Newbery Medalist Richard Peck Remembered; YA Thrillers on the Rise

[PW Children's Bookshelf: Breaking children's and YA publishing news, author interviews, bestsellers lists and reviews.] [Watch the Fall 2018 Online Preview]( Spotlight on YA [Teen Thrillers on the Rise]( The recent popularity of binge-able Netflix shows such as Black Mirror and adult bestsellers-turned-blockbusters like The Girl on the Train suggests that today’s audiences crave dark, suspenseful storytelling. We asked a number of agents and editors about how that trend is creeping into the YA market. [more]( Obituary [Richard Peck]( Author Richard Peck, winner of the Newbery Medal and widely acclaimed for his realistic YA novels, died May 23 at his home in New York City following a long illness; he was 84. Peck’s editor for nearly 20 years, Lauri Hornik, said, "He was so delightfully interested in other people, he made it very comfortable for people to tell him things. That was a gift of his that he used very well in his fiction writing." [more]( [Watch the Fall 2018 Online Preview]( In the News [Licensing Expo 2018: Publishers Look to Product Extensions to Attract More Readers]( While most publishers at this week's Licensing Expo in Las Vegas are there as attendees, a growing number of houses are participating as exhibitors as well, in an effort to extend their authors’ book series, or their own brands. [more]( SPONSORED [Win an Advance Copy of 'The House of One Thousand Eyes']( Enter for your chance to win one of 10 advance reading copies of Michelle Barker's searing YA novel, 'The House of One Thousand Eyes,' a Fall YA Buzz Book. [ENTER HERE ►]( On the Scene [Jeff Kinney's China Tour in Photos]( Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney recently embarked on his 2018 Global Tour in China, in celebration of the series having sold 10 million copies in China. The five-day tour covered three major Chinese cities: Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Click through for a selection of highlights from the events. [more]( [OMG BookFest and Colorado Book Fest in Photos]( On May 19, in conjunction with OMG (Oh Middle Grade!) BookFest, Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver hosted the inaugural Colorado Children's Book Festival, a free public event that brought together 20 authors for a day of interactive sessions at the store. Click through for a collection of photos from both festivals. [more]( [Watch the Fall 2018 Online Preview]( Mark Your Calendar [Adapting Kids' Books for Screens: A Global Kids Connect Session At New York Rights Fair 2018]( Content for kids and families will take center stage as Global Kids Connect kicks off the day-long “Page to Screen” programming at New York Rights Fair on May 31 in New York City. [more]( Out Next Week [Hot Off the Presses: Week of May 28, 2018]( Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book about the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela, by the three generations of his family, a middle grade series by a popular YouTuber inspired by her Minecraft creations, and the first volume in a romantic YA sci-fi series from a bestselling author. [more]( In Brief [In Brief: May 24, 2018]( This week, Jason Reynolds delivers a commencement address; Tiffany Jackson, Mark Oshiro, and Dhonielle Clayton talk shop; author Stacy McAnulty tours for The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl; and author A.M. Morgen welcomes her first middle grade novel. [more]( SPONSORED [PW KidsCast: Listen Now]( Tomi Adeyemi, Wendy Mass, Rebecca Stead, Christopher Paul Curtis, Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen – listen to these and other top writers and artists discuss their new books for children and teens in the PW KidsCast podcast. [Click here]( to listen. For more about these and other great jobs, visit the new [PW JobZone]( now with resume hosting and more! - [Marketing Specialist - Ingram Content Group - LaVergne](. - [Publicity Manager - University of Washington Press - Seattle](. - [Publicist - Scholastic Inc. - New York](. - [Marketing Associate - Blackstone Publishing - New York City](. - [Director of Sales, APA Books - American Psychological Association - Washington](. Rights Report Allison Cohen at Running Press Kids has acquired Tom Ryan and Robin Stevenson's Meet Me Halfway, a contemporary YA novel following cousins on a road trip to Pride in Toronto as they search for love and adventure and uncover family secrets along the way. Ryan's novels have twice been named to the ALA's Rainbow List, and Stevenson is the author of the Stonewall Honor book Pride: Celebrating Diversity and Community. Publication is scheduled for May 2020; Eric Smith at P.S. Literary negotiated the deal for world English rights for the authors. Amara Hoshijo at Soho Teen has bought Latinx author Michelle Ruiz Keil's debut novel, All of Us with Wings, a YA fantasy imbued with elements of Aztec mythology. The book follows Xochi, a teenage governess living with her young ward Pallas's glamorous rockstar family in San Francisco. When Xochi and Pallas perform a cathartic punk-rock ritual on the Equinox, they accidentally summon a pair of ancient creatures determined to avenge transgressions from Xochi's troubled past. Publication is set for summer 2019; Hannah Fergesen at KT Literary brokered the deal for world English rights. Emily Seife at Scholastic has acquired Lydia Sharp's new YA novel, The Night of Your Life. Pitched as Groundhog Day meets prom, the story follows a boy who gets stuck in a time loop reliving his prom night, trying to have the best night ever with the girl of his dreams; to stop it he might have to let go of his ideas of perfection. The title is slated for 2020; Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency did the deal for world rights. Calista Brill at First Second has bought Naima, K.L. Ricks's YA graphic novel fantasy about a young woman's return to her native Caribbean island after completing her magical training to become a midwife. Publication is planned for 2020; Edward Maxwell at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates negotiated the deal for world rights. Julie Matysik and Kristin Kiser at Running Press Kids have acquired wellness expert Mallika Chopra's middle grade nonfiction book, Just Feel, an illustrated guide for kids that offers advice and inspiration for building social and emotional learning. Publication is scheduled for September 2019; Linda Loewenthal at the Loewenthal Company brokered the deal for world rights. Pam Gruber at Poppy has bought Positively Teen: A Practical Guide to a More Positive, More Confident You by Nicola Morgan, a guide for both boys and girls about navigating adolescence and fostering long-term well-being, from an expert on teenage brains and mental health. Publication is slated for spring 2019; Susannah Palfrey at Hachette did the deal for North American rights. Erika Turner and Margaret Raymo at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt have acquired in a preempt Sofiya Pasternack's middle grade novel, Anya Kozlova and the Dragon, for the Versify imprint. Set in the ninth century, the book is about a 12-year-old Jewish girl who, with the help of a new friend, must go up against a bloodthirsty Viking and a vengeful Tsar to protect the lonely water dragon who saved her life, even if it means putting her family's home at risk. Publication is set for fall 2019; Rena Rossner at the Deborah Harris Agency negotiated the two-book deal for North American rights. Julia Maguire at Knopf has bought Doug Cornett's debut middle grade novel, Finally, Something Mysterious, in which three friends who solve small mysteries in their town face their biggest challenge yet. Publication is planned for spring 2020; Penelope Burns at Gelfman Schneider/ICM Partners represented Cornett in the deal for world rights. Charlie Ilgunas at Yellow Jacket has won at auction Rajani LaRocca's debut middle grade novel, Midsummer's Mayhem. Inspired by A Midsummer Night's Dream, the story follows an 11-year-old Indian-American girl whose dream of winning a celebrity chef-judged baking contest stirs up trouble when she bakes with a mysterious boy from the woods and people around her start acting loopy. Publication is scheduled for summer 2019; Brent Taylor at TriadaUS brokered the deal for world English rights. Carlisa Cramer at Jolly Fish has acquired world rights to Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold, a middle grade paranormal adventure debut by Lisa Schmid. Twelve-year-old Ollie Oxley isn't expecting his first friend in his new town to be a ghost, but together they team up to search for gold pieces hidden by Gold Rush prospectors, save Ollie's mother's theater, and take down the school bully. Publication is set for summer 2019; the book was unagented. Rotem Moscovich at Disney-Hyperion has bought Cornbread and Poppy, an early chapter book series written and illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell (Wolf in the Snow). The series features two mice: reluctant Cornbread and adventurous Poppy, best friends with different ideas about life in the countryside. The first title is slated to launch in February 2021, with the second to follow in July 2021; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio did the deal for world English rights. Virginia Duncan at Greenwillow has acquired world rights to three untitled picture books by Michael Hall, author-illustrator of My Heart Is Like a Zoo and Red: A Crayon's Story. The first book is planned for winter 2020; Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary represented the author-illustrator. John Morgan at Imprint has bought world rights to two currently untitled picture books by author and artist Jason Tharp. The first will feature a lovable unicorn who's still learning to love himself. Publication is scheduled for winter 2020; Morgan was unagented. Kelly Delaney at Knopf has acquired Me and the Sky, the picture book autobiography of Beverley Bass (l.), one of the first female commercial airline pilots who is currently portrayed in the Broadway musical Come from Away. Joanie Stone will illustrate. Publication is set for fall 2019; the author is unagented, and Claire Easton at Painted Words represented the illustrator. Andrea Tompa at Candlewick has bought world rights to See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog by David LaRochelle (l.), illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka, collaborators on Moo! and This Is NOT a Cat! In the humorous send-up of early readers, a dog resists the narrator's descriptions of what is happening in the story. Publication is planned for fall 2020; both the author and the illustrator were unagented. Joy Peskin at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has acquired world rights to Tamara Pizzoli's picture book, Tallulah the Tooth Fairy CEO, illustrated by Federico Fabiani. When Tallulah, tooth fairy and CEO of Teeth Titans Incorporated, comes across an unusual dilemma that isn't covered in the Teeth Titans Incorporated Employee Manual, she must find a creative solution of her own. Publication is slated for spring 2019; two more books by Pizzoli, illustrated by Phil Howell and edited by Trisha de Guzman, are forthcoming. The author and the illustrators were unagented. To see all of this week's deals, [click here](. IN THE MEDIA [From the New York Times:]( How Cursed Child Puts Parenting at the Center of the Potterverse. [Click here]( [From the Hollywood Reporter]( Ann M. Martin's 'The Baby-Sitters Club' Series Being Shopped for TV Adaptation. [Click here]( [From School Library Journal:]( Gina Gagliano Has Big Plans for Random House Graphic. [Click here]( [From Book Riot:]( Overanalyzing Children's Books with a Three-Year-Old. [Click here]( [From Literary Hub:]( (Almost) All the Goodnight Moon Parodies, Ranked. [Click here]( [From the Hollywood Reporter:]( Jennifer Beals-Inspired YA Novel Set for 2019. [Click here]( [From Bookish:]( Maurene Goo Dishes on Food Trucks, Frenemies, and The Way You Make Me Feel. [Click here]( [From NPR:]( What's Going On in Your Child's Brain When You Read Them a Story? [Click here]( [From Entertainment Weekly:]( George R.R. Martin's children's story The Ice Dragon to become animated film. [Click here]( [From Recode:]( Amazon funds a startup to use Alexa to make interactive children’s books. [Click here]( [From School Library Journal:]( A Fifth Grader's Mission to Save His School’s Librarian. [Click here]( [From Brightly:]( How Movies Can Help Young Children Enjoy Classic Books. [Click here]( [From BuzzFeed:]( A Look at the 20th Anniversary Edition of Speak. [Click here]( [From Epic Reads:]( Love the Bod You’re In: 9 Body Positive Books Recommended by Julie Murphy. [Click here]( SHELFTALKER Kenny Brechner [The Huge Benefits of Amazon Echo’s “Technology-Driven Storytelling”]( Whether for the Amazon Echo or the DDG Docent, exclusive voice controlled stories are proven through testing to be an unmixed blessing. [more »]( Cynthia Compton [Trade Show Focus (Group)]( One children’s bookseller prepares for upcoming trade shows by convening a focus group of her youngest customers. [more »]( Elizabeth Bluemle [When Elephant and Piggie Came to Town]( Planning an event like this isn’t quite on the scale of planning the Invasion of Normandy, but close. [more »]( Leslie Hawkins [Magna Cum Sapientia]( This year’s favorite words of wisdom to offer graduates, beyond ‘Oh, the Places You’ll Go.’ [more »]( FEATURED REVIEWS [Walrus in the Bathtub]( Deborah Underwood, illus. by Matt Hunt. Dial, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-8037-4101-0 When a family moves into a new house and finds that a walrus has full ownership of the bathtub, there’s only one thing to do: make a pros and cons list. Hunt’s big, boisterous cartooning makes the most of this variation on The Man Who Came to Dinner: the family tries to stay calm and roll with the punches while the extra-large, genially oblivious center of attention keeps pouring on the annoyances. [more]( [Bonkers About Beetles]( Owen Davey. Flying Eye, $19.95 (40p) ISBN 978-1-911171-98-0 Working in a dramatic graphic style, Davey represents the exquisite range of colors and patterns to be found among the roughly 400,000 known species of beetles. Sections explore topics including life cycles and metamorphosis, while infographics convey details about beetle anatomy, biology, and behavior. Davey offers a dazzling exploration of some of Earth’s most diverse, ubiquitous—not to mention, kaleidoscopic—insects. [more]( [Super Potato #1: The Epic Origin of Super Potato]( Artur Laperla. Graphic Universe, $8.99 trade paper (56p) ISBN 978-1-5124-4021-8 Super Max has a luxurious blond coiffure, a cape, big muscles (737, to be exact), and an outsized ego. So, it’s humiliating when Doctor Malevolent shoots him with a new weapon and turns him into a potato. Now, he’s Super Potato, a tiny figure with spindly arms and legs, and he’s devastated. He still has superpowers, though, and he’s ready to do battle with Doctor Malevolent. A promising start to a series. [more]( [Denis Ever After]( Tony Abbott. HarperCollins/Tegen, $16.99 (320p) ISBN 978-0-06-249122-0 Abbot blends a taut and twisted murder mystery with a profound reflection on grief. Since his death at age seven, Denis has been living in Port Haven, where souls still remembered by the living go after they die. But Denis’s twin, Matt, has just discovered the investigation surrounding Denis’s death, left purposefully unresolved by their father. Matt becomes so obsessed with finding the killer that Denis must return to the land of the living to help his family uncover the truth. [more]( [The Cheerleaders]( Kara Thomas. Delacorte, $17.99 (384p) ISBN 978-1-5247-1832-9 In her new book, Thomas continues to demonstrate command of both the inner workings of a teenage mind and the anatomy of crime. Monica,16, is a junior in high school, and the younger sister of Jen, one of the five cheerleaders in their town of Sunnybrook who, five years earlier, died within the span of three weeks under suspicious circumstances. When she stumbles upon a secret stash of letters, she begins to realize that the explanations given for the deaths of the five girls may not be true. [more]( TALES FROM THE SLUSH PILE [SEE ALL]( May 24, 2018 E-mail not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( [Watch the Fall 2018 Online Preview]( [Watch the Fall 2018 Online Preview]( [Watch the Fall 2018 Online Preview]( To Our Readers Because of next week's BookExpo and New York Rights Fair conferences, we will have one issue of Children's Bookshelf, on Wednesday. PeopleDana Leydig has joined Viking Children’s Books as an editor; previously she was an editor at Puffin Books. Brooke Shearouse has joined Abrams as senior publicist; previously she was a publicist at Scholastic. Macmillan Children's Publishing Group has three promotions. Kelsey Marrujo has been promoted to senior publicist, from publicist. Jeremy Ross has been promoted to marketing manager, from associate marketing manager. Caitlin Crocker has been promoted to marketing coordinator, from marketing assistant. In Case You Missed It [BookExpo 2018: Children’s Galleys to Grab]( [more]( [A 'Celebration of Creativity' at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High]( [more]( [GLAAD and Bonnier USA Partner on Publishing Program]( [more]( [YA Books Explore the Immigrant Experience]( [more]( Please NotePublishers Weekly's privacy policy has been updated. We invite you to take a look by [clicking here](. Sneak Previews Take a look ahead at some of the big titles for children and teens due out this fall, from picture books to YA novels, [in our exclusive roundup](. Follow Us Children's Bookshelf is on [Instagram]( Follow us @pwkidsbookshelf. Bookshelf Archives Looking for a previous issue of Children's Bookshelf? 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