Ken Wright at Viking has bought a new novel by Sarah Dessen, her 12th, called Saint Anything; Regina Hayes will edit. The story is about a girl named Sydney who finds solace in a new love interest while dealing with the fallout from her older brother's incarceration. Dessen said the novel touches on some of her favorite themes: “the joy and complications of family, first love, and how one friend can sometimes change everything.” It’s scheduled for release in 2015; Leigh Feldman of Writers House negotiated the deal for world rights. According to Viking, there are nine million copies of Dessen's books in print.

Lisa Sharkey and David Linker at HarperCollins have acquired Brad Montague and Robby Novak's Kid President's Guide to Being Awesome. The memoir of the 10-year-old YouTube star pulls together interviews with his celebrity friends, ideas to help change the world, and a step-by-step guide to make everything a little bit awesomer. Publication is planned for winter 2015; Erin Malone at WME Entertainment brokered the deal for USCOM rights.

Krista Vitola at Delacorte has bought Ginger Garrett's The Last Monster, about 13-year-old cancer survivor Sofia, who has been chosen as the next Guardian of a book called The Bestiary, an ancient text. Drawn into violent and unpredictable mysteries, Sofia learns that these misunderstood monsters from the book are in danger and she is the only one who can save them. It's planned for spring 2016; Melissa Jeglinski at The Knight Agency did the deal for USCOM rights.

Chelsea Eberly at Random House has bought Gated author Amy Christine Parker's Smash & Grab, about a girl who masterminds a daring bank heist full of twists and turns, only to be surprised when another thief steals her heart. It’s scheduled for spring 2016; Lucienne Diver of the Knight Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.

Sonali Fry at Little Bee Books has bought Cockatoo by Bethanie Murguia, in which two cockatoos encounter two more cockatoos in tutus and wonder if tutus might, perhaps, be right for them too. It will be published in spring 2016; Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties held the auction for world rights.


Phoebe Yeh at Crown has bought debut author Graeme Stone's What Could Possibly Go Wrong?, an interdisciplinary, nonfiction book for middle-graders on natural disasters that places the reader in the event and explains the statistical probability of survival; a follow-up book focuses on manmade disasters. Publication is slated for spring 2016; Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency did the two-book deal for world rights.

Phoebe Yeh at Crown also acquired Leza Lowitz's Up from the Sea in a pre-empt; it's a YA novel in verse for teens about the March 2011 tsunami that sent Japan into chaos. The story is told from the point-of-view of Kai, a bi-racial teen boy who survives but loses his mother and grandparents. Publication is set for spring 2016; Kelly Falconer at Asia Literary Agency did the two-book deal for world English rights.

Anna Bloom at Scholastic has acquired a middle-grade novel byAngela Cervantes, about a Latina fifth grader who does everything she can to win trophies and medals, and while competing to win that elusive first place discovers that life's greatest rewards don't always fit on a trophy shelf. Adriana Dominguez at Full Circle Literary was the agent.

Kristin Daly Rens at HarperCollins imprint Balzer + Bray has acquired a picture book biography of Hillary Rodham Clinton by Michelle Markel, author of Brave Girl, winner of the Jane Addams Children's Book Award. The bio is slated for release in winter 2016. Anna Olswanger of Olswanger Literary brokered the deal for world rights.

Victoria Rock at Chronicle Books signed a two-book deal with author-illustrator Stephan Lomp for Mamasaurus and Papasaurus, due out spring 2016 and 2017 respectively. In these stories, Baby Dino explores the jungle for the first time and finds his way back home to his mama and papa in unexpected ways. Anne Moore Armstrong of the Bright Agency sold world rights.

Orli Zuravicky at Scholastic bought world rights to author Luke Reynolds's (l.) first picture book, Bedtime Blast-Off!, illustrated by Mike Yamada. The story stars a father and son who find adventure in getting ready for bed. It's scheduled for publication in 2016; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.

Claudia Zoe Bedrick at Enchanted Lion Books has acquired world rights (excluding French language) to author-illustrator duo Kerascoët's first original picture book, currently untitled, starring a pair of dissimilar and surprising siblings. Publication is set for spring 2016; Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions brokered the deal.