Caitlyn Dlouhy of Atheneum Books for Young Readers will publish a memoir of Leon Leyson, one of the youngest Holocaust survivors on Oskar Schindler's list. The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson with Marilyn Harran goes on sale on August 27, 2013. According to Simon & Schuster, the memoir offers "an unprecedented perspective on Oskar Schindler." Leyson died the day after the manuscript was received by Atheneum. His wife, Lis Leyson, said, "I am elated that Atheneum is publishing my husband's book. Leon would have been honored to know that his story will endure." Peter Steinberg of the Steinberg Agency did the deal.

Lauri Hornik of Dial Books for Young Readers has bought a picture book biography series by bestselling adult author Brad Meltzer, called Ordinary People Change the World, aimed at readers ages 4–8. The series, which will be illustrated by cartoonist Chris Eliopoulos, centers on American heroes. The first two books, I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln, are scheduled for winter 2014. Jodi Reamer of Writers House, in partnership with Meltzer's adult agent, Jill Kneerin of Kneerim, Williams & Bloom, brokered the deal for world English rights.

Farrin Jacobs at Little, Brown's Poppy imprint has preempted North American rights for When You Were Mine author Rebecca Serle's currently untitled new YA series, about a young actress who gets cast in the role of a lifetime, and the two very different boys she encounters in her new life. Publication is set for fall 2014. Mollie Glick at Foundry Literary + Media and manager Dan Farah of Farah Films & Management did the deal.

Alessandra Balzer of HarperCollins's Balzer + Bray imprint and Hadley Dyer of HarperCanada have jointly acquired the sixth title in the I Stink! series by Kate and Jim McMullan. The new book, I'm Cool, stars a Zamboni machine, for young ice hockey fans. Publication in the U.S. and Canada is scheduled for fall 2015. Holly McGhee of Pippin Properties did the deal for U.S. and Canadian

Kristin Ostby at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers has acquired Jessica Lawson's debut middle-grade The Actual and Truthful Adventures of Becky Thatcher, in a pre-empt. The novel is part origin story, part retelling of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer from Becky's point of view. Publication is scheduled for summer 2014; Tina Wexler at ICM negotiated the deal for world rights.

Liz Szabla at Feiwel and Friends has preempted world rights to Shutter, a debut YA novel by librarian and bookseller Courtney Alameda. The novel, which chronicles ghost hunter Micheline Helsing's pursuit of a malevolent spirit across San Francisco, was signed from a 15-page sample at the Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers conference last June. Publication is set for fall 2014. John M. Cusick of Greenhouse Literary brokered the deal, his first since joining Greenhouse in January.

Connie Hsu at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers has acquired world English rights, at auction, for The Simpsons character-artist Liz Climo's debut picture book, Rory the Dinosaur, about a young T. rex named Rory and his dry-humored dinosaur Dad, based on the comics from lizclimo.tumblr.com. Publication is scheduled for spring 2015, with another untitled picture book due in 2016. Kathleen Ortiz at New Leaf Literary & Media was the agent.

Patrick Price of Simon Pulse will publish Terra Elan McVoy's sixth work for young adults, In Deep. The novel follows competitive swimmer Brynn Polonowski as she discovers the dangers of trying to win at everything – including a cat-and-mouse game between herself, her best friend and a hot older guy that spirals out of control. Publication is set for summer 2014. Meredith Kaffel of DeFiore and Company brokered the deal for world English rights.