Krista Marino at Delacorte has acquired a new YA fantasy trilogy from Laura Sebastian (the Ash Princess series), called Castles in Their Bones. It tells the story of triplet princesses trained from birth in espionage and seduction, then sent to distant lands to marry three princes, and enact their Empress mother's plan to rule from sea to sea. The first book is scheduled for publication in fall 2021; John Cusick at Folio Literary Management represented the author in the deal for North American rights.


Eileen Rothschild and Mara Delgado-Sanchez at Wednesday Books have bought Zoraida Córdova's YA speculative fiction anthology, Reclaim the Stars, featuring stories exploring the Latinx diaspora through the lens of SFF by Elizabeth Acevedo, Vita Ayala, David Bowles, Sara Faring, Romina Garber, Isabel Ibañez, Anna-Marie McLemore, Yamile Saied Méndez, Nina Moreno, Maya Motayne, Daniel José Older, Claribel Ortega, Mark Oshiro, and Lilliam Rivera. Publication is set for winter 2022; Victoria Marini at Irene Goodman Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.


Simon Boughton at Norton Young Readers has acquired YALSA Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction Award winner Rex Ogle's YA memoir, Punching Bag. The story is centered on the author's experience with domestic violence. Publication is planned for fall 2021; Brent Taylor at Triada US negotiated the deal for world English rights.


Trisha de Guzman at FSG has bought, at auction, North American rights to Robin Gow's A Million Quiet Revolutions and an untitled second project. The YA novel in verse is a love story between two transgender boys who come out to each other the weekend before their senior year. They choose their names after they discover the lives of two revolutionary soldiers who were assigned female at birth and lived as men. Together, they explore their identities and search history for the often untold stories of queer people like them. Publication is slated for winter 2022; Jordan Hamessley at New Leaf Literary brokered the deal.


Lydia Sharp at Entangled Teen has acquired The Love Song of Ivy K. Harlowe, a YA novel by Hannah Moskowitz (Sick Kids in Love). When Andie's gorgeous, lifelong best friend (and secret obsession) Ivy develops feelings for another girl, Andie grapples with the bitter fact that the great love story of Ivy's life might not include her. Publication is scheduled for 2021; Rebecca Podos at Rees Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.


Susan Van Metre at Walker Books US has bought, at auction, North American rights to Oddity, an upper middle grade fantasy debut from adult novelist Eli Brown (Cinnamon & Gunpowder), and the first of a duology set in an alternate 19th century, in which the Louisiana Purchase hasn't happened and France and the U.S. are on the brink of war. The novel tells the tale of Clover Elkin, a surgeon's daughter, on the run from her father's killers and protecting a mysterious oddity, one of a collection of seemingly ordinary objects with limitless powers that have the potential to change the fates of the two nations. Publication is set for spring 2021; Stephen Barr at Writers House represented the author; Jane Winterbotham at Walker UK bought U.K./Commonwealth rights.


Melanie Cordova at Candlewick has acquired world English and Spanish rights to Sometimes, All I Need Is Me by author-illustrator Juliana Perdomo, a picture book about a girl who learns that she can find happiness and peace in all kinds of situations. Publication is slated for fall 2022; Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal.


Cheryl Eissing at Philomel has bought Michelle Houts's Hopefully, the Scarecrow. In the picture book, a scarecrow befriends a girl who reads books to him every day, teaching him about togetherness and friendship, and showing that even when things feel overwhelming and out of control, hope can help us feel stronger and braver. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Suzy Evans at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.


Luana Horry at HarperCollins has acquired world rights for debut author-illustrator Christy Mandin's picture book Lucky, about a pearl that must find a new home due to ocean pollution, and makes a new friend along the way, along with a second untitled picture book. Publication is set for summer 2022; Adria Goetz at Martin Literary Management negotiated the two-book deal.


Catherine Laudone at Simon & Schuster has bought, at auction, author-illustrator Kaz Windness's debut picture book Swim, Jim!, about a little crocodile learning to overcome his fear of the water. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022; Timothy Travaglini at Transatlantic Agency handled the deal for world rights.


Karen Boss at Charlesbridge has acquired world rights to Come on a Dragon Hunt, a nonfiction photo-illustrated picture book by science author Loree Griffin Burns. The book invites readers to join Dr. Jessica Ware, an African American evolutionary biologist and Rutgers professor, as she and a team of citizen scientists study dragonfly populations in an urban park near her lab. Publication is planned for spring 2023; the author represented herself.


Alvina Ling at Little, Brown has bought world rights to Holly Black (l.) and Kallis Smith's (c.) Sir Morien, a picture book retelling of the story of the Moorish knight, Sir Morien, of Arthurian legend. Ebony Glenn (r.) will illustrate; publication is slated for winter 2022. Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary and Media represented the authors, and Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright Agency represented the illustrator.


Tamar Brazis at Viking has acquired world rights to Katy Duffield's (l.) new picture book, House Finds a Home, illustrated by Jen Corace. The story centers a house with a heart—and its hopeful search for a family to turn it into a true loving home. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Steven Malk at Writers House represented the illustrator.


Reka Simonsen at Atheneum has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Morris Award finalist Joy McCullough (l.) (Blood Water Paint) and Romina Galotta's picture book Harriet's Ruffled Feathers. The book tells the story of Harriet Hemenway's boycott of fashionable feathered hats, which saved millions of birds and led to the founding of the Audubon Society. Publication is set for spring 2022; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented the author, and Christy T. Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.


Christy Ottaviano at Macmillan/Ottaviano has acquired world rights to A Good Deed Can Grow by author-illustrator team Jennifer Bertman (l.) (Book Scavenger) and Holly Hatam (Dear Girl). This picture book celebrates the magic of nature, kindness, and nurturing community. Publication is slated for 2022; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy T. Ewers at CAT Agency represented the artist.


Anne Schwartz at Random House/Schwartz has bought world rights to A Bear Far from Home by Susan C. Fletcher (l.) (The Dragon Chronicles) and Rebecca Green (illustrator of Madame Saqui and How to Make Friends with a Ghost). The nonfiction historical picture book is about a polar bear given to England's King Henry III. Publication is planned for fall 2021; Rubin Pfeffer at Rubin Pfeffer Content represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau of Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.


Alexandra Cooper at HarperCollins has acquired, at auction, world rights to Sibert Medalist and Schneider Family Award-winning author Jen Bryant's Fall Down Seven Times, Stand Up Eight: Patsy T. Mink and the Fight for Title IX, illustrated by Society of Illustrators Gold Medalist Toshiki Nakamura, along with a second untitled picture book biography. The first book centers Patsy Mink, the first woman of color elected to Congress. Publication is set for winter 2022, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Title IX; Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Trident Media Group represented the author, and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.


Chris Hernandez at Razorbill has acquired, in a multiple bid situation, two books in a debut middle grade series, The Devouring Wolf, by Natalie C. Parker (the Seafire trilogy). In this queer take on werewolf mythology, a young werewolf is distraught when she doesn't transform into a wolf the summer following her 12th birthday, like everyone else in her community. To get to the bottom of the mystery, she'll need to unearth her community's deepest secrets and face a terrifying creature from legend. The first book will publish in fall 2021; Lara Perkins at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency did the deal for world English rights.


Orlando Dos Reis at Scholastic has bought world rights to Fire Becomes Her by Rosiee Thor (Tarnished Are the Stars). This queer YA fantasy with a Jazz Age spark follows a politically savvy girl from the wrong side of the tracks as her drive for self-advancement comes into conflict with her heart during an election year where magic buys votes. Publication is slated for 2021; Saba Sulaiman at Talcott Notch Literary Services negotiated the deal.


Nicole Sclama at HMH has acquired Fire with Fire by Destiny Soria (Beneath the Citadel and Iron Cast), a YA contemporary fantasy about two sisters who were raised to be fierce dragon slayers but end up on opposite sides of the impending war when one sister forms an unlikely bond with a dragon. Publication is planned for spring 2021; Taylor Haggerty at Root Literary brokered the deal for world rights.


Kate Prosswimmer at S&S/McElderry has bought Laura Silverman's YA workplace rom-com Those Summer Nights. Reeling from a soccer injury that ended her Olympic dreams, Hannah Klein gets a job at Bonanza, the megaplex entertainment center where everyone works, including her ex-best friend, her younger brother, and her brother's suddenly attractive best friend. Publication is scheduled for fall 2021; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich and Bourret handled the deal for world rights.


Rebecca Kuss at Inkyard Press has acquired world English rights to The City Beautiful, as well as a second untitled YA, by Aden Polydoros. Set against the backdrop of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, this queer Jewish gothic fantasy follows a young immigrant, Alter, who is possessed by the dybbuk of his murdered best friend and is thrust into a deadly hunt for a serial killer. Publication is set for fall 2021; Thao Le at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency negotiated the deal.


Krista Vitola at Simon & Schuster has bought world English rights to Carry Me Home by Janet Fox (Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle). The contemporary middle-grade novel is about a girl trying to adjust to life in a new town, protect her little sister, and find her missing father without giving away her big secret: she's homeless. Publication is slated for summer 2021; Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal.


Caroline Abbey at Random House has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone, a middle-grade novel by Tae Keller (The Science of Breakable Things and When You Trap a Tiger). When eccentric Jennifer Chan disappears, her former friend goes looking for her, wondering guiltily whether Jennifer was driven away by bullying classmates, or whether she really could have been taken by the aliens she hunted. Publication is planned for winter 2022; Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary brokered the deal for North American rights.


Emily Easton at Crown has bought North American rights to Rich Moyer's debut graphic novel series, Ham Helsing: Vampire Hunter, a porcine parody of Dracula for middle graders. The first book in the series is scheduled for summer 2021; Timothy Travaglini at Transatlantic Agency negotiated the deal.


Alvina Ling at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to Once Upon a Book, co-written by Kate Messner (l.) and Grace Lin and illustrated by Lin. Inspired by the poster Lin created for the 2019 Children's Book Week, the picture book is about a girl who can go anywhere in the world through the pages of a book. Publication is set for fall 2021; Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented Messner, and Rebecca Sherman at Writers House represented Lin.


Emma Ledbetter at Abrams has bought, at auction, in a two-book deal, Winsome Bingham's Soul Food Sunday. The picture book is about a boy's first time helping to prepare food for his family's weekly gathering—and adding a contribution for the Sundays to come. C.G. Esperanza will illustrate. Publication is slated for fall 2021; Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the author, and Marietta Zacker at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.


Frances Gilbert at Doubleday has acquired world rights to two board books by Annie Bailey (l.), called Ten Little Tractors and Ten Little Excavators, illustrated by Florence Weiser. Ten busy little tractors and excavators go about their day, counting down from 10 to one as each vehicle peels off and leaves the pack. Publication for the first book is planned for summer 2021, with the second book to follow in fall 2021. Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and James Burns at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.


Pete Schiffer and Tracee Groff at Schiffer have bought world English rights to I Am Odd, I Am New by Benjamin Giroux, illustrated by Roz MacLean. The picture book is based on Giroux's viral poem, which showed the world what it's like to be a kid with autism in a world of neurotypicals. Publication is scheduled for fall 2021; Naomi Davis at Bookends represented the author and the illustrator.