Wendy Loggia at Underlined has acquired Frightmares by Eva V. Gibson, author of Where Secrets Lie, pitched as Scream meets Clerks and set in a Florida tourist trap, where a summer acting job turns into a real-life horror show when a cast member turns up dead—then disappears. Alison Romig will edit; publication is scheduled for summer 2022. Christa Heschke at McIntosh & Otis negotiated the deal for world rights.


Christy Ottaviano at Little, Brown/Ottaviano has bought, in an exclusive submission, The Dam Builders: The Colorado River, The Great Depression, and the Construction of the Hoover Dam by Simon Boughton. This YA narrative nonfiction debut explores the building of the Hoover Dam, revealing the causes, effects, and lasting legacies of one of America's most recognizable landmarks, and its place in the story of the American West. Publication is planned for 2024; the author represented himself.


Stephanie Stein at HarperTeen has acquired debut YA novel A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid (The Wolf & the Woodsman), a feminist literary thriller and romantic fantasy pitched as The Hazel Wood meets Possession. When architecture student Effy Sayre wins a contest to design her favorite author's family manor, she finds herself on a remote, crumbling estate filled with disturbing secrets. With the help of a rival student, Effy must unravel a decades-old mystery, but there are dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspiring against them, and the truth may bring them both to ruin. Publication is set for winter 2023; Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord Literistic did the deal for North American rights.


Polo Orozco at Random House has bought On the Subject of Unmentionable Things, a contemporary YA novel by Julia Walton (Words on Bathroom Walls). Pitched as Judy Blume's Forever meets social media, the novel follows 17-year-old, research-obsessed Phoebe who, under the guise of a pen name, is rewriting sex education as her infamous blog goes viral—all while a vicious mayoral candidate threatens to expose her. Publication is slated for summer 2022; Jodi Reamer at Writers House brokered the deal for world rights.


Claire Stetzer at Inkyard Press has acquired The Long Run by screenwriter James Acker, pitched as Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe meets Friday Night Lights. This YA #OwnVoices debut follows two boys' track and field athletes, Bash and Sandro, as they fall in love during their senior year; their story touches on themes of identity, independence, and toxic masculinity in South Jersey. Publication is scheduled for winter 2023; Carlisle K. Webber at Fuse Literary negotiated the two-book deal for North American rights.


Rachel Del Grosso at Wise Wolf Books has bought two YA suspense novels, The Liars Beneath and Midnight and Bex, by Heather Powell. The first follows one teen as she seeks the truth about her best friend's death but soon realizes that some lies should stay buried; the second centers on a boy who narrowly escapes a mass cult death to start over in a new town with a new girlfriend, only for the man who haunts his dreams to hunt them down. Publication is set for spring 2022 and fall 2022; Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary negotiated the two-book deal for North American rights.


Kieran Viola and Cassidy Leyendecker at Disney Hyperion have acquired at auction debut middle grade fantasy Ravenous Things by Derrick Chow. This creepy re-envisioning of "The Pied Piper" is set in modern times, featuring a subway labyrinth, changeling-rats, and a mysterious stranger who makes improbable promises. Publication is planned for summer 2022; Thao Le at the Dijkstra Agency handled the deal for world rights.


Tracey Keevan at Sterling has bought, in a five-house auction, Rare Birds by Jeff Miller, author of the Nerdy Dozen series. This contemporary middle-grade novel follows Graham, a 12-year-old reluctant bird watcher, who sets out to find an endangered snail kite in the Florida Everglades while his mother waits for a life-saving heart transplant. Publication is slated for fall 2022; Laura Barbiea and Sara Shandler at Alloy Entertainment brokered the two-book deal for world rights.


Ben Rosenthal at HarperCollins/Tegen has acquired The Decomposition of Jack, a new middle-grade novel by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb. It tells the story of 12-year-old Jack Acosta, whose mother is a roadkill researcher, and shows how relationships change as family dynamics change, and how healing often happens in nature. It's pitched as part Ted Lasso, part Wednesday Addams, and is filled with roadkill research. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Josh Adams at Adams Literary negotiated the deal for North American rights.


Maria Modugno at Random House Studio has bought English-language world rights rights to Knitting for Dogs by Laurel Molk. The picture book is about a girl's unsuccessful knitting projects that turn out to be perfect coats for all the dogs in the dog park. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown represented the author-illustrator.


Erin Siu at Feiwel and Friends has acquired debut picture book The New Favorite Thing by author-illustrator Olga Herrera, about an anxious dog whose daily routine is disrupted when he encounters a monstrous new thing in the living room. Publication is slated for winter 2023; Natalie Lakosil at Bradford Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.


Mekisha Telfer at Roaring Brook has bought, at auction, world rights to Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior by Carole Lindstrom (l.), author of the Caldecott-winning We Are Water Protectors; Bridget George will illustrate. This picture book biography told through water's (nibi's) perspective is about environmental activist Autumn Peltier, who has followed in the footsteps of her great-aunt Josephine Mandamin to become the youngest Chief Water Commissioner for the Anishinabek Nation. Publication is set for fall 2022; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary represented the author, and the illustrator is unagented.


Denene Millner at S&S/Denene Millner Books has acquired world rights to Impossible Moon by Hands Up! author Breanna J. McDaniel (l.), illustrated by Tonya Engel. In the picture book, a girl named Mable goes on a joyous journey across the sky because she knows she can achieve anything—including healing her sick grandmother—if she can figure out how to touch the moon. The book is scheduled for summer 2022; the author was unagented, and Gail Gaynin at Morgan Gaynin Agency represented the illustrator.


Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has bought world rights to picture book You And Me, Baby by Aisha Saeed (l.), about the love between a new mother and baby as they lean on each other to learn from each other. Ebony Glenn will illustrate; publication is planned for spring 2023. Taylor Martindale Kean at Full Circle Literary represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.


Cheryl Klein at Lee & Low has acquired North American rights to Stacey Abrams: Lift Every Voice by Sarah Warren (l.) (Beyoncé: Shine Your Light), illustrated by Monica Mikai. The picture book biography follows the life of the lawyer, author, politician, and voting rights advocate from her parents' time in the civil rights movement through her activism at Spelman College to the election of 2020. Publication is set for summer 2022; Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary sold the manuscript as part of a two-book deal, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.


Andrea Hall at Albert Whitman has bought world rights to Santiago's Dinosaurios by debut author Mariana Ríos Ramírez (l.), illustrated by Udayana Lugo. When Santiago moves from Mexico to the United States, he doesn't understand English. On his first day in his new school, how will he communicate with his peers? While they all may not speak the same language, they do all speak dinosaur! Publication is slated for fall 2022; the author was unagented, and Christina Doffing at Astound US represented the illustrator.


Cheryl Eissing at Philomel has acquired A Family Looks Like Love by Kaitlyn Wells (l.), illustrated by Sawyer Cloud, a picture book about a young pup who looks different from her siblings but ultimately learns that love, rather than how you look, is what makes a family. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022; Jane Startz at Jane Startz Productions represented the author, and Atlanta Japp at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.


Kayla Tostevin at Page Street Kids has bought rights to Watch Out for the Lion, an interactive picture book where claws, teeth, tail, and snout suggest there's definitely a lion in this book, but things may not be what they seem, by Brooke Hartman (l.) (Dream Flights for Arctic Nights), illustrated by Anna Süßbauer (Rock-a-bye Tree Sloth). Publication is planned for winter 2023; Clelia Gore at Martin Literary & Media Management represented the author, and Bethany Sparks at Plum Pudding Illustration Agency represented the illustrator.


Ivan Bercholz at Bala Kids has acquired world rights to Sophie Learns to Be Brave by Joan Halifax (l.), illustrated by Kiersten Egan, a story about a girl and her encounters with a dog who teaches her friendship, presence, loss, and bravery. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022; Robbin Brosterman at the Bright Agency represented the author and illustrator.


Julia Recko at Feeding Minds Press has bought world rights to Farm Boots by Lisl H. Detlefsen (l.), illustrated by Renée Kurilla; Emma D. Dryden will edit. The picture book follows farm families as they work and play in a variety of boots throughout the year; against the backdrop of the four seasons, the boots form a metaphor for growth and change. Publication is set for spring 2023; Jennifer Mattson represented the author and Jennifer Rofé represented the illustrator, both at Andrea Brown Literary Agency.


Anna Sargeant at B&H Kids has acquired Innis and Ernest by debut author-illustrator Carissa Shillito. In this picture book about caregiving and multigenerational households, Innis discovers the responsibility, hilarity, and heartache of being a "big brother" when 90-year-old Ernest moves in with his family. Publication is slated for fall 2022; Keely Boeving at WordServe Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.


Caroline Abbey at Random House has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Invisible Son by Kim Johnson, author of the bestselling This Is My America. The novel is set during a summer of racial reckoning and the pandemic, in which a boy is released from juvenile hall to discover his friend has been missing for months, but no one is looking for him in a city with more Black Lives Matter signs than Black people. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary did the six-figure deal for world rights.


Jessica Anderson at Little, Brown/Ottaviano has bought, in a preempt, world rights to Freshman Year, a debut YA graphic novel by Sarah Mai. Pitched for fans of Check, Please! and Heartstopper, this coming-of-age story inspired by the author's life chronicles the humor and anguish symptomatic of the college transition—all through the eyes of a burgeoning comics artist. The book is scheduled for winter 2024; Claire Easton and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words negotiated the deal.


Simon Boughton at Norton Young Readers has acquired Todo Sobre Mi Abuela, a YA memoir-in-verse by YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award Winner Rex Ogle, and a second untitled memoir. The story is centered on the author's relationship with his grandmother. Publication for the first book is slated for summer 2022, with the second to follow in fall 2023; Brent Taylor at Triada US brokered the deal for world English rights.


Ruta Rimas at Razorbill has bought The Terrifying Tales of Vivian Vance, a YA graphic novel by Joshua Ulrich, described as Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets Veronica Mars by way of Lovecraft. While on a case for a classmate, teen detective Vivian Vance stumbles on a dark secret about her town's history and finds herself face-to-face with horrifying monsters—so she must team up with her new (and only) friends to defeat the monsters and keep the townspeople safe. Publication is set for summer 2023; Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary handled the deal for world rights.


Hannah Milton at Little, Brown has acquired, and Hallie Tibbetts will edit, Arlington Hall by None Shall Sleep author Ellie Marney, a YA historical thriller about a female codebreaker during WWII who must risk everything to track down a vicious serial killer who is hunting other female government workers. Publication is planned for summer 2022; Josh Adams at Adams Literary negotiated the deal for world rights, excluding Australia/New Zealand.


Stephanie Cohen at Inkyard has bought world and audio rights to The Wrong Kind of Weird and a second book by debut author James Ramos. This YA contemporary love story celebrates a multicultural nerd culture club, and follows a Black teen on his journey to recognizing his own value and also his messiness in relationships that may not serve him anymore. The story explores geek humor, frenemy and clique culture, and a lighthearted yet introspective take on the identities and lives we live and shed in high school. Publication is slated for winter 2023; Emily Forney at BookEnds Literary brokered the deal.


Deanna McFadden at Wattpad has acquired world rights to Gaslight by debut author Rachael Rose. Its protagonist, a young woman named Maddie, learns how to stand up for herself and her family against her abusive father, finding strength in both her body and her mind with the help of a local bad boy and MMA trainer. Publication is scheduled for winter 2022; the author represented herself.


Virginia Duncan at Greenwillow, in a six-figure deal, has bought middle grade fantasy Release the Wolves by PW Flying Starts author Stefan Bachmann (The Peculiar). The book is set in a conquered land where every few generations hordes of bloodthirsty monsters are unleashed in an attempt to keep the population subdued; the hero is a young hunter trying to find his sister and possibly start a rebellion. The book is set to publish in fall 2022; Sara Megibow at kt literary sold world rights.


Anna Parsons at Aladdin has acquired North American rights to The Problem with Prophecies and a second book in the series by Scott Reintgen, author of the Nyxia series, the Talespinners series, and the Ashlords series. On her 4,444th day of life, 12-year-old Celia gets her first prophetic vision of her cute seventh-grade neighbor dying. She saves the boy, only to find out death is very determined to claim him, and she will have to rescue him over and over, using her new powers to defy fate and survive middle school at the same time. Publication is planned for summer 2022; Kristin Nelson at Nelson Literary negotiated the deal.


Alyson Day at HarperCollins has bought, in a multi-publisher auction, Rain Rising, a middle grade novel-in-verse by debut author Courtne Comrie, about a 13-year-old girl named Rain, who must find a way through debilitating sadness after her all-star athlete brother Xander is beaten up at a frat party. With the help of a Circle Group at school, Rain begins to help her family heal. Publication is scheduled for May 2022; Rena Rossner at the Deborah Harris Agency did the two-book, six-figure deal for North American rights.


Brittany Rubiano at Disney Hyperion has signed Kitty Curran to write The Dead Family, kicking off a series of the same name—a humorous middle grade mix of The Addams Family and The Graveyard Book—for the Melissa de la Cruz Studio imprint. Publication is slated for summer 2023; Pam Gruber at Irene Goodman Literary sold world rights in a two-book deal.


Taylor Norman at Chronicle Books has acquired world rights to Milk Tea Magic by Kat Yao (l.), Tiffany Mau (c.), and Maureen Kang (r.). This graphic novel follows Tori, Mazy, and Kai, three best friends who open a boba milk tea shop with one small secret—they're witches, and they're on a mission to put some milk tea magic into the world, all while navigating new and old friendships, crafting the perfect drink, and, of course, causing a bit of chaos. Publication is set for spring 2024; the authors represented themselves.


Rotem Moscovich at Knopf has bought world rights to an early reader graphic novel series, Gnome and Rat by Lauren Stohler, which follows the everyday adventures of best friends Gnome and Rat, as they embark on shenanigans in their forest home. Publication is planned for summer 2023; Thao Le of Sandra Dijkstra & Associates brokered the three-book deal.


Tara Weikum at HarperCollins has acquired Maya's Song by Coretta Scott King and Newbery Honor author Reneé Watson and Coretta Scott King and Caldecott Honor artist Bryan Collier. This picture book biography told in verse is about poet Maya Angelou, who lost her voice as a child, rediscovered it as a teenager, and spent her adult life using it to speak out against injustice and celebrate people and places that were often invisible. Publication is slated for fall 2022; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio sold world rights for the author, and Marcia Wernick at Wernick & Pratt Agency sold world English rights for the illustrator.


Karen Giancreco at the Experiment has bought world rights, in an exclusive submission, to Maxine's Critters Get the Vaccine Jitters by If You Go with Your Goat to Vote author and civic opinion writer Jan Zauzmer (l.), illustrated by Corlette Douglas, a wordplay-filled picture book in which Maxine's stuffed animals are afraid to get their vaccines until she explains that it's actually not scary at all. Publication is scheduled for January 2022; Melissa Edwards at Stonesong represented the author, and Saritza Hernandez at Andrea Brown represented the illustrator.


Kate Farrell at Henry Holt has acquired world rights to Vive Toussaint by Jamie McGhee, writing as Jay Leslie, illustrated by Rocky Cotard. It's a picture book biography about the leader of the Haitian Revolution, whose fierce and brilliant military strategy helped unify his people against European powers and emancipate half a million enslaved people. The book is set for winter 2023; Wendi Gu at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates represented the author, and the illustrator was unagented.


Sophia Jimenez at Atheneum has bought world rights to Ramen for Everyone by Pat Tanumihardja, illustrated by Shiho Pate. This picture book is a generational story about a boy who aspires to make a bowl of ramen as delicious as his father's—and runs into some surprises on his first attempt. Publication is planned for spring 2023; Thao Le at the Dijkstra Agency represented the author, and Deborah Warren at East West Literary represented the artist.


Lee Wade at Random House Studio has acquired world rights to KINDergarten, a picture book by Vera Ahiyya, illustrated by Joey Chou. In Ms. Perry's kindergarten class, she and her students are working on a kindness pledge to ensure that their class is the kindest it can possibly be. The book is written by Ahiyya, known as The Tutu Teacher, and was inspired by her real-life kindergarten class. Publication is slated for summer 2022; Regina Brooks at Serendipity Literary Agency represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.


Barbara Hendron at HarperCollins has bought world rights to Turtle Finds His Talent by Lucille Williams (l.), illustrated by Amanda Gulliver. Tanner the turtle thinks he doesn't have a talent after watching what his friends can do… until his hidden gift comes shining through when he least expects it. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022; the author represented himself, and Robbin Brosterman at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.


Marissa Moss at Creston Books has acquired world rights to A Passion for Science: Maria Mitchell, Astronomer by Laurie Wallmark (l.), author of Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code. It’s the story of the first female professional astronomer in America; Liz Wong will illustrate. Publication is set for fall 2022; Liza Fleissig at the Liza Royce Agency represented the author, and Alexandra Penfold at Upstart Crow Literary represented the illustrator.


Katie Scott at Kids Can Press has bought Girl and Dragon by author-illustrator Tatyana Feeney, about one girl's quest to battle a dragon, or maybe find a friend. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency sold world rights.


Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear Press has acquired world rights for Mr. Thatcher's House by debut author-illustrator Kristin Wauson, in which a rabbit reluctantly opens up his home to an assortment of displaced fairy tale characters. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Adria Goetz at Martin Literary Management negotiated the deal.