To see the children's and YA deals for the week of October 1, 2018, click here.
Pam Gruber at Poppy has acquired The Bold Type creator Sarah Watson's Most Likely, a contemporary YA novel about four best friends in their senior year of high school and the events and relationships that will shape one of the girls into becoming President of the United States 30 years later—the mystery is which girl it will be. Publication is slated for spring 2020; Kate Schafer Testerman at kt literary brokered the two-book deal for North American rights.
Melanie Nolan at Knopf has bought, in an exclusive submission, Kester “Kit” Grant's Goldenpaw, a middle-grade animal fantasy series. A Mauritian-Creole author, Grant has drawn on her cultural heritage to create the world and history of books. The author's YA trilogy A Court of Miracles was acquired at auction by Nolan and has been licensed in eight international markets ahead of its fall 2019 debut. Publication for Goldenpaw will begin in spring 2020; Josh Adams at Adams Literary negotiated the two-book deal for North American rights.
Krista Marino at Delacorte has acquired a new YA novel by Kathleen Glasgow, author of the bestseller Girl in Pieces. Her new book, How to Make Friends with the Dark, is about resilience in the aftermath of significant loss. Publication is planned for April 9, 2019, with an announced first printing of 75,000 copies; Julie Stevenson at Massie & McQuilkin Literary Agents did the deal for U.S., Canadian, and open market rights.
Emilia Rhodes at HarperTeen has bought Autumn Krause's A Dress for the Wicked. Pitched as The Devil Wears Prada meets The Selection, the book is set in a re-imagined Europe and stars 17-year-old Emmaline Watkins. When Emmaline wins a competition to become a “dresser” at the Fashion House, center of all that is haute couture, she finds herself thrust into a world of intrigue, backstabbing, and aristocratic elitism, with an attractive young journalist as her only respite. Publication is set for summer 2019; Elizabeth Lynch will edit. Susan Hawk at Upstart Crow Literary brokered the deal for world English rights.
Kheryn Callender at Little, Brown has acquired When the Stars Lead to You, a contemporary YA debut by Ronni Davis. The book is about an intense first-love romance complicated by marginalization, mental illness, and prejudice. Publication is scheduled for fall 2019; Nikki Garcia will edit. Caitie Flum at Liza Dawson Associates handled the deal for world rights.
Amy Fitzgerald at Lerner/Carolrhoda has bought, in a preempt, Amber Lough's historical YA novel Summer of War. In 1917, with the Russian army embroiled in World War I, teenage Katya joins the controversial women's battalion, but her act of patriotism becomes complicated by the realities of war and politics. Publication is slated for spring 2020; Laura Rennert and Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Namrata Tripathi at Penguin/Kokila has acquired The Night Diary author Veera Hiranadani's new middle grade novel, The Sound of Summer, set in 1967 shortly after the Loving v. Virginia ruling. Sixth grader Ariel Goldberg finds her world rapidly shifting as her older sister elopes with an Indian college student against her parents' wishes, leaving Ariel to navigate family illness and her dysgraphia diagnosis on her own. Publication is planned for fall 2020; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties handled the two-book deal for North American rights.
Emily Feinberg at Roaring Brook Press has bought author-illustrator Celia Krampien's Sunny, about a girl who looks on the bright side in the face of worsening situations, from a rainy day, to being lifted up by her umbrella and dropped into the ocean, to being carried away by a flock of birds. Publication is set for winter 2020; Andrea Morrison and Steven Malk at Writers House brokered the deal for world rights.
Kelly Delaney at Knopf has acquired four picture books written and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, beginning with Girl Canvas, a tribute to modern girls of all types. Publication is scheduled for spring 2020; Lori Nowicki at Painted Words negotiated the deal for world rights.
John Morgan at Macmillan/Imprint has bought animator and storyboard artist Louie Zong's debut picture book, tentatively titled Book Science. The story follows two scientists, a bear and a frog, who conduct hands-on experiments answering the age-old question, “How do books work?” Publication is planned for summer 2020; Brent Taylor at Triada US did the deal for world English rights.
Joy Bean at Kane Press/StarBerry has acquired the picture book Blue Cat by author-illustrator Charlie Eve Ryan. A curious cat goes about his very cat-like day when a sound in the distance sparks an exploration. The book is slated for fall 2019; the artist represented herself in the deal for world rights.
Marissa Moss at Creston Books has bought world rights to Hello by Aiko Ikegami, author-illustrator of Seed Man. The picture book is about the friendship between an alien and the girl he meets on earth. The projected pub date is fall 2019; Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary represented the author-illustrator.
Maggie Lehrman at Abrams has acquired world rights to Sandra Nickel's (l.) picture book, The Stuff Between the Stars, a poetic look at Vera Rubin, a trailblazing scientist whose discoveries about dark matter revolutionized what we know about space. Aimee Sicuro will illustrate; publication is set for fall 2020. Victoria Wells Arms at Wells Arms Literary/ HSG Agency represented the author, and Andrea Morrison and Steven Malk at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Connie Hsu at Roaring Brook Press has bought world rights to Kevin Noble Maillard's Fry Bread, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal. Told in verse, the book explores the culture and history surrounding this Native staple, and how it brings together family and community through love and tradition. Publication is scheduled for fall 2019; the author represented himself, and Stefanie Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary represented the illustrator.
Karen Boss at Charlesbridge has acquired world rights to co-authors Jessica Betancourt-Perez (l.) and Karen Lynn Williams's (center) picture book, A Thousand White Butterflies, illustrated by Gina Maldonado. Isabella is new to the United States from Colombia, and she misses her papa; a snow day delays her starting school, but then she makes a new friend. Publication is planned for summer 2020; the authors represented themselves and Lisa Musing at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
Chad Reynolds and Alexis Orgera at Penny Candy Books have bought world rights to I Can Do That!, a picture book co-authored by Little Gym Europe Founder/CEO Alexander de Witt (l.) and National Book Award finalist Beth Kephart. Artist, sculptor, and photographer William Sulit will illustrate. The book introduces an acrobatic child who learns the power of collaboration from her differently-talented friends. Publication is slated for fall 2019; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented both the authors and the illustrator.
Karen Lotz at Candlewick Press has acquired, in a seven-house auction, librarian and Ambassador of School Libraries for Scholastic Book Fairs John Schu's debut picture book, This Is a Story. The story is an exploration of books, humanity, and the need for connection. Caldecott Honor artist Lauren Castillo (Nana in the City) will illustrate; the book is set to publish globally in 2022. Molly O'Neill at Root Literary represented the author in the two-book deal for world rights, and Paul Rodeen at Rodeen Literary Management represented the illustrator.
Krista Marino at Delacorte Press has bought, in a preempt, Liz Lawson's debut, The Lucky Ones. Pitched as Thirteen Reasons Whymeets One of Us Is Lying, the book follows May and Zach as they struggle to heal in the aftermath of a school tragedy. Told in two POVs, the novel explores grief, survivor's guilt, PTSD, and learning to trust again. Publication is slated for summer 2020; Andrea Morrison at Writers House brokered the deal for world rights.
T.S. Ferguson at Inkyard Press has acquired world rights to a new short story anthology edited by Saundra Mitchell. A contemporary follow-up to the historical anthology All Out, the book will feature LGBTQIA+ characters in modern times, written by LGBTQIA+ authors. Contributors include Eliot Schrefer, CB Lee, Mark Oshiro, Kosoko Jackson, Hilary Monahan, among many others. The book is scheduled for spring 2020; Jim McCarthy at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management negotiated the deal.
Alexa Pastor at S&S has bought, in a preempt, Marisa Kanter's contemporary YA, To Be (Mis)read. The story follows a viral pseudonymous teen book blogger who moves to a new town and starts running into her internet BFF absolutely everywhere IRL—in class, at the library, at synagogue. The only problem is, he has no idea who she really is, and while he's in love with her online persona, she's falling for him in person. Publication is slated for spring 2020; Taylor Haggerty at Root Literary did the two-book, world rights deal.
Chelsea Eberly at Random House has acquired, in a preempt, world rights to debut author K.C. Johnson's This Is My America, pitched as Dear Martin meets Just Mercy. High school senior Tracy Beaumont appeals to Innocence X to help exonerate her father from death row, until her brother is accused of killing his white girlfriend, and Tracy must expose a small town's racist history in order to save her family before time runs out. Publication is planned for summer 2020, with an untitled standalone novel to follow; Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the two-book deal.
Simon Boughton at Norton Young Readers has bought, in an exclusive submission, Rex Ogle's middle grade memoir Free Lunch. The story follows the author’s experience as a sixth-grader on the free lunch program and coming-of-age while dealing with poverty, racism, and domestic violence in Texas. Publication is slated for fall 2019; Brent Taylor at Triada US sold North American rights.
Jordan Brown at Walden Pond Press has acquired Tying the Devil's Shoestrings by Eden Royce, a middle-grade historical Southern Gothic. It tells the story of Jezebel and her twin brother Jay, who begin their lessons in rootwork and must learn to embrace their darkness to keep their family safe as they battle against malevolent spirits and the specter of racism in pre-Civil Rights-era Charleston. Publication is planned for summer 2020; Adriann Ranta Zurhellen at Foundry Literary + Media negotiated the deal, along with an additional untitled middle grade novel, for North American rights.
Dana Carey at Random House/Lamb has bought Michele Weber Hurwitz's The Girl and the Lake. The story stars a 12-year-old girl who was abandoned as a baby in a small Wisconsin town and teams up with her friends to find an innovative solution to save a contaminated, algae-filled lake, which is the town's livelihood. Publication is planned for summer 2020; Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Trident handled the deal for North American rights.
Ann Rider at HMH has acquired world rights to the first two books in an early chapter book series by The Lemonade War author Jacqueline Davies (l.), illustrated by Deborah Hocking. The series introduces Lewis, a hedgehog, and Clark, a skunk, who decide it's high time to leave their cozy burrow and go out into the Whole Wide World to have an adventure. The first book, Lewis and Clark: Launch an Expedition, is scheduled for fall 2020, and the second, Lewis and Clark: Try to Fly, will follow six months later; the author represented herself, and Lori Kilkelly at LK Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Tamar Brazis at Abrams has bought world rights to Along Came Coco, a picture book biography of Coco Chanel written and illustrated by Eva Byrne, illustrator of Princesses Wear Pants. Publication is set for spring 2019; Anne Moore-Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the artist.
Deirdre Jones at Little, Brown has acquired Stephanie Lucianovic's (l.) tribute to space, science, and supernovas, Hello, Star. In the book, a girl who feels compassion for a dying star is inspired to one day travel to space to meet it. Bestselling artist Vashti Harrison will illustrate; publication is planned for fall 2020. Jordan Hamessley at New Leaf Literary & Media represented the author, and Carrie Hannigan at Hannigan Salky Getzler represented the artist in the deal for world rights.
Clarissa Wong at HarperCollins has bought world rights to Peppermint Post by Bruce Hale, illustrated by Stephanie Laberis. The humorous holiday tale is about the North Pole's Peppermint Post Office Postmaster who makes it his mission to deliver a sweet girl's lost Christmas gift left behind by Santa, before it's too late. Publication is slated for fall 2020; Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Carol Hinz at Lerner/Millbrook has acquired Lights by Sue Fliess (l.), an exploration of the many forms light can take, from sunbeams and lightning bolts to fireflies and birthday candles. Khoa Le will illustrate; publication is planned for spring 2020. Jennifer Unter at the Unter Agency represented the author in the deal for world rights, and Alison Berson at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Alexis Orgera and Chad Reynolds at Penny Candy Books have bought world rights to poet Stephanie Ellis Schlaifer's (l.) debut picture book, The Cloud Lasso, about a girl named Delilah who learns to lasso all the clouds out of the sky as she overcomes her feelings of sadness and isolation after her grandfather dies. Artist Melodie Stacey will make her debut as a picture book illustrator; the book will be published on October 10, 2019. The author and illustrator were unagented.
Julie Bliven at Charlesbridge has acquired world rights to Nanette Heffernan's Earth Hour. The nonfiction picture book is about the annual Earth Hour event that encourages individuals, businesses, and communities worldwide to turn off non-essential electric lights for one hour, on a specific day in March, as a symbol of global energy conservation. Bao Luu will illustrate; publication is set for spring 2020. Jill Corcoran at Jill Corcoran Literary Agency represented the author, and Alison Berson at Astound Illustration Agency represented the illustrator.
