Kristen Pettit at HarperTeen has acquired Sarena (l.) and Sasha Nanua's YA fantasy duology in a two-book deal. The first book, Ria & Rani, follows two twins separated at birth—one now a princess, the other a street thief—who switch places, only to discover that their destinies may be to join together in a bid to stop their kingdom from falling apart. Publication is scheduled for summer 2021; Peter Knapp at Park & Fine Literary and Media brokered the deal for world English rights.
Kate O'Sullivan at HMH has bought Erin Bowman's Dustborn. With flavors of Mad Max, The 100, and the author's Western works, the genre-blending novel follows 17-year-old Delta of Dead River, who, after a raid on her village, sets out to rescue her family from a ruthless dictator and discovers a secret that will reshape her world. The novel is set for spring 2021; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Trisha de Guzman at FSG has acquired world English rights to These Precious Stones by Michael Barakiva (Hold My Hand). Pitched as Sailor Moon meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, the contemporary YA fantasy features an eclectic group of queer and international teens who learn that they must bear the magical gems that will save the universe from an ancient galactic threat. Publication is slated for fall 2021; Josh Adams at Adams Literary handled the deal.
Carolina Ortiz at HarperCollins has bought world English rights to Ashanti Fortson's debut, Cress & Petra. Set in the near future, the YA graphic novel follows the friendship between Cress Orozco, an autistic teenager with plenty of problems and big thoughts about life, and Petra, a lab-made AI looking for adventure. Their intertwining experiences raise the question: what does it mean to be human? Publication is planned for fall 2022; Susan Graham at Einstein Literary Management negotiated the deal.
Annie Berger at Sourcebooks Fire has acquired Rachel Griffin's debut YA, The Nature of Witches. Set in a world where witches have long maintained the climate but are now losing control, Clara Densmore, an Everwitch whose magic is tied to all four seasons, is the world's only hope—despite a curse that could cost her everything. Publication is scheduled for spring 2021; Elana Roth Parker at Laura Dail Literary Agency brokered the two-book deal for world English rights.
Holly West at Feiwel and Friends has bought world rights to Mike Thayer's Danny Double Day and a second untitled work in a two-book deal. This middle grade contemporary fantasy follows Danny, who lives every day twice, once as a discard day that no one remembers followed by a sticky day when everything counts. Danny uses his unique ability to help his new friends and take down bullies one day at a time. Publication for the first book is set for spring 2021, with the second following a year later; Lauren Keller Galit at LKG Agency did the deal.
Stacy Whitman at Tu Books has acquired North American rights to The Shadow Prince by David Anthony Durham (The Risen). Set in ancient Egypt, the story follows Ash, one of 10 children competing in a series of trials designed by demons to determine who is worthy of being the lifelong confidant and protector of the next pharaoh. Publication is slated for spring 2021; Tina Dubois at ICM Partners handled the deal.
Cecily Kaiser at Penguin Workshop has bought world rights to Three Ways to Be Brave, written by Karla Clark and illustrated by Jeff Östberg. This rhyming three-story collection delivers relatable unease and the relief of conquering it, encouraging bravery in young readers and their parents alike. Publication is planned for summer 2021; Conner Eck at Lucinda Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
Tamar Brazis at Viking has acquired world rights to debut author Laura Lavoie's Vampire Vacation, about a young vampire who is tired of the same old family trips to Transylvania and wants to go to the beach. Micah Player will illustrate. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022; James McGowan at BookEnds represented the author, and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Reka Simonsen at Atheneum has bought world rights to Carole Boston Weatherford's Dreams for a Daughter, illustrated by Brian Pinkney, a picture book about a black mother's wishes for confidence, self-esteem, love, and a spirit of wonder for her daughter. Publication is set for spring 2021; Rubin Pfeffer at Rubin Pfeffer Content represented the author, and Rebecca Sherman at Writers House represented the artist in the deal.
Stacey Barney at Putnam has bought world English rights to African Town by Irene Latham and Charles Waters, a YA historical fiction novel-in-verse told in multiple voices. Chronicling the story of the last Africans brought illegally to America aboard the slave ship Clotilda in 1860, the book follows their struggle to maintain their lives, humanity, and culture while enduring capture, the Middle Passage, enslavement, and Emancipation—leading them to build their own community called Africa Town, which exists to this day. Publication is set for spring 2022; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal.
Jenny Bak at Viking has acquired, in a six-figure auction, Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom by Sangu Mandanna (the Celestial series). Pitched as Inkheart meets Aru Shah and the End of Time, the middle grade debut follows an 11-year-old girl, coping with anxiety through art, who steps into the Indian mythology-inspired world in her sketchbook to stop a demon king from escaping into the real world. Publication is scheduled for fall 2021; Penny Moore at Aevitas Creative Management negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Katherine Harrison at Knopf has acquired the first three books in the husband-wife, author-illustrator duo Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr's hybrid middle grade series Cookie Chronicles, in which third-grader Ben's overly literal interpretations of fortune cookie wisdom spur off-balance adventures and questions about friendship, responsibility, and how to change your fortune when your cookie starts to crumble. The first book, Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Doom, will publish in spring 2021; Meredith Kaffel Simonoff at DeFiore and Company did the deal for world rights.
Lynne Polvino at Clarion has bought world rights to Kenan Trebincevic and Susan Shapiro's Losing Home, a middle grade memoir of a Bosnian Muslim boy's refugee journey to America that celebrates tolerance and kindness. Publication is planned for fall 2021; Samantha Wekstein at Thompson Literary Agency handled the deal.
Calista Brill at First Second has acquired world rights to The Infinite Adventures of Supernova, Landry Walker (l.) and Eric Jones' middle grade graphic novel series about a girl from the future. Sent back in time to the present day, she discovers the truth about her favorite classic superhero, Supernova. Publication is slated to begin in 2021; the author and the illustrator were unagented.
Amy Fitzgerald at Carolrhoda has bought world rights to Hannah Voskuil's middle-grade novel The Art of Magic. When ZuZu and Andrew discover that they can create art that comes to life, the two must use their abilities to protect their town from a vengeful ghost who has magical creations of his own. Publication is scheduled for fall 2021; Mary Cummings at Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises negotiated the deal.
Brian Geffen at Holt has acquired Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit! by author-illustrator Lorna Scobie. In this picture book, Rabbit loves being an only child and having everything—flower, carrots, and stretching area—to itself. But Rabbit's life is upended when its parents announce that they have big news... Rabbit now has siblings! Publication is set for spring 2021; Antonia Pelari at Scholastic UK negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Molly Cusick at Sourcebooks has bought, in a two-book preempt, world rights to What Can You Do with a Rock? by Pat Zietlow Miller (l.), illustrated by Katie Kath. The picture book is an ode to the fun one can have with a rock. Of course, the best thing one can do with a rock is share it. Publication is slated for fall 2021; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author, and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.
Katie Cunningham at Candlewick has preempted world rights to Elizabeth Shreeve's (l.) Out of the Blue, illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon, a nonfiction picture book that explains how animals have transitioned and adapted over the millennia from the ocean to living on the land. Publication is planned for winter 2021; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Erik Anderson at University of Minnesota Press has acquired world rights to Shannon Gibney's debut picture book, Sam and the Incredible African and American Food Fight, about a boy who feels pressured to choose between his African American and Liberian heritage and ultimately learns to embrace them both. Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Illustrator Award for New Talent artist Charly Palmer will illustrate. Publication is set for spring 2022; Tina Dubois at ICM Partners represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
Nina Gruener at Cameron Kids has bought world rights to And I Paint It by Beth Kephart (l.), illustrated by Amy June Bates, a picture book about Henriette Wyeth, the daughter of N.C. Wyeth, who became an artist in her own right. Publication is scheduled for spring 2021; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Linda Pratt at Wernick & Pratt Agency represented the illustrator.
