Sara Goodman at Wednesday Books has acquired, at auction, Hannah Schneider's debut novel Unrecovered, as part of a two-book deal. In it, a teen grieving the recent death of her older brother must navigate her years-long crush on his best friend. As they grow closer, she starts to unravel the secrets her brother left behind, in a tapestry of first love, loss, and letting go. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027; Mollie Glick at Creative Artists Agency sold North American rights.
Emilia Sowersby at Roaring Brook Press has bought Prom Anomaly by Gwenyth Reitz (author of the upcoming You're Dead to Me, Reed Walker), aimed for fans of The Do-Over and See You Yesterday. In this opposites-attract, speculative YA rom-com, a prom queen wannabe and a loner outcast are forced to relive their same disastrous prom until they do the improbable—fall in love—and break the time loop. Publication is planned for winter 2028; Uwe Stender at Triada US sold world rights.
Alison Romig at Delacorte Press has acquired Hafsa A. Jawad's The Tales of Arcana Fortune, a cozy YA romantasy about a healer who must survive seven fairy trials after unwittingly releasing a demon from a cursed book, and its sequel, The Mirrors of Runisia Winters. Publication is slated for spring 2027 and spring 2028; Sophie Sheumaker at BookEnds Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Kortney Nash at Macmillan/Godwin Books has bought We Won't Remember Your Name by debut author Zoë Harris, a genre-blending YA novel for fans of The Grace Year, exploring how the arrival of two new students upends the rigid rules and social hierarchy for the students at Fossbridge School for Timid Girls. Publication is set for spring 2027; Laurel Symonds at KT Literary handled the deal for world English rights.
Sally Morgridge at Holiday House has acquired, at auction, Jocelyn Cho's debut middle grade graphic novel, The Golden Shoes. When 12-year-old Hana finds herself whisked into a strange alternate universe, she enlists the help of fellow lost souls to set things right and get back home, in this reimagining of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, inspired by traditional Korean folklore and K-Pop idol culture. Publication is set for spring 2029; Sean McCarthy at Sean McCarthy Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Christy Ottaviano at Little Brown/Ottaviano has bought, in an exclusive submission, the first two books in an illustrated middle grade nonfiction series titled The Weird World of Sports by Tommy Greenwald, a celebration of some of the weirdest, wackiest, and most unusual moments in sports history. Publication for the first book is scheduled for fall 2027; Amy Thrall Flynn at Aevitas Creative Management brokered the deal for old world rights.
Joanna Cárdenas at Kokila has acquired world rights to No Sabo by Olivia Abtahi (l.) (The Interpreter), illustrated by Micah Player. In this picture book about identity, code-switching, and ingenuity, an Argentinian American child approaches her challenges navigating Spanish at a family quinceañera as a secret agent on an undercover mission. Publication is set for fall 2027; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented the author, and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Celia Lee at Simon & Schuster has bought, at auction, world rights to Horizontal Crocodile by Scott Rothman (l.), illustrated by Brian Won, which tells the story of a very looooong crocodile and his thoughtful preparations to welcome a friend to his house for a visit. Publication is slated for fall 2026; Andrea Morrison at Writers House represented the author, and Rubin Pfeffer at Aevitas Creative Management represented the illustrator.
Sydnee Monday, while at Kokila, acquired world rights to Nnamdi by Wellesley College Africana Studies professor Liseli A. Fitzpatrick (l.), illustrated by Bea Jackson, a debut picture book about a young Trinidadian/Jamaican American boy who learns the powerful meaning of his name while in search of his missing grandfather (and a magical place called heaven) as he prepares for Grandparent's Day at school. Zareen Jaffery will edit; publication is planned for summer 2027. The author represented herself, and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Emma Sakamoto at Groundwood Books has bought world rights to The King's Court by debut author Beth Elliott (l.), illustrated by Ginger Ngo (Emerson the Elephant Seal), a picture book about recess power dynamics and fair play in which George declares his own rules of the court, eventually realizing that most royally awesome kingdoms aren't ruled by one—they're ruled by the people. Publication is set for summer 2027; the author represented herself, and Adriana Dominguez at Aevitas Creative Management represented the illustrator.
