Rebecca Kuss at Disney-Hyperion has acquired sex and dating journalist Candice Jalili's debut YA novel, Making Mashad, pitched as Keeping Up with the Kardashians meets The Princess Diaries, about a down-to-earth Iranian American teen whose world is turned upside down when her mother's death brings to light a family she never knew existed—who also just happen to be the most famous reality television family in the world. Publication is scheduled for summer 2024; Amy Elizabeth Bishop at Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret did the two-book deal for world English rights.
Michelle Nguyen, while at Oni Press, bought, in a preempt, LySandra Vuong's queer YA graphic novel series Covenant, in a three-book deal, based on the webcomic of the same name; Desiree Rodriguez will edit. In the story, Ezra, a powerful exorcist belonging to an elite organization under scrutiny for its unorthodox practices, is tasked to protect a seemingly normal human from rising demonic forces. Publication of the first book is planned for spring 2025; Britt Siess at Britt Siess Creative Management negotiated the deal for world rights.
Dana Leydig at Viking has acquired Lillie Vale's sapphic paranormal adventure, Hit Me with Your Best Charm, pitched as a YA The Ex Hex by way of Casey McQuiston, in which a skeptic accidentally hexes her romantic rival (and secret crush) with dangerous bad luck and must team up with her rival's exes to undo the damage she's done. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Jessica Watterson at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Stephanie Stein at HarperTeen has bought Have You Seen This Girl by Nita Tyndall, a YA thriller about a North Carolina teen whose father is a notorious serial killer. Sid's dad has been in prison for years, but when another girl is murdered, all eyes are on them—and when signs point to the girl Sid loves being next, they'll have to confront their father as well as the ghosts that haunt them. Publication is set for winter 2024; Eric Smith at P.S. Literary negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Christine Collins at Disney/Rick Riordan Presents has acquired, in a preempt, Sajni Patel's debut YA fantasy, A Drop of Venom. This feminist reimagining of Medusa's origins, inspired by Indian lore, follows a young Serpent Queen's rise to power and the Slayer sent to kill her, questioning what it truly means to be a "monster." Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Katelyn Detweiler at Jill Grinberg Literary Management handled the two-book deal for world English rights.
Annette Pollert-Morgan at Sourcebooks Fire has bought world rights to debut novelist Megan Lally's YA thriller That's Not My Name, told through dual narrators: a teen girl struggling to remember how she ended up battered in the woods with a dangerous man claiming to be her father, and a boy who will stop at nothing to find his missing girlfriend. Publication is planned for January 2024; Mandy Hubbard at Emerald City Literary did the three-book deal.
Jonathan Westmark at AW Teen has acquired world rights to 312, a debut YA contemporary novel from Shaunta Grimes (The Astonishing Maybe), pitched as the story of a fat girl learning to live in the body she was born with. Publication is slated for fall 2023; Elizabeth Bennett at the Transatlantic Agency negotiated the deal.
Jessica Smith at Aladdin has bought Stupid Cupid and a second untitled middle grade rom-com by debut author Nashae Jones. On her 13th birthday, Erin Johnson discovers she's the daughter of Cupid and manifests her own powers to make people fall in love. She vows to use her powers for good—which includes making the arrogant and annoying Trevor Jin fall for her so she can convince him to stop competing with her to be top of their class. Publication is set for spring 2024, with the second book to follow in 2025; Chloe Seager at Madeleine Milburn did the deal for North American rights.
Erinn Pascal at Andrews McMeel has acquired world rights to Food Fighters, a middle-grade graphic novel series by Tyler Whitesides (l.), illustrated by Rebecca Syracuse. The first book, Food for Thought, follows a boy who discovers an unexpected ability to control food with his mind, leading him to a secret society of crime-fighting foodies who come under threat by a rogue agent known only as the Big Cheese. The first book will publish in spring 2025; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Natascha Morris at the Tobias Literary Agency represented the illustrator in the two-book deal.
Angus Yuen-Killick at Red Comet Press has bought Strega Ragazzi Award winner Nebbia/Mist by Marta Palazzesi (l.). This middle grade novel, set in 1880s London, introduces Clay, who lives by scrounging for lost treasures on the banks of the Thames. He encounters "the last wolf in England" at a visiting circus and so begins his quest to free it and return it to the wild. Christopher Turner will translate from the original Italian; publication is scheduled for fall 2023. Il Castoro sold world English rights.
Amy Fitzgerald at Lerner/Carolrhoda has acquired Forsooth, a middle-grade novel by Jimmy Matejek-Morris (My Ex-Imaginary Friend). Thirteen-year-old theater kid Calvin is certain he's destined for stardom until he ruins an entire school show. As he struggles to redeem himself, he faces more drama than he bargained for—including his first two crushes, both on guys—and must choose between becoming a star and being true to himself. Publication is planned for fall 2023; Emily Keyes at Keyes Agency sold world rights while at Fuse Literary.
Joni Sussman at Kar-Ben has bought world rights to Things That Shimmer, Deborah Lakritz's middle grade debut. Set in 1973, Melanie has always dreamed of being part of the cool-girl clique, the Shimmers. But when she gets what she wants, it's at the cost of her friendship with Ronit, the new girl from Israel. Dealing with family troubles, the war in Israel, and now navigating school trauma, Melanie finds that popularity isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Publication is set for spring 2024; Susan Cohen at Writers House represented the author.
Anna Parsons at Aladdin has acquired Lotería author Karla Arenas Valenti's new chapter book series, Legendarios. The books will follow twins Emma and Martín on a series of adventures as they're plunged into a magical book of Mexican legends given to them by their abuela. The first book will publish in spring 2024; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the four-book deal for world rights.
Bethany Buck at Pixel + Ink has bought world rights to Croc & Gator by Lisa Katzenberger, a chapter book series about little reptiles who become unlikely friends when they train to become Junior Rangers for their swamp. Publication for book one is slated for spring 2024; Wendi Gu at GreenburgerKids/Sanford J. Greenburger negotiated the three-book deal.
Siobhan Ciminera at Simon Spotlight has acquired artist-author Kaz Windness's debut Ready-to-Read title Cat vs. Vac, celebrating the eternal battle between housepet and vacuum, with Lisa Rao editing. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Timothy Travaglini at Transatlantic Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Jenne Abramowitz at Scholastic will edit two picture books written by Varian Johnson (l.) in a deal originally acquired by Celia Lee for world English rights, at auction. The first, Little Big Man, will be illustrated by Reggie Brown and is about a boy who is learning when to be more responsible, and a father learning when it's time to play. Publication is tentatively planned for fall 2024; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Maria Modugno at Random House Studio has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to The No-Shoes Home by Helena Ku Rhee (l.), illustrated by Myo Yim, a picture book about a girl named Mina, and her family's tradition of always taking their shoes off when they enter the house. Publication is slated for summer 2025; Emma Patterson at Brandt & Hochman represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Arthur Levine at Levine Querido has acquired world rights to Dawn Quigley (Ojibwe) (l.) and illustrator Chief Lady Bird's (Chippewa/ Potawatomi) picture book Paul's Bunion, and Other Totally True and Still Terrifically Tall Tales, a collection of three "tall tales" retold from a Native perspective, including: Paul Bunyan, Babe the Blue Ox, and Sally Ann Thunder. Publication is set for spring 2024; Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Alvina Ling at Little, Brown has bought world rights to I Drew a Heart by poet and author Gillian Sze (l.) (You Are My Favourite Colour), about a Chinese American boy who goes about his day drawing hearts and learning a little bit about himself and about love along the way, to be illustrated by Naoko Stoop. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author, and Brenda Bowen at the Book Group represented the illustrator.
Alyssa Miele at Quill Tree Books has acquired at auction world rights to Perfect, written by Waka T. Brown (l.) and illustrated by Yuko Jones. This picture book follows a girl who wants all things to be perfect, until her grandmother teaches her about the Japanese art of kintsugi, a broken pottery mending technique, and she learns to value life's imperfections. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Penny Moore at Aevitas Creative Management represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Carol Hinz at Lerner/Millbrook has bought Piece by Piece by Lupe Ruiz-Flores (l.), illustrated by Anna López Real. The nonfiction picture book tells the story of Ernestine Guerrero, who dropped out of school at the age of nine to help with her father's carpentry business in San Antonio. When the Great Depression hit and the family had to rely on government food aid, Ernestine used her woodworking skills to create a remarkable gift expressing thanks to President Roosevelt. Publication is set for fall 2023; the author and illustrator represented themselves in the deal for world rights.
Lisa Rosinsky at Barefoot Books has acquired world rights to Ganesha Goes Green by debut author Lakshmi Thamizhmani (l.), illustrated by Debasmita Dasgupta. In a village in southern India, a girl rallies her friends to help save the river from pollution during the annual Ganesha Chaturthi festival. Publication is slated for fall 2023; Sharon Belcastro at Belcastro Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Sarah Fell at Magination Press has bought world rights to Two Houses, One Me by Seamus Kirst (l.), a picture book about a child whose two dads are recently divorced, which describes what it's like to go from one house with both parents to two houses, and the challenges of that transition. Noémie Gionet Landry will illustrate; publication is scheduled for fall 2023. Kevin O'Connor at the O'Connor Literary Agency represented the author, and Robbin Brosterman at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Kandace Coston at Lee & Low Books has acquired world rights to A Sky That Sings, a picture book written by Anita Sanchez (l.) and George Steele (c.), and illustrated by Emily Mendoza (r.). It is a story about a visually impaired girl who enjoys bird-listening (instead of bird-watching) with her tía. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Regina Ryan at Regina Ryan Publishing Enterprises represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Mary Lee Donovan and Amy Berniker at Candlewick Press have bought Goodnight Zodiac Animals by author-illustrator Jiemei Lin, a board book about the Chinese zodiac animals going to bed. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
