Deirdre Jones at Little, Brown has acquired bestselling adult author Chuck Wendig's debut middle grade novel, Dust & Grim. Cosplay-loving Molly and her stuffy older brother Dustin must reluctantly team up to save their family's monster-serving mortuary business, which is being threatened by a rogue devourer. Publication is scheduled for fall 2021; Stacia Decker at Dunow, Carlson & Lerner negotiated the deal for world rights.
Dana Leydig at Viking has bought, in an exclusive submission, Eternally Yours, a YA paranormal romance anthology edited by Patrice Caldwell (editor of A Phoenix First Must Burn). In addition to a contribution from Caldwell, the volume will include short stories by Kendare Blake, Kat Cho, Melissa de la Cruz, Emily Duncan, Hafsah Faizal, Sarah Gailey, Alexis Henderson, Adib Khorram, Kwame Mbalia, Anna-Marie McLemore, Casey McQuiston, Sandhya Menon, Danielle Paige, Akshaya Raman, Marie Rutkoski, and Julian Winters. Publication is set for fall 2022; Alexandra Machinist and Hillary Jacobson at ICM Partners did the deal for world English rights.
Jennifer Ung at Simon Pulse has acquired, in a six-figure auction, MIT student and Her Campus 22 Under 22 honoree Rona Wang's debut novel, You Had Me at Hello World. The YA rom-com follows a Chinese-American teen who is invited to a coding competition at MIT, where she teams up with a cute tech industry prodigy to work on an app to help immigrants connect and put down roots. Publication is slated for spring 2022; Penny Moore at Aevitas Creative Management brokered the two-book deal for world rights.
Alessandra Balzer at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has bought The Legacies and another YA novel by Stonewall Honor author Abdi Nazemian. The Legacies follows five wildly different teens who confront their boarding school's culture of abuse while facing their own demons in an exclusive writing class. Publication is planned for spring 2021; John Cusick at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management did the deal for North American rights.
Rachel Murray at Holt has acquired, at auction, world English rights to Al Graziadei's YA contemporary debut, Icebreaker. This hate-to-love romance follows a hockey legacy who is on track to become the NHL's top draft pick, even while barely coping with his untreated depression. Then a catastrophe named Jaysen Caulfield strikes, threatening his #1 spot and stealing his heart. Publication is scheduled for winter 2022; Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary Agency handled the two-book deal.
Mallory Kass at Scholastic has bought Out of the Fire, a YA novel by Andrea Contos (Throwaway Girls), and a second, untitled novel. It wasn't the kidnapping that ruined Cass Adams's life, but the pink envelopes that followed—each a reminder that the man she escaped is always watching. She forms an alliance with three friends who have also been wronged by men, and the quartet sets out on a dangerous quest for justice, until Cass realizes that the man who ruined her life may be the only one who can save it. Publication is set for fall 2021; Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary brokered the deal for world English rights.
Vicki Lame at Wednesday Books has acquired Elizabeth Kilcoyne's YA Southern Gothic debut, Wake the Bones, in which 19-year-old Laurel Early must unravel her mother's terrifying legacy and tap into her own innate magic to save everyone she loves before it's too late. Publication is slated for summer 2022; Erin Clyburn at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Suzy Capozzi at Sterling Children's Books has acquired world rights to Halli Gomez's debut #OwnVoices YA novel List of Ten, an account of a teen living with Tourette syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder and contemplating his own mortality. Publication is slated for spring 2021 as part of the launch of YA imprint Sterling Teen; Deborah Warren at East/West Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Mari Kesselring at Flux has bought E.J. Schwartz's YA contemporary debut, Before We Were Blue, a dual POV pitched as Cheer meets Girl, Interrupted. In a treatment center for their eating disorders, former cheer-lebrity Shoshana and headstrong rebel Rowan develop a bond. Ultimately, they will have to make a choice: be healthy on their own, or stay sick together. Publication is planned for fall 2021; Kaitlyn Johnson at Corvisiero Literary Agency did the deal for world English rights.
Alyson Heller at Aladdin has bought Barbara Dee's (Halfway Normal; Maybe He Just Likes You) latest middle grade novel, called Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet. The book stars Haven, a girl combatting eco-anxiety and an obsession with climate change by fighting against the company whose factory is polluting the river running through her town. Publication is set for fall 2022; Jill Grinberg at Jill Grinberg Literary Management negotiated the two-book deal for North American rights.
Margaret Raymo at Versify has acquired, in a preempt, Nicole D. Collier's debut middle grade novel, Just Right Jillian. Fifth grader Jillian will do anything to blend in. But after a bully says she can never be a winner, she sets out to win her school's biggest battle of wits. Publication is scheduled for fall 2021; Danielle Chiotti at Upstart Crow Literary brokered the two-book deal for North American rights.
Jenne Abramowitz at Scholastic Press has bought A Touch of Ruckus by Ash Van Otterloo (Cattywampus). In this middle grade fantasy, a peacemaking girl burdened by her prideful family's secrets finds solace in ghost hunting with her nonbinary crush inside a nearby forest. But when the ghosts reveal that the forest's existence is threatened, she must find the link between how they died and her own family's secrets. Publication is slated for fall 2021; Lauren Spieller at TriadaUS Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Ben Rosenthal at HarperCollins has acquired the first three books in Eliot Schrefer's The Animal Rescue Agency series, in which a fox and her rooster colleague save animals in distress around the world. Publication for the first book is planned for January 2021; Richard Pine at InkWell Management negotiated the deal for world rights.
Emilia Rhodes at HMH has bought, in an exclusive submission, Izzy at the End of the World by K.A. Reynolds (The Land of Yesterday and The Spinner of Dreams). This middle grade novel follows Izzy, a neurodiverse girl, surviving the end of the world with her dog as a companion as she uncovers the truth about her mother. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022; Thao Le at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Andrew Arnold at HarperAlley has acquired, in a multiple offer situation, world rights to Friendbots by former Google product designer Vicky Fang (the Layla and the Bots series). The STEM-inspired early graphic novel series is about friendship and robots. Publication of both books is set for spring 2021; Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Agency negotiated the two-book deal.
Carol Hinz at Lerner/Millbrook has bought world rights to Chris Barton's How to Make a Book (About My Dog), with Sarah Horne illustrating. The nonfiction picture book allows kids to follow a nonfiction book (about Chris's dog, Ernie) through the process of creation and publication. Publication is slated for fall 2021; Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Jodie Hodges at United Agents UK represented the illustrator.
Helen H. Wu at Yeehoo Press has acquired North American English and simplified Chinese rights to Amalia Hoffman's How to Make a Mean Monster, a picture book about humans and monsters who discover that it is possible to overcome bias and form a wonderful friendship. Publication is planned for spring 2021; Anna Olswanger of Olswanger Literary represented the author-illustrator.
Arthur Levine at Levine Querido has bought world rights to Kristen Mai Giang's (l.) second picture book, Last Flight, based on the true story of Kristen's family's escape from Vietnam six days before the fall of Saigon in 1975. Saigon-based artist Xuan Loc Xuan will illustrate. Publication is scheduled for 2021; Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and the artist represented herself.
Clarissa Wong at HarperCollins has acquired, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma by Joanna Ho (l.), illustrated by Teresa Martinez. The picture book centers cellist Yo-Yo Ma using his music to build bridges instead of walls—a testament to music, humanity, and what unites us. Publication is set for fall 2021; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Aurora Meyer at Astound represented the illustrator.
Sarah Jane Abbott at S&S/Wiseman has bought world rights to Loud and Proud by Coretta Scott Honor author Lesa Cline-Ransome (l.), illustrated by Kaylani Juanita. This picture book biography of Shirley Chisholm looks at the life of the trailblazing congresswoman who mobilized women voters during her run as the first African American candidate for President. Publication is slated for fall 2022; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Charlotte Sheedy at Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Jill Davis at HarperCollins has acquired world English rights to The Family Business by Lenore Appelhans (Chick-O-Saurus Rex), illustrated by Ken Lamug (Ghastly Ghosts). In the picture book, a younger brother raccoon yearns to join "the family business"—but the "business" turns out not to be entirely on the up and up. Publication is planned for summer 2022; Stephen Barbara at InkWell Management represented the author, and Andrea Cascardi at Transatlantic Agency represented the artist.
Alexandra Hightower at Little, Brown/Poppy has acquired, in a five-house auction, North American rights to Mariko Turk's debut YA novel, The Other Side of Perfect. The story features a 16-year-old ballerina whose life-changing injury thrusts her back into the halls of a normal high school. As she navigates a world without her passion, she discovers friendship and romance, and finally confronts the discrimination in the dance industry that she tried hard to ignore. Publication is scheduled for summer 2021; Alexandra Levick at Writers House negotiated the two-book deal for North American rights.
Kristen Pettit at HarperCollins has bought, at auction, debut author Vanessa Len's Monsters trilogy, set in London. Sixteen-year-old Joan is half-monster; when Nick, the boy she loves, turns out to be a legendary monster slayer, Joan must embrace her own monstrousness to stop him from killing everyone she cares about. The first installment, Only a Monster, will publish in fall 2021, with the subsequent two following annually; Tracey Adams at Adams Literary did the deal for North American rights.
Kendra Levin at Simon & Schuster has acquired Indestructible Object by Printz Honor author Mary McCoy (I, Claudia). The YA novel follows a queer teen girl who hosts a podcast about the love stories of great artists. When she finds her life falling apart after her parents announce they're divorcing and her boyfriend breaks up with her right after graduation, it inspires her to set out on a summer podcast project about whether love even exists at all. Publication is set for summer 2021; Patricia Nelson at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Jennie Conway at Wednesday Books has bought Cristin Terrill's The Stars Between Us, a YA sci-fi romantic thriller. Pitched as Defy the Stars and Empress of a Thousand Skies with a Dickensian twist, the book follows a girl who, when she gets the chance to leave her planet behind, realizes things are not what they seem in her new glittering world. Publication is planned for winter 2022; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret handled the deal for North American rights.
Annie Berger at Sourcebooks Fire has acquired Sara Walters's debut A Violent Season and a second untitled novel. In the town of Wolf Ridge, November is marked by violence. Last year, Wyatt's mother was murdered, and this year she worries her best friend, Cash, might snap. As she and Cash pull away from one another, and she unexpectedly connects to the town's golden boy, Wyatt has to figure out who to trust. Publication is slated for fall 2021; Sharon Pelletier at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret negotiated the two-book deal for world English rights.
Natashya Wilson at Inkyard Press has bought The Kindred, a YA sci-fi novel by Alechia Dow (The Sound of Stars) and a second, untitled YA novel. Felix, a royal, and Joy, a commoner, mistakenly mind-paired at birth, land on Earth after fleeing royal assassins, only to find the "developing" planet might hold the solutions to their divided and unjust lives back home. Publication is scheduled for winter 2022; Natalie Lakosil at Bradford Literary Agency did the two-book deal for North American rights.
Lisa Yoskowitz at Little, Brown has acquired, in a preempt, J. Albert Mann's next YA novel, Fix. In verse and prose, the novel explores a complicated friendship between two teen girls who were brought together and torn apart by their physical differences as one recovers from a major surgery and becomes increasingly dependent on pain medication. Publication is set for spring 2021; Kerry Sparks at Levine Greenberg Rostan brokered the deal for world rights.
Shana Corey at Random House has bought the first two books in The Mighty, the first graphic novel series in a new superhero universe created by Judd Winick, creator of the bestselling Hilo series. The Mighty tells the story of Miranda Luna (aka The Mighty!), a 13-year-old everygirl who discovers how to be the hero her world needs now and the hero she was born to be. Publication will begin in summer 2022; Jodi Reamer at Writers House negotiated the deal for world rights.
Rosemary Brosnan at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has acquired, in a five-house auction, Lisa Stringfellow's debut #OwnVoices middle grade novel, Dark Tide. When Kela salvages a mysterious, sea-worn box, she unknowingly opens a connection to a dangerous mermaid, Ophidia, who will stop at nothing to retrieve what is hers. Publication is planned for winter 2022; Lindsay Davis Auld at Writers House handled the two-book deal for world English rights.
Simon Boughton at Norton Young Readers has bought world English rights to four books in a new series by Dan Gutman (My Weird School, The Genius Files, and Flashback Four series). The latest series features biographies with a twist: a brother and sister duo, Paige and Turner, present hundreds of facts about figures such as Albert Einstein, Muhammad Ali, Amelia Earhart, and Teddy Roosevelt. Allison Steinfeld will illustrate; publication for the first two books is slated for spring 2021. Liza Pulitzer Voges at Eden Street represented the author, and the artist represented herself.
Reka Simonsen at Atheneum has acquired Summer of June and Schooled, middle grade novels by Jamie Sumner (Roll with It and the forthcoming Tune It Out). Summer of June stars a 12-year-old girl with anxiety who starts a secret library garden and hatches a plan to set her mother up with a new man. Schooled follows a boy who attempts to sabotage the experimental middle school he's forced to attend on the college campus where his father teaches. Publication is set for summer 2022 and spring 2023, respectively; Keely Boeving at WordServe Literary handled the deal for world rights.
Chris Krones at HMH has bought, in a two-book deal, world rights to Code to Be Cool by Deirdre Langeland (l.) and illustrated by Sarah Mai. The slice-of-life middle grade graphic novel series features a nerdy 12-year-old homeschooled fashionista with an affinity for coding. The first book is scheduled for fall 2022, with book two to follow in fall 2023; the author represented herself, and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Julie Rosenberg at Razorbill has acquired Sylvia Liu's debut middle grade novel, Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation. A 12-year-old girl must save her classmates from a corporate plot that threatens their ability to connect to the multiweb through neural implants, only to discover that her scientist mother may also be involved in the conspiracy. Publication is planned for summer 2022; Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
David Linker at HarperCollins has bought, at auction, world rights to The Unforgettable Logan Foster, a middle-grade novel by debut author Shawn Peters. Logan, a boy with an eidetic memory, discovers his adoptive parents are actually superheroes in grave danger, danger that only his highly logical mind can rescue them from. Publication is slated for winter 2022; Rick Richter at Aevitas Creative Management brokered the two-book deal.
Chris Schoebinger at Shadow Mountain has acquired Hob and Bogie's Champions Quest by Frank L. Cole. Pitched as Jumanji meets Dungeons and Dragons, this middle grade fantasy follows a foster child who finds new friends and more adventure than he bargained for at a mysterious gaming store, where a role-playing game, and its many challenges, comes to life. Publication is scheduled for 2021; Shannon Hassan at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Joanna Cárdenas at Kokila has bought, at auction, world rights to My Two Border Towns by David Bowles, one of the founders of #DignidadLiteraria. This debut picture book reveals a boy's vibrant life as a border kid, visiting the market across the border with his father and spending time with family and friends, while also shining light on what some immigrant families face at border crossings. Erika Meza will illustrate; publication is set for summer 2021 in simultaneous English and Spanish editions. Taylor Martindale Kean at Full Circle Literary represented the author, and Claire Cartey at Holroyde Cartey represented the illustrator.
Christy Ottaviano at Macmillan/Ottaviano has acquired world rights to The Good Dream Dragon by Jacky Davis (l.) (Ladybug Girl), illustrated by Courtney Dawson. This bedtime picture book explores the power of imagination to overcome anxiety. Publication is planned for 2022; Doug Stewart at Sterling Lord Literistic represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the artist.
Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane has bought world rights to Alton Yates' Movement Forward by Chris Barton (What Do You with a Voice Like That?), illustrated by Steffi Walthall. From space flight experiments in the New Mexico desert to civil rights activism in Florida, the nonfiction picture book explores scientific and social progress through the experiences of one Air Force enlistee. Publication is slated for spring 2022; Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Ann Kelley at Random House Studio has acquired, at auction, world rights to Melissa Stewart's (l.) Tree Hole Home, a nonfiction picture book about various tree holes and the animals that inhabit them. Amy Hevron will illustrate; publication is scheduled for fall 2022. Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Madison Moore at Albert Whitman has bought world rights to Shaped by Her Hands: Potter Maria Martinez by Anna Harber Freeman (l.) and Barbara Gonzales (c.), who is Maria's great-granddaughter. The picture book, which is illustrated by Aphelandra (r.), follows Maria's path as a Native American Indian artist, from learning pottery with her aunt in their home in San Ildefonso Pueblo to exhibiting her groundbreaking black-on-black pots at fairs across the country. Publication is set for spring 2021; the authors and illustrator represented themselves.
