Tiffany Liao at Henry Holt has acquired, at auction, Lyndall Clipstone's debut YA fantasy Lakesedge, plus an untitled sequel, pitched as a gothic romance in the vein of Wintersong meets Naomi Novik's Uprooted. Violeta Graceling is sent to live at the haunted estate of Rowan Sylvanan, the notorious Monster of Lakesedge, only to be pulled into a romance and a bargain that will have Leta fighting to save the ones she loves—and her soul. Publication of the first book is planned for winter 2021; Jill Grinberg at Jill Grinberg Literary Management negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Miriam Newman at Candlewick has bought The Heartbreak Bakery, a new YA novel by Amy Rose Capetta (The Lost Coast; Once & Future) in an exclusive submission, in which agender teen baker Syd deals with first heartbreak by whipping up brownies—which break up everyone who eats them, including the owners of LGBTQIAP+ institution The Proud Muffin. With the help of magical baking and a cute transmasc bike messenger, Syd must save relationships and defend the bakery from disappearing in a fast-changing Austin, Texas. Publication is set for fall 2021; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties did the deal for North American rights.
Annie Berger at Sourcebooks Fire has acquired world English rights to Doomed by Laura Pohl (The Last 8), the story of four troubled friends, one murdered girl, and a dark fate that may leave them all doomed. While investigating the murder of their best friend, four reimagined fairytale heroines must uncover connections to their ancient curses and attempt to forge their own paths before it's too late. Publication is scheduled for spring 2021; Sarah LaPolla at Bradford Literary Agency handled the deal.
Ashley Hearn at Page Street has bought world English rights to author Alison Ames's debut, The Haunting of Moon Basin, a queer YA horror with shades of Sawkill Girls. After a mining explosion coated Moon Basin in ash, residents moved just outside the uninhabitable zone and set up a new settlement in the mine's shadow. Years later, the people of the New Basin begin experiencing strange phenomena—sleepwalking, night terrors, voices only they can hear—prompting four teen girls to investigate. Publication is slated for spring 2021; Rena Rossner at the Deborah Harris Agency brokered the deal.
Janine O'Malley at FSG has acquired world rights to Barbara O'Connor's Halfway to Harmony. Grieving the death of his brother, 11-year-old Walter meets a kindred spirit in a girl named Posey, and the two set off on a quest that involves a hot air balloon and a three-legged dog. Publication is planned for winter 2021; Barbara Markowitz at the Barbara Markowitz Literary Agency did the deal.
David Levithan at Scholastic has bought North American rights to Reach for the Sky by Sarah Weeks. In this middle grade novel, 10-year-old Finn's family inherits an old diner, and it looks like he'll be spending his summer cleaning up mouse poop and trying to avoid the annoying girl who wants to be his friend... until things get interesting when a stranger arrives in town with what might be a stolen mummy toe in his pocket. Publication is set for 2021; Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties negotiated the deal.
Carolina Ortiz at HarperAlley has acquired world rights to author Tina Cho (l.) and illustrator Deborah Lee's The Tune Without Words, a middle grade graphic novel in verse that follows Yuhno and Joo Ri in their escape from North Korea and the many dangers they face—poisonous jungle snakes, corrupt soldiers, and the daily fear of being found out and sent back—in their journey to freedom. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; Adria Goetz at Martin Literary Management represented the author, and Edward Maxwell at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates represented the illustrator.
Susan Van Metre at Walker Books US has bought world English rights to The Monarchs of Winghaven by Naila Moreira, science journalist and Smith College instructor. In this middle grade novel, two young naturalists struggle to save a plot of land in their town; meanwhile, they record their adventures and natural history observations in journals throughout. Publication is projected for spring 2022; Allison Hellegers at Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal.
Ben Rosenthal at HarperCollins/Tegen has acquired Hugo Award winner Matt Wallace's debut middle grade novel, Bump. The story follows a girl who, isolated from her friends and dealing with losing her father, joins a school that trains professional wrestlers, luchadores, only to face off with a local bureaucrat who wants to shut the school down for being unsafe. Publication is slated for 2021; DongWon Song at the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency did the two-book deal for North American rights.
Tanya Trafford at Orca has bought Tree of Life, a middle grade novel by Joanne Levy (Crushing It and Small Medium at Large). Informed in part by the experiences of Levy's father, a Jewish funeral director, the novel explores loss and belonging through the friendship between 12-year-old Evie Walman, who feels most at home in her parents' funeral home (and is bullied accordingly), and a mute boy named Oren, who comes into their lives when his parents are killed. Publication is planned for fall 2021; Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists sold world rights.
Ann Rider at HMH has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Animal Whisperer by Terry Lynn Johnson (Ice Dogs and Dog Driven). The middle-grade novel follows 12-year-old Madison, who has a penchant for rescuing animals. Her latest rescue involves beaver kits, and things don't go exactly as planned. Publication is scheduled in spring 2021; Caryn Wiseman at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Carolyn Yoder at Boyds Mills & Kane/Calkins Creek has bought Thunder and Mercy by Jennifer Robin Barr (Goodbye, Mr. Spalding). In this middle grade novel of unfinished business, secret identities and found families, the protagonist is thrown into a historical mystery that uncovers the secrets of her new home, Mount Pleasant (a wedding gift from Benedict Arnold to his bride, Peggy Shippen), and the infamous Agent 355—a female member of the Culper Spy Ring who helped to expose Arnold, and whose real life identity remains a mystery. Publication is slated for 2022; Tracy Marchini at BookEnds Literary did the deal for world English rights.
Katie Cunningham at Candlewick Press has acquired world rights to author-illustrator Matt Tavares's (Dasher) debut graphic middle grade novel, tentatively titled Hoops, a work of fiction inspired by the true story of the Warsaw Community High School girls basketball team, which won Indiana's first statewide girls high school basketball tournament in 1976. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal.
Courtney Code at Abrams has bought world rights to Super Nana, a picture book about a superhero grandmother and her high-flying adventures, written and illustrated by Eva Byrne. Publication is scheduled for fall 2021; Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the author-illustrator.
Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane has acquired world rights to 14 Monkeys: A Rain Forest Rhyme by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Steve Jenkins. The nonfiction picture book showcases the group of monkeys that inhabits Manú National Park in Peru. Publication is set for spring 2021; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
Harriet Low at HMH has bought world rights to Hello, Puddle! by Anita Sanchez (l.), illustrated by Luisa Uribe. The nonfiction picture book tells of the ways animals use puddles, from nurseries for frogs to drinking fountains for butterflies, underscoring the accessibility of the natural world and helping children understand the intricate link between wildlife and their habitats. Publication is slated for spring 2022; Regina Ryan at Regina Ryan Publishing represented the author, and Alex Gehringer at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Charlie Ilgunas at Little Bee has acquired world rights to Ig and Loo by Kashelle Gourley, illustrated by Skylar Hogan. This picture book follows Loo, a girl living in the Arctic who just wants a friend, and Ig, a hangry polar bear who wants to eat Loo. The two come to an uneasy truce that might lead to friendship. Publication is planned for fall 2021; Christa Heschke at McIntosh & Otis represented the author and illustrator.
Andrew Young at Beaming Books has bought world rights to How to Return a Little Monster by debut author Charlotte Offsay (l.) and illustrator Rea Zhai. The book is about a child's attempts to reverse course when a new baby joins the family. Publication is set for spring 2021; Nicole Geiger at Full Circle Literary represented the author, and Kate Kendrick at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Kelsey Skea at Amazon/Two Lions has acquired world rights to Estelle Laure's (l.) Before the World Wakes, a celebration of the magical moments witnessed on an adventure before daybreak, illustrated by Paola Zakimi. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented the author and illustrator.
Juree Sondker at Bala Kids has bought world rights to Afraid of the Light, a picture book that teaches children about facing your fears, written by Albert Strasser; Flavia Sorrentino will illustrate. Publication is planned for spring 2021; the author represented himself, and Robbin Brosterman at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
