The Dark Hills Divide
What is it? Book 1 in The Land of Elyon trilogy by Patrick Carman (Scholastic/Orchard, Jan.)
First printing:100,000
Amount paid: $225,000 for the trilogy
Plot: A 12-year old girl longs to escape from within the walls built around her town, which keep out an evil that lurks in the forest beyond.
Story behind the book: Originally self-published, Carman's book sold 10,000 copies in three months before publication by Scholastic.
Marketing plans: Floor displays with tear-off posters were created; 1.5 million "While you are waiting for Harry Potter" bookmarks went out to 15,000 retailers; ads ran in PW, the New York Times Book Review and Scholastic classroom magazines.
Tour plans: Carman is currently on a four-month tour that ends mid-April; he is crossing the country with his family in a Land of Elyon RV, visiting 22 cities.
How is it selling? More than 200,000 copies sold; #8 on PW's March children's bestseller chart.
For more info, check out:www.landofelyon.com
Wolf Brother

What is it? Book 1 in The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, a six-book series by Michelle Paver (HarperCollins, Feb.)
First printing:100,000
Amount paid: £2 million in the U.K.; seven figures in the U.S.
Plot: Set 6,000 years ago, the book follows a boy and his wolf companion as they battle an ancient evil that takes the form of a monstrous grizzly bear.
Story behind the book: In the U.K., the book sold more than 100,000 copies within weeks of its September 2004 release. Film rights have been acquired by Fox 2000 for Scott Free Productions, with Ridley Scott and Erin Upson producing.
Marketing Plans: A Book Sense and pre-print mailing went out in summer 2004, a chapter excerpt was bound into PW in October, and an extensive consumer print and online campaign launched on publication.
Tour plans: In August 2004, Paver visited bookstores across the country as part of a pre-pub tour, and on March 15, she kicked off a 13-city, 23-stop tour that will finish just in time for her to head to Bologna.
How is it selling? 70,000 copies sold so far in the U.S.; the book is in its third week on the NYT bestseller list, currently at #6.
For more info, check out:www.chroniclesofancientdarkness.com
The Cry of the Icemark

What is it? Book 1 in a trilogy by Stuart Hill (Scholastic/Chicken House, Apr.)
First printing: 50,000
Amount paid: "A very modest few thousand pounds," according to publisher Barry Cunningham.
Plot: A princess unites animals and extraordinary creatures against an all-powerful invader in order to save her tiny kingdom.
Story behind the book: Hill wrote this novel in longhand during coffee breaks while he worked as a bookshop assistant in Leicester, England. Foreign rights have sold to 14 countries and Fox 2000 has acquired movie rights.
Marketing plans: A $300,000 national radio promotion will go into effect in 15 major markets; finished books and signed bookplates have been sent to booksellers and librarians; a discussion guide has been created; ads will appear this month in the New York Times Book Review and Scholastic classroom magazines.
Tour plans: A satellite media tour for both TV and radio is in place for Hill and Cunningham.
How is it selling? In England it's #8 on Nielsen BookScan's children's chart; too soon to tell in the States.
For more info, check out:www.scholastic/com/titles/features/fantasy/icemark