Krista Marino at Delacorte has acquired a new stand-alone novel by Karen M. McManus, author of the bestselling YA thriller One of Us Is Lying. Two Can Keep a Secret is a murder mystery set in the small New England town of Echo Ridge, where 17-year-old Ellery's aunt went missing as a teenager, and recently, a popular homecoming queen was killed in a widely publicized murder. When Ellery and her twin brother move to Echo Ridge to live with a grandmother they barely know, things quickly take a dark turn. The book will be published on January 8, 2019, with a first printing of 250,000 copies; Rosemary Stimola and Allison Remcheck at Stimola Literary Studio sold North American rights. One of Us Is Lying has been sold in 37 foreign territories, and is currently being developed into a TV series by E!
Kenneth Wright and Kendra Levin at Viking have bought the poetry memoir Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson. Written 20 years after the publication of her bestselling novel Speak, Shout tells Anderson's stories of growing up, including the inspiration for her beloved and much-challenged novel, and issues a call to action for survivors of sexual harassment and assault and their allies. Publication is planned for March 2019; Amy Berkower at Writers House brokered the deal for North American rights.
Wendy Loggia at Delacorte has acquired world English rights to Lindsey Roth Culli's Say Yes Summer, a YA novel about a girl who decides to just say yes to everything, bringing her friendship, new experiences, and, if she lets her guard down, true love. Publication is scheduled for spring 2020; Viana Siniscalchi and Sara Shandler at Alloy Entertainment handled the deal, with the author represented by Amy Tipton at Signature Literary Agency.
Heather Alexander at Audible Originals has bought world audio and print rights to Jessica Khoury's The Mystwick School of Musicraft, in an exclusive submission by Lucy Carson at the Friedrich Agency. Khoury's first middle grade novel takes place in a world where music creates magic and every song is a spell. Amelia Jones's greatest dream is to attend the same prestigious Musicraft academy as her late mother, but Amelia will soon discover she's no ordinary musician. Audible sold print rights at auction to Nicole Sclama at HMH; all formats will publish simultaneously in fall 2019.
Neal Porter at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has acquired world rights to Capital Magic by librarian and debut author Susan Kusel, a retelling of I.L. Peretz's story “The Magician,” about a family too poor to celebrate Passover until a stranger knocks at their door. Artist and Eisner Award nominee Sean Rubin will illustrate; publication is set for spring 2020. Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency represented both the author and the illustrator.
Connie Hsu at Roaring Brook has bought world rights to Black Is a Rainbow Color by debut author Angela Joy (l.), illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Ekua Holmes. The picture book explores what it means to be black, weaving together culture, history, identity, and activism. Publication is slated for fall 2019; Jamie Weiss Chilton at Andrea Brown Literary represented the author, and Rubin Pfeffer at Rubin Pfeffer Content represented the artist.
Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane has acquired world rights to Frances Gilbert's (l.) picture book, Go, Girls, Go!, a vehicle-themed picture book that puts girls in the driver's seat. The book will be illustrated by Allison Black, and will be published in fall 2019. The author was unagented, and Kelly Sonnack at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Rachel Murray at Holt has bought world rights to Who Wants to Be a Pirate? by Bridget Heos, illustrated by Daniel Duncan. The picture book compares the life of a fictional pirate to that of a typical pirate from the historical golden age of piracy. Publication is planned for fall 2019; Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Allison Cohen at Running Press Kids has acquired world rights to a picture book by Tracey Kyle (l.), tentatively titled Alpaca Pati, about an alpaca who loves to dress up and what happens when she learns her beautiful coat will be sheared. Yoss Sanchez will illustrate. Publication is scheduled for fall 2019; Jennifer Unter at the Unter Agency represented the author, and Aurora Meyer at Astound Agency represented the illustrator.
Joy Peskin and Trisha de Guzman at Farrar, Straus and Giroux have bought world rights to Tami Lewis Brown's picture book, Art Is Life, illustrated by Keith Negley, a picture book biography of Keith Haring that captures his early life and encapsulates his philosophy that art is for everyone. Publication is set for fall 2020; Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary represented the author, and Rebecca Sherman at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Karen Greenberg at Knopf has acquired world rights to The Polio Pioneer, a picture book biography by Linda Marshall (l.), which tells the story of Jonas Salk, scientist and inventor of the polio vaccine. Lisa Anchin will illustrate; publication is slated for spring 2020. Christa Heschke at McIntosh & Otis represented the author, and Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary & Media represented the illustrator.
Beverly Horowitz at Delacorte has acquired two middle grade novels by Rob Buyea, author of the bestselling Mr. Terupt series. The first book is anticipated in summer 2020; Paul Fedorko at the Paul Fedorko Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Hannah Allaman at Disney-Hyperion has bought a middle grade novel by K.E. Ormsbee, called The Sardines of Strange Street. A tight-knit group of friends on a glowboarding team discover that they have powers of telekinesis and telepathy; despite their best efforts to stay inconspicuous, they catch the attention of a mysterious, powerful man in their city—and maybe even forces beyond the earth's atmosphere. Publication is planned for fall 2019; Beth Phelan at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Barbara Herndon at Zonderkidz has acquired, in a two-book deal, Sophie Corrigan's Pugtato, a picture book focusing on friendship and self-acceptance that features Pugtato and other "foodimals" friends such as Birdana and Cutecumber, and "thingimals" friends such as Mewnicorn and Cactopus. The second book is a Pugtato board book aimed at toddlers. Publication is set for August 2020 and August 2021, respectively; Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media Group did the deal for world rights.
Liz Szabla and Anna Roberto at Feiwel and Friends have bought, at auction, Hidden Homes, Lisa Mundorff's debut as both author and illustrator. The picture book reimagines the habitats of various animals based on the human habitat of the same name. Publication is scheduled for spring 2019; Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties sold North American English-language rights.
Christy Ottaviano at Macmillan/Ottaviano Books has acquired world rights to Marie Tharp: The Woman Who Mapped the Ocean Floor by JoAnn Adinolfi (writing as Josie James), a mixed-format picture book biography of STEM pioneer Marie Tharp, whose work proved the theories of plate tectonics and continental drift. The book is currently slated for 2020; the author represented herself.
Emilia Rhodes at HMH has bought world rights, in a preempt, to The Duchess and Guy: A Puppy Love Story, a picture book by Nancy Furstinger (l.) inspired by the true story of Meghan Markle's rescue beagle, Guy. Julia Bereciartu will illustrate; publication is planned for January 2019. John Rudolph at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented the author, and the illustrator was unagented. A portion of the proceeds will benefit dog rescue.
Justin Krasner at Odd Dot, the new Macmillan imprint, has acquired world rights to Colleen A.F. Venable's (l.) One More Wheel, an interactive Things-That-Go counting book, illustrated by Blythe Russo. Publication is scheduled for spring 2019; Barry Goldblatt at Barry Goldblatt Literary represented the author, and Molly O'Neill at Root Literary represented the illustrator.
Michelle Frey at Knopf has bought world rights to Barb Rosenstock's (l.) Mornings with Monet, a picture book about Claude Monet's life of persistence, frustration, and resilience as a working artist along the Seine River. Caldecott Honor artist Mary GrandPré (The Noisy Paintbox) will illustrate; the book is slated for spring 2021. Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal for both the author and the illustrator.
