S., Canada, and open market.
David Levithan and Samantha Palazzi at Scholastic, along with Barry Cunningham at Chicken House U.K., have acquired world rights to K-Pop Confidential, a YA debut by Bustle senior editor and former Entertainment Weekly editor Stephan Lee. In this romantic coming-of-age novel about chasing big dreams, a Korean-American teen travels to Seoul in hopes of debuting in a girl group at the same K-pop company behind the most popular boy band on the planet. The book will be published simultaneously in the U.S. and U.K. in fall 2020; Brenda Bowen at the Book Group negotiated the deal.
Dana Chidiac at Dial has bought, on exclusive submission, Adib Khorram's Darius the Great Deserves Better, following up his Morris- and APALA-award-winning debut, Darius the Great Is Not Okay. Back from a life-changing trip to Iran, Darius suddenly has it all: a first boyfriend, a dream internship, and a soccer team full of new friends. It's everything he's ever wanted—maybe? Publication is slated for fall 2020; Molly O'Neill at Root Literary did the deal for world rights.
Natashya Wilson at Inkyard has acquired North American and audio rights to Counting Down with You and a second book by debut author Tashie Bhuiyan. In this romantic contemporary YA novel, a Bangladeshi-Muslim teenager navigates the difficulties of independence, family, and first love after being roped into a fake dating facade by a classmate. Publication is scheduled for mid-2021; JL Stermer at New Leaf Literary & Media brokered the deal.
Sarah McCabe at Simon Pulse has bought Margie Fuston's debut YA novel, Vampires, Hearts, and Other Dead Things, pitched as The Coldest Girl in Coldtown meets The Truth About Forever. When science and faith fail her terminally ill father, Victoria heads to New Orleans in search of a vampire to save him. She meets a mysterious young man who might be what she's looking for, only he won't share the secret to immortality with just anybody. Publication is planned for summer 2021; Rebecca Podos at the Rees Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Whitney Leopard at Random House Graphic has acquired Lucy Knisley's YA graphic novel Linney, a collection of Knisley's online cat cartoons in print for the first time, along with original material. Publication is slated for fall 2021; Holly Bemiss at the Susan Rabiner Literary Agency sold world rights.
Erica Finkel at Abrams has bought Game Changer author Tommy Greenwald's new middle-grade novel, Rivals. In this multi-format book, two basketball stars from competing middle schools get ready for the championship game—but are caught up in online trash-talking, accusations of cheating, and the pressure of big-time sports. Publication is set for spring 2021; Brianne Johnson at Writers House brokered the deal for world rights.
Rosemary Brosnan at HarperCollins has acquired, in a three-house auction, Bree Paulsen's debut graphic novel, Garlic & the Vampire, plus a second book, about a village of anthropomorphic vegetables whose world is turned upside down when a vampire moves into the nearby abandoned castle, and the shy Garlic they elect to drive him out. Publication of the first book is scheduled for fall 2021; Britt Siess at Martin Literary & Media Management handled the deal for world rights.
Lily Kessinger at HMH has bought world rights to ParaNorthern by Stephanie Cooke (l.), illustrated by Mari Costa. In this middle-grade graphic novel, a witch named Abby and her three friends—a wolf-girl, a ghost, and a pumpkinhead—band together to try and save their supernatural town from an invasion of rabid (but adorable) chaos bunnies. Publication is planned for spring 2021; Maria Vicente at P.S. Literary Agency represented the author, and Peter Ryan at Stimola Literary Studio represented the illustrator.
Sylvie Frank at S&S/Wiseman has acquired Edgar winner Susan Vaught's next middle-grade novel, Finding What's Mine, in which a group of kids with developmental disabilities become embroiled in the decades-old mystery of a missing girl when their secret hideout is threatened. Publication is slated for fall 2021; Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Andrea Colvin at Little, Brown has bought Eleanor Crewes's debut middle-grade graphic novel, Lilla, the Accidental Witch, in which a girl spends a formative summer in Italy where she learns magical secrets about herself and her family and begins to understand who she really is. Publication is set for spring 2021; Anna Power at Johnson & Alcock brokered the deal for world rights (excluding the U.K.).
Amy Cloud at HMH has acquired Clifford Burke's middle grade debut, An Occasionally Happy Family, about a family road trip to one of America's least popular national parks, where Theo Ripley and his sister Laura try to suss out why their nerdy father is acting unusually and what it could mean for their future. Publication is scheduled for spring 2021; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich and Bourret did the deal for world rights.
Amanda Shih at Scholastic has bought Poop Happened!, Poison, and Dog Days of History author Sarah Albee's Accidental Archaeologists, a nonfiction look at incredible archaeological finds by ordinary people, often by children. Publication is planned for fall 2020; Caryn Wiseman at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Rotem Moscovich at Disney-Hyperion has acquired, at auction, I Am the Longest Dog, written and illustrated by Avery Monsen, co-creator of the bestselling All My Friends Are Dead, about a dog so long, we may never get to the end of her. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; Steven Malk at Writers House sold world rights.
Nancy Inteli at HarperCollins has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to the picture book Evergreen, the author-illustrator debut for Nate Wragg. Everly is a tree who sees her friends change through the seasons but always stays the same... that is, until Christmas, when she shines brightest. Publication is set for fall 2021; Rebecca Sherman at Writers House brokered the deal.
Mary Kate Castellani at Bloomsbury has acquired bestselling Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site series author Sherri Duskey Rinker's debut middle grade novel, Revver the Speedway Squirrel, and a sequel. The series, illustrated by Alex Willan, centers around Revver, a squirrel with a passion for car racing, the family he's born into, and the family he finds as he pursues his dreams. Publication is slated for fall 2020; Lori Kilkelly at LK Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Liz Szabla and Anna Roberto at Feiwel and Friends have bought world rights to Walter by debut author Chelsea Lin Wallace (l.). Walter is about a house that is sad when its family moves away, until a new, young inhabitant helps him feel like a home again. Ginnie Hsu will illustrate; publication is planned for spring 2021. Jennifer Rofé at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Jessica Garrison at Dial has acquired world rights to Listen: How One Deaf Girl Changed Percussion by Shannon Stocker (l.), a picture book biography about the talented and deaf musician Evelyn Glennie, the first full-time solo percussionist in the world. Devon Holzwarth will illustrate in her U.S. debut. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022; Allison Remcheck at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the artist.
Haven Iverson at Sounds True has bought world rights to Catherine Bailey's Yogasaurus & Rex: A Tale of the New Dinosaur on the Block, a picture book about friendship, yoga, and trying new things, illustrated by Alex Willmore; publication is set for fall 2020. Kathleen Rushall negotiated the deal for the author, and Alexandra Davis at Rights People represented the illustrator.
Liesa Abrams at Simon Pulse has acquired We Are the Ants author Shaun David Hutchinson's A (Complicated) Love Story Set in Space, the story of Noa and DJ, who wake up on a spaceship with no idea how they got there, facing one life-threatening emergency after another while also dealing with their feelings for one another. The book will publish in spring 2021; Katie Shea Boutillier at Donald Maass Literary Agency negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Stephanie Stein at HarperTeen has bought an untitled contemporary YA novel by Misa Sugiura, APALA Award-winning author of It's Not Like It's a Secret and This Time Will Be Different. The queer YA rom-com follows Nozomi Takashi as she enacts her plan for a summer of reinvention, starting a fake-dating relationship with her new coworker Willow and embarking on shenanigans around San Francisco with her best friend Ruby. But no fauxmance survives the intrusion of real life—and real feelings—for long. Publication is set for summer 2021; Leigh Feldman at Leigh Feldman Literary did the deal for world English rights.
Kiara Valdez at First Second has acquired Himawari Share by Harmony Becker, a YA graphic novel about three foreign exchange students who live together in a “sharehouse” in Tokyo. Publication is scheduled for 2021; DongWon Song at Howard Morhaim Literary Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Greg Hunter at Lerner/Graphic Universe has bought the German YA graphic novel Ever After by Olivia Vieweg in North America. The psychologically driven zombie story has already been adapted into a feature film. Publication is slated for fall 2020; Ivanka Hahnenberger at VIP Brands, on behalf of Carlsen Verlag, handled the deal for world English rights.
Amanda Ramirez at Simon & Schuster has acquired world English rights, at auction, to Robbie Couch's debut YA novel, The Sky Blues, featuring openly gay Sky Baker. When Sky's top-secret Promposal plans get leaked to the entire school, his world turns upside-down, and suddenly his hometown's conservatism feels as if it's going to swallow him whole. But a mysterious connection to the father he never knew and his classmates rallying around him might be exactly what he needs. Publication is planned for spring 2021; Moe Ferrara at BookEnds Literary represented the author.
Ellen Cormier at Dial has acquired, in a two-book deal, at auction, Kyle Lukoff's debut middle grade novel, Live with That, about 11-year-old Bug coming into a new gender identity all while dealing with a ghost who may or may not be Bug's recently deceased uncle. Publication is scheduled for spring 2021, followed by an untitled middle grade novel; Saba Sulaiman at Talcott Notch Literary Services negotiated the deal for world rights.
Audrey Ingerson at Delacorte has bought Denis Markell's The Final Cut, a contemporary middle grade mystery about an unlikely team of classmates who are assigned with making a short film. But as problems threaten their project at every turn, they have to figure out what—or who—is trying to keep their work from seeing the light of day. Publication is slated for summer 2021; Holly Root at Root Literary did the deal for world English rights.
Orlando Dos Reis at Scholastic has acquired Can't Stop the Feline by Michelle Schusterman. The middle-grade novel is about a kitten found by a girl in the Alaskan wilderness and adopted into the family's pack of huskies. As she grows up, Nukka the cat longs to be part of the sledding team, but her quest to belong seems hopeless until disaster strikes and she is the only one who can save her human and dog families. Publication is planned for fall 2020; Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Julia Sooy at Holt has bought Christine Virnig's Dung for Dinner, a middle grade nonfiction look at animal excretions and secretions as used (and consumed) by humans through history. Publication is scheduled for summer 2020; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret negotiated the deal for world rights.
Kate Avino at Odd Dot has acquired Poop Happened!, Poison, and Dog Days Of History author Sarah Albee's Fairy Tale Science, a light-hearted but informative STEM-based look at fairy tales, myths, and folk tales. Publication is expected in fall 2020; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Kait Feldmann at Scholastic/Orchard has bought, in an exclusive submission, Magic Is All Around by debut picture book author-illustrator Shirley Chan. In the story, a child moves to a new town and shares a fantastical journey with a friend who makes her unfamiliar surroundings feel less daunting. Publication is set for fall 2021; Andrea Morrison at Writers House represented Chan in the deal for world rights.
Elena Izmaylova at Clever Publishing has acquired world rights to three baking-themed board books from Hillary George. The first in the series, Counting Cake, uses units of measurement from a recipe to teach counting; publication is planned for summer 2020. Adria Goetz at Martin Literary Management brokered the deal.
Erin Stein at Macmillan/Imprint has bought world rights to The Share-y Godmother, by Samantha Berger, illustrated by Mike Curato. Set in a world of fairy godmothers, it's the story of Shari, who gives up sharing when her friends say she's too generous—until she finds that there's no such thing. Publication is slated for winter 2021; Brenda Bowen of The Book Group did the deal for author and artist.
Margaret Raymo at HMH/Versify has acquired world English rights to Lori Mortensen's (l.) Nonsense: The Curious Story of Edward Gorey, a picture book biography of Gorey, illustrated by Chloe Bristol. Publication is scheduled for March 2020; Liza Voges at Eden Street represented the author, and the artist represented herself.
Erika Turner at HMH/Versify has bought Your Mama by The Disturbed Girl's Dictionary author NoNieqa Ramos (l.), illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara, a picture book ode to motherhood, planned for spring 2021. Emily Keyes at Fuse Literary Agency represented the author, and Adriana Dominguez at Full Circle Literary represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Maria Modugno at Random House has acquired world rights to Kristy Everington's Isobel Adds It Up, illustrated by A.G. Ford, a picture book about a girl who loves doing her math homework but is interrupted by the ruckus caused by her noisy new neighbors. Publication is slated for summer 2021; Jordan Hamessley at New Leaf Literary Agency represented the author and Steven Malk at Writers House represented the artist.
Emma Ledbetter at Abrams has bought world rights to Donna Barba Higuera's (l.) El Cucuy Is Afraid, illustrated by Juliana Perdomo in her U.S. debut. In this picture book, the Mexican boogeyman, El Cucuy, is just as afraid as Ramón of moving to a new city with unfamiliar people and places. Ramón realizes if he can reassure and help El Cucuy to be fuerte y valiente, then perhaps Ramon can be strong and brave as well. Publication is set for spring 2021; Allison Remcheck represented the author, and Erica Rand Silverman represented the illustrator, both from Stimola Literary Studio.
Louise May at Lee & Low has bought world rights for Pat Mora's (l.) picture book I Can!, a collection of original poems that convey universal childhood experiences and the pleasure a five-year-old child feels as her mastery and understanding increase over the course of a year. Amber Alvarez will illustrate; publication is planned for spring 2021. Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown represented the author, and Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Sarah Shumway at Bloomsbury has acquired world rights to Elizabeth Brown's (l.) Twinkle Little Star, a nonfiction biography about Jane Taylor, the poet and author of the words to the children's song “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” but who was often uncredited for her most famous and enduring work. Becca Stadtlander will illustrate; publication is scheduled for winter 2022. Sean McCarthy at Sean McCarthy Literary Agency represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the artist.
