Namrata Tripathi at Kokila has acquired, on exclusive submission, Sanctuary by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio, author of the forthcoming Undocumented America. The YA novel follows Marcela, a 16-year-old New Yorker and budding journalist whose world comes crashing down when she finds out her father is scheduled for immediate deportation. When he seeks sanctuary at a local church, Marcela finds herself fighting for her father's rights and fending off exploitative media outlets she once hoped to join. Publication is set for fall 2021; Peter Steinberg at Foundry Literary + Media negotiated the deal for North American English and Spanish rights.
Alessandra Balzer at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has bought, at auction, Elise Bryant's debut YA, Happily Ever Afters. Pitched as Jane the Virgin meets To All the Boys I've Loved Before—and full of Black girl magic—the book follows Tessa, a creative writing student who has never seen herself reflected in the pages of her beloved romance novels, until she runs up against a bad case of writer's block and decides to find a real-life romance to inspire her fiction. Publication is slated for winter 2021; Taylor Haggerty at Root Literary negotiated the two-book deal for North American rights.
Eileen Rothschild at Wednesday Books has acquired North American rights to You've Reached Me and a second book by debut author Dustin Thao. You've Reached Me is a contemporary story with a dash of magic, about a teen girl who, heartbroken after her boyfriend's death, calls him to hear his voicemail—but he picks up. In a miraculous turn of events, they have a second chance at good-bye. Publication is scheduled for 2021; Thao Le at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency brokered the two-book deal.
Alvina Ling at Little, Brown has bought world rights to Camp by L.C. Rosen, a YA romantic comedy set at an LGBTQIA+ summer camp where femme theater-kid Randy has been in love with "straight-acting for straight-acting" Hudson for several summers, and this summer, has remade himself as Hudson's masculine dream-boy in an attempt to win his heart. Initial publication is planned for summer 2020; Joy Tutela at the David Black Literary Agency negotiated the deal.
Lauren Knowles at Page Street acquired Lisa DeSelm's YA fantasy, The Puppetmaster's Apprentice, a gender-swapped retelling of Pinocchio meets Frankenstein. Pirouette is tasked to build an assassin for the tyrant of Tavia, but when she realizes his schemes dabble in dark magic, she aims to take control of the strings before the next blue moon. Publication is set for fall 2020; Laura Crockett at TriadaUS Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Emilia Rhodes at HMH has bought world rights to Ghosted by Michael Fry, author-illustrator of the How to Be a Supervillain series. When Larry's best friend Grimm suddenly ghosts him—literally, he becomes a ghost—it's up to the two BFFs to figure out how to help Grimm overcome his unfinished business and move on. Publication is slated for fall 2020; Daniel Lazar at Writers House represented the author.
Kathy Dawson at Penguin/Dawson has acquired, at auction, Mindy Thompson's The Bookshop of Dust and Dreams, a debut middle grade novel set during WWII about Poppy, whose family runs a time-hopping, magical bookshop. When tragedy strikes, Poppy is caught between following her family's cardinal rule that prohibits magic for your own gain and trying to save her brother's life. Publication is scheduled for 2021; Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord Literistic handled the deal for world rights.
Kristin Daly Rens at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has bought at auction a middle grade novel by Weird Little Robots author Carolyn Crimi. Secondhand Dogs is the story of an insecure pack leader who must find the courage to keep his family together after a new dog with a dark past brings divisiveness to the group. Publication is planned for spring 2021; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Katherine Harrison at Knopf has acquired, at auction, Karah Sutton's debut middle grade fantasy adventure, A Wolf for a Spell. The novel follows a young wolf named Zima who is tricked into trading places with the witch Baba Yaga, and a girl named Nadya who seeks to protect her village from an evil tsar. Wolf, witch, and girl join forces in a tale of villains turned heroes. Publication is slated for fall 2020; Katie Grimm at Don Congdon Associates brokered the two-book deal for world rights.
Dana Leydig at Viking has bought middle grade author Jeannie Mobley's debut YA historical romance The Jewel Thief at auction. When Louis XIV's crown jeweler finds it impossible to cut a rare blue diamond, his daughter takes the task upon herself. Intrigue and deceit land her in the Bastille, where her confession must win the king's pardon, and forgiveness from the man she loves. Publication is set for summer 2020; Jennifer Weltz at Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency negotiated the two-book deal for world English rights.
Wesley Adams at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has acquired world rights to E.L. Shen's debut middle grade novel, The Comeback, about 12-year-old Maxine, a Chinese-American ice skater, and her struggles to stick the landing both on the ice and in middle school. Publication is scheduled for winter 2021; the author was unagented.
Anne Hoppe at Clarion has bought Sarah Beth Durst's middle-grade fantasy Even and Odd, as well as a second untitled novel. Even and Odd is about two sisters who can work magic on alternating days, and what happens when the border between the mundane and magic worlds closes abruptly and it's up to the two girls, and a snarky unicorn, to re-open it and reunite stranded families—including their own. Publication is set for spring 2021 and 2022; Andrea Somberg at Harvey Klinger negotiated the deal for world rights.
Amy Fitzgerald at Lerner/Carolrhoda has acquired Jimmy Matejek-Morris's debut middle-grade novel, My Ex-Imaginary Friend. Ten-year-old Jack thinks he's outgrown his imaginary friend George—half human, half walrus, all magic—until his father's absence and his mother's untreated bipolar disorder throw his life into chaos. Publication is planned for fall 2020; Emily Keyes at Fuse Literary Agency handled the deal for world rights.
Vicky Holifield at Peachtree has bought worldwide rights to science writer Mary Batten's Life in a Frozen World and Life in Hot Water, two middle grade nonfiction companion titles about animals and plants in extreme environments and how they are being affected by climate change—from the frozen world of Antarctica to the boiling hot vents at the bottom of the sea. Thomas Gonzalez (Countdown; 14 Cows for America) will illustrate; publication of the first book is slated for 2021. Barbara Markowitz at Barbara Markowitz Literary Agency represented the author, and Deborah Warren at East-West Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Katie Carella at Scholastic has acquired, for the Acorn imprint, Haggis and Tank Unleashed author Jessica Young's (l.) new early reader series, Fairylight Friends, with illustrations by Marie Vanderbemden. The three-book series follows three fairy friends through their magical adventures in the forest. The first book will publish in fall 2020; Kelly Sonnack at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and AMPLO represented the illustrator.
Cheryl Klein at Lee & Low has bought world rights to Flap Your Hands by debut author-illustrator Steve Asbell. This #OwnVoices picture book celebrates the joys and benefits of sensory stimulation, or “stimming,” particularly for an autistic audience; publication is scheduled for spring 2021. Christy T. Ewers at the CAT Agency brokered the deal.
Taylor Norman at Chronicle has acquired, in a two-book deal, at auction, world rights to literary agent Stephen Barr's debut picture book, The Upside Down Hat, in which a boy who has everything wakes up and discovers that it's all gone. Everything is missing except for his hat, which accompanies him on his search for everything else. Gracey Zhang will illustrate; publication is set for spring 2022. Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties represented the author, and Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Trisha de Guzman at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has bought world rights to Charlotte Sullivan Wild's (l.) Love, Violet, illustrated by Charlene Chua, about a girl named Violet with a crush on another girl who attempts to share how she feels on Valentine's Day. Publication is slated for fall 2021; Minju Chang at BookStop Literary represented the author, and Tracy Marchini at BookEnds Literary represented the illustrator.
Kate DePalma at Barefoot Books has signed a five-book set by Sarah Nelson (l.) (Frogness), illustrated by Rachel Oldfield (Up, Up, Up!; Outdoor Opposites): I Like the Sun, I Like the Rain, I Like the Snow, I Like the Clouds, and I Like the Wind. The books celebrate the sensory joys of weather; publication is planned for fall 2020. Marietta Zacker at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency represented the author, and Oldfield represented herself in the deal for world rights.
Joni Sussman at Kar-Ben has acquired world rights to Judah Touro Didn't Want to Be Famous by Audrey Ades (l.), a picture book biography of the Jewish philanthropist Judah Touro, who lived in colonial America. Vivien Mildenberger will illustrate; publication is set for spring 2020. Adria Goetz at Martin Literary represented the author, and Robbin Brosterman at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Jennie Conway at Wednesday Books has acquired, at auction, Courtney Gould's debut novel, The Dead and the Dark. When the daughter of reality TV ghosthunters teams up with a small-town princess to search for a missing teen, they find themselves falling in love as they uncover an evil so terrifying it threatens to destroy everything in its path. Publication is planned for summer 2021; Claire Friedman and Jessica Mileo at InkWell Management brokered the deal for North American rights.
Jennifer Ung at Simon Pulse has bought Sarah Suk's YA debut, Made in Korea, a romantic comedy about a Korean-American teen who sells Korean beauty products out of her locker and manages the school's most successful student enterprise, until the hot new boy gives her a run for her money—leading her to surprising discoveries about first love, family, and herself. Publication is slated for summer 2021; Linda Epstein at Emerald City Literary negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Julie Matysik at Running Press Kids, in an exclusive submission, has acquired It's a Wonderful Death author Sarah J. Schmitt's Where There's a Whisk, pitched as Waitress meets Big Brother, which follows 18-year-old Peyton Sinclaire as she leans into the lessons learned from her con-man father to take on nine other contestants and a producer more interested in ratings than a properly seasoned steak, all to win a reality cooking competition and the scholarship that goes with it. Britny Brooks will edit; publication is set for fall 2020. Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Agency did the deal for world rights.
Annie Harper at Interlude/Duet has bought global rights to Julian Winters's YA novel, The Summer of Everything. Comic book geek Wesley Hudson excels at two things: slacking off at his job and pining after his best friend, Nico. And his dream job at the local used bookstore is threatened when a coffeeshop franchise wants to buy the property. Publication is scheduled for August 2020; the author was unagented.
Samantha Gentry at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to Alex Perry's Pighearted, pitched as Charlotte's Web meets My Sister's Keeper, the middle grade novel is told from the alternating perspectives of a boy with a fatal heart condition and the pig with the heart that could save his life. Initial publication is planned for fall 2021; Melissa Nasson at Rubin Pfeffer Content brokered the deal.
Christy Ottaviano at Macmillan/Ottaviano has bought world rights to two new middle grade novels by Ben Guterson, Edgar-nominated creator of the Winterhouse trilogy. The first book, The Vista Point Einsteins, is a mystery featuring a grieving family eager to start fresh by relocating to a remote bed-and-breakfast, pitched as Summerlost meets Front Desk; it's scheduled for 2021. The Hidden Workshop of Javier Preston, scheduled for 2022, is a mystery layered with art, puzzles, friendship, and family in the vein of Chasing Vermeer and Book Scavenger. Rena Rossner at the Deborah Harris Agency negotiated the deal.
Whitney Leopard at Random House Graphic has acquired Megan Brennan's chapter book graphic novel trilogy Magic Girls in an exclusive submission. Welcome to Neo-Earth, a middle school filled with heroines, geniuses, and secret mermen. For new student Kira, this is a lot to take in, but when she meets a mysterious cat-like being named Catacorn, she realizes that her middle school adventure is just beginning. Publication is slated for 2022; Linda Camacho at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency handled the deal for North American rights.
Caitlyn Dlouhy at Atheneum/Dlouhy has bought world rights to Frances O'Roark Dowell's (l.) The Big What If, or, How to Build a Story, a middle-grade nonfiction guide to writing and the creative process with wry examples, encouragement, and tips for aspiring writers. The book will be illustrated by Stacy Ebert; publication is set for summer 2020. The author is unagented; Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Alex Arnold at Quirk has acquired Gideon Kidd (l.) and Rachel Braunigan's I've Pet That Dog Handbook, based on the Twitter account I've Pet That Dog, which features 12-year-old Gideon and the more than 1,000 dogs he has met and profiled. The handbook will include a guide to meeting, petting, and caring for dogs, facts about dogs, quizzes, and more. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; Melissa Edwards at Stonesong brokered the deal for world rights.
Kwame Alexander and Margaret Raymo at HMH/Versify have bought world rights to A Library, written by poet Nikki Giovanni (l.) and illustrated by Erin Robinson. The picture book celebrates the purpose and magic of a library, a welcome retreat for every child. Publication is planned for fall 2021; the author represented herself, and Marzena Torzecka at the Marlena Agency represented the illustrator.
Mabel Hsu at HarperCollins/Tegen has acquired, at auction, the #OwnVoices picture book When Lola Comes by debut author Michelle Sterling, illustrated by Aaron Asis. A Filipino-American girl savors the rich senses of summer with her visiting lola and finds a way to preserve their close grandmother-granddaughter bond after her lola returns to the Philippines. Publication is set for summer 2021; Andrea Morrison at Writers House represented the author in the deal for world rights, and the illustrator was unagented.
Trisha de Guzman at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has bought world rights to debut author Tootie Nienow's (l.) nonfiction picture book There Goes Patti McGee!, illustrated by Erika Medina. The book follows Patti McGee, the first-ever female professional skateboarder, and how she became the 1964 Woman's National Skateboard Champion. Publication is slated for winter 2021; the author and the illustrator represented themselves.
Liza Kaplan at Philomel has acquired world rights to Nadia Salomon's (l.) debut picture book text, Goodnight Ganesha, a bedtime story featuring two children sleeping over at their grandparents' home in India, and the various ways their culture plays a role in their nighttime routine. Kate Greenaway Medal finalist Poonam Mistry has signed on to illustrate; the book is scheduled for publication in fall 2021. The author was represented by Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency, and the illustrator was represented by Alice Sutherland-Hawes at Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency.
Karen Chaplin at HarperCollins has bought world rights to Q and U Call It Quits by A Place for Pluto author Stef Wade, illustrated by Jorge Martin. When U starts to feel overwhelmed by Q's neediness, she sets off for some alone time. As word of their split gets around, the other letter blends drift apart, creating chaos and confusion. Publication is planned for summer 2021; Christa Heschke at McIntosh and Otis represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Samantha Swenson at Tundra has acquired world rights to Crocodile Hungry! and a second book by Eija Sumner. Crocodile is hungry. But what can crocodile eat? When a visit to the grocery store fails and a trip to the farmers' market sends people screaming, crocodile bursts into sobs. But will his puddle of tears be the secret to the most perfect meal ever? John Martz will illustrate; publication is slated for spring 2022. Natascha Morris at Bookends represented the author.
Semareh Al-Hillal at Groundwood has bought, in a two-book deal, Sandra V. Feder's (l.) Angry Me and Peaceful Me, illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell. The picture books aim to inspire readers to identify and embrace these respective emotions, encouraging them to let the anger come and go, while letting the peace come and stay. Publication for Angry Me is set for spring 2022, and Peaceful Me is set for fall 2022; the author represented herself, and Christy T. Ewers represented the illustrator for world rights.
Feather Flores at Chronicle has acquired world rights to The Twelve Cats of Christmas, illustrated by Disney story artist Carrie Liao in her picture book debut. This festive take on the classic "12 Days of Christmas" song stars 12 cat characters celebrating the holiday season in true feline fashion: cuddling up by a fire, chasing ribbons, climbing the tree, and generally making mischief. Publication is set for fall 2022; Liao was unagented.
Kelsey Skea at Amazon/Two Lions has acquired Jackie Azúa Kramer's (l.) We Are One, which celebrates friendship between children from different backgrounds. The book will be jointly illustrated by Raissa Figueroa (center) and Nina Mata; publication is planned for spring 2021. Stephen Fraser at Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency represented Kramer, Natascha Morris at BookEnds Literary Agency represented Figueroa, and Christy T. Ewers at the CAT Agency represented Mata in the deal for world rights.
