Sarah Barley and Caroline Bleeke at Flatiron Books have acquired, in a preempt, author, TV writer, and producer Jenny Lee's Anna K. Pitched as a modern reinvention of Anna Karenina with elements of Crazy Rich Asians and Gossip Girl, the book is set between Manhattan and Greenwich, Conn., featuring a Korean-American "it girl" caught between her picture-perfect, family-approved boyfriend and the guy who might just be her one true love, along with her high-flying cast of friends. Publication is scheduled for winter 2020; Sally Wofford-Girand at Union Literary brokered the two-book deal for North American rights.
Krestyna Lypen and Elise Howard at Algonquin Young Readers have bought Here We Are and (Don't) Call Me Crazy editor Kelly Jensen's Body Talk, a YA anthology of essays, artwork, poetry and other ephemera, which goes beyond the requisite puberty book or sex talk to address the entire experience of the physical body, from the biological to the political. Contributors include Roshani Chokshi, Anna-Marie McLemore, Eric Smith, Alex Gino, Julie Murphy, Nic Stone, Shane Burcaw, Sara Saedi, and Yao Xiao, among others. Publication is slated for fall 2020; Tina Dubois at ICM Partners negotiated the deal for world rights.
Liz Bicknell at Candlewick has acquired Printz Honor author Susann Cokal's new YA novel, Mermaid Moon. The book is set in a matriarchal mermaid community where a half-blooded mermaid and witch in training, Sanna, fashions herself a pair of legs and goes ashore in the Thirty-Seven Dark Islands to look for her mother, but the landish community she encounters soon suspects her of magic or worse. Publication is set for spring 2020; Stephen Barbara at InkWell Management did the deal for world rights.
Karen Greenberg at Knopf has bought Bright Shining World by Josh Swiller, a speculative YA thriller that follows one boy as he attempts to make sense of a strange new town where the students have begun seeing unexplainable things, while uncovering his family's role in the town's mysteries. Publication is planned for fall 2020; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret brokered the deal for world rights.
Alex Borbolla at Atheneum has acquired Jennifer Moffett's debut YA novel, The Remnant, about a shy college freshman who is seduced into joining a campus cult, leading her on a deadly mission trip to Italy. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; Shannon Hassan at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Stephanie Owens Lurie at Disney-Hyperion has bought world rights to Susan Lurie's (l.) middle grade novel, Wanda and the Mostly True Secret. The book is about an 11-year-old girl who, accompanied by a talking bluebird named Voltaire, strikes out on a quest through the Scary Wood to find her real family, because the one she's been stuck with all these years surely can't be right. Publication is slated for winter 2020, with an untitled sequel to follow in summer 2020; the books will be illustrated by Jenn Harney. Elizabeth Bennett and Jill Corcoran at Jill Corcoran Literary Agency represented the author, and Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency represented the illustrator.
Lisa Yoskowitz at Little, Brown has acquired, at auction, Sarah R. Baughman's debut novel, The Light in the Lake. The story follows a 12-year-old girl who finds herself caught between her love of science and her late twin brother's belief in magic, when the mountain lake he drowned in shows signs of water pollution and reveals clues about a mysterious creature that might live in its depths. Publication is set for fall 2019; Katie Grimm at Don Congdon Associates handled the deal for world rights.
Nancy Siscoe at Knopf has bought, at auction, debut novelist Kate O'Shaughnessy's contemporary middle grade novel, The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane, in which 11-year-old Maybelle travels hundreds of miles to enter a singing competition and, she hopes, to meet her radio DJ father for the first time. Publication is planned for spring 2020; Pete Knapp at Park Literary brokered the two-book deal for world English rights.
Eliza Leahy at Capstone has acquired world English rights to Farah Rocks, a debut chapter book series by Susan Muaddi Darraj, winner of the 2016 Arab American Book Award. The series stars fourth grader Farah Hajjar, a brave and clever Palestinian-American girl who faces bullies, schoolwork, and family problems with quiet determination. The series is set to launch in January 2020; Thomas Colchie at the Colchie Agency represented the author.
Sheila Keenan at Viking has bought, in a preempt, Haven and the Titans, a middle-grade graphic novel by co-creators Jennifer Xu (l.) and Kate Rhodes. The fantastical adventure series features a strong girl hero, mysterious gods, and menacing robots, set in a kingdom that extends beyond the clouds. The first book is scheduled for publication in fall 2020; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the creators in the two-book deal for world rights.
Chris Krones at HMH has acquired world rights to Melanie Ellsworth's Clarinet & Trumpet, illustrated by John Herzog. The picture book tells the story of a harmonious friendship that goes flat when the woodwinds face off against the brass section. Publication is slated for spring 2020; Christa Heschke at McIntosh & Otis represented the author, and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.
Simon Boughton at Norton Young Readers has bought world rights to A Girl Who Leaped, A Woman Who Soared by Carrie Pearson (l.), a picture book biography of Dr. Virginia Apgar, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. Apgar developed the simple standard test for evaluating newborn babies' health that is named for her and is credited with dramatically improving infant mortality rates. Publication is set for fall 2020; Kelly Sonnack at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and the artist represented herself.
Talia Benamy at Philomel has acquired world rights to The Bear Must Go On by Dev Petty, a story about woodland animals who want to put on a show, but who forget one key element. Brandon Todd will illustrate; publication is planned for spring 2021. Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and John Rudolph at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented the illustrator.
Marissa Moss at Creston Books has bought world rights to Grace Hopper: Queen of the Computer Code author Laurie Wallmark's (l.) new work, Numbers in Motion: Sophie Kowalevski, Queen of Mathematics. The book explores the life of the ground-breaking mathematician. Yevgenia Nayberg will illustrate; publication is scheduled for spring 2020. Liza Fleissig at the Liza Royce Agency represented the author, and Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary represented the illustrator.
Jes Negrón at Kane Press/StarBerry Books has acquired world rights to debut author Valerie Bolling's (l.) Let's Dance!, illustrated by Maine Diaz. The picture book showcases dances from all over the world, with rhythmic prose that encourages readers to tap, spin, and boogie along. Publication is slated for spring 2020; the author represented herself, and Mela Bolinao represented the illustrator.
Gina Gagliano and Julia Maguire at Random House Graphic and Knopf are bringing Lucy Knisley's children's books to Random House in a five-book deal, including three graphic novels and two picture books. The graphic novels form a middle-grade contemporary trilogy based on Lucy's own life. The first book, Stepping Stones, tackles the experience of new step-siblings. The first picture book, Wocks, is about going on the hunt for the perfect rock, and the second picture book is not yet titled. Publication is planned to begin in 2020; Holly Bemiss at Susan Rabiner Literary Agency sold world rights.
Jessica Harriton at Razorbill has acquired, in an exclusive submission, War Girls and an untitled sequel by Tochi Onyebuchi, author of Beasts Made of Night and Crown of Thunder. Set in a futuristic, Black Panther-inspired Nigeria, War Girls follows two sisters separated by a devastating civil war as they fight their way back to each other against all odds. Publication is slated for fall 2019, followed by the second title in fall 2020; Noah Ballard at Curtis Brown Ltd. negotiated the deal for world rights.
Lisa Yoskowitz at Little, Brown has bought, at auction, three nonfiction books based on Cosmic Picture Limited's IMAX film Superpower Dogs, from the team behind the film (from l.): Taran Davies, George Duffield, Dominic Cunningham-Reid, and Daniel Ferguson. The first, Superpower Dogs, is a picture book featuring photographs by Danny Wilcox Frazier, introducing readers to six working dogs across the world and how their skills help them save lives. The middle grade titles Superpower Dogs: Halo, Disaster Response Dog and Superpower Dogs: Henry, Avalanche Rescue Dog each explore the story of a particular dog's training and life-saving work. Publication is set for spring 2019; Elizabeth Sheinkman at Peters, Fraser, & Dunlop brokered the deal for world rights.
Natashya Wilson at Inkyard Press has acquired Alechia Dow's debut, The Sound of Stars, a YA novel set in the near-future, featuring a captive teen human and a young alien leader bonded by their love of forbidden books and music, who embark on a road trip as they attempt to overturn alien rule and save humankind. Publication is projected for winter 2020; Uwe Stender at Triada US did the deal for North American rights.
Shana Corey at Random House has bought, in a preempt, John Gallagher's Max Meow: Cat Crusader, three books in a full-color graphic novel series starring Max, a crime-fighting feline with Cat-itude who makes bad guys flea and kids cheer with glee. Publication will begin in fall 2020; Judy Hansen at Hansen Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Kate Fletcher at Candlewick Press has acquired Cynthia Salaysay's debut YA novel, Private Lessons. A talented teen pianist struggles to define her relationships with her mother, her friends, and her piano teacher, as competition and college pressures mount. Publication is scheduled for spring 2020; Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Jennifer Ung at Aladdin has bought at auction Supriya Kelkar's American as Paneer Pie, a middle grade novel about an Indian-American girl who struggles to navigate her two very different lives: the one at home, where she can be herself, and the one at school, where she is teased for her culture. When a racist incident rocks her small town, she must decide to continue to remain silent or find her voice. Publication is planned for 2020; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency handled the deal for world rights.
Erin Black and Amanda Maciel have acquired The Dirt Diary series author Anna Staniszewski's new middle grade novel, Secondhand Wishes, about a girl who stumbles upon a bag of “gently used” wishing stones—which comes with some unintended and unexpected side effects. Publication is slated for January 2019; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Dana Chidiac at Dial has bought Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen by debut author Sarah Kapit. In this #OwnVoices epistolary middle grade, Vivy, an autistic 11-year-old baseball fan, begins writing letters to her major league pitcher idol—and her first year of Little League gets even better when he starts writing back. Publication is set for spring 2020; Jennifer Udden at Barry Goldblatt Literary negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Katherine Tegen at HarperCollins/Tegen has acquired Stella Speaks, the middle grade debut by Tanita S. Davis, Coretta Scott King Honor author of Mare's War. Eleven-year-old Stella St. John's ambition to be a reporter gives rise to a daily vlog about life, the universe, and everything in-between, including her best friend JC's fading interest in their friendship in the wake of JC's kidney transplant. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency brokered the two-book deal.
Megan Tingley at Little, Brown has bought, in a preempt, world rights to three works by debut author-illustrator Ani Castillo, launching with Ping, a picture book that humorously explores the challenges and joys of self-expression and social connection. Publication is planned for fall 2019; Samantha Haywood and Amy Tompkins at Transatlantic Agency did the deal.
Margaret Anastas at HarperCollins has acquired two picture books by debut author-illustrator Gregory Barrington. The first, Cow Boy Is Not a Cowboy, follows the friendship of a boy cow and a goat girl. Publication for the book is scheduled for fall 2020, with the second, untitled book slated for fall 2021; Deborah Warren at East/West Literary Agency negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Liz Szabla at Feiwel and Friends has bought world rights, in an exclusive submission, to fine artist Laura Breen's picture book debut, My Shadow, a graphic celebration of the shapes and sizes of different shadows. Publication is set for spring 2020; the author-illustrator was unagented.
Kelly Loughman and Mora Couch at Holiday House have acquired world rights to Chinese New Year Colors by Rich Lo, author-illustrator of Father's Chinese Opera. The picture book is about the colors of objects associated with the Chinese New Year, accompanied by the corresponding Chinese characters. The projected pub date is fall 2019; Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary represented the author-illustrator.
Regina Hayes at Viking has bought world English rights to The Mysterious Book Babies by Christine McDonnell (l.) (Goyangi Means Cat), illustrated by Jeanette Bradley (Love, Mama). It tells the story of the mysterious arrival of four babies on a small island, and the librarian who always knows what to do. Spring 2020 publication is scheduled; Emily Mitchell at Wernick & Pratt represented the illustrator, and the author was unagented.
Allison Cohen at Running Press Kids has acquired world rights to When the Farm Goes to Sleep by Chelsea Cates (l.) and Quinn Metal Corbin of C+C Mini Factory. Showcasing C+C Mini Factory's photographic illustrations, the bedtime story follows an eclectic cast of miniature farm animals on late-night adventures that happen after everyone else on the farm goes to sleep. Publication is planned for spring 2021; the authors were unagented.
Marissa Moss at Creston Books has bought world rights to a nonfiction picture book by 2018 South Asia Book Award winner Nancy Churnin (l.), illustrated by Felicia Marshall (Loved Best). Beautiful Shades of Brown is the story of Laura Wheeler Waring, the groundbreaking 19th-century African-American artist whose paintings of Marian Anderson, W.E.B. DuBois, and more hang in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. Publication is slated for spring 2020; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and the illustrator was unagented.
Wendy McClure at Albert Whitman has acquired world rights to Laura Gehl’s (l.) Always Looking Up, a picture book biography of Nancy Grace Roman, the astronomer who refused to let her teachers discourage her from a career in the sciences and went on to lead a team at NASA to build the Hubble Space Telescope. Louise Pigott will illustrate; publication is set for fall 2019. Erzsi Deak at Hen&ink Literary represented the author, and Atlanta Japp at Advocate represented the illustrator.
Jennifer Stokes at Kids Can Press has bought world rights to Julie Abery’s Mr. Joao and Dindim the Penguin, illustrated by Pierre Pratt. The nonfiction picture book details the journey of Dindim, a beached penguin who, despite slim chances of survival, is nurtured back to health by the dedication and kindness of a new friend. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and Pratt was unagented.
Beth Terrill at NorthSouth Books has acquired world rights to Abigail Rayner's (l.) picture book, I Am a Thief, which follows Eliza Jane Murphy—line leader, captain of the worm rescue team—who finds herself in emotional turmoil after impulsively stealing a green stone from her classroom. Molly Ruttan will illustrate; publication is set for fall 2019. Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency represented the illustrator.
