Caitlyn Dlouhy at Atheneum has bought Click Clack Moo creator Doreen Cronin's first middle-grade novel, called Cyclone. The story begins one summer vacation when two cousins take a ride on the rollercoaster in Coney Island, which transforms both of the girls' lives in different and dramatic ways. Publication is slated for 2015; Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties brokered the deal for North American rights.
David Linker at HarperCollins has bought world rights to Shark vs. Train author Chris Barton'sSuper Truck, in which a fun-loving dump truck transforms into a superhero. Troy Cummings (the Notebook of Doom series) has been signed to illustrate. The six-book series will begin in winter 2016; Erin Murphy of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented Barton and Ronnie Herman of the Herman Agency represented Cummings.
Rosemary Brosnan at HarperTeen has acquired, in a pre-empt, an untitled debut novel by Claire Needell, author of the forthcoming short-story collection Nothing Real. The novel explores the moral complexities of being an intelligent, self-aware young adult in contemporary American society, and trying to navigate love and self discovery without telling your parents why you're home so late. Fall 2015 is the projected pub date; Alice Tasman at Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency did the two-book deal for North American rights.
Phoebe Yeh at Crown has acquired Laurel Gale's Dead Boy, the first of two middle-grade novels, in a pre-empt. In the story, it is Crow's misfortune to be undead, but maggots and stench are nothing compared to wanting a chance at having a real friendship with the girl next door. The author, an ESL teacher, is a debut novelist writing under a pseudonym. Publication is scheduled for fall 2015; David Dunton at Harvey Klinger did the deal for world English rights.
Neal Porter at Roaring Brook's Neal Porter Books imprint has signed Governor General Award finalist Julie Morstad (r.) to illustrate When Green Becomes Tomatoes, a picture book by Julie Fogliano, author of And Then It's Spring and If You Want to See a Whale. The book takes readers through four seasons of flora, fauna, and friends. Projected publication date is winter 2016; Emily Van Beek of Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented Morstad; Fogliano is represented by Steven Malk of Writers House.
Nancy Inteli at HarperCollins bought world rights to a picture book by author Trisha Speed Shaskan and her husband, A Dog Is a Dog author-illustrator Stephen Shaskan, in their debut joint effort. Punk Skunks is about two best friends who play everything together – including music – until one day they clash. Publication is tentatively planned for winter 2016; Teresa Kietlinski at Prospect Agency represented Stephen and Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger represented Trisha.
Megan Tingley at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers has bought world English rights to Gus & Me: The Story of My Granddad and My First Guitar, a picture book by Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, illustrated by his daughter, Theodora Richards. The book was inspired by a childhood experience shared in Richards's memoir, Life, about a young Keith Richards, who was introduced to the joy of music through his beloved grandfather. The story was written with Barnaby Harris and Bill Shapiro, and will simultaneously release in hardcover and e-book on September 9, 2014. Orion Children’s Books will published the book simultaneously in the U.K. Richards's manager, Jane Rose, and Ed Victor Ltd. represented the author and artist.
Christian Trimmer at Simon & Schuster has acquired world rights to two transgender teen memoirs:Some Assembly Required: The Not So Secret Life of a Transgender Teen by 18-year-old Arin Andrews, and Rethinking Normal: A Memoir in Transition by 19-year-old Katie Rain Hill. The then-couple received national attention when they were featured on 20/20 last summer, which detailed how Andrews and Hill supported each other through their transitions and fell in love. Each book will focus on the respective teen's individual upbringing and personal transformation. Both books will be published on September 30, 2014; they were unagented.
Christy Ottaviano at Henry Holt’s Christy Ottaviano Books has acquired Romeo, Juliet, and Jim, a YA trilogy written by TV producer Larry Schwarz and author Elise Allen. In this contemporary romantic thriller with homages to Shakespeare and Truffaut, the star-crossed teen lovers are heirs to rival Parisian fashion houses, carrying on a clandestine relationship – until Jim, a mysterious and charismatic American, creates a triangle of interests. The projected pub date is fall 2015; Fonda Snyder of Alchemy Ink did the deal for world English rights.
Nancy Siscoe at Knopf Books for Young Readers has bought Teddy & Co., a middle-grade novel by Newbery Medalist Cynthia Voigt about a group of lost toys – including a legless bear, a pair of pigs, an aloof penguin, a kindly elephant, and a manipulative rabbit – who make a new home for themselves. The book pubs in spring 2016; Merrilee Heifetz at Writers House brokered the deal for U.S. and Canadian rights.
Nancy Siscoe has also acquired Maggie Smith's And I Have You, a picture book about babies – both animal and human – and the parents who love them. Publication is scheduled for spring 2016. The deal, for world rights, was unagented.
Stacey Barney at Putnam has acquired, at auction, world English rights to Melanie Conklin's Counting Thyme for publication in 2016. The novel follows 10-year-old Thyme Owens, who moves from San Diego to New York City after her brother is accepted into a cancer drug trial. There, she discovers that hope can be found in everyday miracles: in first crushes, in budding friendships, in school plays, and in a sister's love for her little brother. Pete Knapp at the Park Literary Group brokered the two-book, six-figure deal.
Liz Bicknell at Candlewick has acquired two new YA novels by Morris Award-winner Blythe Woolston. The first, MARTians, will be published in spring 2016, and is a dark comedy about a girl left to fend for herself in a world of urban decay studded with big box stores and mosquito-infested swimming pools. The second, Hacking Texanna, is a love story about a genius boy hacker, on the autistic spectrum, who decides to "hack" the personality of a mesmerizing girl in his class, with unforeseen consequences; it will publish in spring 2017. Sarah Davies at the Greenhouse Literary Agency did the deal for North American rights.
Wendy Loggia at Delacorte Press has bought world rights to Charlotte Huang's debut, For the Record, a glimpse into the modern music scene in which a girl unexpectedly becomes the lead singer of an indie darling band and captures the attention of a Hollywood it-boy. Publication is slated for fall 2015; Adriann Ranta at Wolf Literary Services was the agent.
Georgia McBride at Month9Books has acquired North American and audio rights to a middle-grade fantasy thriller called Strange Country Day, and an untitled sequel by debut author and New York City sportswriter Charles Curtis, in which a boy develops superhuman athletic skills while under the watchful eyes of some spooky adults. The book is scheduled for fall 2015 publication from the publisher’s new middle-grade line, Tantrum Books. Richard Curtis of Richard Curtis Associates brokered the deal.
