Beverly Horowitz at Delacorte has acquired Special Topics in Calamity Physics author Marisha Pessl's first YA novel, Neverworld Wake, a psychological suspense story with a sci-fi twist. In it, a group of teens who graduated from an elite boarding school reunite the following summer. After an evening out, they are faced with an impossible choice—only one of them can live and the decision must be unanimous. Publication is planned for summer 2018; Amanda Urban at ICM Partners handled the deal for U.S., Canadian, and open market rights.
Emily Meehan at Disney-Hyperion has bought, and Hannah Allaman will edit, K.J. Reilly's YA debut, Sometimes We Gave Them Names, in which 16-year-old Joel—burdened by far too many secrets and a phone full of unsent text messages—grapples with the aftermath of tragic loss, finding resilience through an unusual friendship, an unspoken crush, and a newly awakened social conscience. Publication is set for fall 2018; Molly O'Neill at Waxman Leavell Literary Agency negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Rachel Stark at Sky Pony has acquired world rights to Deborah Markus's LGBTQ YA debut, The Letting Go, which tells the story of three Emilys: one who has closed herself off after seeing everyone she's loved murdered; Emily Dickinson, whose legacy becomes Emily's only comfort; and M, who gets too close to Emily—putting herself in the killer's path. Publication is slated for July 2018; Michelle Johnson at Inklings Literary brokered the deal.
Julia Maguire at Knopf has bought two middle grade books from Erin Bried, the creator and editor of Kazoo Magazine, both featuring the work of a variety of artists. The first book, scheduled for spring 2019, will feature short comics biographies; and the second, scheduled for spring 2020, will feature comic mazes covering the lives of remarkable women. The Susan Rabiner Literary Agency represented the author in the deal for world rights.
Liz Szabla at Feiwel and Friends has acquired North American rights to James Preller's Blood Mountain, a middle-grade mystery/thriller and survival story told from multiple perspectives. In the book, a brother and sister, lost and injured in the wilderness, become separately reliant upon a strange hermit, only to find their savior is an isolated former soldier whose mind now exists in a dangerous alternative reality. Publication is planned for fall 2018; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio negotiated the deal.
Eliza Swift at Albert Whitman has bought Miss Bunsen's School for Brilliant Girls, a new chapter book series by author-illustrator Erica Jane Waters. The series follows three friends who attend a unique school full of extraordinary young female inventors, engineers, and scientists. The first two books in the series, starting with If the Hat Fits, will publish in fall 2018; Hannah Whitty at Plum Pudding Illustration brokered the three-book deal for world rights.
Sailaja Joshi at Bharat Babies has acquired actor, writer, and producer Sheetal Sheth's debut picture book, Always Anjali. The first in an intended picture book series, the story features a young Indian American girl who comes to appreciate how empowering it can be to have a unique name that reflects her cultural heritage. Publication is slated for 2018; Jane Startz at Jane Startz Productions did the deal for world rights.
Kelly Loughman at Holiday House has bought world rights to the picture book Big and Little: A Story of Opposites, written and illustrated by Cheryl Pilgrim. The story introduces children to two canine friends, one big and one little, as they embark on a day of discovery while conveying the meanings of opposites. Publication is set for spring 2019; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency handled the deal.
Ann Kelley at Random House/Schwartz & Wade has acquired in a preempt author-illustrator Andrea Zuill's Sweety, about a headgear-wearing, mushroom-loving naked mole rat who is looking for her tribe. Publication is scheduled for summer 2019; Erzsi Deak at Hen&Ink negotiated the deal for world rights.
Celia Lee at Scholastic/Cartwheel has bought Michele Wong McSween's board book, My First Mandarin Words with Gordon & Li Li, in which two panda cousins, one from Beijing and one from Brooklyn, introduce readers to basic Mandarin words, including animals and numbers. The book is planned for 2018; the author brokered the deal for world rights.
Lucia Monfried at Dial has acquired world rights to Kevin Tseng's To and Fro, a picture book about two small animals who come across a snowman for the first time, only to be puzzled by all of his accessories, and in a wild misinterpretation, use them to host a party for their friends. Dana Wulfekotte will illustrate; publication is slated for winter 2019. Ann Tobias at A Literary Agency for Children's Books represented the author and Sean McCarthy at Sean McCarthy Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Julie Matysik at Running Press Kids has bought world rights to Leanne Shirtliffe's Sloth to the Rescue, about a determined sloth and his animal sanctuary friends who save the day by returning a girl's forgotten school project. Rob McClurkan will illustrate; publication is scheduled for spring 2019. Jill Marr at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency represented the author and Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright USA represented the illustrator.
Deirdre Jones at Little, Brown has acquired former ESPN sportscaster (and new American citizen) Sandra Neil Wallace (l.) and novelist Rich Wallace’s First Generation: 36 Trailblazing Immigrants and Refugees Who Make America Great. The illustrated middle grade survey book celebrates the significant contributions to our country made by a diverse group of modern Americans. It will be illustrated by artist (and recent immigrant) Agata Nowicka; publication is slated for fall 2018. Liza Voges at Eden Street represented the authors and Marlena Torzecka at Marlena Agency represented the artist in the deal for world rights.
Anne Hoppe at Clarion has bought North American rights to Tamara Moss’s middle grade novel, Lintang and the Pirate Queen, an adventure set on the high seas, filled with deadly creatures, a diverse cast of strong female characters, and two young friends determined to make their way in the world. Publication is tentatively set for fall 2018; Allison Hellegers at Rights People brokered the deal on behalf of Penguin Random House Australia.
Kat Enright at Sky Pony Press has acquired world English rights to From Sunset till Sunrise, a middle grade novel by Jonathan Rosen. In it, 12-year-old cousins Devin and Tommy must survive the night after being invited to a school dance by the pretty new girl in the neighborhood, who happens to be a vampire. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018; Nicole Resciniti at the Seymour Agency negotiated the deal.
Eliza Swift at Albert Whitman has acquired Ava Morgyn’s Resurrection Girls, a YA contemporary novel about an obsessive friendship between two teen girls who write letters to murderers, eventually leading them to question everything they know about life and death. Publication is set for fall 2019; Thao Le at Dijkstra Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Stephen Morgan at Entangled Teen has bought world rights to Madeline Reynolds's The Time Traveler's Guide to Modern Romance, in which a Victorian-era boy travels to the future and must choose between the freedom to be with the modern-era boy who captures his heart and the fate of his family in the past. Publication is planned for fall 2018; Whitley Abell at Inklings Literary brokered the deal.
Andrea Davis Pinkney at Scholastic Press has bought world English rights to three books by New England Patriot and literacy activist Malcolm Mitchell. Originally self-published, The Magician’s Hat is a picture book about a magic man who shows up unexpectedly at the town library’s Family Fun Day and reveals the most awe-inspiring treasure—books that make every kid’s dream come true. Joanne Lew-Vriethoff will illustrate the new edition; The Magician’s Hat is slated for May 1, 2018, with two more books to follow. Rick Richter at Aevitas Creative Management did the deal.
Susan Kochan at Putnam has acquired Some Snow Is by author Ellen Yeomans (l.), a poetic celebration of all the different types of snow that fall throughout winter, and the excitement and fun that comes along with it. Andrea Offermann will illustrate; publication is scheduled for fall 2019. Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown Ltd. represented the author, and Sean McCarthy at Sean McCarthy Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Cecily Kaiser at Phaidon has bought Paul Schmid’s Little Bear Dreams, a bedtime picture book that contemplates what polar bears dream of, from big mountains to small friends, hot chocolate to cold pizza. Publication is set for fall 2018; Steven Malk at Writers House represented Schmid in the deal for world rights.
Meredith Mundy at Sterling has acquired world rights to Andria Rosenbaum's Boats Will Float, illustrated by Jordi Solano, about the busy life of different types of boats. Publication is planned for fall 2018; Natalie Lakosil at Bradford Literary Agency represented the author, and Hannah Whitty at Plum Pudding represented the illustrator.
Kendra Levin at Viking has bought world rights at auction to Libby Babbott-Klein’s (l.) Baby Feminists, a lift-the-flap novelty book that takes the universal fact that everyone was once a baby and applies it to famous feminists, showing the youngest readers that they, too, can make a difference. Jessica Walker will illustrate; a publication date has not yet been set. Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the author and the illustrator in her first deal.
