Rights Report: Week of June 5, 2023

Gretchen Durning at Razorbill has acquired Summer Nights and Meteorites by Hannah Reynolds (The Summer of Lost Letters; Eight Nights of Flirting), a YA rom-com in which a 17-year-old girl reluctantly agrees to spend the summer with her father on Nantucket, only to fall for her dad's annoyingly handsome assistant and uncover a century-old mystery full of love, betrayal, and astronomy. Publication is planned for summer 2024; Tamar Rydzinski at Context Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.

Jerome Pohlen at Interlude/Duet Books at Chicago Review Press has bought A Different Kind of Brave by Lee Wind (Queer as a Five-Dollar Bill), a globe-trotting, high stakes YA adventure romance in which two gay teens—Nico who has escaped from a gay reprogramming institute in California, and Sam, a privileged New Yorker who idolizes James Bond—come together to save each other and free the other teens trapped in the institute. Publication is set for March 2024; Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.

Sarah Shumway at Bloomsbury has acquired This Is How You Fall in Love by Anika Hussain, a debut YA novel about Zara, a rom-com obsessed teen on the hunt for her own great love story, who agrees to fake date her best friend Adnan in an effort to cover up his new secret relationship. Publication is slated for February 2024; Elle Brenton-Rounding at Hot Key negotiated the deal on behalf of Alice Sutherland-Hawes at ASH Literary.

Ashtyn Stann at Flux has bought Lonely Places, a YA folk horror novel by Kate Anderson (Here Lies Olive), in which a 16-year-old girl whose skoolie family has made a lifestyle out of avoiding hard conversations must face her own childhood trauma to rescue her sister from a supernatural horror. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Sharon Belcastro at Belcastro Agency handled the deal for world rights.

Julia McCarthy at Atheneum has acquired world rights to The Dashing School for Wayward Princes, a middle grade graphic novel by Ben Kahn (l.) (Renegade Rule) and Jeremy Whitley (c.) (Princeless), illustrated by Melissa Capriglione (r.) (Basil & Oregano). It tells the story of Leo, a supposed prince who knows that, deep down, she's really a princess. Despite the school's rigid and outdated gender norms, Leo and her newfound misfit friends find the courage to embrace themselves and stand up to anyone who says otherwise. Publication is set for summer 2025; Moe Ferrara at BookEnds Literary represented the writers, and Laurel Symonds at KT Literary represented the illustrator.

Abigail McAden at Scholastic/Graphix has bought Wish I Was a Baller, a '90s-set middle grade graphic memoir by Emmy-winning writer/producer Amar Shah (l.), illustrated by Eisner-winning comic creator Rashad Doucet. The story follows Amar's real-life experiences as a teen sports journalist covering the golden era of the NBA and sparking an unlikely friendship with Shaq, while navigating high school, first love, and his Indian American identity. Publication is planned for 2025; Jas Perry at KT Literary did the deal for world English rights.

Alyson Heller at Aladdin has acquired Last Chance Academy, a debut middle grade series by Debbi Michiko Florence (the Jasmine Toguchi series), in a two-book deal. Seventh grader Megumi Mizuno is sent away to boarding school, known by students as Last Chance Academy, where Meg is determined to win a mysterious treasure hunt with a prize that could reunite her with her dad—but soon learns there is a bigger mystery at the school to uncover. Publication is slated for spring 2025 and spring 2026; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary sold world English rights.

Alison Romig at Delacorte Press has bought It's Watching (Scritch Scratch) by Lindsay Currie, a chilling middle grade nod to The Ring, set in the most haunted cemetery in the country on Halloween night, where three kids must discover who—or what—is terrorizing them after receiving an ominous meme. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Shannon Hassan at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency handled the two-book deal for world English rights.

Erica Finkel at Abrams Amulet has acquired, in a two-book deal, Leah Cypess's chapter book, The Truth About the Tooth Fairy, first in a series about a girl who uses her superior detective skills to investigate fantastical creatures. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Andrea Somberg at Harvey Klinger negotiated the deal for world rights.

Anne Schwartz at Random House/Anne Schwartz Books has bought, at auction, Palestinian-born author-illustrator Hazar Elbayya's debut picture book, My Olive Tree, as well as an untitled picture book. After learning from her grandfather of the importance of olive trees to her heritage, a girl plants a seed—only to be devastated when the sapling is trampled by invading soldiers. But her community rallies together to plant new trees, with the promise that they will survive and grow strong—delivering a hopeful message about the power of unity, culture, and renewal in the face of conflict. Publication is set for fall 2024 and fall 2025, respectively; Gillian MacKenzie at Gillian MacKenzie Agency sold North American rights.

Elizabeth Law at Holiday House has acquired world rights to The Memory Cake by Caroline L. Perry (l.), illustrated by Jen Bricking. In this picture book, a girl visits her grandmother on the island of Malta during the feast of Santa Marija, and the baking of a celebratory cake reveals layers of Nanna's life during World War II, when Malta was the most bombed place on Earth. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Allison Remcheck at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Tamara Shannon at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.

Christy Ottaviano at Little, Brown/Ottaviano has bought world rights to World of Wonders by Amy E. Sklansky (l.) (Knock, Knock, Trick or Treat!), illustrated by Wade Zahares (Liberty Rising) in an exclusive submission. This picture book celebrates a collection of natural and human-made wonders from around the world, with each wonder featuring an original poem, corresponding facts, and an immersive illustration. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Studio Goodwin Sturges represented both author and illustrator.

Caitlyn Dlouhy at Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books has acquired Zoey Abbott's This Year, a Witch, a story about a girl who is tired of being adorable every Halloween, so she hatches a plan to be terrifying. Publication is scheduled for summer 2025; Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties negotiated the deal for North American rights.

Renee Kelly at Penguin Workshop has bought Bears Don't Share! by J.E. Morris (Flubby Is Not a Good Pet!), a picture book in which two stubborn bears argue over the best napping rock in the forest. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Carrie Hannigan at HG Literary represented the author-illustrator for world rights.

Christianne Jones at Capstone has acquired world rights to Line Leads the Way by Laura Purdie Salas (l.), illustrated by Alice Caldarella. Square, Triangle, and all the other shapes each think they're perfectly perfect for a special job at the library. But Line brings imperfection and kind determination to the challenge. Publication is set for fall 2024; the author represented herself, and Emily Fernandez at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.

Jieun Lee at Annick Press has bought world rights to When the Air Sang by Laura Bontje (l.), illustrated by Sarah Whang, a picture book about a child's joyful exploration of different insects in her backyard—in particular, the mysterious cicadas and their songs. Publication is planned for winter 2025; James McGowan at BookEnds represented the author, and Kelly Dyksterhouse at Tobias Literary Agency represented the illustrator.

Alexa Pastor at Simon & Schuster has acquired world rights to The Keeper of Stories by Caroline Kusin Pritchard (l.), illustrated by Selina Alko, a nonfiction picture book about the 1966 library fire at the Jewish Theological Seminary and how volunteers from all backgrounds came together to rescue more than 100,000 books. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown Ltd. represented the author, and Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency represented the illustrator.

Sarah Howden at Orca has bought world rights to A Sky for the Birds by Rina Singh (l.), illustrated by Barkha Lohia. This picture book tells the uplifting story of two Muslim brothers in Delhi, who against all odds have devoted their lives to rescuing and rehabilitating black kites—the majestic birds of prey injured in the polluted skies of the capital city. Publication is slated for fall 2025; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.

Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear Press has acquired world rights for Brave Old Blue by Colleen Muske (l.), illustrated by Christopher Thornock, a picture book about an old horse's arrival at a rescue farm and the girl who teaches him how to trust and accept love again. Publication is set for spring 2025; Kelly Dyksterhouse at Tobias Literary Agency represented the author, and Lori Steel at Red Fox Literary represented the illustrator.

Callie Lovvorn at Clear Fork has bought world rights to Toby Undone by Michele McAvoy (l.). illustrated by Elliott Jaudz Oliver, a social-emotional picture book in which the nonbinary character's world unravels (as does their favorite red sweater) when their parents lose their jobs. A story about loss, change, and finding your way in unexpected people and places. Publication is planned for fall 2024; the author and illustrator represented themselves.

Bri Gallagher at Tommy Nelson acquired Good Night, Cuddle Tight: Bunny Bedtime Book, a board book by Kristi Valiant about the sweet love between a Daddy and his bunnies when one wide-awake bunny requests a just-you-and-me bedtime cuddle; Karissa Taylor will edit. Publication is scheduled for winter 2024; Linda Pratt at Wernick & Pratt Agency did the deal for world rights.