Mara Delgado Sánchez at Wednesday Books has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove, the first YA fantasy novel by Rati Mehrotra (Markswoman). In an alternate medieval India, a queen's bodyguard and bondswoman struggles against her unwitting role as a major pawn in the political games of a monster-filled land on the brink of war. Publication is slated for summer 2022, with a second untitled novel scheduled for 2023; Mary C. Moore at Kimberley Cameron & Associates brokered the two-book deal for world English rights.
Janine O'Malley at FSG has bought, in an exclusive submission, A Tempest of Tea by bestselling author Hafsah Faizal, first in a duology pitched as King Arthur meets Peaky Blinders with vampires. Set in Ettenia, an amalgamation of 1920s and Victorian London with a dash of ancient Rome, the novel follows a gang of outcasts in a deadly heist led by Arthie Casimir to save her tearoom—which fronts an illegal blood house, where local vampires can purchase fresh blood. Publication of the first novel is set for spring 2022; Josh Adams at Adams Literary did the two-book deal for world English rights.
Jennifer Ung at Simon & Schuster has acquired See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon (Today Tonight Tomorrow). The YA romantic comedy follows a girl forced to relive her disastrous first day of college—only to discover that the infuriating physics nerd who humiliated her in her 101 class is stuck in the time loop with her. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022; Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary negotiated the two-book deal for world English rights.
Claire Stetzer at Bloomsbury has bought world rights, in a preempt, to The Loophole by debut author Naz Kutub, plus a second untitled YA novel. Pitched as a speculative Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda with a focus on identity, found family, and friendship, the novel follows a queer Indian-Muslim boy traveling the world for a second chance at love after a possibly magical heiress grants him three wishes. Publication is planned for spring 2022; Natalie Lakosil at Bradford Literary handled the deal.
Brett Israel at Dark Horse has acquired Monster Crush by Oli Franey, a YA graphic novel pitched as Beetle and the Hollowbones meets Teen Wolf, where 16-year-old Ruby Reid closes herself off from the world after her parents split, until she meets Ella. As the duo fights off school bullies, Ella accidentally reveals her ability to transform into a monstrous beast, and exposes the world of monsters. Publication is slated for 2023; Claire Draper at the Bent Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Robin Herrera, formerly of Oni Press, bought world rights to Chef's Kiss, a debut queer YA graphic novel by Jarrett Melendez, illustrated by Danica Brine. Grace Scheipeter will edit. Despite a new college degree and a plucky attitude, nobody will hire Ben Cook for a job in his field. Desperate for work, he takes a job as a chef in an unconventional restaurant, where he discovers a new passion that may or may not have something to do with his gorgeous co-worker, Liam. Colors are by Hank Jones, and lettering is by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou; publication is set for 2022, and the entire creative team represented themselves in the deal.
Hannah Smith at Owl Hollow Press has acquired Of Starlight and Bone, a YA science fiction novel by Emily Layne. Haunted by the stigma of being part machine, Auri is set on proving her worth as an investigative agent. But when she discovers an unfathomable darkness hidden in the depths of the galaxy connected to her own past, something in the system catches her scent and hunts her as prey. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022; Becky LeJeune at Bond Literary negotiated the three-book deal for world English rights.
David Levithan at Scholastic has bought The Language of Seabirds by Will Taylor (Maggie & Abby's Neverending Pillow Fort), a contemporary middle grade first-love summer romance. Confined to a beach house for two weeks with his newly divorced, resentful father, 12-year-old Jeremy is just trying to make it through. But when he meets local boy Evan, his whole world is flipped again, and Jeremy scrambles to find some way to share the truths flooding his heart—things he's never spoken to anyone, not even himself. Publication is planned for summer 2022; Brent Taylor at Triada US handled the deal for world rights.
Anna Bloom at Scholastic has acquired The Starcade Job by debut author Destiny Howell, a middle-grade heist adventure best described as Ocean's Eleven in a Chuck E. Cheese, plus a follow-up middle-grade novel. Publication for the first book is slated for summer 2022; Emily Mitchell at Wernick & Pratt Agency brokered the two-book deal for world rights.
Traci Todd at Workman has bought Dirt! by Ariel Lauren Wilson, a nonfiction book that offers a closer look at the foundation of all life on Earth and inspires young readers to reconsider the universe below our feet. Publication is scheduled for spring 2023; Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Charlie Ilgunas at Little Bee has bought, in an exclusive submission, Dear Reader by author-illustrator Tiffany Rose (M Is for Melanin). The picture book, which is about the power of representation in stories, stars a Black girl who doesn't see herself in the books she loves, so she takes matters into her own hands and writes new stories herself. Publication is planned for spring 2022; Erzsi Deak at Hen&Ink Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown has acquired, at auction, Little Land, the author-illustrator picture book debut of Diana Sudyka, illustrator of the Mysterious Benedict Society series. A single patch of land evolves over the millennia in a story exploring the changing relationship of life and land and making a call to action to return to more reciprocity between the two. Publication is set for winter 2023; Andrea Morrison at Writers House did the two-book deal for world rights.
Maria Russo at mineditionUS has acquired, in a preempt, world rights to Lina AlHathloul (l.) and Uma Mishra-Newbery's (c.) Loujain Dreams of Sunflowers, illustrated by Rebecca Green (r.). Inspired by Lina's sister, imprisoned Saudi women's rights activist Loujain AlHathloul, this picture book follows a girl who dreams of flying and seeing an enormous field of sunflowers, despite living in a country where only boys are allowed to fly. Back matter will introduce readers to Loujain AlHalthloul's successful campaign to lift Saudi Arabia's ban on women's driving, her subsequent arrest and imprisonment, and the human rights movement her case has galvanized. Publication is set for spring 2022; Jessica Craig at Craig Literary represented the authors, and the illustrator represented herself.
Christian Trimmer at Holt has bought world rights to All Your Shapes by debut picture book author Seth Nichols (l.), with art by Andrés Landazábal. The story is a love letter from father to daughter in celebration of the girl's accomplishments, as represented by various yoga poses. Publication is slated for spring 2022; the author represented himself, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Paulsen has bought world rights to Hope Is by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic (l.) (The End of Something Wonderful), illustrated by Kelsey Buzzell. The picture book shows all the unexplored places where we can seek and find hope, and how it helps us build a caring, engaged community. Publication is planned for spring 2023; Jordan Hamessley at New Leaf Literary represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the artist.
David Linker at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to Alan Katz's (l.) Got Your Nose, illustrated by Alex Willan, in which Grandpa's playful game with his granddaughter results in a chase to retrieve her runaway appendage. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022; Rick Richter at Aevitas Creative Management represented the author, and Lori Kilkelly at LK Literary represented the illustrator.
Karen Chaplin at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has acquired world rights to a nonfiction picture book tentatively titled William J. Wilgus and His Grand Idea, written by Megan Hoyt and illustrated by Dave Szalay. When faced with calamity after two coal-powered trains collided in a foggy NYC tunnel, genius engineer William J. Wilgus designed a new electric train system and its lavish new home, the iconic Grand Central Terminal. Publication is set for fall 2022; Deborah Warren at East West Literary represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Nicole Fiorica at S&S/McElderry has acquired All the Right Reasons by Bethany Mangle (Prepped). In this YA rom-com, 17-year-old Cara and her mother are cast as leads on a new dating show for single parents, where they must narrow a field of suitors down to one winning pair. But when Cara starts to form a connection with a contestant's son, she discovers that navigating the world of reality TV is more drama than she ever expected. Publication is planned for spring 2022; Jennifer Wills at the Seymour Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Sarah Alpert at Algonquin has bought world rights to Our Shadows Have Claws, a YA horror anthology co-edited by Amparo Ortiz (l.) and Yamile Saied Méndez. The short stories feature mythical monsters and magical baddies from Latinx folklore, from el Chupacabra to La Llorona, the vampire and the werewolf, the pombero and Nahuelito, and beyond. The Latinx contributors include Mendez, Ortiz, Chantel Acevedo, Courtney Alameda, David Bowles, Ann Dávila Cardinal, Mia García, Gabriela Martins, Racquel Marie, Tehlor Kay Mejía, Maika Moulite, Maritza Moulite, Claribel Ortega, Lilliam Rivera, Jenny Torres Sánchez, and Alexandra Villasante. Publication is set for 2023; Linda Camacho at Gallt and Zacker Literary did the deal.
Lauri Hornik at Dial has acquired, at auction, world English rights to ADHD Alien by author-illustrator Pina Varnel. The debut YA graphic novel, based on Varnel's successful webcomic of the same name, follows a girl with ADHD during the pivotal summer when she gets diagnosed and finally makes sense of her challenges. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022; Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary negotiated the deal.
Alex Borbolla at S&S/Atheneum has bought Four for the Road by KJ Reilly. Pitched as The Perks of Being a Wallflower meets The End of the F---ing World, the dark comedy explores survivor's guilt, grief, revenge, and forgiveness, with a dash of romance, against the backdrop of four unlikely friends on a 16-hour road trip to Graceland. Publication is slated for summer 2022; Molly O'Neill at Root Literary handled the deal for world rights.
Erica Finkel at Abrams has acquired world English rights to The Bend in the Road by Sara Biren. An up-and-coming rock musician who has hit a few major snags flees Los Angeles to avoid the fallout from his latest mess learns he's inheriting the family farm in northern Minnesota, and falls for the caretaker's daughter. Publication is planned for September 2021; Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency brokered the deal.
Karen Chaplin at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has bought, in a preempt, Speak Up! by author-illustrator Rebecca Burgess. In this contemporary middle-grade graphic novel, an autistic girl finds friendship where she least expects it and learns how to express her true self in a world where everyone is determined to define her by her differences. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022; Britt Siess at Britt Siess Creative Management represented the creator in a two-book deal for world rights.
Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Paulsen has acquired world rights to How Many Squirrels Are in the World? and Better Together, two picture books by Latin Grammy winner Ben Gundersheimer (Mister G) (l.). The first, illustrated by Marcos Almada Rivera (c.), celebrates counting and critters. The second, illustrated by Dow Phumiruk (r.), celebrates the wonderful energy that working together—as family, neighbors, friends—can bring. Publication for How Many Squirrels Are in the World? is set for fall 2022, with Better Together to follow in early 2023. Victoria Wells Arms at Wells Arms Literary/HG Literary represented the author; Rivera represented himself, and Deborah Warren at East West Literary did the deal for Phumiruk.
Ellen Cormier at Dial has bought, in a preempt, world rights to Elbert in the Air by Monica Wesolowska, illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey. The picture book follows a floating boy named Elbert whose mother defends his individuality when others try to keep him tethered to the ground. Publication is slated for fall 2022; Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary represented the author, and Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Melissa Manlove at Chronicle has acquired world rights to Comet Chaser, written by Pamela S. Turner (l.) and illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger. Comet Chaser is the real-life Cinderella story of Caroline Herschel, the world's first professional female astronomer, and her extraordinary discoveries. Publication is planned for spring 2022; the author represented herself, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Nikki Garcia at Little, Brown has bought Lola Out Loud by Jennifer Torres (l.), a picture book about stepping up, speaking out, and building a community, based on the childhood of labor leader Dolores Huerta, illustrated by Sara Palacios. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022; Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary represented the author, and Kendra Marcus and Minju Chang at Bookstop Literary represented the illustrator.
Suzy Krogulski at Boyds Mills Kane has acquired North American English rights to Outdoor Farm, Indoor Farm by Lindsay H. Metcalf (l.) (Farmers Unite), illustrated by Xin Li, making her U.S. picture book debut. This nonfiction picture book explores the many ways farmers and scientists can grow food and other plants, from traditional multi-acre outdoor farms to indoor vertical farms where climatic conditions and nutrients are monitored by computers. Publication is set for spring 2023; Emily Mitchell at Wernick & Pratt represented the author; Chloë Morgan at Plum Pudding Illustration Agency represented the illustrator.
Katie Heit at Scholastic has bought world rights to Caves, a poetic exploration of one of nature's most curious ecosystems, by Nell Cross Beckerman (Down Under the Pier). Graphic artist Kalen Chock will illustrate. Publication is slated for fall 2022; Lara Perkins at Andrea Brown Literary represented the author, and the artist represented himself.
Jill Davis at HarperCollins has acquired world English rights to author-illustrator Merrill Rainey's ROAR! I'm a Dinosaur, the first of two shaped board books with eyehole cutouts that transform children into different dinosaurs. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022; Teresa Kietlinski at Bookmark Literary handled the two-book deal.
