Gretchen Durning at Razorbill has acquired the next YA novel by Morgan Rhodes, bestselling author of the Falling Kingdom series, in a three-book deal. Bad Blood launches an epic saga about a wealthy vampire family, their badly behaved heirs, and the long-lost sibling who never even knew she was half-vampire. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret negotiated the deal for world rights.
Andrew Karre at Dutton Children's Books has bought, in an exclusive submission, an untitled debut YA novel by playwright and performing artist Kirya Traber. Set on the rural coast of Northern California in the 1990s, the story centers on a teen girl who begins to question everything she thinks she knows when a new boy, the only other Black person around for miles, appears in town shortly after the body of a stranger is discovered in the woods. Publication is planned for 2023; Patricia Nelson at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency did the deal for world English rights.
Trisha de Guzman at FSG has acquired, at auction, in a two-book deal, world English rights to The Summer I Ate the Rich by Maika Moulite (l.) and Maritza Moulite, a contemporary fantasy YA about a Haitian American teen zombie who uses her skills in the kitchen—and taste for human flesh—to get revenge on the wealthy elite responsible for her family's pain. Publication is slated for fall 2023; JL Stermer at New Leaf Literary brokered the deal.
Vicki Lame at Wednesday Books has bought, in an exclusive submission, You Wouldn't Dare, a YA novel by Samantha Markum. It's been seven months since Junie unintentionally sabotaged her friendship with Graham. But thanks to an impending move with her mom's boyfriend and his surly daughter, a community theater production threatened by poor turnout, and a rare upcoming visit from her dad, things with Graham are the least of Junie's problems—until unexpected feelings threaten their friendship once again. Publication is set for winter 2023; Ashley Blake at Rees Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Zareen Jaffery at Kokila has acquired, in a preempt, North American rights to Viva Lola Espinoza, the debut novel by author Ella Cerón. It's a coming-of-age romance with a dash of magical realism, about a booksmart teen whose summer plans are derailed when she is sent to live with her grandmother in Mexico City and learns a family secret that changes her life forever. Publication is scheduled for spring 2023; Viana Siniscalchi and Joelle Hobeika at Alloy Entertainment handled the two-book deal.
Chris Hernandez at Razorbill has bought, in an exclusive submission, world English rights to Hellaween, a middle grade graphic novel series by debut author-illustrator Moss Lawton. The first book follows an aspiring witch and her two best friends—a werewolf and a vampire—whom she's only able to hang out with on Halloween, as the teenage trio tries to have a night of fun and mischief while also contending with two neighborhood do-gooders hell-bent on vanquishing evil. Publication of the first book is planned for summer 2023; Charlie Olsen at InkWell Management brokered the two-book deal.
Maggie Rosenthal at Viking has won, in a five-house auction, Anzu and the Realm of Darkness by Mai K. Nguyen (Pilu of the Woods), a middle grade graphic novel about a Japanese American girl who must journey through the fantastical world of Japanese folklore and reclaim her identity to find her way back home after she falls into the Shinto underworld during the festival of Obon. Publication of the first book is slated for 2024; Britt Siess at Britt Siess Creative Management negotiated the two-book deal for North American rights.
Sophia Jimenez at Atheneum has acquired world rights to The Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejía, a debut middle grade fantasy novel by International Latino Book Award-winning author Alexandra Alessandri, featuring legends of the author's rural Colombia. Twelve-year-old Valentina doesn't believe in her father's tales about the mano peluda, madremonte, and patasola, but when an earthquake injures Papi and leaves her stranded with her brother in a strange—and magical—land, she must face the madremonte's wrath if she has any hopes of getting home and saving Papi. Publication is set for spring 2023; Deborah Warren at East/West Literary did the deal.
Elizabeth Lee at Penguin Workshop has bought, at auction, Lei and the Fire Goddess by Malia Maunakea. Pitched as Finding 'Ohana meets Aru Shah and the End of Time, the novel follows 12-year-old Lei who is forced to spend summers in Hawaii with her grandma who is determined to make sure she knows all her family's stories—stories the kids back home don't care about or believe. But after insulting Pele, the Goddess of Fire, she learns just how real these legends are when the goddess takes her best friend and places a curse on her family—one that only Lei can lift. Publication is planned for summer 2023; Patrice Caldwell at New Leaf Literary & Media brokered the six-figure, two-book deal for world English rights.
Liz Kossnar at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to Audrey Covington Breaks the Rules, a middle grade novel by Karina Evans about a 12-year-old girl who breaks free of her overprotective parents by running off with her former Hollywood starlet grandmother for a rules-free night in Los Angeles. Publication is scheduled for winter 2023; Jessica Mileo at InkWell Management negotiated the deal.
Jenne Abramowitz at Scholastic has bought world rights to This Is How I Roll by Debbi Michiko Florence for the Wish line. In this contemporary middle grade novel, 12-year-old Sana dreams of becoming a renowned chef like her father, but when he refuses to teach her without explanation, she decides he's not the only one who can keep secrets, and begins cooking up trouble with an off-limits boy. Publication is slated for spring 2023; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author.
Wiley Blevins at Reycraft has acquired world rights to Blood Brothers, a middle grade novel in verse by Rob Sanders. Author of Pride and Stonewall, Sanders tells the story of three young hemophiliac brothers, early victims of indiscriminate hate, prejudice, and ostracism, set against a backdrop of the approaching AIDS epidemic in 1980s America. Publication is set for late spring 2022; Rubin Pfeffer at Rubin Pfeffer Content represented the author.
Allison Cohen at Running Press Kids has bought world rights to Your Birthstone Book by Sarah Glenn Marsh (l.), illustrated by Hallye Webb, a middle grade guide to the weird and wonderful history of birth month gemstones and suggestions for using them in daily life. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; Katelyn Detweiler at Jill Grinberg Literary Management represented the author, and the illustrator was unagented.
Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown has acquired The Worst Teddy Ever by debut author-artist Marcelo Verdad, in a seven-house auction. This humorous bedtime picture book stars a child who is disappointed that his teddy bear is always too tired to play games like all the other children's cuddly toys do—but unbeknownst to him, behind the scenes, Teddy is awake all night heroically protecting the child from unwelcome visitors. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Adriana Dominguez at Full Circle Literary did the deal for world rights.
Reka Simonsen and Kristie Choi at Atheneum have bought Tornado by author-illustrator Drew Beckmeyer (The Long Island), a picture book about an angry, emotionally unaware tornado who meets an empathetic cow, and learns that sometimes a bit of understanding can make all the difference. Publication is slated for summer 2023; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Jessica Garrison at Dial Books has acquired at auction a nonfiction picture book series created by Laurie Ann Thompson (l.), illustrated by Jay Fleck. The first titles, You Are a Honeybee and You Are a Raccoon, give a hands-on view of what it is like to be each animal, from sunup to sundown; subsequent books will explore the daily lives of a robin and a garter snake. The first two books will publish in spring 2023; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the four-book deal for the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Stacey Barney at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has bought world rights to picture book debut Prince Among Slaves by N.H. Senzai (l.), illustrated by Anna Rich, a biography of Prince Abdulrahman Ibrahima who in 1788 was kidnapped from the kingdom of Futa Jallon in West Africa, survived the Middle Passage, and was enslaved in Natchez, Miss., but through the strength of his faith and the help of the Sultan of Morocco made the journey home after 40 years. Publication is set for spring 2024; Michael Bourret at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Janine O'Malley at FSG has acquired world rights to When the Rain Came Down by Leslie Helakoski (l.), illustrated by Keisha Morris. The picture book is the story of survival in the wake of a hurricane; it portrays the courage and heroism of the community and resiliency between neighbors when facing unimaginable damage and despair. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Garrett Alwert at Emerald City Literary Agency represented the author, and Claire Easton at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Luisa Beguiristain at Roaring Brook has bought world rights to The Worry Balloon by Mónica Mancillas (l.), author of the forthcoming picture book Mariana in México, illustrated by Betty C. Tang. Isla is anxiously walking to school, and she uses imaginative techniques to make peace with her anxiety regarding the coming school day. Publication is planned for winter 2023; Melissa Edwards at Stonesong represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Courtney Code at Abrams has acquired North American rights, at auction, to The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name, a picture book by Australian author Sandhya Parappukkaran (l.) and illustrator Michelle Pereira. Based on the author's own experience, the book tells the empowering story of a boy who tries to shrink his long name in order to fit in, and the journey he takes to learn to embrace his individuality. Publication is slated for fall 2022; Annabel Barker at Annabel Barker Agency did the deal on behalf of Hardie Grant Children's Publishing.
Kayla Tostevin at Page Street Kids has bought world rights to Pirate & Penguin by Mike Allegra (l.), illustrated by Jenn Harney, in which a pirate mistakes a penguin aboard his ship for a parrot, and hilarious seafaring failures ensue. Publication is set for spring 2023; the author represented himself, and Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency represented the illustrator.
Julie Gassman of Capstone has acquired world rights to How Science Saved the Eiffel Tower, a nonfiction picture book by Emma Bland Smith (l.), illustrated by Lia Visirin. When the city of Paris declared it would tear down the Eiffel Tower after the 1889 World's Fair, its creator, Gustave Eiffel, was determined to save it. His plan: to make the tower an essential bastion of science and research. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and Erin Tisdel at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
Elizabeth Schleisman at Beaming Books has bought world rights to Yuna's Cardboard Castles, written by Marie Tang (l.) and illustrated by Jieting Chen. Yuna moves to a new country where she doesn't speak the language the other kids speak. Making friends is a challenge, but when she musters up the courage to show them the special thing she can do with paper, a whole new world unfolds. Publication is planned for spring 2023; Marisa Cleveland at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and Lucie Luddington at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
