Tiara Kittrell at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has acquired, at auction, North American rights to Out of Body plus an untitled second book by The Blood Trials author Nia Davenport, making her YA debut. Set in Atlanta, this speculative thriller tells the story of a teen girl whose best friend uses dangerous near-future tech to swap bodies with her and steal her life, forcing her to untangle a web of sinister secrets and reclaim her identity before it’s too late. Publication is set for fall 2023 and fall 2024, respectively; Chelsea Eberly at Greenhouse Literary did the deal on behalf of Dovetail Fiction/Working Partners, and Caitie Flum at Liza Dawson Associates represented the author.
Chris Hernandez at Razorbill has won, in a six-figure auction, The Glass Scientists, a YA graphic novel series by debut author-illustrator and animation director Sabrina Cotugno. Set in a Victorian-era world of misunderstood monsters, this reimagining of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde follows Henry Jekyll, the charismatic leader of a ragtag group of mad scientists trying to reform their public image, as he deals with forces that want to destroy everything he helped build. Publication for the first book is scheduled for fall 2023; Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary handled the three-book deal for North American rights.
Sarah Grill at Wednesday Books has bought, at auction, in a two-book deal, Kara McDowell's The Prince & the Apocalypse. Pitched as American Royals meets Deep Impact, the novel is about an 18-year-old American girl stranded in England when news of an impending world-ending comet causes global chaos, and the runaway prince with an agenda of his own who might be her only chance of getting home in time to say goodbye. Publication is slated for spring 2023; Katelyn Detweiler at Jill Grinberg Literary Management negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Nick Thomas at Levine Querido has acquired The Making of Yolanda La Bruja by Lorraine Avila, a debut contemporary coming-of-age YA novel. When 16-year-old Yolanda Alvarez is initiated into her family's traditional religion, she has a vision that the new kid in school is planning a shooting, but convincing people is harder than she thought: he's not just the only white kid there, he's the son of a politician. So it's up to Yolanda to get the new kid to see the beauty in her community before he harms it. Publication is planned for spring 2023; Patrice Caldwell at New Leaf Literary & Media did the deal for world English and Spanish rights.
Alison Romig at Delacorte has bought Hatchet Girls by Diana Rodriguez Wallach, a Latinx YA horror novel in which a teenager living in Fall River, Mass., home to New England's infamous Bridgewater Triangle, must prove her brother innocent of murdering his girlfriend's parents with an axe, a mystery that proves all too close to the Lizzie Borden murders 100 years earlier. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Lane Heymont at the Tobias Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Monica Perez at Versify has acquired Kip Wilson's (White Rose) next historical YA novel in verse, One Last Shot; Elizabeth Agyemang will edit. The story is based on the real life of Gerda Taro, the first female photojournalist to be killed in combat. Gerda's indisputable charm, fluency in several languages, and photography skills served her well on the front line of the fascist insurrection in 1936 Spain. Publication is set for spring 2023; Roseanne Wells at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Rachel Diebel at Feiwel and Friends has bought, in a six-figure preempt, YA author H.E. Edgmon's middle grade debut, Flicker, in which a pair of step-siblings band together with a theater troupe to brave the Appalachian wilderness after a climate apocalypse, avoiding capture by the Hive—an army of mega-rich survivors—while searching for their grandmother, a Native elder who may still be alive. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Victoria Marini and Lee O'Brien at Irene Goodman Literary Agency handled the two-book deal for world rights.
Nancy Siscoe at Knopf has acquired Ghostlight, a middle grade adventure by Kenneth Oppel. Gabe may give the ghost tour on Toronto Island, but he doesn't actually believe—until he comes face to face with the ghost of Rebecca Strand. Rebecca enlists Gabe and his friends in fighting "the wakeful and wicked dead," before evil spirits overrun the city. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Steven Malk at Writers House brokered the deal for U.S. rights.
Howard Reeves at Abrams/Amulet has bought at auction Oliver and the Great Big Universe by Emmy-nominated author, illustrator, and cartoonist Jorge Cham (We Have No Idea; Eleanor Wonders Why). This blend of fiction and nonfiction follows wannabe-astrophysicist Oliver, who explains the mysteries of space while trying to survive the daily life of a middle-schooler. Publication is set for spring 2023; Seth Fishman at the Gernert Company negotiated the three-book deal for North American rights.
Jessica Smith at Aladdin has acquired Umbra Tales: The Lightcasters by debut author Janelle McCurdy. In this middle grade trilogy opener, Mia McKenna must travel across the deadly Nightmare Plains with her brother, her best friend, and her mystical animal companions in order to save her family—and the entire kingdom. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; Rachel Mann at Jo Unwin Literary Agency did the deal for North American rights.
Rosemary Brosnan and Cynthia Leitich Smith at HarperCollins/Heartdrum have bought Christine Day's We Still Belong, a middle grade contemporary novel that follows a Native American girl on Indigenous Peoples' Day, who decides to invite her crush to the school dance. When what was supposed to be a wonderful day turns upside down, Wesley finds solace in her community, and learns that grand gestures can come in many forms and when you least expect them. Publication is slated for summer 2023; Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media handled the two-book deal for world English rights.
Cheryl Eissing at Flamingo Books has acquired I Am Not the Easter Bunny by T.L. McBeth (Randy the Badly Drawn Horse). The breaking-the-fourth-wall story centers on a fluffy white bunny in a vest and a bow tie buying eggs and candy at the grocery store as he explains that he knows what you're thinking but he's just a regular ol' bunny. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Stephen Barr at Writers House brokered the two-book deal for world rights.
Alison Weiss at Pixel+Ink has bought the first two graphic picture books in the Vincent series by author-illustrator Liz Goulet Dubois. The series follows Vincent, a resourceful and genial toad who finds solutions to the problems facing him and his amphibian friends that allow all of them to feel included. The first book, Make a Splash, Vincent, is scheduled for summer 2023, with a second book to follow in spring 2024; Charlotte Wenger at Prospect Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Margaret Raymo at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to An American Story by Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander (l.), illustrated by Dare Coulter. In this mixed-media illustrated picture book, a teacher talks to her students about the history and horrors of U.S. slavery. Publication is set for winter 2023; Arielle Eckstut of Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency represented the author, and Rubin Pfeffer of RP Content represented the illustrator.
Janine O'Malley at FSG has bought world rights to The Day After Christmas by Maggie Rudd (l.), illustrated by Pura Belpré Honor artist Elisa Chavarri. This picture book explores what it's like for a kid to have mellow pleasures to compensate for the deflated feeling of all the surprises unveiled and presents unwrapped and relatives gone after "the big day." Publication is slated for fall 2024; Mary Cummings at Great River Literary in association with Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises represented the author, and Claire Easton at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Susan Dobinick at Astra Young Readers has acquired world rights for Meowl-o'-ween by Diane Muldrow (l.), illustrated by Michelle Jing Chan. When cats celebrate Halloween, they do their best to be spooky, but they are too adorable to scare any of the trick-or-treaters. Publication is planned for fall 2023; Jennifer Unter at the Unter Agency represented the author, and Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Kelsey Skea at Amazon/Two Lions has bought Ame Dyckman's (l.) Silly Boobies: A Love Story, about a red-footed and a blue-footed booby who fall in love against the wishes of their families, illustrated by Geisel Medalist Christopher Weyant. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Scott Treimel at Scott Treimel NY represented the author, and Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties represented the illustrator.
Joni Sussman at Kar-Ben has acquired world rights to Ruth First Never Backed Down by Danielle Joseph (l.), a picture book biography about Jewish South African freedom fighter Ruth First, illustrated by Gabhor Utomo. It follows Ruth's journey from her early call to action to join the fight against Apartheid, to her work as a journalist and her quest to expose the truth. Publication is set for fall 2023; Susan Cohen at PearlCo Literary Agency represented the author, and Janet DeCarlo at Storybook Arts represented the illustrator.
Melanie Cordova at Candlewick has bought, in a four-book deal, world rights to the bilingual board book series Teeny Tiendas, written by Lourdes Heuer (l.), illustrated by Zara González Hoang. Each book highlights a community store, its friendly shopkeeper, and what's for sale. The first two books are tentatively slated for fall 2024, and books 3 and 4 are slated for fall 2025. Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Andrea Morrison at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Adonia Ripple and Katie Coit of Yosemite Conservancy have acquired world rights to Hello, Meadow! by Terry Pierce (l.), illustrated by Nadja Sarell. What the duo's Eat Up, Bear! did for keeping black bears safe and wild, this companion board book aims to do for protecting fragile meadow ecosystems: show small children and their families how to be good stewards of the outdoors. Publication is planned for 2023; the author represented herself, and Christina Doffing at Astound US represented the illustrator.
