Farrin Jacobs at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to We Are Displaced by Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai. In the book, Yousafzai introduces readers to what it means to lose one's home, one's community, and the only world one's ever known, and shares the personal stories of some of the girls she has met in refugee camps and cities where refugee girls and their families have settled. Publication is set for September 4, 2018; Karolina Sutton at Curtis Brown UK handled the deal. The author's net sales proceeds from the book will go to the Malala Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to girls' education.
Jordan Brown at Balzer + Bray has bought, in a six-publisher auction, The Ojja-Wojja: A Teen Horror Mystery or Whatever, You Know?, a queer-positive graphic novel by Magdalene Visaggio (l.) and Jenn St-Onge. Val Malloy is an autistic kid with two interests: the supernatural and her best friend, Lanie. When Val and Lanie accidentally unleash a mysterious entity known as the Ojja-Wojja, transforming their town into a mind-controlled cult, they must team up with other misfits to stop it. Publication is scheduled for spring 2021; Charlie Olsen at InkWell Management brokered the two-book deal for North American rights.
Tiffany Liao at Henry Holt has acquired, at auction, Jess Rothenberg's The Kingdom. Set in a fantasy theme park, the story follows Ana, a human-android hybrid whose only purpose as "Fantasist" is to make dreams come true, until she's accused of murder. Pitched as Westworld meets the Serial podcast, the mystery unravels through court testimony, interrogations, and flashbacks. Publication is planned for spring 2019; Stephen Barbara at Inkwell Management negotiated on behalf of Glasstown Entertainment for world rights excluding Germany.
Kaylan Adair at Candlewick has bought The Summer of '69, a semi-autobiographic novel from Fallout author Todd Strasser. In the novel, 18-year-old Lucas Baker is forced to confront a number of competing dilemmas—the looming threat of the Vietnam War draft, the choice between true love and free love, a family on the verge of dissolution, and the tension between living for today and preparing for a future—all culminating at the Woodstock festival. Publication is slated for summer 2019, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Woodstock; Stephen Barbara at InkWell Management did the deal for North American rights.
Liza Kaplan at Philomel has acquired Jenny Torres Sanchez's new novel, By the Water. The book follows sisters Lola and Rosie in the wake of a car accident that landed them at the bottom of a lake, as they struggle to find a new relationship amid brain damage and the lingering fear that the accident wasn't an accident at all. The book is set for publication in summer 2020; Kerry Sparks at Levine Greenberg Rostan negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Beverly Horowitz at Delacorte has bought Christopher Edge's The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day, a mystery in the vein of A Wrinkle in Time. The book stars a gifted girl who, on her 10th birthday, wakes to an empty house and discovers nothing but an all-consuming blackness. She must figure out this shifted reality and apply her understanding of physics and the laws of the universe if she is to set her world right and find her family. Publication is scheduled for spring 2019; Kate Wilson at Nosy Crow brokered the deal for U.S., Canadian, and open market rights, excluding Europe.
Sarah Barley at Flatiron has acquired His Hideous Heart, a collection of Edgar Allan Poe short stories reimagined by various authors. The anthology, which will be edited by Dahlia Adler, features stories by Kendare Blake, Rin Chupeco, Lamar Giles, Tessa Gratton, Tiffany Jackson, Stephanie Kuehn, Amanda Lovelace, Emily Lloyd-Jones, Hillary Monahan, Marieke Nijkamp, Caleb Roehrig, and Fran Wilde. (The book will also feature the Poe stories being riffed upon.) Publication is planned for fall 2019, Victoria Marini at Irene Goodman Agency did the deal for world rights.
Nicole Ellul at Simon Pulse has bought an untitled YA novel by Jenn Bennett, pitched as The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue meets The Last Magician. In the romantic adventure, when a teen heiress's treasuring-hunting father is kidnapped, she travels across 1930s Transylvania with her streetwise rival to secure the ransom: a cursed medieval ring that once belonged to Vlad the Impaler. The book is slated for fall 2019; Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency brokered the deal for North American rights.
Kelli Chipponeri at Chronicle has acquired The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Elements, the first children's book both written and illustrated by Lisa Congdon. The book brings the periodic table to life with scientific information, historical profiles, and illustrations of each of the elements. Publication is scheduled for 2020; Stefanie Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary handled the deal for world rights.
Katherine Jacobs at Roaring Brook has bought, in a five-house auction, Nerdy Babies, a four-book series that aims to inspire young readers to appreciate science and creativity. The series was created by debut author-illustrator Emmy Kastner, co-founder and executive director of Read and Write Kalamazoo, a youth literacy nonprofit. The first two books in the series, Nerdy Babies Explore Space and Nerdy Babies Explore the Ocean, will publish in fall 2019; Molly O'Neill at Root Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Reka Simonsen at Atheneum has acquired world rights to Mary Wagley Copp's debut picture book, Wherever I Go, about a girl who has lived in a refugee camp so long that she's not sure who she'll become if her family ever leaves. Debut artist Munir D. Mohammed will illustrate; publication is set for fall 2019. Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Lara Perkins at Andrea Brown Literary represented the illustrator.
Paula Wiseman at S&S/Wiseman has bought world rights to When I Grow Up, the debut picture book by Julie Chen(l.), host of The Talk and Big Brother. The book features a boy who tells his mother about his big ideas and all of the things he wants to do when he grows up. But when will he grow up, and why does it take so long? Caldecott Honor artist Diane Goode will illustrate. Publication is slated for October 2018; Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein & Lezcano represented the author, and Steven Malk at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Deirdre Jones at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to Leave It to Abigail, a picture book biography of Abigail Adams, focusing on her strength, intelligence, tenacity, and involvement in the early years of the United States. Barb Rosenstock (l.) is the author and Elizabeth Baddeley will illustrate; publication is planned for fall 2019/winter 2020. Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Alexandra Penfold at Upstart Crow Literary represented the artist.
Mary Cash at Holiday House has bought world rights to Pippa's Passover Plate by Vivian Kirkfield (l.), illustrated by Jill Weber. Cats and snakes and owls make Pippa quake, but young Pippa must confront her natural enemies if she is to find the missing Seder plate in time for the holiday. Publication is scheduled for spring 2019; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Mara Conlon at Peter Pauper has acquired world rights to Little Things by Nick Dyer, illustrated by Kelly Pousette, in a picture book debut for both. A child notices everyday little things, from footprints to raindrops, and a turtle in need of being flipped upright, that are big in beauty and importance. Publication is set for spring 2019; Mary Cummings at Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises represented the author, and Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary represented the illustrator.
Alexis Orgera and Chad Reynolds at Penny Candy have bought world rights to Henry the Boy by Molly Felder (l.), illustrated by mother-and-son team Tara Sweeney and Nate Christopherson. The picture book is about a boy who uses forearm crutches with cuffs at the elbow and who learns to takes comfort in friendship and to define himself on his own terms. Debut author Felder, who has cerebral palsy, received her M.A. from NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study. The book will be published in March 2019; the author and illustrators were unagented.
Maggie Lehrman at Amulet has acquired world English rights to the tentatively titled The Last Year of James and Kat by Amy Spalding (The Summer of Jordi Perez and Kissing Ted Callahan). Loosely based on the structure of the musical The Last Five Years, the YA novel details in alternating timelines one of the most crushing breakups of a teenager's life: that of childhood best friends. The book will be published in spring 2020; Kate Testerman at KT Literary negotiated the deal.
Karen Chaplin at HarperTeen has bought Jessica Rubinkowski's The Bright and the Pale, a YA fantasy debut pitched as The Bear and the Nightingale meets Shadow and Bone. Inspired by Russian folklore, the novel follows orphan Valeria, one of the only survivors of a magical happening that trapped her entire mining town in a sheet of unbreakable ice. When her best friend is kidnapped, she leads a team of cutthroats and thieves on an expedition to the very mountain that claimed her family, where something sinister slumbers. Publication is scheduled for 2020; Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord Literistic did the two-book deal for world English rights.
Ashley Wyrick at Flux has acquired world rights to Meredith Tate's YA fantasy, The Red Labyrinth. Seventeen-year-old Zadie is forced to team up with a powerful villain to navigate a deadly enchanted labyrinth and save her best (and only) friend: the town hero. Publication is set for spring 2019; the author represented herself.
Christian Trimmer and Brian Geffen at Holt have bought the first middle-grade series developed by Toronto-based IP studio Wasabi Entertainment, for world English rights, in a six-figure preempt. The Thieves of Weirdwood, inspired by Wasabi's interactive story app Weirdwood Manor, follows the adventures of a pair of young pickpockets who stumble into a twisted and magical storybook world. The series will be written by Christian McKay Heidicker, writing as William Shivering. Publication is slated for spring 2019; John Cusick at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented Christian McKay Heidicker and Wasabi.
Kelsey Horton at Delacorte has acquired Amelia Fang and the Barbaric Balland Amelia Fang and the Unicorn Lords, book one and two in Laura Ellen Anderson's illustrated middle grade series. The books feature a vampire girl who lives in the world of Nocturnia, where darkness reigns supreme, glitter is terrifying, and unicorns are the stuff of nightmares. Publication is planned for summer 2019; Tracy Phillips at Egmont handled the deal for North American rights.
Annie Berger at Sourcebooks has bought Rebecca Behrens's next two middle grade novels: In Case of Emergency and a second untitled standalone book. In Case of Emergency features a 12-year-old girl who is babysitting her neighbors in a semi-rural neighborhood on an island off the Seattle coast, when an earthquake knocks out the power grid and leaves them stranded and disconnected from the mainland. Publication is set for fall 2019; Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media brokered the deal for world English rights.
Taylor Norman at Chronicle has acquired world English rights to Jon Scieszka's (l.) AstroNUTS, a new chapter book series about a secret, super-powered animal squad built by NASA to search the universe for an alternative habitable planet. The books will be illustrated in a graphic novel/field guide format, using artworks from Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum and original art by Steven Weinberg. The first book is scheduled for fall 2019; Steven Malk at Writers House represented the author, and Marcia Wernick of Wernick & Pratt represented the illustrator.
Emily Feinberg at Roaring Brook has bought world rights to Red Rover, a picture book by debut author Richard Ho, offering a Mars'-eye view of Curiosity, the research vehicle currently roving the red planet. Sibert Honor winner Katherine Roy (Neighborhood Sharks, How to Be an Elephant) will illustrate; publication is slated for fall 2019. Emily Mitchell at Wernick & Pratt represented the author, and Stephen Barr at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Rotem Moscovich at Disney-Hyperion has bought Love, Sophia on the Moon, a picture book by Anica Mrose Rissi (l.), author of the Anna, Banana series and The Teacher's Pet. In the story, Sophia writes letters threatening to run away to "the moon" to avoid being in trouble on Earth, and her mother writes back. Tea with Oliver author-illustrator Mika Song will illustrate; publication is set for summer 2020. Meredith Kaffel Simonoff at DeFiore and Company represented the author, and Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio represented the artist.
Julia Maguire at Knopf has acquired world rights to From Ed's to Ned's by Gideon Sterer, illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins, a picture book about a group of industrious kids making their way from house to house by unique and innovative means. Publication is scheduled for summer 2020; Stephen Barr at Writers House represented the author, and Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary represented the illustrator.
Sailaja N. Joshi at Bharat Babies has bought Super Satya Saves the Day by Raakhee Mirchandani, former managing editor of the New York Daily News and editor-in-chief of Dow Jones's Moneyish. The book introduces an Indian-American girl who takes on daily challenges like a superhero, helping friends along the way. Former Disney Press designer Tim Palin will illustrate. Publication is slated for fall 2018; Liza Fleissig at the Liza Royce Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Nina Kooij at Pelican has acquired Heather Macht's picture book, Rex the…We-Don't-Know, in which a trip to the animal shelter lands a family a one-of-a-kind pet named Rex with fluffy green fur, a long and curly tail, and a white sparkly horn on his forehead. Chase Jensen will illustrate; publication is planned for 2019. Adria Goetz at Martin Literary Management negotiated the deal for world rights.
