Lily Kessinger at HMH/Etch has acquired world rights to The Worst Ronin by Maggie Tokuda-Hall (l.) (The Mermaid, The Witch, and the Sea). The YA graphic novel saga, to be illustrated by Faith Schaffer, tells the story of two women samurai—one running from the grief of her past, and the other hoping for glory. Publication is scheduled for 2024; Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Nicole Ellul at S&S has bought, at auction, Sasha Peyton Smith's debut The Witch Haven, first in a YA historical fantasy duology set in 1911 New York. Seventeen-year-old seamstress Frances Hallowell is whisked off to Haxahaven, a school for witches disguised as a tuberculosis sanitarium. But the more she learns about the magical underworld of the city, the more she begins to fear that it may be related to the mysterious death of her brother six months prior. Publication is planned for fall 2021; Hillary Jacobson at ICM Partners negotiated the two-book deal for North American rights.
Hannah Allaman at Delacorte has preempted Violet Made of Thorns, a fairy tale-inspired YA fantasy by debut author Gina Chen. Violet is a prophet and a liar, influencing the court as Seer with her cleverly phrased divinations. When she's asked to falsely prophesy Prince Cyrus's love story at an upcoming ball, she awakens both a dreaded curse about the prince's future bride, as well as a doomed attraction between her and Cyrus, spelling destruction for them all. Publication is set for fall 2022; Elana Roth Parker at Laura Dail Literary did the two-book deal for world English rights.
Dana Leydig at Viking has acquired They Hate Each Other, a debut novel by Amanda Woody. Told in dual POVs, the queer enemies-to-lovers romance follows 17-year-olds Jonah and Dylan, who turn to fake dating after a homecoming disaster. Their ploy begins to fail spectacularly, though, when unexpected chemistry and past scars interfere. Publication is slated for 2023; Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary brokered the two-book deal for world English rights.
Wendy Loggia at Delacorte has bought YA novel Chasing Chaucer by Becky Dean. A girl embarks on a competitive scavenger hunt in England that takes her to the locations of classic British novels—and meets up with a bookish British boy who can't help her with the clues, but might make the trip take some unexpected turns. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022; Eva Scalzo at Speilburg Literary represented the author for world rights.
Dana Chidiac at Dial has acquired, at auction, Suraya, the YA graphic novel debut of Lebanese comics artist Fouad Mezher. In post-pandemic Beirut, a 16-year-old physics prodigy and YouTube star’s dreams of becoming a rocket scientist are interrupted when one of her experiments goes terribly and publicly wrong. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Anjali Singh at Ayesha Pande Literary handled the deal for North American rights.
Ashley Hearn at Page Street has bought The Ballad of Dinah Caldwell by Kate Brauning, a futuristic Ozarks thriller inspired by Mumford & Sons' "Dust Bowl Dance," in which a queer teenage girl sees her mother and brother murdered by a local kingpin and vows revenge and community revolution no matter the cost. Tamara Grasty will edit. Publication is set for October 12, 2021; Bridget Smith at JABberwocky Literary negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Andrea Colvin at Little, Brown has acquired, in a preempt, world rights to middle-grade graphic memoir Muhammad Najem, War Reporter by Muhammad Najem (c.) and Nora Neus (l.), in which Najem tells his story of growing up in a Damascus suburb targeted by the Assad regime, and how he was driven to report on the Syrian conflict’s effects on children like him by interviewing, recording, and posting his selfie news reports on social media, where they drew international attention. Julie Robine (r.) will illustrate. Publication is slated for fall 2022; Wendi Gu at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates represented the authors, and Tanya McKinnon at McKinnon Literary represented the illustrator.
Jenny Bak at Viking has bought middle grade series Skyriders by Polly Holyoke, following the adventures of Kiesandra, a brave young sky courier, and her flying horse, who hold the secret to defeating the terrible monsters ravaging the empire—if only she can convince others to listen. Publication for the first book is scheduled for summer 2022; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio brokered the two-book deal for world English rights.
Brian Geffen at Holt has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Enigma, a middle grade nonfiction book by Rebecca Barone (Race to the Bottom of the Earth). The book relays the greatest code-breaking effort of World War II, as a team of geniuses—including Marian Rejewski, Hugh Alexander, and Alan Turing—aided by spies and naval heroes, raced to master the cryptology that hid German messages in plain sight. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Michael Bourret at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret negotiated the deal for world rights.
Holly West at Feiwel and Friends has bought, in an exclusive submission, Aly Brown's middle grade nonfiction project The Last Unexplored Place on Earth, which takes a deep dive into the creation and significance of Alvin Submersible, a vessel that has delivered breakthroughs in oceanography and transformed the scientific understanding of how and where life can exist. Publication is set for winter 2023; Moe Ferrara at BookEnds Literary did the deal for world rights.
Stephanie Pitts at Putnam has acquired world rights to Adam Rubin's (l.) picture book Gladys the Magic Chicken, an epic adventure set in ancient times that tells the tale of an irresistible dancing hen (who may or may not be magic). Adam Rex will illustrate. Publication is slated for fall 2021; Jennifer Joel at ICM Partners represented the author, and Steven Malk at Writers House represented the artist.
Ben Rosenthal at HarperCollins/Tegen has bought world rights to What Rosa Brought, a picture book by Jacob Sager Weinstein, illustrated by Eliza Wheeler. This poignant true story—based on events in Weinstein's family—tells of a Jewish girl who lives with her family in Vienna in 1938, and what happens when the world begins to change around them. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author, and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary represented the illustrator.
Kendra Levin at Simon & Schuster has acquired world rights to My Pet Feet by Josh Funk (l.), illustrated by Billy Yong. In this picture book written with only 25 letters of the alphabet, the letter R is mysteriously wiped from existence, causing a girl to desperately attempt to save her pet ferret—who's been transformed into pet feet—while traversing a chaos-laden town overrun with a flock of flying cows (not crows), a babbling book (not brook), galloping hoses (not horses), and more alphabetical mishaps. Publication is set for spring 2022; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary represented the author, and Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.
Nancy Siscoe at Knopf has bought world rights to Allison Wortche's (l.) Ruby and the Itsy-Bitsy (Icky) Bug, illustrated by Sally Walker, in which a girl spots a bug on her window and freaks out. But after further study during a time out, she decides the bug is actually fascinating. Publication is planned for summer 2022; Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary represented the illustrator.
Julie Matysik at Running Press Kids has acquired Virginia Zimmerman (l.) and Mary Newell DePalma's Pink!, a picture book about the 2017 Women's March, in which a girl discovers that activism, like knitting, can join small individuals into something bigger. The book features a multimedia illustration style that includes knit swatches. Publication is slated for January 2022 to mark the five-year anniversary of the march; Bridget Smith at JABberwocky Literary represented both author and illustrator in the deal for world English rights.
Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown has bought world rights to Sarah L. Thomson's Wombat Underground: A Story of Australian Wildfire, with art by Charles Santoso (illustrator of Ida, Always). The book honors the extraordinary animals facing unprecedented wildfire and taking shelter with one another underground, offering a lesson about sharing in times of trouble. Publication is scheduled for winter 2022; Linda Pratt at Wernick & Pratt represented the author, and Shannon Associates represented the artist.
Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear Press has acquired world rights to The Universe and You, written by Suzanne Slade (l.), illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman. During the night, as a child sleeps in her bedroom, the reader is taken on an exploration of the Earth, our solar system, galaxies beyond, and finally the universe as a whole. Publication is planned for fall 2021; the author represented herself, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Miriam Farbey at Scholastic has bought world rights to The Animated Periodic Table and an untitled sequel, illustrated by Shiho Pate. Readers will be introduced to the building blocks of our world through informative text and comic illustrations. Publication is set for fall 2021; Deborah Warren at East West Literary represented the artist.
Rosemary Brosnan at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has acquired, in a 12-way auction, Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon. A novel of six interlinked stories of Black love, the book is set on a single day during a summer heatwave that causes a power outage across New York City. Publication is set for summer 2021; Molly Ker Hawn at the Bent Agency, who represents Clayton, did the two-book deal for North American rights on behalf of Natalie Lakosil at Bradford Literary for Jackson, Mollie Glick at CAA for Stone, Brooks Sherman at Janklow & Nesbit for Thomas, Beth Phelan at Gallt & Zacker for Woodfolk, and Jodi Reamer at Writers House for Yoon. Photo (clockwise from top l.): Thomas, Jackson, Stone, Clayton, Yoon, and Woodfolk.
Donna Bray at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray and Andrew Eliopulos at HarperCollins/Quill Tree have signed Here's to Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera. In this sequel to What If It's Us, Arthur and Ben are reunited by chance over a summer in New York, and find themselves once again asking “What if…?” Publication is scheduled for fall 2021; Holly Root at Root Literary and Jodi Reamer at Writers House brokered the deal for world English rights.
Alexandra Sehulster at Wednesday Books has bought Remi K. England's YA contemporary novel, The One True Me and You, a geeky queer romance where a beloved fanfic author and beauty pageant contestant find love, and learn what it means to be, and stand up for, yourself. Publication is planned for winter 2022; Eric Smith at P.S. Literary negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Carmen Johnson at Amazon/Skyscape acquired, in a six-figure preempt, world rights to Farah Heron's #OwnVoices coming-of age rom-com Tahira in Bloom, starring a South Asian Muslim heroine, and pitched as Schitt's Creek meets Netflix's The Big Flower Fight. Seventeen-year-old aspiring designer Tahira is chasing her big fashion dreams, but when her coveted internship falls through and she's forced to spend the summer working at her aunt's sleepy boutique in a rural community, she'll be forced to innovate if she wants to keep her plans on track, possibly with help from the plant nerd next door. Publication is slated for late 2021; Rachel Brooks at BookEnds Literary handled the two-book deal.
Hannah Smith at Owl Hollow has bought YA psychological thriller Cabin Redemption by Shelly X. Leonn (The Ghost and the Wolf), in which troubled teen Laena is sent by her family to Cabin Redemption, a program offering immersive, holistic therapy, complete with horses. When Laena and 11 other teens are left alone at the cabin and the bridge leading off the mountain is swept away by floods, tragedy ensues, and it's a race against time for them to solve the mystery and save themselves. Publication is set for summer 2022; Stephanie Hansen at Metamorphosis Literary did the deal for world rights.
Robyn Chapman at First Second has acquired, at auction, Wes Molebash's Travis Daventhorpe for the Win!, a four-book middle-grade graphic novel series about an 11-year-old robotics engineer who discovers he's the prophesied hero of a magical kingdom from another dimension who must survive a school bully's atomic wedgies, new friendships, and an ancient evil while trying to master the hardest task of his life: swinging a sword. Michael Moccio will edit; publication is scheduled for 2022. Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary brokered the deal for world English rights.
Emily Seife at Scholastic Press has bought Daphne Benedis-Grab's I Know Your Secret, pitched as a middle grade One of Us Is Lying. Seventh graders Ally, Todd, Gemma, and Owen have nothing in common—until the evening they each receive the same email: “I know your secret. Do what I say… or I will tell everyone.” Desperate to protect their secrets, they band together to follow the increasingly challenging instructions, while racing to discover who is blackmailing them and why. Publication is planned for 2021; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties negotiated the deal.
Erika Finkel at Abrams has acquired Karthik Delivers by Sheela Chari, a middle grade novel set during the financial crisis, following a boy who makes deliveries for his family's struggling grocery store while secretly acting in a play about Leonard Bernstein. Publication is slated for spring 2022; Steven Malk at Writers House handled the deal for North American rights.
Anne Hoppe at Clarion has bought, in a preempt, picture book author Mylisa Larsen's debut middle-grade novel, Playing Through the Turnaround, in which an ensemble cast of eighth graders fighting school budget cuts learns to stand up and speak out. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Liz Kossnar at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to Grow Up, Tahlia Wilkins!, a middle grade first period story by debut author Karina Evans, in the vein of Eighth Grade and Pen-15. After finishing seventh grade, Tahlia is excited to jumpstart her eighth grade social status at a popular kid's pool party, until her first monthly gift arrives just as her mother leaves for a weekend retreat. Publication is set for winter 2022; Jessica Mileo at InkWell Management negotiated the deal.
Dana Chidiac at Dial has bought, in a preempt, world rights to Champ and Major: First Dogs by Joy McCullough (l.), illustrated by Sheyda Abvabi Best, a picture book about President-elect Joe Biden's two German shepherds, Champ and Major. Major will be the first shelter dog to live in the White House, and Champ can't wait to show him the ropes. Publication is planned for January 19, 2021; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented the author, and Tamara Shannon at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.
Allyn Johnston at S&S/Beach Lane has acquired world rights to Where They Once Flew, a picture book by Angela DiTerlizzi, illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell. Told in rhyme, the book invites young readers to journey into the world of bird migration and conservation. Publication is slated for spring 2023; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the illustrator.
Luana Kay Horry at HarperCollins bought world rights to Indigo Dreaming by Dinah Johnson (l.), illustrated by Anna Cunha. A celebration of the African Diaspora, this picture book introduces readers to a Gullah girl from the South Carolina Sea Islands who imagines another girl, living in the home of her ancestors across the sea. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; Allison Hellegers at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and the illustrator is unagented.
Naomi Krueger at Beaming Books has acquired world rights to Just as You Are: Every Kid Is a Revolutionary by Cindy Wang Brandt (l.), illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao. This debut picture book declares that every child already has what it takes to participate in revolutionary social change no matter their age, skills, or personality. Publication is set for October 2021; Rachelle Gardner at Books and Such Literary Management represented the author, and Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary represented the illustrator.
Mabel Hsu at HarperCollins/Tegen has bought, at auction, To Make by Danielle Davis (l.), a debut picture book that explores and celebrates the creative process, suggesting that the patience and perseverance required to make anything are part of what makes it special, to be illustrated by Mags DeRoma. Publication is slated for summer 2022; Hannah Mann at Writers House represented both creators in the deal for world rights.
Kathleen Keenan at Kids Can has acquired world rights to Hiders Seekers, Finders Keepers by Jessica Kulekjian (l.), illustrated by Salini Perera, a look at the way animals respond to cold weather. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Tracy Marchini and James McGowan at BookEnds Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented themself.
Zhiqiao Wang at Yeehoo Press has bought world rights to The Perfect Party, a picture book by Laurel Paula Jackson (l.), illustrated by Hélène Baum. All the animals from different countries in the zoo want to throw a birthday party for bird Robin, but they start to out-sing each other—until they are reminded that they can collaborate perfectly, especially when they are all different. Publication is set for fall 2021 in the U.S. and mainland China; the author and the illustrator represented themselves.
Susan Brooke at Phoenix International/Sunbird has acquired world English rights to My Feelings, My Touch, and My Imagination by Jeffrey Turner, board books that help young children connect words with their inner and outer experiences. Publication for the first two is scheduled for May 2021, with My Imagination to follow in February 2022. Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary represented the author-illustrator.
Karen Boss at Charlesbridge has bought world rights to No World Too Big: Young People Fighting Climate Change, a picture-book anthology edited by Jeanette Bradley (l.), Keila V. Dawson (c.), and Lindsay H. Metcalf (r.), and illustrated by Bradley, featuring 14 contemporary young activists working to combat climate change. The subjects, who began their activism as children and teens, include eco hip-hop artist Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, solar engineer Maanasa Mendu, and water commissioner Autumn Peltier (Anishinabek). Contributors include G. Neri, Traci Sorell, Vanessa Brantley-Newton, and Rajani LaRocca. Publication is planned for spring 2023; Emily Mitchell at Wernick & Pratt did the deal for the co-editors and the illustrator.
Amy Novesky at Cameron Kids has acquired world rights to Pool Party by Elisa Parhad (l.) and Amy Duchene (c.), illustrated by Anne Bentley (r.), a picture book about a fun-filled day at a public pool. Publication is slated for spring 2022; the authors and illustrator represented themselves.
