Katherine Tegen at HarperCollins/Tegen has acquired The Beginning of Everything author Robyn Schneider's new YA novel, Invisible Ghosts, which centers on a high school theater geek who starts losing the ability to see her brother's ghost when she falls in love for the first time. A second, standalone novel is also part of the mid-six-figure deal. Publication is slated for summer 2018; Merrilee Heifetz at Writers House negotiated the deal for North American rights. Also, Dana Spector at Paradigm has sold film rights for Schneider’s The Beginning of Everything to BCDF Pictures; Schneider will write the screenplay.
Cheryl Klein at Lee & Low/Tu Books has bought an untitled Mulan novel by The Burning Sky author Sherry Thomas; it is the first novel-length YA adaptation of the ballad to be written by a Chinese-American author. When her ailing father is conscripted to fight the invading Huns, 16-year-old Mulan dresses as a man to take his place in the army—but an old enemy and a new attraction complicate her role in the coming war. Publication is planned for 2019; Kristin Nelson at Nelson Literary Agency brokered the deal for North American rights.
Amy Fitzgerald at Lerner/Carolrhoda Lab has acquired The Book of Love, a standalone novel by NoNieqa Ramos. Overachiever Verdad is struggling to process her best friend's death while meeting her mother's high expectations. When she falls for a classmate—who happens to be trans—their romance forces her to confront her demons and figure out who she really is. Publication is planned for fall 2019; Emily Keyes at Fuse Literary did the deal for world rights.
Erica Finkel and Masha Gunic at Abrams have acquired at auction Rules of the Ruff and an untitled contemporary middle-grade novel by Heidi Lang. Rules of the Ruff follows 12-year-old Jessie, who persuades the curmudgeonly neighborhood dogwalker to take her on as an apprentice. But when a rival dogwalker begins stealing their clients, she must fight for her new friend and her pack. Publication is slated for fall 2018 and fall 2019, respectively; Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary Agency brokered the six-figure deal for world rights.
Andrea Colvin at Lion Forge/Roar has bought, and Hazel Newlevant will edit, Suzanne Walker (l.) and Wendy Xu's graphic novel based on their webcomic Mooncakes, which follows long-lost childhood crushes Nova Huang and Tam Lang as they struggle through bills, family, and the supernatural in ways that only a witch and a werewolf can. Publication is slated for 2019; Linda Camacho at Prospect Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Melissa Manlove at Chronicle has bought world rights to a picture book by Laurel Snyder (l.), illustrated by Felicita Sala. Time to Play is an exploration of identities, occupations, and hobbies that reminds readers of people's infinite potential. Publication has not been scheduled; Tina Wexler at ICM Partners represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Anne Schwartz at Schwartz & Wade has acquired world rights to Julie Leung's Paper Son: The Story of Tyrus Wong, illustrated by Chris Sasaki. The picture book biography tells the story of the Chinese-born American designer of Disney's Bambi, whose impressionistic style inspired generations of illustrators. Publication is planned for fall 2019; Wendi Gu at Janklow & Nesbit represented the author while at Sanford J. Greenburger, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Paula Wiseman at S&S/Wiseman has bought world rights, at auction, to From Tree to Sea, a picture book by Shelley Moore Thomas, about the wondrous wisdoms the world around us has to teach as we grow up. Christopher Silas Neal will illustrate; publication is set for spring 2019. Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary & Media represented the author, and Stephen Barr at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Christopher Robbins at Familius has bought world rights to a picture book from Cap'n Rex & His Clever Crew author Henry Herz. Alice's Magic Garden is a tale of kindness and finding friendship, set as a prequel to Lewis Carroll's Wonderland books. Natalie Hoopes will illustrate; publication is scheduled for fall 2018. Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator was unagented.
Kristen Nobles and Charlotte Wenger at Page Street Kids have bought world rights to Hector on June 16 by Adrienne Wright. The nonfiction graphic novel-style picture book details the story and people behind Sam Nzima's powerful photo from the South African Soweto youth uprising of June 16, 1976. Publication is planned for spring 2019; the author-illustrator was unagented.
Brian Sockin at Persnickety Press has acquired world rights to Randal the Elephant by Irish author-illustrator Ciara Gavin, about an otter who dreams of being something bigger, much bigger—an elephant—and follows his dream. Publication is set for March 2018; Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary negotiated the deal.
Jocelyn Davies at HarperTeen has acquired The Never Tilting World, a YA fantasy series by The Bone Witch author Rin Chupeco. Pitched as Frozen meets Mad Max, the series is about a world ruled by goddesses that has been split in two—one half existing in perpetual scorching Day, the other in freezing Night—and the twins separated at birth who learn they're destined to make their way across the great divide and rule a reunited world. The first book is scheduled for summer 2019; Rebecca Podos at Rees Literary brokered the two-book deal for world rights.
Kieran Viola at Freeform has bought author of the Naturals series Jennifer Lynn Barnes's Little White Lies, about a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who agrees to move in with her wealthy grandmother and become a debutante, in hopes of figuring out which scion of high society got her mother pregnant 18 years earlier. Publication is planned for fall 2018, plus one additional untitled YA novel; Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown Ltd. handled the deal for world English rights.
Lauren Smulski at Harlequin Teen has acquired The Disappearance of Sloane Sullivan by Gia Cribbs, a debut YA novel about a teen girl in the witness protection program. The psychological thriller follows Sloane Sullivan through her 19th new identity when she discovers that Jason, the best friend she left behind years ago, is a student at her latest school. Publication is slated for May 2018; Steven Salpeter at Curtis Brown Ltd. negotiated the deal for world rights.
Mari Kesselring at Flux has bought world rights to My Whole Truth by debut author Mischa Thrace. The contemporary YA novel stars 17-year-old Seelie Stanton, who defends herself from a vicious attack only to be put on trial for her attacker's murder. Publication is set for fall 2018; the book was unagented.
Lauren Knowles at Page Street has acquired world rights to Naomi Hughes's sci-fi thriller, Afterimage. After 17-year-old Camryn is the sole survivor of an explosion that killed thousands—including her mother—she's haunted by a transparent boy who may be a figment of her imagination. Together, they must figure out who caused the explosion before the culprit comes back. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018; Kira Watson at the Emma Sweeney Agency brokered the deal.
Karen Wojtyla at McElderry Books has bought world English rights to four books in aquanaut and environmental activist Fabien Cousteau's (l.) Fabien Cousteau Expedition graphic novel series. Cousteau will team up with author James O. Fraioli (center) and Marvel and DC Comics illustrator Joe St.Pierre. The middle grade series takes readers on ecological expeditions in exotic places, while educating on environmental issues. Publication of the first title, Great White Shark Expedition, is slated for fall 2018; Clelia Gore and Sharlene Martin at Martin Literary Management negotiated the deal.
Pam Gruber at Little, Brown has acquired Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg's graphic novel, The Plain Janes, following a group of girls named Jane and their adventures in guerrilla art activism. Originally published as two volumes by DC Comics in 2007 and 2008, both stories will be bound with an all-new third story into one volume. Publication is planned for fall 2019; Kirby Kim at Janklow & Nesbit Associates did the deal for world rights.
Kelsey Horton at Delacorte has bought Dana Alison Levy's middle grade novel, It Wasn't Me. Pitched as The Breakfast Club for middle schoolers, with a prank twist, the story features six very different seventh graders who are forced to band together after a vandalism incident at school and figure out who is responsible, only to discover that everything is not always what it seems. The book is set for fall 2018; Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency handled the deal for North American rights.
Annie Nybo at Albert Whitman has acquired debut author Viviane Elbee's picture book, Teach Your Giraffe to Ski, in which a boy teaches his giraffe to ski in an effort to distract her from the Big Scary Slope. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018; Natascha Morris at BookEnds Literary negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Christina Pulles at Sterling has bought world rights to American Gothic and Esquivel! author Susan Wood's Holy Squawkamole! Little Red Hen Makes Guacamole, a little red hen story. Laura Gonzalez is set to illustrate; publication is expected in October 2018. Caryn Wiseman at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Lisa Musing at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
Eliza Swift at Albert Whitman has acquired world rights to Janet Lawler's (l.) picture book, Fright School, illustrated by Chiara Galletti. Before Halloween, young monsters go to school to learn how to frighten trick-or-treaters—but who will be spooked in the end? Publication is planned for fall 2018; Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright USA represented the author, and Emily Coggins at Astound represented the illustrator.
