Rosemary Brosnan at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has acquired, at auction, After Life, the next YA novel by Gayle Forman (If I Stay). It's just a regular day for Amber as she bikes home from school. But for everyone else, it's anything but—because Amber was killed on that very bike seven years earlier. Now Amber must bear witness to a chain of events ignited by her death as well as her mysterious return as family, friends, and even strangers in her community must grapple with the consequences of her life and death. Publication is slated for winter 2025; Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary did the two-book deal for North American rights.
Mekisha Telfer at Roaring Brook has bought This Must Be the Place by Kelly Quindlen (She Drives Me Crazy), a YA novel about an 18-year-old lesbian who unexpectedly inherits a gay bar from her late, not-so-straight Uncle George. Following graduation, she spends the summer in football-obsessed Rustin, Ala., serving the bar's colorful patrons, digging up family secrets, and fanning the flames of an old spark with her childhood best friend—the closeted daughter of Rustin University's venerated head football coach. Publication is set for summer 2025; Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency sold North American rights.
Irene Vázquez at Levine Querido has acquired Briar Rolfe's YA graphic novel Get Your Story Straight, in which a 19-year-old trans man who is out to everyone except his conservative parents embarks on a plan to fund his top surgery by faking an engagement to his friend Cooper, but learns it isn't easy to plan a wedding, even a fake one. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Nerrilee Weir at Bold Type Agency brokered the deal on behalf of Danielle Binks at Jacinta di Mase Management for world English (excluding ANZ) rights and world Spanish and Dutch rights.
Amy Cloud at Clarion has bought, in a six-figure, two-book preempt, Philippa Leathley's debut middle-grade novel, Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo. Meticulous Jones's magical tattoo reveals she's fated to be a murderer... but who is she destined to kill, and is a fating ever wrong? Simultaneous publication with HarperCollins UK is scheduled for February 2025, with a sequel to come in 2026. Allison Remcheck at Stimola Literary Studio sold North American rights on behalf of Hannah Sheppard at Hannah Sheppard Literary Agency.
Janine O'Malley at FSG has acquired, in an exclusive submission, the next middle-grade novel by Barbara O'Connor (Wish). In Dream, a songwriting girl named Idalee hopes to uncover a family treasure in the ramshackle boarding house her mom runs in Colby, N.C., helped by a group of friends—including a trucker's son named Odell who's living temporarily at the boarding house—and along the way finds her own strong voice. Publication is slated for fall 2025; Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency sold world rights.
Anna Parsons and Jessica Smith at Aladdin have bought world rights to the first two books in the Team Awkward series by Veeda Bybee (l.) and Joy McCullough. In the vein of The Babysitters Club and Cupcake Diaries, the books follow four girls who experience so-embarrassing-its-funny first days of sixth grade meet and commiserate in the abandoned locker room of the old gym, which becomes their secret spot to ride out the super highs and cringe-worthy lows of middle school together. Publication of the first book, Jojo vs. Middle School releases in spring 2025; Ann Leslie Tuttle and Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented Bybee and McCullough respectively.
Ardyce Alspach at Union Square Kids has acquired Fathomless, a middle grade historical adventure with a touch of mystery by Samantha San Miguel (Spineless). Twelve-year-old Lulu Davenport’s father is one of their Florida town's most influential residents, intent on profiting off their local waters. To thwart his new business venture and protect the local fish population, Lulu must survive a chaotic sailing regatta, a creepy abandoned fort, and follow a trail of cryptic clues, but she unearths a dangerous buried secret instead of the buried treasure she needs to stop him. Publication is set for fall 2024; Hilary Harwell at KT Literary sold world English rights.
Janine O'Malley at FSG has bought Where Only Troubles Grow by Alyssa Colman (The Gilded Girl), a middle grade historical novel set during the Dust Bowl in the 1930s, about twins Joanna and Howe Stanton's fight to survive and keep their family together amid the worst man-made ecological disaster in U.S. history. Publication is scheduled for winter 2025; Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord Literistic negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Cheryl Klein at Algonquin Young Readers has acquired debut author Ellen Cochrane's Follow the Water, a middle grade narrative nonfiction novel with a strong STEM emphasis about 17-year-old Juliane Koepcke, who in 1971 survived a plane crash and 11 days alone in the Amazon jungle, in part by relying on her deep knowledge of the unique ecosystem in which she was stranded. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary sold world English rights.
Alyson Day at HarperCollins and Yash Kesanakurthy at HarperCollins Canada have bought Maria Mariayangam's middle grade debut novel No Purchase Necessary, about a Tamil Sri Lankan boy whose life spirals out of control when he wins a prize in a stolen candy bar, pushing him to navigate his actions and identity with and without his ever-watchful family. Publication is slated for winter 2025; Alice Fugate at Joy Harris Literary Agency sold English rights in the U.S. to HarperCollins and English rights in Canada to HarperCollins Canada.
Taylor Norman at Neal Porter Books has acquired world rights to the new Lone Wolf early reader series by Kiah Thomas (l.), illustrated by K-Fai Steele. Poor Lone Wolf just craves alone time, but no one ever understands that; each book follows Wolf on a hilarious quest to achieve solitude. Publication for the first two books is set for fall 2024; books three and four will follow in summer 2025. Sophie Hicks at Sophie Hicks Agency represented the author, and Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio represented the illustrator.
Deirdre Jones at Little, Brown has bought world rights to The Ratsle and the Catsle, a picture book by Gideon Sterer (l.), illustrated by Barbara McClintock, about the longstanding feud between a kingdom of rats and a kingdom of cats, and the young rulers who have a chance to change everything. Publication is planned for summer 2026; Stephen Barr at Writers House represented the author, and Jennie Dunham at Dunham Literary represented the artist.
Catherine Laudone at Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books and Siobhan Ciminera at Simon Spotlight have signed artist-author Kaz Windness (Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends) to a five-book deal: two picture books, and three Ready-to-Reads to be edited by Lisa Rao. Timothy Travaglini at Transatlantic Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Lee Wade at Random House Studio has acquired world rights to Maya's Rainbow, a picture book by Andrea Pippins (The Spark in You), about a young artist struggling to help others understand her imagination, and a sequel to Hey, Baby! in a two-book deal. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026 and summer 2026, respectively; Lilly Ghahremani at Full Circle Literary represented the author in an exclusive submission.
Julia McCarthy at Atheneum has bought world rights to The-Not-So-Sleepy Little Panda by David Walker. With the help of her Mama, Papa, and some twinkling friends, Little Panda faces her bedtime fears in this picture book in verse. Publication is slated for spring 2025; the author-illustrator represented himself.
Deeba Zargarpur at S&S has acquired, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Emerald (working title) by Stefanie Foster Brown (l.), illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani, a picture book about a child who grows an unwieldy and lush forest inside her bedroom, reflecting her wild inner emotions and longing for her old home in the country. Publication is set for summer 2026; Wendi Gu at GreenburgerKids represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Courtney Carbone at Random House has bought world rights to the Getting Ready series, a celebration of childhood milestones and holidays by Vera Ahiyya (l.), illustrated by Debby Rahmalia. Publication is scheduled for June 2024; Regina Brooks at Serendipity Literary Agency represented the author, and Susan Penny at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Marilyn Brigham at Amazon/Two Lions has acquired world rights to Stemosaurus by Andrew Root (l.), illustrated by Mark Chambers. This picture book follows a STEM-loving dinosaur who gets the chance to prove his worth to himself when he discovers a meteor coming for Earth and creates a unique invention to save his friends from their fate. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Ana Crespo at East West Literary Agency represented the author, and Freddie Dawson at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Christianne Jones at Capstone has bought world rights to The Glam World Tour by Rachel Werner (l.), illustrated by Octavia Ink. In this picture book, written in the spirit of spoken word, the magical variation of beauty norms around the world are showcased and celebrated as inclusive, not divisive. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Savannah Brooks at KT Literary represented the author, and James McGowan at BookEnds Literary represented the illustrator.
Tamar Brazis at Viking has acquired world rights to The One and Only Googoosh written and illustrated by Azadeh Westergaard (The Life Electric), a picture book biography of Faegheh Atashin, the Iranian singer, actress, cultural icon, and Iran's biggest superstar. Publication is set for fall 2024; Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Birch Path Literary brokered the deal.
Karen Smith at Workman has bought world rights to Milestones with Me, a debut author-illustrated series by Lee Wildish. This board book series is centered on achieving a child's first milestones with the help of a parent or family member. The first two books will focus on bedtime and first steps. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; Susan Penny at the Bright Agency sold world rights.
Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear Press has acquired world rights to Rollin' On Down the Line: Lady Bird Johnson's 1964 Whistle Stop Tour by Helen Kampion (l.) and Renee Critcher Lyons (c.), illustrated by Erin McGuire (r.), a nonfiction picture book about Lady Bird Johnson and her participation in the 1964 Whistle Stop campaign tour. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Stephen Fraser at Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency represented the authors, and Susan Cohen at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Sue Tarsky at Albert Whitman has bought world rights to Here a Book, There a Book, Stories Everywhere You Look by Sue Fliess (l.) and Ann Marie Stephens (c.), illustrated by Alexandra Colombo (r.), a rhyming picture book celebrating the exciting world of books, with the aim of fostering a lifelong love of reading. Publication is set for March 2025; Jennifer Unter at the Unter Agency represented Fliess, Emily Mitchell at Wernick and Pratt represented Stephens, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented Colombo.
Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear Press has acquired, in a preempt, world rights to Arlo by Sophia Gholz (l.) (The Boy Who Grew a Forest), illustrated by MacKenzie Hale, about an assembly-line robot who learns home is where the metal heart is, and that "something different" can be created in many ways. Publication is slated for 2025; Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Agency represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.
