Aimee Friedman at Scholastic has bought the next two books in the Whatever After series by Sarah Mlynowski, as well as two books in a new middle grade series (title and publication dates are forthcoming). The Whatever After series has been translated into eight languages. Laura Dail of the Laura Dail Literary Agency did the four-book deal for world English rights.
Catherine Onder at Bloomsbury has acquired a debut middle-grade novel, Pram, and an untitled sequel, by Lauren DeStefano, author of the Chemical Garden and Internment Chronicles YA trilogies. Pram tells the story of a girl with a unique talent: she can talk to ghosts. After befriending a boy named Clarence, Pram decides to search for her father in the hope that he can answer her questions about her mother's death. It comes out in fall 2015; Barbara Poelle of the Irene Goodman Literary Agency did the deal for U.S., Canadian, and open market rights.
Jordan Brown at HarperCollins imprint Balzer + Bray has bought Bluescreen, the first in a futuristic YA cyberpunk series from Partials author Dan Wells. In the series, a teen hacker's friend's overdose on an illicit digital drug leads her to uncover a mystery with roots deep in her L.A. neighborhood's crime syndicate. Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger brokered the three-book deal for world English rights.
Alyson Heller at S&S/Aladdin has bought Lost in London author Cindy Callaghan's Pardon My French and a second title set in Rome. In the first book, a tween goes to Paris where she ends up playing drums in an epic Battle of the Bands. Publication of both books is set for 2015. Mandy Hubbard of D4EO Literary Agency was the agent.
Allison Wortche at Knopf has acquired world rights to Jeff Gottesfeld's The Tree in the Courtyard, to be illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Peter McCarty. It retells the story of Anne Frank from the point of view of the chestnut tree outside her annex window, which Anne wrote about in her diary and from which saplings were taken and planted all over the world. Publication is planned for spring 2016; Jason Yarn at Paradigm negotiated the deal on behalf of the author and Julie Kane-Ritsch at the Gotham Group negotiated on behalf of the artist.
Sarah Ketchersid at Candlewick has acquired Chuck and Woodchuck by Rabbit and Robot author-illustrator Cece Bell. In her new picture book, first-grader Chuck brings a woodchuck to school for show-and-tell, and Woodchuck proves so popular that Chuck brings him every day. Publication is slated for spring 2016; Caryn Wiseman at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Marlo Scrimizzi at Running Press Kids has acquired a debut picture book by author-illustrator Chloe Bonfield, tentatively titled The Talking Trees. In the story, a boy on the hunt for the perfect tree makes unexpected discoveries within the forest. Publication is scheduled for fall 2015. Kirsten Hall at the Bright Group brokered the deal for world rights.
Sara Goodman at St. Martin's Press has bought a YA anthology called My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories, edited by Stephanie Perkins, author of Anna and the French Kiss. The collection will feature 12 romantic tales of young love by celebrated YA authors, including Rainbow Rowell, David Levithan, Gayle Forman, Ally Carter, Holly Black, Kiersten White, Matt de la Peña, Laini Taylor, Jenny Han and Kelly Link. Publication is set for October 2014; Kate Schafer Testerman at KT Literary did the deal for North American rights.
Andrew Karre at Carolrhoda Lab has acquired Coretta Scott King Honor author G. Neri's new YA novel, Knockout Games. It tells the story of Erica, a white 15-year-old, and her experience getting caught up in the TKO Club, a group of middle-school kids urged to play the now-infamous knockout game by Kalvin, a charismatic black 18-year-old. The book, according to its publisher, takes an unflinching and morally complex look at casual violence and American teenagers. Neri wrote the book based on visits to a St. Louis high school where the knockout game was popular several years ago. Publication is scheduled for August 2014; Edward Necarsulmer IV of Dunow, Carlson & Lerner did the deal for world English rights.
Sylvie Frank at S&S’s Paula Wiseman Books has acquired N.H. Senzai's Partition Junction (working title), a middle-grade novel in which 12-year-old Maya uncovers a family mystery that takes her on an adventure from Pakistan to India. Senzai is the author of Shooting Kabul and Saving Kabul Corner. Publication is scheduled for fall 2015; Michael Bourret at Dystel & Goderich was brokered the deal.
Rotem Moscovich at Disney-Hyperion signed a two-book deal with Pixar animator Mike Wu. The picture books star Ellie, an elephant with a gentle heart and an artistic soul, and her zoo friends who band together to save their beloved home. The first book, tentatively titledEllie, is scheduled for summer 2015; Emily van Beek at Folio Literary Management did the deal for world rights.
Orli Zuravicky at Orchard Books has bought Pepper and Poe, a picture book by author-illustrator Frann Preston-Gannon. In the book, two newly introduced cats must learn how to coexist. A 2015 publication is planned; Kirsten Hall at the Bright Agency sold world rights.
Jennifer Greene of Clarion Books has acquired Mustache Baby vs. Beard Baby by Bridget Heos, illustrated by Joy Ang. In this sequel to Mustache Baby, the mustachioed Baby Billy meets his match. The book is scheduled for fall 2015; Kelly Sonnack of Andrea Literary, representing both author and illustrator, brokered the deal for North American rights.
