Beverly Horowitz at Delacorte Press has acquired Marisha Pessl's YA psychological thriller, Darkly, in which a group of teens are chosen for a coveted summer internship in London at the Foundation of a legendary and mysterious game maker whose empire Darkly is now defunct. Shortly after arriving the winners are faced with unexpected and alarming circumstances. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Hillary Jacobson at CAA negotiated the deal for U.S./Canadian/open market rights.
Brian Geffen at Henry Holt has bought, at auction, When Devils Sing, a YA horror novel by debut author Xan Kaur. When a Punjabi teen strikes a deal with a devil, she thinks it's her chance to escape the poverty of her rural Georgia community; instead, she and three other teens are drawn into the investigation of a local boy's disappearance and into the heart of the town's corruption, where something sinister and ancient is awakening. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Peter Knapp at Park & Fine Literary and Media did the six-figure, two-book deal for North American rights.
Marilyn Kretzner at Blackstone has acquired North American English rights to Voice of the Ocean by Kelsey Impicciche, a YouTuber, Twitch streamer, and former BuzzFeed producer. In the YA novel, pitched for readers of A Court of Thorns and Roses and An Ember in the Ashes, a daring young siren defies her destiny, saving a charming prince-turned-pirate and igniting a dangerous love amid treacherous waters. Publication is planned for early spring 2025; Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media Group handled the deal.
Jordan Brown at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has bought, in an exclusive submission, The Tales from Cabin 23, created by Justina Ireland (l.) and Hanna Alkaf, a series of creepy middle grade tales of terror in the tradition of Goosebumps that are inspired by ghosts, monsters, and legends from diverse cultures, and will be written by a different author. Book one, The Boo Hag Flex, will be written by Ireland, and book two, Night of the Living Head, will be written by Alkaf. Publication is set for summer 2024; Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary and Victoria Marini at Volume Five Literary brokered the four-book deal for world English rights.
Sam Palazzi at Scholastic has acquired, in an exclusive submission, What Happened Then by Erin Soderberg Downing. In this mystery set on an island over the course of one summer, cousins Avery and Jax have one final chance to mend the wounds of their estranged family and uncover some long-unspoken truths. But when dark secrets from their parents' childhood are dredged up, they'll have to figure out who has been blamed, who is actually responsible, and how to save the pieces of their family that are left. Publication is slated for summer 2025; Michael Bourret at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret did the world rights deal.
Anne Hoppe at Clarion Books has bought world rights to Quagmire Tiarello Couldn't Be Better by Mylisa Larsen, a middle-grade novel in which a fiercely independent young teen with formidable survival skills must rethink his world when his mother's unstable mental health forces him to build a new life and forge ties with found family. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency sold world rights.
Tara Weikum at HarperAlley has acquired North American rights to Judge Kim and the Kids' Court co-author Joseph P. Illidge's (l.) graphic novel adaptation of Ann Petry's biography Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad, illustrated by Marcus Kwame Anderson (The Black Panther Party: A Graphic Novel History). Publication is set for winter 2026; Gordon Warnock at Fuse Literary represented Illidge, Alex Glass at Glass Literary Management represented Anderson, and Jesseca Salky at Salky Literary Management represented Petry's estate.
Margaret Ferguson at Holiday House/Margaret Ferguson Books has bought Eleven Kinds of Blue by Katherine Wolff, a middle grade novel that follows an art-obsessed girl whose depressed mother leaves her feeling invisible, until a discovery in a painter's abandoned studio changes everything. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency sold world English and Chinese rights.
Wesley Adams at FSG has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Leonard's Haunted House by author-illustrator Mike Ciccotello (Beach Toys vs. School Supplies). This picture book stars a cheerful ghost named Leonard who builds a cozy suburban house for himself and his ghoulish friends. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Virginia Duncan at Greenwillow has bought world rights to The Wolf Effect: A Wilderness Revival Story by Rosanne Parry (l.) (A Wolf Called Wander), illustrated by Jennifer Thermes (Manhattan: Mapping the Story of an Island), a picture book that draws on the remarkable environmental changes that resulted from the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone Park. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Fiona Kenshole at Transatlantic Agency represented the author, and Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Kelly Delaney at Crown has acquired Be Careful, Xiao Xin! by Alice Pung (l.), illustrated by Sher Rill Ng, the story of a boy who believes he is a warrior but must contend with a family who thinks the world is too dangerous for him. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Elizabeth O'Donnell at HarperCollins Australia handled the deal for North American rights.
Kate Farrell at Henry Holt has bought world rights to Feelings Are Like Farts by Chris Willard (l.) and Tara Wosiski (c.), illustrated by Toshi Nakamura (r.), a picture book that explains that like farts, feelings are natural, universal, and fleeting, even when they might be inconvenient or unpleasant. Publication is set for spring 2025; Dani Segelbaum at Carol Mann Agency represented the authors, and Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Charlie Ilgunas at Little Bee Books has acquired world rights to I Know the Whale by Robin Yardi (l.), illustrated by Matt Schu, a picture book about life and loss, centered on a child who finds a beached whale washed up on the shore and later sees it housed in the local museum. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Erin Casey Westin at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency represented the author, and Chad W. Beckerman at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Joni Sussman at Kar Ben has bought world rights to Happy Passover, Edie Rose! by Joy Preble (l.), illustrated by Valeria Cis, about the vivacious Edie Rose who always hosts the best Passover seders, but when she suffers a fall, her young neighbor Mia convinces their fellow neighbors to help rescue the seder. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Mela Bolineo at MB Artists represented the illustrator.
Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear Press has acquired world rights to Mouse Buffet, a picture book by Della Ross Ferreri (l.), illustrated by Tim Bowers, in which a family of mice celebrate Christmas with a feast—and a new friend—of their own. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
Rebekah Moredock at WorthyKids has bought world rights to Let the Light In by Laurie Ann Thompson (l.), illustrated by Adriana Predoi, a picture book ode to positivity and perseverance. Publication is set for fall 2024; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Andrew Behr at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Ivan Taurisano at Sourcebooks Jabberwocky has acquired world English rights to It's Bedtime Peek & Boo! and three more titles in a board book series by author-illustrator Estrela Lourenço, about a bunny named Peek who searches for her friend Boo as the small guinea pig gets up to all sorts of hijinks. Publication is slated for 2025 and 2026; James McGowan at BookEnds Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Deidra Purvis at Free Spirit has bought Sometimes Shadow by author-illustrator Amanda Davis. In this picture book about living with a parent who struggles with alcohol use disorder, a boy realizes his dad is plagued by a troubling shadow that sometimes visits their home and changes Dad. Publication is scheduled for summer 2025; Jennifer Unter at the Unter Agency sold world rights.
Tricia Lin at Random House has acquired world rights from Marvel to Tiffany Jackson's Storm: Dawn of a Goddess, a take on the origin story of X-Men's Storm that offers vivid imagining of Storm's life as Ororo Munroe before she grew into the fierce super hero revered by millions across the globe. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Natalie Lakosil at Looking Glass Literary & Media negotiated the deal while at Bradford Literary Agency; Jenny Bent at the Bent Agency now represents the author.
Jessica Anderson at Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano Books has bought The Academy by Lindsey Duga, a scandalous YA novel set in a prep school for royals and future world leaders, pitched as The Inheritance Games meets The Princess Diaries. Publication is scheduled for winter 2025; Masha Gunic at Azantian Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Kate Meltzer and Emilia Sowersby at Roaring Brook have acquired, at auction, Heir of Storms, the first novel in the Storm Weaver series from debut author Lauryn Hamilton Murray. Sarah J. Maas meets Red Queen in an epic fantasy that follows Blaze, a Rain Singer, as she's pitted against other Etheri, masters of elemental powers, to become the ruler of a kingdom where crowns aren't inherited, they're won. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Penguin Random House UK sold North American rights.
Maya Marlette at Scholastic has bought world rights to Louder Than Words, a collaborative YA effort by author Ashley Woodfolk (l.) and actor Lexi Underwood, in which a transfer student with a dark past attempts to get a fresh start at a new school. Her efforts are thwarted by the school's popular gossip podcast, which seems to be targeting and taking down students one by one, something the main character hopes to stop before the podcaster reveals her biggest secret. Publication is set for summer 2024; Beth Phelan at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency represented Woodfolk, and Cait Hoyt at CAA and Katie Rhodes at Untitled Entertainment represented Underwood.
Hannah Hill at Delacorte has acquired Everything She Does Is Magic by Bridget Morrissey, a sapphic YA romance set in a Halloween-obsessed town, in which a local enlists the help of the new girl to plan the upcoming fall festivities, not realizing she has recruited a real witch. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; Taylor Haggerty at Root Literary sold world English rights.
Kelly Stone at Wednesday Books has bought Codebreaker by Jay Martel, a pseudonym for debut authors Andy Bennett (r.) and Katy Helbacka. An interactive YA thriller that allows the reader to solve puzzles alongside the characters, the story follows 16-year-old Mia Hayes whose father disappears and leaves behind a mysterious box with clues that may be the key to saving the country. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Duvall Osteen at UTA and Kelsey Day at Aragi Inc. brokered the deal for North American rights.
Amy Fitzgerald at Lerner/Carolrhoda Lab has acquired the YA novel They Thought They Buried Us by NoNieqa Ramos (The Disturbed Girl's Dictionary). Sixteen-year-old Yuiza, a proud queer Boricua from the Bronx, loves to make horror movies, and find themself living in one when they're sent to an elite boarding school that holds sinister secrets. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Laurie McLean at Fuse Literary handled the deal for world rights.
Gabriela Taboas Zayas at Penguin Workshop has bought Queens of the Crypt by Dom&Ink (Queer Power!). In this YA graphic novel, teens are going missing in small town Widows Creek, and when Barnaby Jones is about to become the next victim, they unwittingly summon the Queens of the Crypt, protectors of the world from unspeakable evil. Publication is set for summer 2026; Lauren Gardner at Bell Lomax Moreton negotiated the deal for world rights.
Kiara Valdez at First Second has acquired, in a preempt, Bowen McCurdy's debut middle grade graphic novel series The Westgrave Files, pitched as Stranger Things meets Goosebumps. Each book follows a different tween as they discover eerie phenomena at their school clubs, from the art room to the swimming pool; to vanquish the horrors they find, they'll also need to face their own demons. Publication for book one is slated for spring 2026; Tamara Kawar at DeFiore & Company brokered the three-book deal for world rights.
Reka Simonsen at Atheneum has bought, in an exclusive deal, a middle grade novel in verse by Jamie Sumner (the Roll with It series). Drawn from personal loss in Sumner's own community, Please Pay Attention follows seventh grader and wheelchair user Bea in the aftermath of a shooting at her school as she wrestles with the fallout and seeks to heal. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Keely Boeving at WordServe Literary sold world rights.
Kaylan Adair at Candlewick Press has acquired Anne Nesbet's (Daring Darleen, Queen of the Screen) first contemporary, realistic middle grade novel, The Long Way Around, which tells the story of three cousins who become separated from their parents while on a camping trip in the Sierra Nevada. When a natural disaster blocks their path home, the cousins must find the strength and courage to navigate the wilderness on their own. Publication is set for fall 2024; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency sold world English rights.
Alex Arnold at Quirk Books has bought, in an exclusive submission, The Secrets of Underhill by Kali Wallace. In this middle grade fantasy, an 11-year-old apprentice fights to save an ancient grove of magical trees from a blight that threatens a community's survival. Publication is planned for January 2025; Adriann Ranta Zurhellen at Folio Literary Management sold world rights.
Dainese Santos at Simon and Schuster has acquired Sisters of the Snake authors Sarena Nanua (l.) and Sasha Nanua's debut middle grade contemporary fantasy Spirit Service, pitched as The Baby-Sitters Club with magic. The book follows four friends who find a phone that can communicate with spirits, and start a business helping their neighbors speak to deceased loved ones. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Peter Knapp and Stuti Telidevara at Park & Fine Literary and Media did the two-book deal for world English rights.
Carolyn Yoder at Astra/Calkins Creek has bought American Spirits: The Fox Sisters by Barb Rosenstock (Otis and Will Discover the Deep), an upper middle grade nonfiction work about America's first spirit mediums, how they were made famous, and how they continued one of the most pervasive hoaxes in history. It's scheduled for spring 2025; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio sold world rights.
Ann Rider and Anne Hoppe at Clarion have acquired world rights to Seeds of Discovery: How Barbara McClintock Used Corn and Curiosity to Solve a Science Mystery and Win a Nobel Prize by Sibert Honor author Lori Alexander (l.), illustrated by Rebecca Santo. The young middle grade biography tells the story of the spirited scientist who made critical discoveries about genes and how they function, all in a time when few women were working in science. Publication is set for winter 2025; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Piper Smith at Lindgren and Smith represented the illustrator.
Tara Walker at Tundra Books has bought North American rights to the picture book Cow & Sow by Matthew Farina (l.) (Lawrence in the Fall), illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Doug Salati (Hot Dog). The picture book tells the humorous story of two friends whose quest to become great ice skaters over one winter tests the strength of their bond. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author and illustrator.
Emily Feinberg at Roaring Brook has acquired world rights to Slow and Steady by Richard Ho (l.) (The Lost Package), illustrated by Natasha Donovan (Classified), a picture book about the joys of taking one's time that imagines what happens after the famous race between the tortoise and the hare. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Emily Mitchell at Wernick & Pratt represented the author, and Lindsay Auld at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Ann Kelley at Random House Studio has bought world rights to The Brunch Shift by Adrienne Thurman (l.), illustrated by Mags DeRoma, about a single mother who takes her daughter to work the brunch shift at the diner—and uses a little imagination to turn the day into an adventure. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Sarah Alpert at Algonquin Young Readers has acquired Cat's New Book by Israeli author-illustrator Nathalie Belhassen, a picture book about Cat who learns that a real hug might be better than hugging a book and that it is more fun to read together, even at the cost of wrinkled pages. Publication is planned for summer 2025; Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary sold world rights.
Kelly Barrales-Saylor at Sourcebooks eXplore has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Wait Till You're Older by author and engineer Maria Marianayagam (l.), illustrated by Nakul P. The story follows Reha who, when told she's too little to play with her brother, attempts to build a time machine to get older. Publication is set for May 2025; Alice Fugate at Joy Harris Literary represented the author, and Frederica Dawson at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane Books has acquired world rights to Butterfly Journal: Monarch and Mourning Cloak, a nonfiction picture book that compares two North American butterflies, showcases the role of revision in the creative process, and shares the joy of exploring and documenting the natural world, by Melissa Stewart (l.), illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen, creators of the Sibert Honor book Summertime Sleepers: Animals That Estivate. Publication is slated for spring 2026; Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency represented the illustrator.
Reka Simonsen at Atheneum has bought world rights to Cowboys at the Ballet by Claire Bobrow (l.), illustrated by Ilaria Urbinati, a picture book biography of American dancer and choreographer Agnes de Mille. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear Press has acquired world rights to Goose Egg Island by Julia Richardson (l.), illustrated by Meneka Repka, a peek into the nesting season of a devoted pair of Canada geese. Publication is set for spring 2025; the author was unagented, and Charlotte Wenger at Prospect Agency represented the illustrator.
Michele McAvoy at The Little Press has bought world English rights to No Love Potion by Christina Shawn (l.), illustrated by Merry Miller-Gass, a picture book featuring a young witch whose spooky brew becomes a Valentine's stew when Ingredient #9 unexpectedly hops into her heart. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Liz Nealon at Great Dog Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
