For HarperCollins Kate Jackson has acquired, and Rosemary Brosnan will edit, a debut novel by Lexa Hillyer, former editor at HarperCollins and Razorbill, and co-founder of Paper Lantern Lit, in a two-book deal. Billed as a cross between The Interestings and The Fault in Our Stars, Proof of Forever tells the story of four girls who relive the summer they were 15, discovering friendships, second chances, and a devastating secret. Publication is planned for summer 2015; Stephen Barbara at Foundry Literary + Media sold North American rights in a preempt.
Melissa Manlove of Chronicle Books has acquired Bigfoot Is Missing! by Children's Poet Laureate Kenn Nesbitt and former Children's Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis, illustrated by Minalima. In this book of cryptid poems, poetry lurks in newspaper headlines, warnings scrawled in graffiti, billboards and bus benches bellow beware. The book pubs in March 2015; Jill Corcoran of the Jill Corcoran Literary Agency did the deal for Nesbitt while still at the Herman Agency, and Ginger Knowlton of Curtis Brown did the deal for Lewis.
Liza Baker at Little, Brown has bought world rights to Beep, Beep, Go to Sleep: A Robot Bedtime Story by Todd Tarpley, illustrated by John Rocco (Blackout). It's about a child who must shepherd his rambunctious robots off to bed, and will be published in fall 2015. Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency did the deal for the author and Rob Weisbach at Rob Weisbach Creative Management did the deal for the illustrator.
Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown has acquired What We Found in the Sofa and How It Saved the World author Henry Clark's The Book That Proves Time Travel Happens. In his new novel for middle-graders, three children are transported back in time and discover connections between Morse code and the ancient form of divination called the "I-Ching" that will help them get home. Publication is planned for spring 2015; Kate Epstein at Epstein Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Nancy Inteli at HarperCollins has bought world rights to Aw, Nuts! by debut author/illustrator Rob McClurkan. In the story, Squirrel goes on an adventure as he chases the most delicious looking acorn he has ever seen. The pub date is scheduled for fall 2014; Kirsten Hall at the Bright Agency did the deal.
Anne Schwartz at Random House's Schwartz & Wade Books has acquired Goldfish on Vacation, a picture book by Sally Lloyd-Jones, illustrated by Roman Muradov. It's based on a true story of children who bring their goldfish to vacation in a local fountain one summer in New York City. It will pub in spring 2016; Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown did the deal for the author (for U.S., Canadian, and open market rights) and Steven Malk at Writers House did the deal for the illustrator (world rights).
Kathy Dawson at Penguin's Kathy Dawson Books has acquired at auction a debut YA novel by Parker Peevyhouse called Futures, a collection of interwoven stories stretching out from the present into the future, as our world collides with a mysterious alternate universe. Publication is planned for fall 2015; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Amanda Maciel at Scholastic bought world rights to The Bridge from Me to You, a YA novel by Lisa Schroeder that is part verse, part prose. It is told alternately told by a 17-year-old girl who is new to a small town with a family secret, and the star football player she meets who is having a tough year and has big dreams beyond the field. Publication is planned for summer 2014; Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger, Inc. did the deal.
Anna Cavallo at Carolrhoda Books has acquired two picture books by Kate Hosford. Poems from a Circus Chef stars the chef in charge of feeding a diverse cast of hungry circus characters, scheduled for spring 2015. In The Perfect Cup of Tea, to be illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska, a queen searches for the perfect brew and learns a thing or two about friendship and self-reliance along the way; it is scheduled for fall 2015. Tracey Adams at Adams Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Alessandra Balzer of HarperCollins imprint Balzer + Bray has bought Since There Was You by Sherri Duskey Rinker, author of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site and Steam Train, Dream Train. The new book, a tribute to motherly love, will be illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Patrick McDonnell. Amy Rennert of the Amy Rennert Agency negotiated for world rights on behalf of Rinker, and Henry Dunow of Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency negotiated on behalf of McDonnell.
Lisa Sandell at Scholastic has signed Sharon Cameron (The Dark Unwinding) to a new deal, acquiring world rights to a novel called Rook. It’s a retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel set in the future, which chronicles "a Sunken City gone mad, an unwanted betrothal, and 13 innocents who will die unless a legend can save them." Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency was the agent.
Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown has acquired at auction Nicole Helget's Wonder at the Edge of the World, a middle-grade novel set in 1855 Kansas during the height of tension between slave owners and abolitionists. It centers on an irrepressible girl named Hallelujah Wonder who must protect her explorer father's priceless artifacts by embarking on an epic ocean journey with a mysterious and magical object sought by the man who took her father's life. Publication is planned for spring 2015; Faye Bender at Faye Bender Literary Agency did the two-book deal for world English rights.
Joan Powers at Candlewick has bought From the Complaint Box by Jo Knowles, a middle-grade novel about a boy navigating his way through the pitfalls, pain, embarrassments – and surprising glories – of surviving middle school. Publication is scheduled for fall 2015; Barry Goldblatt at Barry Goldblatt Literary did the deal for world English-language rights.
Erin Clarke at Knopf has acquired a YA novel by Kate Hattemer (author of the forthcoming Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy). In her new book, The Land of Ten Thousand Madonnas, three teen cousins embark on a backpacking trip to Europe at the mysterious behest of their fourth cousin, who recently passed away. It will pub in spring 2015; Uwe Stender at TriadaUS did the deal for world rights.
Caitlyn Dlouhy at Atheneum has bought The Winter Place, the first novel for children by adult writer Alexander Yates (Moondogs). It's the story of Tess and Axel, who after their parents die, are shipped off to Finland to live with estranged relatives, but when they arrive they realize that their mother and father may just be lost, deep in a haunted forest in the wilds of northern Finland. Ellen Levine at Trident Media Group held the auction for North American rights.
Katherine Jacobs at Roaring Brook has acquired a nonfiction history of Motown by Andrea Davis Pinkney. The book will cover the inception of the music label and how the young performers became some of the most successful recording artists of the 1960s, shattering racial barriers and defining the sound of a generation. Publication is scheduled for fall 2015; Rebecca Sherman of Writers House was the agent.
Melissa Manlove at Chronicle has bought two beginning readers from Laurel Snyder, in a debut series called Charlie and Mouse, a collection of stories about the daily adventures of two curious brothers. Publication is set for spring and fall 2015. Tina Wexler at ICM negotiated the deal for world rights.
Nancy Conescu at Dial has acquired The End of the Beginning, a debut YA novel by casting agent Michelle Levy. The novel, pitched as a darker Eleanor & Park, tells of two broken people who help each other survive and ultimately find love. Publication is planned for summer 2015; Laura Bradford of Bradford Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Lisa Yoskowitz at Disney-Hyperion has bought North American rights to Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone, author of the YA companion novels, Time Between Us and Time After Time. The new book, pitched as Glee meets Silver Linings Playbook, follows a competitive swimmer with OCD who struggles with her position among the popular circle of friends, until a quirky girl a few lockers away introduces her to a seemingly innocent poetry club hidden below the school theater. It's scheduled for spring 2015; Caryn Wiseman at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal.