Foyinsi Adegbonmire at Feiwel and Friends has acquired, in an exclusive submission, in a seven-figure deal, The Heirs and an untitled novel by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (Ace of Spades; Where Sleeping Girls Lie). Pitched for fans of Knives Out and The Inheritance Games, The Heirs is a YA mystery whodunit about a wealthy family of teen geniuses brought back together for their father's annual prodigy ball during which he is murdered. Publication is set for June 2026; Molly Ker Hawn at the Bent Agency did the two-book deal for North American rights; the author is now represented by Chloe Seager at Madeleine Milburn.
Kate Prosswimmer and Nicole Fiorica at McElderry Books have bought Dread Chaser, the start of a post-apocalyptic speculative series by Lauren Thoman, in her YA debut, pitched as The Last of Us meets The Mandalorian. A teenage bounty hunter must team up with his rival as they pursue the target of a lifetime in a chase that unravels everything they thought they understood about the world they live in. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Holly Root at Root Literary sold world rights in the two-book deal.
Nick Magliato at Penguin Workshop has acquired Love with a Twist by Suzanne Nelson, an escapist chose-your-own YA romance set in Sorrento, Italy. The reader will navigate an internship working at the lemon groves of Villa Limonsole alongside three potential love interests. Publication is scheduled for summer 2027; Ammi-Joan Paquette while at Erin Murphy Literary Agency handled the deal for world rights.
Bria Ragin at Delacorte has bought, in an exclusive submission, When Evil Lingers by Melissa Blair (A Broken Blade), a debut YA speculative thriller in which a 17-year-old Anishinaabe girl, Cheesh, finds herself on the side of the living as a ghost after dying at a residential school decades before. When a murder spree begins the same day she appears, she teams up with Giiwedin, the granddaughter of a respected community Elder, to not only catch the killer but to get Cheesh back home to her ancestors. Publication is slated for fall 2026; Danielle Burby at Mad Woman Literary Agency sold world rights.
Lauri Hornik at Penguin/Rocky Pond has acquired, in a six-figure deal, The Broken Edge of the World by Alena Bruzas (To the Bone). In this romantic fantasy, 17-year-old Sylvie, who battles OCD, takes a summer job at a remote prairie preserve, and finds that the stark beauty of the prairie disguises a mysterious curse—a curse that leaves her torn between the stunning shepherd boy she's been warned against but can't resist, and Jack, a strange-looking and strangely gentle coworker. Publication is planned for summer 2026; Susan Hawk at Upstart Crow Literary sold North American rights.
Alice Jerman while at Mayhem Books bought The Killing Rules by Bree Despain, a YA novel pitched as Teen Wolf meets Dexter, where a teen cheerleader, cursed to become a bloodthirsty monster and murder predatory men, discovers that her crush is investigating the death of her first victim—who happens to be his father. Lydia Sharp will edit; publication is slated for summer 2026. Jordan Hamessley at JABberwocky Literary Agency did the two-book deal for world rights.
Charlotte Greenbaum at Abrams Fanfare has acquired world rights to author-illustrator Beno Meli's debut YA graphic novel Daughter of Snakes, in which a 17-year-old girl, born half-Gorgon, half-human, and living in modern-day Mexico, sets out to save her mother from a long-buried past—unraveling ancient truths, embracing the power she was taught to hide, and discovering love in the most unexpected of companions. Publication is set for fall 2029; Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal.
Julia Patrick at VIZ Media has bought, in an exclusive submission, in a two-book deal, an untitled series by co-creators Wishroomness (l.) (Nice to Meet You) and Keon Tan. In this YA sci-fi manga series, a young woman finds herself stranded in the wrong galaxy after an alien kidnaps her cat (who just so happens to have a secret genetic mutation that can cure his affliction). Publication is scheduled for 2027; Britt Siess at Britt Siess Creative Management sold world rights.
Kate Harrison at Dial has acquired world English rights to three books in the new Penny and Laine chapter book series by best friends and authors Ally Condie (l.) (the Matched trilogy) and Ann Dee Ellis (You May Already Be a Winner), in which two enterprising best friends tackle their kid versions of life's adult dramas (mysteries! funerals! haunted houses! weddings!) within their eccentric neighborhood. Publication will start in summer 2027; Jodi Reamer at Writers House represented Condie, and John Cusick at Folio Literary Management represented Ellis.
Ann Marie Wong and Kate Farrell at Henry Holt have bought world rights to The Midnight Race by Celeste Pewter (l.), illustrated by Lauren Dimaya. The middle grade graphic novel follows a Chinese American girl who finds herself competing against the animals of the Chinese zodiac in a race whose prize is a cure for her beloved grandfather's illness. Publication is slated for winter 2028; Molly Ker Hawn at the Bent Agency represented the author, and Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Sarah Howden at Orca Books has acquired Leigh Therriault's middle grade debut, The Dark Shine, about a boy who finds a sassy ghost girl stuck in a haunted boot and must free her soul from the sole by solving the mystery of her death. Publication is planned for fall 2027; Liz Nealon at Great Dog Literary sold world rights.
Jasmine Hodge at Random House Graphic has bought Tough Fluff #1: A Sheep to Count On and three sequels by Marcie Colleen (l.) (Kitten Ninja series), illustrated by Chad Thomas (Cat Ninja series), a black-and-white humorous graphic novel chapter book series about Ewenice, an ex-acrobat sheep with a mysterious past and a superhero alter ego called Steel Wool, and her wannabe squirrel sidekick who must fight against a villainous, sleep-deprived duck. Publication is set for summer 2027; Paige Terlip at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author and illustrator for world rights.
Alessandra Balzer at Macmillan/Balzer + Bray has acquired world rights to Salvador Snake: Looking for Love by Suzy Levinson (l.), illustrated by Ryan Nelsen, a picture book about a snake who is trying to find his perfect match in all the wrong places. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency represented the author, and Alex Gehringer at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Sonali Fry at Crown has bought world rights to Where Are the Pink Pájaros?, a picture book by the authors of the José and El Perro series, Silvia López (l.) and Susan Rose (c.), illustrated by Pura Belpré Honor artist Nomar Perez, about a girl who builds a bird feeder with her Abuela in the hopes of seeing a pink pájaro. Publication is slated for summer 2027; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented López, Rachel Altemose at Salky Literary Management in association with Charlotte Sheedy Literary represented Rose, and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented Perez.
Catherine Laudone at S&S/Beach Lane Books has acquired world rights to Numbers Tell Stories Too by Annette Bay Pimentel (l.) and Pirita Tolvanen (c.), illustrated by Valerya Milovanova, a nonfiction picture book about how Florence Nightingale's passion for statistics and her creation of the Rose Diagram revolutionized hospitals. Publication is planned for spring 2028; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the authors, and Atlanta Japp at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
Michelle Lee at Dial has bought North American English rights to Watermelon Pool, a picture book by Bonsoir Lune, translated from the Korean by Frances Cha. A watermelon becomes a pool for the neighborhood in this story about carefree summer days. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Chiara Tognetti at Chiara Tognetti Rights Agency brokered the deal for Changbi Publishers, Korea Copyright Centre, and Cha.
Alyza Liu at Simon and Schuster has acquired world rights to Ella Jenkins: Listen and Respond by Linda Elovitz Marshall (l.) and Rita Abdul-Kareem (c.), illustrated by Violeta Encarnación (r.). This picture book biography chronicles Ella Jenkins, known as the "First Lady of the Children's Folk Song," and her extraordinary life as a musician, educator, and activist. Publication is set for fall 2026; Christa Heschke at McIntosh & Otis represented the authors, and Chad W. Beckerman at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Alexandra McKenzie at Charlesbridge has acquired the board book Sink? Or Float? by Don Tate. Readers can follow along for a pool-day experiment as the narrator explores what happens when various objects are placed in water. Publication is planned for spring 2028 as part of Steamworks; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency sold world rights.
