Kate Meltzer at Roaring Brook has acquired, in a preempt, Jennifer Howell's debut, Boys with Sharp Teeth, a YA novel pitched as The Raven Boys meets A Lesson in Vengeance, which follows a teen girl who infiltrates a prestigious prep school on a mission for revenge, but finds herself falling for the two dysfunctional boys in her crosshairs who just might be capable of murder. Publication for the first book is slated for winter 2025; Claire Friedman at InkWell Management did the six-figure, two-book deal for world rights.
Sarah Barley at Flatiron Books has bought North American rights to Six More Months of June by Daisy Garrison, a contemporary YA debut about a group of friends at the brink of high school graduation and the unlikely relationships that form in the last-chance light. Publication is planned for summer 2024; Elizabeth Bewley at Sterling Lord Literistic brokered the two-book deal.
Lauren Knowles at Page Street YA has acquired This House Is Haunted, an anthology of 16 stories edited by Alex Brown, which highlights monsters, ghosts, and folklore from various cultural backgrounds with each story exploring a different room in a sprawling haunted house. The contributors are Nova Ren Suma, Gina Chen, Traci Chee, Courtney Gould, Linsey Miller, Rosiee Thor, Shelly Page, Nora Elghazzawi, Kay Costales, Liz Hull, Justine Pucella Winans, Sandra Proudman, C.L. McCollum, Tori Bovalino, and G. Haron Davis. Publication is set for spring 2024. Renee Nyen at KT Literary negotiated the deal for world rights; Brown is now represented by Amy Elizabeth Bishop at Dystel, Goderich, & Bourret.
Kelsey Murphy at Viking has bought This Is Not a Dead Girl Story by Kate Sweeney, a dark YA mystery in which a teen girl must do whatever it takes to find her missing cousin—who everyone else thinks is dead. Publication is scheduled for summer 2024. Melanie Figueroa and Taylor Haggerty at Root Literary negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Krista Marino at Delacorte has acquired, at auction, in a two-book deal, Old Wounds by debut author Logan-Ashley Kisner, a YA horror novel following two trans teens, Erin and Max, as they embark on a cross-country road trip, only to find their journey interrupted when their car breaks down in an isolated Southern town that sacrifices girls to the monster that lives in their woods. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Chloe Seager at Madeline Milburn Ltd. sold North American rights.
Bruce Bortz at Bancroft Press has bought Emily Locker's debut novel Running Mates, a YA rom-com about two high school classmates and rivals—the daughter of a liberal news pundit and the son of a conservative politician—who are forced to team up to chase their dreams of becoming college athletes and to untangle a mysterious web of events around a beloved independent bookstore's unionization. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Dorothy Vickery and Jane Startz at Jane Startz Productions sold world rights.
Alison Weiss at Pixel+Ink has acquired the first two books in Amalie Jahn's debut upper middle grade series Team Canteen and the Magic Boa, pitched as The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants for a new generation. Told in alternating points of view and through group chats, the books follow four unlikely friends brought together by a potentially magical hot pink boa that helps them face shifting family dynamics, identity, school and family pressures, and other difficult but timely topics. Publication is set for fall 2024; Ann Rose at the Tobias Literary Agency sold world rights.
Ruqayyah Daud at Little, Brown has bought, in an exclusive submission, Aubrey Hartman's The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest, the tale of Clare, a charming undead fox serving as Usher of wandering souls, whose work is thrown into upheaval when a wandering badger soul shows up but is mysteriously unable to enter the Afterlife. Publication is scheduled for winter 2025; Molly O'Neill at Root Literary sold world English rights.
Alexandra Aceves at Holiday House has acquired debut author Kelly Mangan's Cheer Up, Maeve Mulvaney, in which an eighth-grade comic book artist starts a feminist superhero club at school in response to fat-phobic bullying and her family's toxic positivity, and learns that her greatest superpower is her own voice. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Taj McCoy at Rees Literary Agency handled the deal for world rights.
Ann Kelley at Random House Studio has bought world rights to Nice Work by Nicholas Day (l.) (The Mona Lisa Vanishes), illustrated by Hala Tahboub, a story about the patience needed for a tree—and a friendship—to grow. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Brenda Bowen at the Book Group represented the author, and Rebecca Sherman at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Sara Sargent at Random House has acquired, in an exclusive submission, world rights to actor, model, and voiceover artist Mia Armstrong's (l.) picture book memoir I Am a Masterpiece!: An Empowering Story About Inclusivity and Growing Up with Down Syndrome, illustrated by Alexandra Thompson. Publication is set for 2024; Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Agency represented the author, and Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Angus Yuen-Killick at Red Comet Press has bought world rights to All Aboard the Alaska Train by Brooke Hartman (l.), illustrated by John Joseph, a picture book about the legendary train journey from Seward to Fairbanks with Alaskan animal passengers that join en route. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Sera Rivers at Speilburg Literary represented the author, and Lilli Tollesfson at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Jessica Garrison at Dial Books has acquired world rights to Baptiste Paul (l.) and Miranda Paul (c.)'s picture book The Hair You Wear, pitched as Bodies Are Cool for hair, a celebration of hair encompassing cultural influences, style choices, hair covers, hair care, hair activism, and fun hair facts, illustrated by Mia Saine (r.). Publication is slated for spring 2025; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented Baptiste Paul, Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary represented Miranda Paul, and Sylvie Hamel at Anna Goodson Illustration Agency represented Mia Saine.
Rob Sanders at Greystone Kids has bought three books by Cree-Métis author-illustrator Julie Flett (Birdsong; We All Play) in a world rights agreement. Publication is planned for fall 2025, spring 2026, and fall 2026; Steven Malk at Writers House negotiated the deal.
Deirdre Jones at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to Rosemary Long Ears by Susie Ghahremani (Stack the Cats), featuring the adventures of a spirited dog who creates mayhem and memories with her young human friend. Publication is set for summer 2025; Lilly Ghahremani at Full Circle Literary did the deal for world rights.
Alexandra Cooper at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has bought Cynthia De La Torre's picture book Letters from Tía Luz Maria, a gentle ghost story about a girl who learns to keep her tía's memory alive through a beautiful Mexican tradition. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary sold world rights.
Bria Ragin, David Yoon, and Nicola Yoon at Joy Revolution have acquired, in a preempt, Elle Gonzalez Rose's 10 Things I Hate About Prom, a Latine YA rom-com inspired by 10 Things I Hate About You and My Best Friend's Wedding, in which an antisocial tech crew leader sabotages her effortlessly charming best friend's elaborate prom proposal to the most popular girl in school, when she realizes she wants him for herself. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Steven Salpeter at Assemble Media and Uwe Stender at Triada US handled the deal for world rights.
Elizabeth Lee at Penguin Workshop has bought world rights to The Count of Monte Cristo High, a YA graphic novel by Rey Terciero (l.), illustrated by Alex Moore. This modern-day reimagining brings readers into the world of Ernesto, who after being bullied in high school is back for revenge. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Brent Taylor at Triada US represented the author, and Jas Perry at KT Literary represented the illustrator.
Hannah Hill at Delacorte has acquired, at auction, Practical Rules for Cursed Witches, a sapphic YA fantasy by Kayla Cottingham (This Delicious Death), about a teen witch who must complete her Calling by breaking a powerful family's curse, but her own affliction—to never find true love—gets in the way when she falls for one of the twins she's trying to save. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Erica Bauman at Aevitas Creative Management brokered the two-book deal for North American rights.
Carter Hasegawa at Candlewick has bought world rights to Nadine Pinede's Home Before Dark, a debut YA historical novel-in-verse set in 1930s Haiti, where 15-year-old Lucille, inspired by a dream, challenges the authorities of her village and exposes corruption. As a result, she is forced to leave home and takes refuge as a servant for an American woman who is conducting fieldwork in Haiti; that woman is none other than Zora Neale Hurston (Lucille is based on a real person, briefly referenced in Hurston's nonfiction work Tell My Horse). Publication is set for fall 2024; Rubin Pfeffer at Rubin Pfeffer Content did the deal.
Shaina Olmanson at Zest has acquired world rights for A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants: Wicked Weeds and Sinister Seeds by Rebecca Hirsch (l.), illustrated by Eugenia Nobati. The nonfiction book for teens delves into the dark side of the botanical world, exploring the strange histories, fantastic folklore, and fascinating science of the world's most dangerous plants. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Sarah Stephens at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Erin Tisdel at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
Susan Van Metre at Walker Books US and Jane Winterbotham at Walker Books UK have bought world rights to The Fairy Tale Fan Club: Legendary Letters by British comedian and actor Richard Ayoade (l.), illustrated by David Roberts. The middle grade novel takes readers into the heart of the fairy tale kingdom with C.C. Cecily, the senior secretary of the fan club, who delivers letters that bust the myth of "happily ever after" from curious readers to their favorite fairy tale characters. Simultaneous publication is slated for September 2024; the illustrator represented himself, and Jo Unwin at the Jo Unwin Literary Agency represented the author.
Wendy Loggia at Delacorte has acquired Curse of the Dead Man's Diamond by Christyne Morrell (Trex), a contemporary middle grade mystery about a girl who's been uprooted from NYC to Florida and finds herself living in a haunted house with a trio of ghosts who are cursed for stealing a dead man's diamond. Publication is set for fall 2024; Danielle Chiotti at Upstart Crow Literary negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Hannah Dussold at Andrews McMeel has bought world rights to three novels in a middle grade series by activity book brand Hopscotch Girl created by Melissa Foley (l.). The first book, Mia Madison, CEO: The Doggy Dilemma will publish in spring 2024; two more adventures centered on the highs and lows of kid businesses are planned, co-written by Kathryn Holmes (c.) and illustrated by Luna Valentine (r.). Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Birch Path Literary represented Hopscotch Girls and Holmes, and Alex Gehringer at the Bright Agency represented the artist.
Mary Cash at Holiday House has acquired A Pair of Parrots, an I Like to Read title by David A. Adler (l.), illustrated by Clarice Elliott, about a girl finding her missing pet parrot while demonstrating the concept of pairs. Publication date has not been set; the author represented himself, and Heather and Ethan Long at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.
Anuoluwapo Ohioma at Penguin Workshop has bought world rights to Art at Night, a picture book by Shauntay Grant (l.), co-written with her husband, Tyshan Wright (c.), and illustrated by Islenia Mil (r.). It's the story of a boy who attends an all-night art festival with his family, finding meaning, history, and connection across the array of visual and auditory celebrations he encounters. Publication is slated for spring 2026; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the authors, and Aliza R. Hoover at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Marilyn Brigham at Amazon Crossing Kids has acquired world English rights to A Pair of Little Red Mittens by Kirin Hayashi (l.), illustrated by Chiaki Okada (c.), and translated from the Japanese by Avery Fischer Udagawa (r.), a seasonal story about two mittens who are upset when they become separated but who both end up happy in the end. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Yurika Yokota Yoshida at Japan Foreign-Rights Centre represented publisher Komine Shoten, and the translator represented herself.
Emma Ledbetter at Abrams has bought Bao's Doll by debut author-illustrator Bo Lu, a picture book in which Bao's desperate desire for a blond doll leads her into trouble, and to a deeper understanding between her and her mother. Publication is scheduled for June 2024; Steven Malk at Writers House negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Kathleen Merz at Eerdmans has acquired world rights to Counting Winter by Nancy White Carlstrom (l.), illustrated by Claudia McGehee, a picture book that follows creatures through the wintry woods: one red fox, two croaking ravens, three snowshoe hares, and more. Publication is set for fall 2024; the author and illustrator represented themselves.
Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear Press has bought world rights to This Is the Crew That Built Our School by Sherry Fellores (l.), illustrated by Sam Caldwell, a sing-song picture book that chronicles and celebrates skilled trade workers, their respective industries, and the sounds and steps that go into building a new school from the ground up. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Miranda Paul at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Doreen Thorogood at Good Illustration Limited represented the artist.
