Brian Geffen at Henry Holt has acquired, at auction, She Dies at Dawn, a YA crossover romantasy duology by debut author Roxane de Rouen about a young thief and the last of the Deathless, a people with 11 lives, who wakes up with no memory of supposedly killing the emperor. She must reluctantly team up with an infuriatingly handsome prince—who ordered her execution—to find the real murderer and prevent a coup. Publication is set for spring 2027; Lizzie Bishop at Faber UK did the six-figure, two-book deal for North American rights.
Bria Ragin, David Yoon, and Nicola Yoon at Joy Revolution have bought The Immortal Undoing by Angela Montoya, a YA romantasy in which a beautiful and stubborn young woman teams up with a handsome god to save not only her village but all of humanity from destruction by the serpent goddess Xochiquetzal. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027; Larissa Melo Pienkowski at Azantian Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Kate Meltzer at Roaring Brook Press has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Kalyn Josephson's A Dragonslayer's Guide to Love, Valor, and Other Myths. This cozy YA fantasy centers on a young woman who, together with her dragon-in-crime, pretends to be a dragonslayer to collect reward money, only to find herself tasked by a handsome prince to slay an actual dragon that may be more than it seems. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Carrie Pestritto at Laura Dail Literary Agency sold world rights.
Hannah Hill at Delacorte Romance has bought I Put a Spell on You by Bridget Morrissey (Everything She Does Is Magic), a YA sapphic romance set in the holiday-obsessed town of Fableview, which follows two teen girls jaded by love and magic who fall for each other while exchanging anonymous hate-to-love letters during their town's Valentine's Day festivities. Publication is slated for spring 2027; Taylor Haggerty at Root Literary sold world English rights.
Alessandra Preziosi at Clarion Books has acquired two-time Newbery Medalist Lois Lowry's Building 903, a story about censorship, comfort, complicity, and the radical power of books to open portals and unlock our humanity through our most powerful tool: the imagination. Publication is scheduled for September 2026; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management sold world rights.
Katie Scott at Kids Can Press has bought The Ghost of Fairbell Bay by Sarah Van Goethem (The Witch of the Dark Wood), a middle grade gothic novel in which a 12-year-old girl's seaside vacation goes from sleepy to creepy when a treasure hunt results in an encounter with a ghost from a legendary shipwreck. Publication is set for fall 2028; Emelie Burl at Susan Schulman Literary Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Emily Daluga at Chronicle Books has acquired Out of Bounds by Jenn Bishop, a middle grade novel about an eighth-grade volleyball player contending with a new middle school team, the fallout from a friend's reckless action, and the changing body that doesn't even feel like her own anymore. Publication is planned for spring 2028; Katie Grimm at Curtis Brown Ltd. negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Patti Ann Harris at Scholastic has bought, in a two-book deal, Scott Magoon's Muck & Mudd, which follows bulldozer Muck and careful excavator Mudd as they work together to fix the racetrack in their sandbox before the big race; to avoid repeating their past failed ventures, they ask their friends for some help. Publication is slated for fall 2027, and book two will publish in fall 2028; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management did the deal for world rights.
Farrin Jacobs at Random House Studio has acquired Yes, a Dress!, Stephanie Watson's debut as an author-illustrator, in which two birds who go on an adventure misidentify everyday objects to humorous ends. Publication is scheduled for spring 2028; Carrie Hannigan at HG Literary sold world rights.
Courtney Code at Abrams has bought world rights to A Dragon for Santa, a picture book by Vincent X. Kirsch (O.K. Is Gay; From Archie to Zack), about Santa's greatest Christmas wish and the elves who help it come true. Publication is planned for fall 2027; the author represented himself.
Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has acquired world rights to See Marcus Bloom by "Garden Marcus" media personality Marcus Bridgewater (l.), illustrated by Reggie Brown, a picture book celebrating a child gaining confidence while exploring the treehouse and wildlife in Grandma's garden. Publication is set for spring 2029; Amy Thrall Flynn at Aevitas Creative Management represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the artist.
Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane has bought world rights to All the Living Things, a nonfiction picture book by Carrie Kruck (l.) and illustrated by Danielle Ridolfi, a poetic and scientific exploration of what it means to be "a living thing" and what we all have in common, both in life and in death. Publication is slated for spring 2027; Ammi-Joan Paquette represented the author and illustrator.
Lily Hawkes at Post Wave has acquired world rights to four picture books from Ireland's current Laureate na nÓg, Patricia Forde (l.). The first, Una the Witch Who Wanted a Friend, a story of magic, friendship and learning that sometimes what you want most is right under your nose, will be illustrated by Alison Brown with world rights acquired by Emma Blackburn. Publication is planned for fall 2027; Anne Clark at the Anne Clark Literary Agency represented the author, and Hannah Whitty at the Plum Agency represented the illustrator.
