Amy Stapp at Tor Teen has acquired world English rights for Katie McGarry's new novel, Breathe. The book features a teenage girl who leaves home to escape her abusive father, and must trust the boy who broke her heart and who is dealing with the death of his grandmother and guardian. Publication is planned for winter 2019; Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media brokered the two-book deal.
Vicki Lame at Wednesday Books has bought Jack Kerouac Is Dead to Me, a YA novel by Gae Polisner. As her mother slips further from reality, and her best friend drifts away from her, Jean Louise takes solace in the tropical butterflies she raises, and in her relationship with the older, and potentially toxic, Max Gordon. Publication is set for fall 2019; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret did the deal for world rights.
Pam Gruber at Little, Brown has acquired Katrina Leno's You Must Not Miss, a genre-bending story following antihero Magpie Lewis as she copes with the aftermath of family betrayal and sexual assault by disappearing into an alternate world of her own creation that's more sinister than it first appears. Publication is slated for fall 2019; Wendy Schmalz at Wendy Schmalz Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Kat Brzozowski at Feiwel and Friends has bought a YA sci-fi novel by debut author Danielle Stinson, Before I Disappear. Pitched as Arrival meets A Wrinkle in Time, the book tells of a town that disappears into thin air and the 17-year-old girl who has to find her younger brother before he is gone forever. Publication is scheduled for 2019; Caryn Wiseman at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Lauren Knowles at Page Street has acquired Echo North by Joanna Meyer, author of Beneath the Haunting Sea. A YA fantasy retelling of "East of the Sun, West of the Moon," the story is about a girl, cast out for her scarred face, whose world falls apart when she finds her father half-frozen in the snow and guarded by a strange talking wolf. Publication is planned for winter 2019; Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary did the deal for world rights.
Kieran Viola at Disney-Hyperion has bought Dragon Ops, a new middle grade series by author Mari Mancusi (Scorched). Pitched as Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle meets Pokemon Go: The Series, the books follow three kids who are trapped in the world's first augmented reality theme park, which has been taken over by a rogue dragon AI determined to win the game at any cost. Publication is slated for spring/summer 2020; Mandy Hubbard at Emerald City Literary negotiated the two-book deal for world English rights.
Michele Wells at DC Entertainment's new DC Zoom imprint has acquired Michael Northrop's middle grade graphic novel, Dear Justice League, in which Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the rest of the world's greatest team of superheroes answer messages from young fans, offering advice and sharing their own stories of growing up, messing up, and stepping up. Publication is set for May 2019; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties brokered the deal for world rights.
Susan Dobinick at Bloomsbury has bought world rights to environmentalist Heather Montgomery's middle grade book, Something Rotten: A Fresh Look at Roadkill, a global look at the unexpected information to be learned from roadkill and the many ways roadkill is used to benefit our world. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018; Rubin Pfeffer at Rubin Pfeffer Content represented the author.
Mallory Loehr at Random House has acquired a line of books written by WWE champion and actor John Cena. Inspired by Cena's experiences growing up with four brothers, the books feature a family of monster trucks. The first title, Elbow Grease, is a picture book starring a little monster truck with a big problem—he is smaller than his four brothers, but on a mission to prove that he can do big things. Howard McWilliam (I Need My Monster) will illustrate. Following the picture book will be a range of multi-format books, all featuring Elbow Grease and his boisterous brothers: Pinball, Flash, Crash, and Tank. Elbow Grease is set for October 9, 2018; Jennifer Joel at ICM Partners negotiated the deal for worldwide publishing rights.
Andrea Tompa at Candlewick has bought world rights to The Blunders: A Cautionary Counting Tale by Christina Soontornvat, illustrated by Colin Jack. The picture book is a retelling of the international folktale "The Fools Who Do Not Count Themselves," in which the 10 Blunder children fear telling their mother when they think they've lost one of their siblings. Publication is slated for 2019; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill of Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Justin Rucker of Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.
Yasemin Uçar and Semareh Al-Hillal at Kids Can Press have acquired author Kerry Lyn Sparrow's (l.) The Couch Potato, about a potato that finds itself quite at home on the Russet family's couch, much to the chagrin of Mr. Russet. Yinfan Huang will make her illustration debut; publication is planned for fall 2019. The author represented herself, and Sean McCarthy of Sean McCarthy Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Christina Pulles at Sterling has bought world rights to author Alice Faye Duncan's (l.) A Song for Gwendolyn Brooks, a picture book biography of the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, told through Duncan's poetry. Xia Gordon will illustrate; publication is scheduled for fall 2018. Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Wendy McClure at Albert Whitman has acquired Like Vanessa author Tami Charles's (l.) Fearless Mary, a tribute to Mary Fields, the first African-American woman to be hired as a stagecoach driver in the Wild West. Claire Almon will illustrate; publication is slated for winter 2018. Lara Perkins at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Emily Coggins at Astound Illustration Agency represented the illustrator.
Christy Cox at Little Bigfoot has bought world rights to Think Smart, Be Fearless, a children's book biography of Bill Gates by Sharon Mentyka (l.), illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger. The book focuses on the influence of his family and childhood experiences on his work in computer technology and philanthropy. Publication is set for fall 2019; Mentyka represented herself, and Anne Moore Armstrong of Bright Group USA represented Mildenberger.
Sarah Shumway at Bloomsbury has acquired world rights to She Wanted to Be Haunted by Marcus Ewert (Mummy Cat), illustrated by Susie Ghahremani (What Will Grow). The book is about a cute little cottage who would much rather be spooky, but her efforts to change her character and invite a scary inhabitant have unintended results. Publication is planned for 2020; Katherine Boyle at Veritas Literary represented the author, and Stefanie Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary represented the illustrator.
Charlie Ilgunas at Little Bee has bought world rights to Daniel Haack (l.) and Isabel Galupo's Maiden & Princess, illustrated by Becca Human, a picture book about a maiden who goes to the prince's royal ball and doesn't quite enjoy herself until she meets and falls in love with the princess. Publication is scheduled for spring 2019; Brent Taylor at TriadaUS Literary Agency represented the authors, and the illustrator represented herself.
Marissa Grossman at Razorbill has acquired Give the Dark My Love, the first book in a YA duology from Across the Universe author Beth Revis. The epic fantasy follows a young alchemist who turns to dark magic when a deadly plague sweeps through her homeland. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018; Merrilee Heifetz at Writers House negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Alvina Ling at Little, Brown has bought Sarah Henstra's epistolary YA novel, We Contain Multitudes. When Jonathan "Jo" Hopkirk and Adam "Kurl" Kurlansky are partnered in English class and must write letters to each other in a weekly pen pal assignment, they develop a friendship that grows into love, even in the face of homophobia, bullying, and abuse. Publication is slated for spring 2019; Rachel Letofsky and Martha Webb at CookeMcDermid Agency did the deal for world rights, excluding Canada.
Liesa Abrams at Simon Pulse has acquired North American rights for author Sarah Gailey's first YA novel, When We Were Magic, in which a group of high school girls face up to the consequences of a disastrous magical accident resulting in a dead boy on prom night. Publication is planned for 2019; DongWon Song at the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Catherine Laudone at Simon & Schuster has bought indie bookseller Rebecca Kim Wells's debut YA fantasy, Children of Ash. Raised in the ruins of a mountain city, Maren wants nothing but a peaceful life. But when her girlfriend is kidnapped, Maren vows to rescue her, even if it means stealing a dragon from the corrupt empire. Publication is set for summer 2019; Rebecca Podos at the Rees Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Jennifer Greene at Clarion has acquired world rights to The Brontë Sistersauthor Catherine Reef's as-yet-untitled biography of Sarah Bernhardt, perhaps the most famous actress of all time, who lived extravagantly and flaunted her unconventionality. The book will be illustrated with archival photos. Publication is scheduled for spring 2020; the author represented herself.
Virginia Duncan at Greenwillow has bought, at auction, world rights to A Hundred Thousand Welcomes by children's book editor Mary Lee Donovan, about the ways people around the world welcome others into their homes and communities. A publication date has yet to be set; Victoria Sanders at Victoria Sanders & Associates brokered the deal.
Andrea Tompa at Candlewick has acquired, at auction, a middle grade fantasy novel by Christina Soontornvat, A Wish in the Dark, as well as a standalone novel. Loosely based on Les Miserables and set in an imaginary Bangkok-like city, the book tells the story of Pong, a boy who escapes the women's prison where he was born only to find that the world outside does not offer the freedom he has always longed for. Publication is slated for spring 2020; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary did the two-book deal for world rights.
Alyson Heller at S&S/Aladdin has bought a chapter book series, Frankie Sparks, by The Firefly Code author Megan Frazer Blakemore. The series is about the self-proclaimed greatest third-grade inventor ever, who solves everyday problems through design thinking and innovation, incorporating the author's experience with maker projects as a school librarian. Publication will begin in summer 2019; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties negotiated the four-book deal for world rights.
Reka Simonsen at S&S/Atheneum has acquired world rights to Puppy Truckby Caldecott Honor artist Brian Pinkney. The picture book is about a boy who wants a puppy but gets a toy truck instead. Publication is planned for summer 2019; Rebecca Sherman at Writers House brokered the deal.
Kate Harrison at Dial has bought, in a preempt, a series of four picture books by Samantha Cotterill, tentatively titled Little Senses. The books tackle topics like picky eating, and are geared toward kids on the spectrum or with sensory issues. Nope! Never! Not for Me! and a second title are scheduled for summer 2019; Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions did the deal for world rights.
Tara Walker and Elizabeth Kribs at Tundra have acquired world rights to Kate Pugsley's debut picture book, Mermaid Dreams. A shy girl goes on an underwater adventure filled with colorful sea creatures, games with new friends, and mermaid surprises. Publication is slated for spring 2019; Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the author-illustrator.
Kristen Nobles at Page Street Kids has bought Before You Sleep illustrator Ioana Hobai's debut picture book as an author-illustrator, called The Slippers. The book follows a girl who struggles to find the right dance slippers for her school recital and must think of a creative solution. Publication is planned for spring 2019; Hobai represented herself in the deal for world rights.
Mary Kate Castellani at Bloomsbury has bought world rights to A Voice Named Aretha, a picture book biography of Aretha Franklin by Katheryn Russell-Brown (Little Melba and Her Big Trombone) (l.), illustrated by Laura Freeman. Publication is scheduled for winter 2020; Adriana Dominguez at Full Circle Literary represented the author, and Janet DeCarlo at Storybook Arts represented the illustrator.
Mabel Hsu at HarperCollins/Tegen has bought world English rights to One Hug by Katrina Moore (l.), illustrated by Julia Woolf. The picture book follows an Asian-American boy as he and his family prepare to welcome their immigrant relatives. Publication is set for fall 2019; Natascha Morris at BookEnds Literary represented the author, and Paul Moreton at Bell Lomax Moreton represented the illustrator.
Patricia Stockland at Capstone has acquired world rights to You, a poem by author Alexs Pate (l.). Written in free verse, the picture book celebrates love, hope, and self-discovery, encouraging readers to see the light and wonder inside themselves. Publication is planned for late summer 2018; Soud will illustrate. The author represented himself, and Claire Easton at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
