Kristin Daly Rens at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has acquired, in a five-way auction, A Forgery of Magic, first in a debut YA fantasy trilogy by 24-year-old former Random House Children's editorial assistant Maya Motayne. Set in a Latin-American inspired kingdom based in part on the author's Dominican heritage, the first book follows a face-changing thief and a grief-stricken prince as they race to vanquish a dark magic they have accidentally unleashed. The first book will publish in summer 2019; Alexandra Machinist and Hillary Jacobson at ICM Partners negotiated the three-book deal for North-American rights.
Annie Berger at Sourcebooks Fire has bought Laura Pohl's The Last 8, a YA sci-fi duology about a young Latina pilot who finds herself grounded and alone after a devastating alien attack, but finds hope in an unlikely group of survivors who aren't what they seem. Publication for the first book is scheduled for 2019, with the sequel due in 2020; Sarah LaPolla at Bradford Literary Agency brokered the two-book deal for world English rights.
Beverly Horowitz and Wendy Loggia at Delacorte have acquired world rights to The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by bestselling author Kiersten White. The book reimagines Mary Shelley's gothic 1818 horror novel from the point of view of Elizabeth, a girl who is taken in by the Frankenstein family to be a companion for their son, the volatile and mysterious Victor. Publication is set for fall 2018, to coincide with the 200th anniversary of Frankenstein; Michelle Wolfson at Wolfson Literary Agency represented White.
Christian Trimmer at Henry Holt has bought a psychological thriller, The Remains, and a second untitled novel by Kate Boorman. Pitched as Lostmeets The Leftovers and One of Us Is Lying, The Remains follows siblings Jory and Liv as they desperately search for their parents, who have vanished into thin air. Publication is planned for winter 2019, with the second novel to follow in 2020; Michael Bourret at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret handled the deal for North American rights.
Margaret Ferguson at Holiday House/Ferguson has acquired North American rights to a currently untitled YA novel from Immaculate and Transcendent author Katelyn Detweiler. The book follows a 17-year-old bestselling author who seems to have it all—glowing reviews, diehard fans across the globe, flashy tours, and steep advances—but is harboring a dark secret that threatens to unravel everything. Publication is slated for spring 2019; Jill Grinberg at Jill Grinberg Literary Management negotiated the deal.
Dana Chidiac at Dial has bought, in a six-figure pre-empt, debut Iranian-American author Adib Khorram's Darius the Great Is Not Okay. The book stars a 15-year-old tea-obsessed, clinically depressed, half-Iranian Star Treknerd whose sense of self is transformed by his first trip to Iran. The book will publish in fall 2018; Molly O'Neill brokered the deal for world rights at Waxman Leavell.
Connie Hsu at Roaring Brook/First Second has acquired Spinning author Tillie Walden's YA graphic novel, On a Sunbeam, about a girl on a spaceship tasked with rebuilding old structures, and her journey to track down her long lost love. Publication is scheduled for 2018; Seth Fishman at the Gernert Company negotiated the deal for world rights.
Jennifer Besser and Kate Meltzer at Putnam have bought Chris Rylander's The Legend of Greg: An Epic Series of Failures, a comedic middle grade fantasy trilogy. The series features an ordinary boy living in present-day Chicago, who discovers he’s a fantastical Dwarf and is forced to navigate a subterranean city where Dwarf and Elf colonies prepare for battle as their long-dormant respective magics return to the surface. Book 1 is planned for June 2018; Steven Malk at Writers House did the three-book deal for North American rights. Temple Hill Entertainment has secured film rights.
Alex Ulyett at Viking has acquired, at auction, NaNoWriMo's guide to writing stories, Brave the Page, by Grant Faulkner and Rebecca Stern. The middle grade book aims to inspire young people to tackle audacious goals, like writing a novel in a month, and provides lessons to help them complete their creative projects. Publication is set for fall 2019; Lindsay Edgecombe at Levine Greenberg Rostan brokered the deal for world rights.
Andrew Woolridge at Orca has bought world rights to the chapter book The Great Googlini by Sara Cassidy (l.), illustrated by Charlene Chua, for the Orca Echoes series. Filip is the 10-year-old son of Croatian immigrants, who googles "will he live?" when his Uncle falls ill. In return, he meets the genie who is Google. Publication is slated for fall 2018; the author was unagented, and Tracy Marchini at BookEnds represented the illustrator.
Jill Santopolo at Philomel has acquired world rights to C. Alexander London's (l.) The Adventures of Wrong Man and Power Girl!, illustrated by Frank Morrison. The comic-book-inspired picture book is about the superhero team of Wrong Man, who makes problems worse despite the best of intentions, and his daughter, Power Girl, who always helps save the day. Publication is scheduled for March 2018; Robert Guinsler at Sterling Lord Literistic represented the author, and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Kristin Zelazko at Little Bee has bought world rights, at auction, to The Nian Monster author Andrea Wang's (l.) picture book, Magic Ramen: The Story of the Invention of Instant Noodles. The book shows readers the historical context, scientific experimentation, and spirit of determination and charity that led Momofuku Ando to invent instant ramen. Debut artist Kana Urbanowicz will illustrate; publication is planned for spring 2019. Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal for the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Paula Wiseman at S&S/Wiseman has acquired world rights to Spencer and Vincent by Tony Johnston, illustrated by Emily Dove, about two jellyfish brothers and the friends of superior magnitude who come to their aid when they become separated. Publication is scheduled for spring 2019; Susan Cohen at Writers House represented the author, and Molly O'Neill at Waxman Leavell represented the illustrator.
Anne Schwartz at Random House imprint Schwartz & Wade has bought Tricia Elam Walker's (l.) Dream Street, illustrated by Coretta Scott King Award winner Ekua Holmes. The picture book tells the story of a street where dreams come true for the people who live there. Publication is set for spring 2021; Regina Brooks at the Serendipity Literary Agency represented the author and the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Rebecca Davis at Boyds Mills Press has acquired North American English-language rights to Rebecca Kai Dotlich's (l.) Good Night, Oliver Wizard, illustrated by Josée Masse. In the picture book, a father playfully tries to put his fearful, wizard-loving son to bed using his imagination and passion for wizardry. The book is slated for publication in fall 2019; Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown Ltd. represented the author, and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Claudia Bedrick at Enchanted Lion has bought world rights to Finn's Feather, a picture book by Rachel Nobel (l.), illustrated by Zoey Abbott. When Finn finds a beautiful feather, he believes his late brother has sent it as a precious gift. Although he wants to protect his treasure, Finn and his friend Lucas decide to have fun with it, and the true gift of the feather is revealed. Publication is scheduled for spring 2018; Selwa Anthony at Selwa Anthony Pty represented the author, and Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio represented the illustrator.
Kate Farrell at Henry Holt has acquired Dear Heartbreak: YA Authors on the Dark Side of Love, edited by Heather Demetrios, a collection of real-life letters from teens answered by 19 young adult authors: Adi Alsaid, Becky Albertalli, Libba Bray, Heather Demetrios, Amy Ewing, Tim Federle, Zach Fehst, Gayle Forman, Corey Ann Haydu, Varian Johnson, A.S. King, Nina LaCour, Kim Liggett, Kekla Magoon, Sarah McCarry, Sandhya Menon, Cristina Moracho, Jasmine Warga, and Ibi Zoboi. Publication is slated for December 2018. Brenda Bowen at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates sold North American rights on behalf of Demetrios; the contributors were represented by various agents.
Jeffrey West at Scholastic has bought Sabina Khan's The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali, in which the title character is caught kissing her girlfriend by her conservative Muslim parents, who respond by forcing her to move from Seattle to Bangladesh. Publication is scheduled for spring 2019; Hillary Jacobson at ICM Partners negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Mary Kate Castellani at Bloomsbury Children's Books has acquired Phil Stamper's debut novel, The Gravity of Us, plus an untitled standalone. The story follows two teen boys who find love amid the drama of a NASA mission to Mars. Publication is planned for winter 2020; Brent Taylor at Triada US brokered the two-book deal for world English rights.
Amy Stapp at Tor Teen has bought Alexis Bass's contemporary YA novel Happily and Madly, set on a wealthy island off the coast of New England, about a girl fated to die before she turns 18 who unwittingly uncovers a sinister plot when she saves the life of a handsome stranger weeks before that fateful birthday. Publication is set for spring 2019; Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media did the two-book deal for world English rights.
Bloomsbury Children’s Books has acquired world rights to Irish author Catherine Doyle's debut middle grade novel The Storm Keeper's Island and a second untitled book in a six-figure deal; it will be edited by Ellen Holgate in the U.K. and by Allison Moore in the U.S. The Storm Keeper's Island tells the story of Fionn Boyle who is sent to stay with his grandfather for the summer on a remote island, but after his arrival awakens an ancient magic buried deep in the island, he must embrace his destiny as the Storm Keeper's heir. It will be published in the U.K. and Australia in July 2018 and in the U.S. in winter 2019; Claire Wilson at RCW Literary Agency negotiated the deal.
Stephanie Owens Lurie at Disney-Hyperion imprint Rick Riordan Presents has bought Rebecca Roanhorse's Race to the Sun, about a seventh-grade girl named Nizhoni Begay and her brother who, aided by various Navajo gods disguised as relatives, must stay one step ahead of a shape-shifting monster as they follow in the footsteps of the legendary Hero Twins to save their family. Publication is slated for fall 2019; Sara Megibow of KT Literary sold world rights.
Stacey Barney at Putnam has acquired, in a five-house auction, author Greg Howard's The Whispers, a middle grade mystery that follows a boy who seeks out all-knowing, mythical wood creatures to help him find his missing mother before he becomes the prime suspect in her disappearance. Publication is scheduled for spring 2019; Brianne Johnson at Writers House brokered the six-figure, two-book deal for world English rights.
Caitlyn Dlouhy at Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books has bought National Book Award finalist Tor Seidler's Phoenix, a middle grade novel about a squirrel who overcomes his greatest fear to save his community in an urban drama set against the backdrop of a NYC Con Edison substation, featuring a red-tailed hawk, a cheese-loving pack rat, a self-serving sewer rat, and a flirty pigeon. A publication date has not been set; Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Eric Wight at Rodale Kids has acquired Kelly DiPucchio's picture book, How to Grow Happiness: A Jerome the Gnome Adventure, illustrated by Matt Kaufenberg. It follows Jerome and his whimsical garden friends as they learn how to find happiness through hard work, compassion, and patience. Publication is planned for May 2018. Steven Malk at Writers House brokered the deal for DiPucchio; Kaufenberg is unagented.
Kristen Nobles at Page Street Kids has bought world rights to Roam, a picture book written by Josh Crute and Marissa Elliott-Baptiste and illustrated by Elliott-Baptiste. Owen, a young bison who is hesitant to move, migrates with his herd across the country and comes to realize that different and new may not be so bad. Publication is scheduled for winter 2019; the author and illustrator were unagented.
