Sarah Barley at Flatiron has acquired, in an exclusive submission, The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert (The Hazel Wood; Our Crooked Hearts). This YA contemporary fantasy centers on a suburb where four seemingly unconnected people go missing in a single night. When the best friend of one of the lost attempts to untangle the truth about the disappearances, she uncovers her hometown's elusive shadow history, including a piece of local lore about a goddess folk figure who played an eerie role in her own childhood games. Publication is tentatively set for late 2023; Faye Bender at the Book Group did the deal for North American rights.
Sarah Grill at Wednesday Books has bought, in an exclusive submission, Allison Saft's A Fragile Enchantment, a Bridgerton-inspired romantic fantasy of manners about a dressmaker commissioned to design the prince's wardrobe for a fairy tale wedding, only to find herself embroiled in scandal when a gossip column draws attention to her undeniable chemistry with the groom. Publication is scheduled for winter 2024; Claire Friedman and Jessica Mileo at Inkwell Management sold North American rights.
Laura Schreiber at Union Square Kids has acquired For Girls Who Walk Through Fire by Kim DeRose, pitched as The Craft meets Promising Young Woman meets Moxie. It follows four teens who form a coven to get back at their assailants, only to discover that the spells they are using unlock the magic inside each of them, causing them to use their newfound power to help other girls find their own. Publication is slated for 2024; Kathryn Green at Kathryn Green Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Ashtyn Stann at Flux has bought Cold Girls, a YA contemporary novel by debut author Maxine Rae. After witnessing the death of her closest friend and nearly dying herself, 18-year-old Rory is forced to break the cold façade she uses to pretend everything is fine and confront the feelings she has smothered and the people she's pushed away. Publication is planned for fall 2023; Maria Bell at Sterling Lord Literistic sold world English rights.
Samia Fakih at First Second has acquired world rights to Danish cartoonist Jam Aden's debut YA graphic novel, Love, Misha. Pitched as A Goofy Movie meets Spirited Away, it's about a non-binary teen and their mother who, during a contentious road trip, take a wrong turn that lands them in the Realm of the Spirits, where they are surrounded by trickster spirits who aren't so keen on human trespassers, with no obvious way out. Publication is tentatively set for spring 2025; Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal.
Carolina Ortiz at HarperCollins has bought Pura Belpré Honor author Adrianna Cuevas's middle grade novel, Mari and the Curse of El Cocodrilo. When Mari refuses to burn her family's effigy on New Year's Eve, she incurs the wrath of El Cocodrilo, a creature who is more than he seems. Enlisting her friends, Mari discovers she possesses a special power to call on her ancestors to fight against El Cocodrilo and embrace her family's Peak Cubanity. Publication is slated for fall 2023, with an untitled second book to follow in fall 2024; Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary did the deal for world English rights.
Mark Podesta at Henry Holt has acquired Deniz Camp (l.) and Naomi Franquiz's Magus Minor, a middle grade contemporary fantasy graphic novel that follows 10-year-old Ekua, the newest apprentice to the world's most powerful wizard and protector of Earth, as she learns to embrace her new magical powers and works to realize a world that doesn't weaponize her gifts, aimed for fans of Snapdragon and Estranged. Publication is planned for winter 2025; Desiree Wilson at the Bent Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Kelsey Horton at Delacorte Press has bought Rebecca Lim's Tiger Daughter, a mature middle grade novel about finding your voice amid the pressures of growing up in an immigrant home, told from the perspective of a remarkable Chinese girl. Publication is scheduled for summer 2023; Annabel Barker at the Annabel Barker Agency sold USCOM rights.
Catherine Frank at Peachtree has acquired world rights to Elaine Vickers's middle-grade novel, Half-Moon Summer, about two kids born on the same day in the same place, who are drawn back together 12 years later for a summer of long-distance running, tumultuous family events, and discovering the things that really matter. Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency negotiated the deal, for publication in summer 2023.
Megan Tingley and Samantha Schutz at Little, Brown have bought world rights to five new works by Sandra Boynton, in an exclusive submission. The first book, Woo Hoo! You're Doing Great!, is a picture book for all ages that offers reassurance—via an over-exuberant chicken—to anyone, big or small, dealing with stress or uncertainty. Publication is set for March 2023; the author represented herself.
Celia Lee at Simon & Schuster has acquired world rights to Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a picture book biography about a girl who dreamed of becoming a lawyer and eventually became the first Black woman to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court, written by Tami Charles (l.) and illustrated by Jemma Skidmore. Publication is scheduled for spring 2023; Lara Perkins at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Alex Gehringer at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Emma Ledbetter at Abrams has bought world rights to Mighty Muddy Us, a new picture book by longtime collaborators Caron Levis (l.) and Charles Santoso (Ida, Always) about Enid and Ely, elephant siblings whose bond is tested and strengthened by Ely's physical challenges at birth and growing independence, inspired by a true story from the Amboseli Elephant Research Project in Kenya. Emily Mitchell at Wernick & Pratt represented the author, and Tamara Shannon at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator, with publication planned for fall 2023.
Tamar Brazis at Viking has acquired world rights to Amy Novesky's (l.) The Poet and the Bees, to be illustrated by Jessica Love, a picture book biography of Sylvia Plath, inspired by her poems and the season she kept bees. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Caryn Wiseman at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Meredith Kaffel Simonoff at the Gernert Company represented the illustrator.
Gianna Lakenauth at Knopf has bought world rights to Abuelita's Gift by Mariana Ríos Ramírez (l.), illustrated by Pura Belpré Award Honor artist Sara Palacios. In the picture book, a girl struggles to find a gift for her late abuela's first Día de Muertos visit, only to realize that the perfect gift was within her all along. Publication is set for fall 2024; Natascha Morris at the Tobias Literary Agency represented the author, and Kendra Marcus and Minju Chang at BookStop Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Paula Wiseman at S&S/Paula Wiseman Books has acquired world rights to Gabi Snyder's (l.) Today, a picture book about living in the moment and paying attention to all that is part of every day, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Natalie Lakosil at Irene Goodman Literary Agency represented the author, and Steven Malk at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Gabriella Abbate, while at Clarion, bought world rights to Monster Above the Bed by Kailei Pew (l.), illustrated by Steph Lew; Kait Feldmann will edit. In this monstrous inversion of a classic nighttime fear, Blossom has the creeping feeling that something looms above her bed, and confronts her worst nightmare when she faces a human. Publication is slated for fall 2023; Emily Forney at BookEnds Literary represented the author, and Kate Kendrick at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Kathleen Keenan at Kids Can Press has acquired world rights to Garbage Gulls by debut author Dorson Plourde (l.), illustrated by Isabella Fassler. This picture book celebrates the power of pretend, as two brothers escape the sprawl of summer with the help of a swarm of strip mall parking lot seagulls. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Clelia Gore, while at Martin Literary Management, represented the author; the illustrator represented herself.
Clarissa Wong, while at HarperCollins, bought world rights to What Love Looks Like and Becoming a Ballerina: The Story of Michaela DePrince by Laura Obuobi (l.) (Black Gold); Alyson Day and Eva Lynch-Comer will edit. What Love Looks Like, illustrated by Anna Cunha (Indigo Dreaming), tells the story of the love between a Black father and his daughter. Becoming a Ballerina is a picture book biography about Michaela DePrince's journey toward becoming a world-renowned ballerina. Publication is set for winter 2024 and winter 2025, respectively; Maria Vicente at P.S. Literary represented the author.
Charlie Ilgunas at Little Bee Books has acquired world rights to Tiny Jumper: How Tiny Broadwick Invented the Parachute Rip Cord by Candy Dahl (l.), illustrated by Maithili Joshi, a picture book biography about the first woman to parachute from a plane and how she invented the rip cord midair during a jump. Publication is slated for fall 2023; Erzsi Deak at Hen&ink Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Sarah Fell at Magination Press has bought world rights to Frizzy-Haired Zuzu by Medeia Sharif (l.), illustrated by Basma Hosam, a picture book about accepting and loving your appearance, even if others don't. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Lynnette Novak at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and Sarah Dillard at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
