Kristen Pettit at HarperTeen has acquired Taylor B. Barton's Out Loud, pitched as a queer Bring It On meets Cheer, following non-binary gymnast Len Deon, who infiltrates their school's cheer team in order to get intel and revenge on homophobic football players, only to find unexpected romance—and a rekindling of their competitive spirit—along the way. Publication is slated for spring 2021; Stephen Barbara at InkWell Management brokered the deal for North American rights on behalf of Glasstown Entertainment; Saba Sulaiman of Talcott Notch Literary Services represents the author.
Wendy Loggia at Delacorte has bought, in a two-book preempt, Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau's Kisses and Croissants, a YA novel about an American girl who travels to Paris to pursue her dream of becoming a professional ballerina and along the way finds a cute French boy, an unexpected rival, and the truth behind a family legend. Publication is scheduled for spring 2021; Sara Shandler, Josh Bank, and Laura Barbiea at Alloy Entertainment represented the author on behalf of Leigh Feldman at Leigh Feldman Literary.
Jennie Conway at Wednesday Books has acquired Bright Ruined Things, a historical fantasy by Samantha Cohoe (the forthcoming Golden Fury). This 1920s retelling of The Tempest is set during the Prosper family's annual bash, when their teenage ward Mae realizes this powerful family is not what they seem, and seizes her chance to take the magic that's always been denied to her. Publication is set for fall 2021; Bridget Smith at JABberwocky Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Jerome Pohlen at Chicago Review Press has bought world rights to Ann McCallum Staats' (Women Heroes) next work of YA nonfiction, Thrill Seekers. The book profiles 15 diverse, modern women who are changing the world of action sports while empowering others to follow their dreams. Publication is planned for spring 2021; James McGowan at BookEnds handled the deal.
Melissa Warten at FSG has acquired Lillie Lainoff's #OwnVoices YA debut, One for All. In this gender-bent retelling of The Three Musketeers, Tania, who has Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, trains as a Musketeer and finds sisterhood, friendship, and secrets that could lead her to save all of France—and maybe even reveal the truth behind her father's murder. Publication is slated for winter 2022; Jennifer Wills at the Seymour Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Alison Deering at Capstone has bought middle grade novel The Greatest Superpower by Alex Sanchez (Rainbow Boys, and the Lambda Award-winning novel So Hard to Say). As summer draws to a close, 13-year-old Jorge wants nothing more than to spend his days hanging out with his fellow comic book-obsessed friends. But then his parents announce they're divorcing for a reason Jorge and his twin brother never saw coming—their father comes out as transgender. Publication is set for spring 2021; Miriam Altshuler at DeFiore and Company negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Charlotte Greenbaum at Abrams has acquired world rights for debut author-illustrator Leisl Adams's Batter Royale, a graphic novel about a Great British Baking Show-style baking competition full of bizarre challenges, cutthroat competition, and a sugary sweet romance. Publication is scheduled for 2022; Adria Goetz and Britt Siess at Martin Literary Management represented the creator for world rights.
Britny Brooks at Running Press Kids has bought Kid's Guide to Fandom by Amy Ratcliffe (Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy), a middle grade guide to exploring the ins-and-outs of celebrating geek and pop culture, offering practical advice about starting a safe, supportive fan space; writing fanfic or comics; attending a con; creating a cosplay ensemble; and more, with interviews and tips from popular creators. Publication is planned for spring 2021; Eric Smith at P.S. Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Bethany Buck at Pixel+Ink has acquired, in a four-book deal, The Trillium Sisters, a nature-focused chapter book series by children's television veterans Laura Brown (l.) and Elly Kramer. The series follows the adventures of three sisters and their mini-pets after they receive magical charms that reveal newfound powers. Publication is slated for summer 2021; Lisa E. Davis at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz negotiated the deal for world rights.
Julia Sooy at Holt/Godwin has bought, in a two-book deal, The Very True Legend of the Mongolian Death Worms by debut author Sandra Fay. Inspired by the real-life legend of a Gobi desert beast, the picture book features a family of death worms who, with the hope of making friends, attempt to convince the rest of the desert that the rumors of their razor-sharp teeth, poisonous fangs, and electrifying touch are mostly false. Publication is set for fall 2021; a second untitled work will follow in fall 2022. Clelia Gore at Martin Literary & Media Management did the deal for world rights.
Lee Wade at Random House/Schwartz & Wade has acquired Almost by Kerascoet (I Walk with Vanessa). In this picture book, the husband-wife illustrator team explores the word and concept of “almost”—via a girl's attempts at almost accomplishing various goals. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022; Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions negotiated the deal for world rights.
Taylor Norman at Chronicle has bought world rights to Circle Under Berry, written and illustrated by Carter Higgins, a concept book exploring shapes, colors, and patterns to engage the mind, arrest the eye, and play with words to demonstrate that there are multiple ways to think about something. Publication is planned for fall 2021; Rubin Pfeffer at Rubin Pfeffer Content represented Higgins in the deal.
Carol Hinz at Lerner/Millbrook has acquired, with Jordyn Taylor editing, Who Is a Scientist? by Laura Gehl, featuring scientists from varying scientific disciplines who reflect the diversity of science today. Publication is slated for spring 2021; Erzsi Deak at Hen&Ink Literary Studio did the deal for world rights.
Nina Gruener at Cameron Kids has bought world rights to Love Tails by Rob Sayegh. Every dog has a tail, and every tail has a tale, in this picture book with a happy ending. Publication is scheduled for spring 2021; Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the author-illustrator.
Jennifer Newens at West Margin Press has acquired author-illustrator Jane Smith's new picture book, Miss Meow. Smith (the Chloe Zoe picture book series and the forthcoming picture book Hello New House) tells the story about an unexpected intruder who ruffles the fur of Miss Meow, a girl who loves pretending to be a very territorial family pet cat. Publication is set for fall 2021; Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 handled the deal for world rights.
Ellen Cormier at Dial has bought, in a five-house auction, world rights to Santa in the City, the debut picture book by Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe Award for New Talent novelist Tiffany D. Jackson, illustrated by Reggie Brown. The book is about a curious girl named Deja who sets out to prove that Santa is real and magic always finds a way, even if it seems impossible to visit kids in the city. Publication is planned for fall 2021; Natalie Lakosil at Bradford Literary represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Christy Ottaviano at Macmillan/Ottaviano has acquired world rights to Dolly: The Story of Dolly Parton and Her Big Dream by Robyn McGrath (l.), illustrated by Ellen Surrey. This picture book biography spans seven decades of Dolly's life, from her first composition at age five to the peak of her career today. The book is slated for 2022; Amy Flynn and Rubin Pfeffer at Rubin Pfeffer Content negotiated the deal for the author and the illustrator.
Bethany Vinhateiro at HMH has bought world rights to Jessica Young's (l.) Baby's Here!, an interactive board book encouraging the bond between child and new baby through nurturing activities from peek-a-boo to gentle rocking. Genevieve Godbout will illustrate. Publication is set for spring 2022; Kelly Sonnack at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented the illustrator.
