Ann Marie Wong and Mark Podesta at Henry Holt have acquired, in an exclusive submission, Trish Lundy's (The One That Got Away with Murder) next YA thriller, Premeditated. The novel follows Rose Cleary, a teen goth living in the Rust Belt, whose best friend is murdered on graduation night, a fate Rose herself only narrowly escapes. After the police and hospital begin to treat Rose as a suspect, she teams up with the boy who found her bleeding on the side of the road to solve the mystery of her friend's death, before the killer can silence her for good. Publication is set for fall 2026; Stephen Barbara and Kristin van Ogtrop at InkWell Management negotiated the six-figure deal for North American rights.
Sara Goodman at Wednesday Books has bought the YA fantasy Immortal Game by Allison Saft, a modern, sapphic retelling of Irish mythology. Five years after 19-year-old chess grandmaster Shea Fury's sister was taken by the King of the Otherworld, she crosses into the Faerie world to bring her sister back by winning a once-in-a-century chess tournament, but she doesn't expect to fall for the Fae princess competing at the same time. Publication is planned for summer 2026; Jessica Mileo and Claire Friedman at InkWell Management sold North American rights in a two-book deal.
Jerome Pohlen at Interlude/Duet Books at Chicago Review Press has acquired A Different Kind of Enemy by Lee Wind, a YA novel that follows newlywed gay teens (and new spies) Nico and Sam, who have only six days before a possible alien invasion. Together they're going to have to save the world—and their marriage. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Hannah Hill at Delacorte has bought What Happened in the Woods, the sophomore novel by Lily Braun-Arnold (The Last Bookstore on Earth). When an illicit party in the woods takes a deadly turn, high school senior Egan finds herself fighting for survival amid a mysterious, sinister outbreak at the historically women's college campus where she was visiting her estranged best friend. Publication is slated for spring 2027; Lily Dolin at Sterling Lord Literistic brokered the deal for North American rights.
David Levithan at Scholastic has acquired Outside, a middle grade novel from three-time Newbery Honor author Jennifer L. Holm (Turtle in Paradise; Sunny Side Up). Twelve-year-old Razzi has always been told that Outside isn't safe and that the walls of the Refuge will protect her, but guided by a dog she has a strangely close connection with, she begins to wonder what she will find beyond those walls if she steps away from everything she's ever known. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Jill Grinberg at Jill Grinberg Literary Management did the deal for North American rights.
Ben Rosenthal at Sourcebooks/Stonefruit Studio has bought, at auction, world English rights to picture book creator T.L. McBeth's graphic novel debut, Martian Academy. The comedic middle grade series follows Sadie Robbins, a perfect student who's been dreaming of attending the prestigious Martin Academy, until she accidentally adds an extra "a" in her application and gets accepted to a janky school on Mars instead. Publication of the first title is set for spring 2027; Stephen Barr at Writers House negotiated the three-book deal.
Kate O'Sullivan at Clarion has acquired world rights to Chasing Eruptions: How Volcanologists Maurice and Katia Krafft Helped Save 60,000 Lives—But Lost Their Own by Curtis Manley (l.), illustrated by Sibert Honor artist Katherine Roy, a middle grade biography in verse of the iconic and iconoclastic duo, and their impact on the field of volcanology. Publication is scheduled for winter 2026; Ammi-Joan Paquette represented the author while at Erin Murphy Literary Agency, and Stephen Barr at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Siobhan Ciminera at Simon Spotlight has bought world rights to literacy ambassador Mychal Threets's (l.) Library Kids series of three Ready-to-Read early readers, illustrated by Neil Malcolm McKnight. The books are titled Grey and the Library Van, The Library Spider, and The Library Afro Revolution; each features a different library adventure inspired by the real library kids Mychal met in his time as a librarian. Publication for the first book is slated for January 2027; Lara Perkins at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Aliza Hoover at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Cecily Kaiser at RISE x Penguin Workshop has acquired A Night for the Rice Carriers, a picture book by Carmen Rubin (l.) (The Gifted Guitar), illustrated by debut artist Matt Williams, along with an untitled second book. A girl prepares to step into the spotlight and share the story of her ancestors, the Maroons, real-life women who escaped slavery in the tropical Americas and surrounding islands, and the incredible secret that helped them survive. Publication is set for spring 2026, with the second book to follow in summer 2027; Sian-Ashleigh Edwards at William Morris Endeavor represented the author, and Alexandra Levick at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Esther Cajahuaringa at Knopf has bought world rights to AlaCATzam!, about a girl who solves problems by turning kids into cats, by Jessica Lynch-Jonely (l.), illustrated by Marissa Valdez. Publication is scheduled for summer 2027; Jennifer Rofé and Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author and illustrator, respectively.
Emily Feinberg at Roaring Brook Press has acquired, at auction, world rights to My Buffalo Dream, the debut picture book from Métis-Cree poet, actor and theater creator PJ Prudat (l.), illustrated by Aly McKnight, in which a child's nighttime imaginings lead to a joyful road trip with a buffalo-speaking grandpa at the wheel and an ice-cream loving buffalo in the back, celebrating imagination and wonder and families of all kinds. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
John Mendelson at Nosy Crow has bought world rights to Armadillo Hello, a picture book by Zewlan Moor (l.), illustrated by Karen Obuhanych, which encourages children to explore and emulate animal greetings from around the world, empowering young readers to discover their own unique way of saying "hello!"—and to define personal boundaries. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Amy Thrall Flynn at Aevitas Creative Management represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Stacey Barney at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has acquired world rights to We're Off to Carnaval by Pura Belpré Honor author Jasminne Mendez (l.), illustrated by Coretta Scott King Honor artist Raissa Figueroa. In this picture book, a girl and her parents enjoy the colorful characters, sights, and sounds of Carnaval in the Dominican Republic. Publication is set for spring 2027; Stefanie Sanchez von Borstel at Full Circle Literary represented the author, and Natascha Morris at Tobias Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Mary Colgan at Chronicle Books has bought world rights to If You Listen by Nancy Nevinskas (l.), illustrated by Jax Chow, a poetic picture book that invites readers to pay closer attention to the natural world, and to share their own voice in return. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; the author represented herself, and Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented the illustrator.
Janine O'Malley at FSG has acquired world rights to On Thanksgiving Day by Maggie Rudd (l.), illustrated by Pura Belpré Honor artist Elisa Chavarri. The picture book is about a shift in plan for how to make the day festive when a power outage shuts down the oven and a yard party brings neighbors, surprises, and gratitude. Publication is planned for fall 2027; Mary Cummings at Great River Literary represented the author, and Claire Morance at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Carol Hinz at Lerner/Carolrhoda has bought world rights to Take It Apart by the late Katey Howes (l.), illustrated by Elizabet Vuković. The rhyming picture book explores the many benefits that can come from breaking big things (or ideas) into smaller pieces—from finding out how an object works to learning to read to composting food scraps. Publication is slated for fall 2026; Essie White at Storm Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Patricia Ocampo at Kids Can Press has acquired the board book Cat Shapes, written and illustrated by Aidan Cassie, in which a series of very fluid cats explore the many shapes they can become in a child's home. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Wendi Gu, while at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, now at HG Literary, sold world rights.
