Krista Marino at Delacorte has acquired Karen M. McManus's sequel to the bestselling 2017 thriller One of Us Is Lying as well as a second, also untitled YA project. Publication is scheduled for spring 2020 and spring 2021, respectively; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio handled the deal for U.S./Canadian/open market rights.
Maggie Lehrman at Abrams has bought world English rights to Nicole Kronzer's debut, Unscripted, about a talented 17-year-old comedian who lands a coveted spot at a prestigious improv camp, putting her in front of her SNL hero at the final show; however, the humiliation and degradation she suffers at the hands of her all-male team and her coach force her to fight not only for stage time, but also for her voice. The book will pub in spring 2020; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties negotiated the deal.
Jennie Conway at Wednesday Books has acquired Samantha Cohoe's YA debut, A Golden Fury, a historical fantasy about a teenage alchemist on the verge of creating the Philosopher's Stone, who discovers that the cost might be her mind. Publication is planned for winter 2020; Bridget Smith at Dunham Literary sold world English rights.
Trisha de Guzman at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has bought, in a preempt, Of Sea and Venom, a debut YA graphic novel by Trinidad Escobar, an artist and teacher of race and comics at California College of the Arts. Set in the 1500s Pacific Islands and near-future Oakland, Calif., the Own Voices story is about a teenage Priestess-in-training whose future in the divine sciences is challenged when unexpected conquistadors land on her tribe's beach. Publication is tentatively set for spring 2021; Alexander Slater at Trident Media Group brokered the deal for world rights.
Daniel Ehrenhaft at Soho Teen has acquired 18-year-old poet Brynne Rebele-Henry's YA debut, Orpheus Girl. The novel follows a gay Texas teen's quest to rescue her beloved after both girls have been sent away from their small town to be “fixed.” Publication is slated for fall 2019; Alexandra Franklin and Vicky Bijur at Vicky Bijur Literary Agency did the deal for North American rights.
Stephanie Owens Lurie at Disney-Hyperion/Rick Riordan Presents has bought world rights to Tehlor Kay Mejia's Paola Santiago and the Drowned Palace, about a 12-year-old aspiring scientist who begins to suspect that the infamous La Llorona is responsible for her best friend's disappearance, and she must venture into an underwater world to prove it. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret negotiated the two-book deal.
Jordan Brown at HarperCollins/Walden Pond has acquired Orphan Islandauthor Laurel Snyder's next two middle grade novels. The first, My Jasper June, is the story of two girls who meet one summer as they are weathering individual heartaches and hardships, and attempt to make the impossible possible to save each other. Publication is set for fall 2019; Tina Dubois at ICM Partners brokereed the deal for North American rights.
Heidi Taylor at Shadow Mountain has bought A Monster Like Me by debut middle grade author Wendy Swore. Pitched as Bridge to Terabithia meets Wonder, the novel is about a 10-year-old named Sophie who is starting a new school and does her best to hide what she is from other monsters and regular humans—especially her mother—even though it's tough to hide a blood-filled monster mark right next to her eyeball. The book is planned for spring 2019; Stacey Glick at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret did the two-book deal for world rights.
Nikki Garcia at Little, Brown has acquired, in a preempt, Bridget Farr's Pavi Sharma's Guide to Going Home, a middle grade debut about foster kid and entrepreneur Pavi Sharma, who runs a business teaching other kids how to navigate the foster care system. When one of her clients gets placed with the worst family Pavi's ever had, only she can save her from the same fate. Publication is set for fall 2019; Melissa Edwards at Stonesong negotiated the deal for world rights.
Caroline Abbey and Jenna Lettice at Random House have bought Michael Poore's middle grade debut novel, Through the Witching Hour, about two best friends who discover they can communicate telepathically. When they travel back in time, they find themselves running from a kid-eating witch who may be more than she seems. Publication is slated for fall 2019, Michelle Brower at Aevitas Creative Management handled the deal for world English rights.
Amanda Shih at Scholastic Press has acquired world English rights to True Hauntings: Deadly Disasters by Dinah Williams, editor at Black Dog and Leventhal and author of Terrible but True and Spooky Cemeteries. The first in a two-book nonfiction middle grade series, the book is about haunted happenings around the world, and the history behind the spooky legends. Publication is scheduled for 2020, followed by Battlefield Ghosts in 2021; Cathy Hemming at Cathy D. Hemming Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Charlie Ilgunas at Little Bee/Yellow Jacket has bought Christy Lenzi's The Forty Thieves, a middle grade retelling of the Thousand and One Nights tale “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” set in 10th-century Baghdad and told from the point of view of the slave girl, Morgiana. Publication is planned for fall 2019; the author represented herself in the deal for world rights.
Robyn Chapman at First Second has acquired in a preempt debut author-illustrator's Kristin Varner's Ten Times I Fell Off My Horse and an untitled graphic novel. Ten Times I Fell Off My Horse is about Kate, a horse-loving 12-year-old who faces body insecurities while navigating friendships, boys, frenemies, and the hardships of growing up. Robyn Chapman and Rachel Stark will co-edit. Publication of the first book is set for spring 2021; Teresa Kietlinski at Bookmark Literary brokered the deal for world English rights.
Keith Garton at Red Chair Press has bought the first six books in Caryn Rivadeneira's early chapter book series, Helper Hounds, about specially trained emotional support dogs who help the kids who need them most. Publication for the first two books is slated for fall 2020; Adria Goetz at Martin Literary Management negotiated the deal for world rights.
Tamar Brazis at Abrams has acquired at auction Zoo Zen illustrator Susi Schaefer's solo debut as author-illustrator, Cat Ladies. The picture book follows the escapades of Princess, a cat who has four rambunctious ladies; some cats might say that's too many, but there is no such thing. Publication is scheduled for spring 2020; Brooks Sherman at Janklow & Nesbit did the deal for world English rights.
Tracy Gates at Viking has bought Squish Rabbit creator Katherine Battersby's new picture book, Trouble, about a city squirrel whose orderly life is interrupted by the arrival of a new neighbor: a bear who is clearly up to no good. Publication is tentatively planned for summer 2020; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Neal Porter at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has acquired North American English rights to Kate McMullan's (l.) Happy Springtime!, illustrated by Sujean Rim. Written on a cold, dark winter's day, the book is a celebration of the many delights that the first hint of spring promises, from fields of new grass for running to new puddles for jumping. Publication is set for 2020; Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties brokered the deal.
Andrea Welch and Allyn Johnston at S&S/Beach Lane have bought world rights to It's a Field Trip, Busy Bus! by Jody Jensen Shaffer (l.), illustrated by Claire Messer. The book tells the story of a school bus who can't wait for his first field trip to the fire station—until he meets the fire engine, who seems bigger and better at everything. Publication is scheduled for summer 2019; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Rebecca Sherman at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Mekisha Telfer at Roaring Brook has acquired world rights to We Are Water Protectors by Ojibwe/Metis author Carole Lindstrom (l.), illustrated by Tlingit artist Michaela Goade. Told from the perspective of a Native American child, the picture book is a call to action to defend Earth's natural resources—inspired by the Dakota Access Pipeline protests and other movements led by Indigenous tribes across the U.S. Publication is slated for spring 2020; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Meredith Mundy at Sterling has bought world rights to Tammi Sauer's A Little Chicken, illustrated by Dan Taylor. The story shows that little chickens, as well as little people, can do courageous things in pursuit of their goals. Christina Pulles will edit; publication is scheduled for April 2019. Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Taylor Norman at Chronicle has acquired world rights to Derick Wilder's picture book, The Longest Letsgoboy, illustrated by Catia Chien. A testament to the enduring bond between people and their pets, the tale is told from the perspective of an aging dog on his last walk with his girl. Publication is set for spring 2021; Jenna Pocius at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Steven Malk at Writers House represented the illustrator.
