Calista Brill at First Second Books has acquired world rights to two graphic novels from Printz Honor author Rainbow Rowell. The two graphic novels will be YA romance in the vein of her novels Eleanor & Park and Fangirl; the first will be illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks. Christopher Schelling at Selectric Artists was the agent for Rowell; Bernadette Baker-Baughman at Victoria Sanders represented Hicks.
Mark Siegel at First Second Books has bought world rights to a graphic novel by Boing Boing creator and author Cory Doctorow, to be illustrated by Jen Wang. The book, called In Real Life, tells of a girl encountering social inequality and injustice online and having to figure out what to do about it. It will publish this October; Russell Galen was the agent for Doctorow.
Claudia Zoe Bedrick at Enchanted Lion has acquired world rights to agent Kirsten Hall's first picture book, The Jacket, in which a book gets even more than it hopes for. It will also be illustrator Dasha Tolstikova's picture book debut. Publication is set for fall 2014; Sean McCarthy at the Sean McCarthy Literary Agency did the deal on behalf of the illustrator.
Melanie Cecka at Knopf has bought Shalanda Stanley's debut novel Drowning Is Inevitable, about four teens who flee to New Orleans in the wake of an accidental homicide where they hope to find a solution to an unfixable problem. It’s scheduled to publish in fall 2015; Kate McKean at the Howard Morhaim Agency brokered the deal for North American rights.
David Linker at HarperFestival has acquired five books by author-illustrator Janee Trasler. The titles include three volumes in a new picture book series called Bunny and Clyde, about a pair of naughty bunnies and their friends; and the fifth and sixth title in the Chickies board book series that debuts this month with Bedtime for Chickies and Pottytime for Chickies. Bunny and Clyde launches in winter 2015 with Bunny and Clyde Hatch a Plan; Jamie Weiss Chilton at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Lee Wade at Random House's Schwartz & Wade imprint has bought Steve Antony's Betty Goes Bananas, a picture book in which a baby gorilla having trouble opening a banana throws a tantrum. Publication is planned for spring 2015; Anne-Marie Hansen at Oxford University Press sold U.S., non-exclusive Canada, and open market rights.
Anne Sowards at NAL signed a mid-six-figure deal for a YA fantasy trilogy by Rachel Caine, author of the Morganville Vampires books. In the new trilogy, called the Great Library, the Library of Alexandria still exists and has become all-powerful, and, while there is unfettered access to information digitally, it is a crime to keep print books in any personal collection. The series is described as The Book Thief with Fahrenheit 451 by way of Harry Potter. The first book is planned for summer 2015; Lucienne Diver at the Knight Agency sold North American rights.
Joanna Cardenas at Viking has bought author-illustrator Andy Rash's picture book Archie the Daredevil Penguin in a preempt. The story follows Archie who, terrified of the water, is determined to be the first penguin to fly to Iceberg Nine for the daily fish fry. A second book was negotiated as part of the deal. Publication for Archie is scheduled for fall 2015; Marietta Zacker of the Nancy Gallt Literary Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Mary Kate Castellani at Bloomsbury has pre-empted Because You'll Never Meet Me, a debut novel from 24-year-old author Leah Thomas, about the unique friendship – told through letters – between Ollie, a 14-year-old with an allergy to electricity, and Moritz, a blind German boy with unusual powers. It is scheduled to be co-published with Ellen Holgate of Bloomsbury U.K. in spring 2015. Lana Popovic of Zachary Shuster Harmsworth Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Michael Joosten and Maria Modugno at Random House Books for Young Readers have bought A Friend for Bo, an Easter-themed story by Elizabeth Zuniga. In the spring 2016 book, a bunny stumbles across an unhatched egg and decides to make it his best friend. However, Bo's new best friend isn't a very good conversationalist – what's a little bunny to do? Teresa Kietlinski of the Prospect Agency was the agent.
Anne Schwartz at Random House's Schwartz & Wade imprint has bought Sarah Miller's The Borden Murders, a YA narrative nonfiction book about the infamous Lizzie Borden, for publication in spring 2016. Wendy Schmalz at Wendy Schmalz Agency negotiated for world rights.
Lee Wade at Schwartz & Wade has acquired Jing Guo's Puchio, a wordless graphic novel about a girl who, in an effort to visit her grandmother, embarks on a fantastical journey. Publication is scheduled for spring 2016. Isabel Atherton at Creative Authors did the deal for world rights.
