Christian Trimmer at MTV Books has acquired publishing and TV/film rights to Hot Boy Summer by writer and high school English teacher Joe Jiménez. The YA contemporary novel—an ode to queer friendships and chosen families—follows Mac, a Mexican American teen in San Antonio, as he navigates falling in love, saying goodbye to his college-bound sister, and discovering his place in the world… all the while obsessing over Ariana Grande and chasing after Drag Race's Valentina. Publication is set for summer 2023 in partnership with Simon Pulse; Stuart Bernstein at Stuart Bernstein Representation for Artists working with Lucy Stille at Lucy Stille Literary did the deal for world rights.
Tara Weikum at HarperTeen has bought debut author Mackenzie Reed's The Rosewood Hunt, about a girl who must team up with three other unlikely teens to track down her grandmother's missing fortune and secure her future using only cryptic clues, pieces of the town map, and an heirloom necklace, before the people who have been tracking her every move get to the money—or to her—first. Publication is planned for fall 2023; Amy Elizabeth Bishop at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret brokered the six-figure, two-book deal for world English rights.
Ann Kelley at Random House Studio has acquired Hick by Sarah Miller (The Borden Murders), a YA nonfiction book about Lorena Hickok, a journalist and romantic partner of Eleanor Roosevelt. Publication is tentatively set for fall 2024; Wendy Schmalz at Wendy Schmalz Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Alexandra Cooper at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has bought four novels by Newbery Honor author Rajani LaRocca. The deal includes The Sound of Magic, a middle grade fantasy about a girl who battles the lasting effects of colonialism and greed to save her homeland, for publication in winter 2024; Nothing but the Truth, a TA reimagining of Sita's story from The Ramayana, for publication in 2025; Mystery Party, a middle grade novel in which six middle schoolers are invited to a reclusive billionaire's mansion but must solve the mystery of his unexpected disappearance, for publication in 2026; and Chemistry Lessons, a YA rom-com inspired by Jane Austen's Emma that explores the true nature of beauty, for publication in 2027. Brent Taylor at Triada US did the high-six-figure deal for world English rights.
Anne Hoppe at Harper/Allida has acquired, in a preempt, You Are Here: Connecting Flights, a middle grade exploration of contemporary Asian American identity told through interwoven stories set in a busy Chicago airport, written by 12 award-winning and bestselling East and Southeast Asian American authors, and edited by We Need Diverse Books co-founder Ellen Oh. Created in response to the rise of anti-Asian hate and violence during the pandemic, the book presents stories of hope and affirmation and will help launch the Allida imprint. The 12 writers are (from top l.) Traci Chee, Mike Chen, Meredith Ireland, Mike Jung, Erin Entrada Kelly, Minh Lê, Grace Lin, Ellen Oh, Linda Sue Park, Randy Ribay, Christina Soontornvat, and Susan Tan. Publication is slated for winter 2023; Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt and Zacker Literary represented Oh in the deal for North American rights.
Nancy Mercado at Dial has bought former Disney animator Peter Raymundo's debut middle grade graphic novel, Lucky Scramble. Following a group of kid gamers whose talents, aspirations and tricks collide at an epic and nail-biting cubing championship, the book provides a glimpse into the world of competitive speed cubing. Publication is set for fall 2023; Daniel Lazar at Writers House sold North American rights.
Kortney Nash and Laura Godwin at Godwin Books will edit the latest middle grade novel by Lindsey Leavitt, North of Supernova, acquired in a two-book deal. It follows 12-year-old Stella North who, reeling after her father's surprise nuptials and an unwanted move to Vegas, devotes her summer to learning astrology, fortune-telling, crystals… anything to help her break up up her new blended family and take control of her destiny. Publication is planned for spring 2023; Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Karen Chaplin at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has acquired The Strange Wonder of Roots by Evan Griffith (Manatee Summer), about a 12-year-old named Holly who is shipped off to live with her uncle in Vermont for the summer and who is pulled into the environmental drama dividing his small town. As she tries to save a special grove of trees, she finds inspiration in their agency and tenacity, how they fight to survive in their ever-changing environment, and how their roots work together for support and stability. Publication is tentatively scheduled for winter 2024; Michael Bourret at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret sold world English rights.
Hilary Van Dusen at MIT Kids Press/Candlewick Press has bought world rights for One Long Line by Loree Griffin Burns (l.) and illustrated by Jamie Green, a nonfiction chapter book about a famous experiment and the two researchers, nearly 100 years apart, who communicated with their caterpillar subjects and each other in the language of science to solve a behavioral science mystery. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Lara Perkins at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Chad W. Beckerman at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Nancy Inteli at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to Bianca and the Butterfly by Geisel Honor-winning author-illustrator Sergio Ruzzier, a picture book about a young polar bear who befriends a butterfly and encounters new experiences. Publication is planned for winter 2025; Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Frances Gilbert at Doubleday has bought Under the Blanket Sky, written and illustrated by Tim Fischer, a debut picture book in the spirit of The Velveteen Rabbit and Robert Frost's poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay," about a boy and his unusual friend—an enormous owl—and a long, blissful summer that changed them forever. Publication is set for summer 2023; Connor Eck at Lucinda Literary handled the deal for world rights.
Marissa Moss at Creston Books has acquired Chloe's Nature Journal by Miri Leshem-Pelly, a STEM-related picture book about a young nature detective who sets out to solve mysteries in her backyard and documents her investigations in a journal, while discovering that almost any answer leads to more questions. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary sold world rights.
Denene Millner at S&S/Denene Millner Books has bought, at auction, in a two-book deal, world English rights to If I Spoke Kriolu by Stefanie Foster Brown, illustrated by Keisha Morris. This debut picture book follows a girl as she guides her visually impaired grandfather through a New England seaport and discovers new connections to her Cape Verdean heritage along the way. Publication is slated for winter 2025; Wendi Gu at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates represented the author, and Claire Easton at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Catherine Laudone at S&S/Paula Wiseman Books has acquired world rights to The Quiet Forest, written by Charlotte Offsay (l.) and illustrated by Abi Cushman (Soaked). In this cumulative picture book, one mischievous mouse sets off a boisterous ripple effect among the animals, and it's up to the forest to calm everyone down and restore quiet. Publication is set for spring 2024; Nicole Geiger at Full Circle Literary represented the author, and Kendra Marcus at BookStop Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Clarissa Wong, while at HarperCollins, bought world rights in a preempt, to My Hair Is a Book by Maisha Oso (l.), illustrated by London Ladd; Alyson Day will edit. This picture book, written in verse, takes readers on a journey through time and space to celebrate the uniqueness and beauty of Black hair and hairstyles. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Tamar Brazis at Viking has acquired world rights to Forts by Katie Venit (l.), illustrated by Kenard Pak, about the special spaces "safe as coat pockets" that children can make or find all around them. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Joyce Sweeney at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Mekisha Telfer at Roaring Brook has bought world rights to Do You See Me?, written by LaRonda Gardner Middlemiss (l.) and illustrated by Reggie Brown. This picture book is a meditation on identity, offering young readers an opportunity to see themselves as the bright individuals they are. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Stephanie Hansen at Metamorphosis Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Shannon Pennefeather at Minnesota Historical Society Press has acquired world rights to So Cold!, a picture book written by John Coy (l.) and illustrated by Chris Park. So Cold! celebrates cold and winter as a boy and father finally get the chance to try some of the surprising wintry things that they have been waiting for. Publication is set for fall 2024; Andrea Cascardi at Transatlantic Agency represented the author, and Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Andrea Hall at Beaming Books has bought world rights to child and adolescent psychotherapist Lauren H. Kerstein's (l.) One More Sunday, illustrated by Nanette Regan, a social-emotional journey offering reassurance to readers young and old who have lost a loved one, that even though they are gone, their love lives on forever. Publication is planned for fall 2023; Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency represented the author, and Anna Zieger at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
