RACE TO THE TRUTH BOOKS 7 & 8
Children's: Middle Grade Nonfiction
Alana Hadid and Jenan A. Matari's DISPLACEMENT AND THE PALESTINIAN AMERICAN STORY, and Dr. Patricia Williams Dockery's CIVIL RIGHTS AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN STORY, in the Race to the Truth series, telling the true history of America from the perspective of marginalized communities, to Kelly Delaney at Crown Children's, in a two-book deal, for publication in fall 2026 and spring 2027, by Jessica Regel at Helm Literary (world).
*****
MAPLE FOR THE PEOPLE
Children's: Middle Grade Fiction
Kate McGovern's MAPLE FOR THE PEOPLE, with a diagnosis of dyslexia and a second year of fifth grade under her belt, a girl is finally off to middle school with the support she needs to read and write, but the sixth-grade election and a mystery at school will test her friendships, her sleuthing skills, and her newfound confidence, to Karen Lotz at Candlewick, in an exclusive submission, for publication in spring 2026, by Jessica Regel at Helm Literary (World English).
*****
LOVE STAYS STRONG
Children's: Picture Book
Publisher of Philomel Jill Santopolo has acquired at auction world rights to the picture book LOVE STAYS STRONG, the debut picture book by Paula Schneider, the President and CEO of Susan G. Komen, and a 17-year survivor breast cancer survivor, Jess Regel at Helm Literary brokered the deal and it will be illustrated by Nicole Wong, represented by James McGowan at BookEnds. Written in a lyrical style, with relatable imagery, this book will help children prepare for the changes that arise when a caretaker is diagnosed with a serious illness and help the caretakers start the difficult conversation with their families about what to expect, reassuring children that love will always remain strong even though some things might change. Scheduled for a Fall 2025 release. *****
HABITS OF THE SEA
Fiction
New York Times Bestselling author of A History of Wild Places, Shea Ernshaw's HABITS OF THE SEA, a dreamy novel pitched as for readers of Audrey Niffenegger and Sarah Addison Allen, in which a young woman rediscovers the floating island where she went missing for a week as a child—and its lone dweller who hasn't aged a day since she met him, to Loan Le at Atria, in a pre-empt, for publication in summer 2026, by Jessica Regel at Helm Literary (NA).*****
SUCCESS: SIMPLE
Non-Fiction: Business/Finance/Economics
Chief strategy officer of Black Glass Clay Parker Jones's SUCCESS, written for the ambitious mid-career leaders who strive to make everything and everyone around them the best they can be, and for the next generation of leaders who are only just beginning their careers, to Matthew Holt at Matt Holt Books, by Jessica Regel at Helm Literary (World English).*****
NOBODY KNOWS YOU'RE HERE
Fiction: Thriller
Author of ALL THE UGLY AND WONDERFUL THINGS Bryn Greenwood's NOBODY KNOWS YOU'RE HERE, about a woman who is at the lowest point in her life when she accepts a ride from a stranger and discovers just how bad it can get—and exactly what she's capable of, pitched as Taken if the woman kidnapped had to save herself, to Stephanie Beard at Podium Publishing, for publication in summer 2025, by Jessica Regel at Helm Literary (NA).*****
WILL THEY, WON'T THEY
Young Adult Fiction
Zareen Jaffery at Kokila has acquired, in a multi-bidder, six-figure auction, Will They, Won't They, the debut YA from Stonewall Honor and Lambda Award-winning author Maulik Pancholy, an enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy that follows an Indian-American teen from Queens and the son of an internationally renowned Bollywood actor when they meet at a glitzy gay wedding in Mumbai and get swept up in a "will they/won't they" media circus full of high-profile, romantic sizzle. Publication is planned for summer 2026; Jessica Regel at Helm Literary sold North American rights.*****
OPAL WATSON PRIVATE EYE
Children's Middle Grade
Brittany J. Thurman's OPAL WATSON PRIVATE EYE, the book adaptation of kids and family podcast platform Pinna/Realm's mystery series, which follows an 11-year-old Black girl with a degenerative eye disease who has a thriving detective business, but she is pushed to her limits when her sleuthing uncovers a family secret, to Ben Rosenthal at Harper Children's, at auction, in a two-book deal, for publication in February 2025, by Jessica Regel at Helm Literary for Pinna/Realm, and Marietta Zacker at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency for the author (world).
I'M GOING THROUGH SOMETHING
Young Adult: Graphic Novel
Intersex activist Hans Lindahl's I'M GOING THROUGH SOMETHING, following a 16-year-old artist navigating an adolescence in which puberty never happens, illustrated by cartoonist Chan Chau, to David Levithan at Scholastic, in an exclusive submission, for publication in summer 2027, by Jessica Regel at Helm Literary for the author, and by Molly O'Neill at Root Literary for the illustrator (world).
*****MIND THE GAP
Children's: Young Adult Fiction
Brenda Janowitz's debut YA novel MIND THE GAP, a coming-of-age novel about a Jewish American teen on a European gap year adventure, pitched as 13 LITTLE BLUE ENVELOPE meets LOVE AND GELATO, to Brittany Rubianofor Melissa De La Cruz Studio, for publication in fall 2025, by Jessica Regel at Helm Literary (world).
THE BEST DAY
Children's: Picture Book Fiction
Disability activist Adiba Nelson's THE BEST DAY, about a girl's excitement getting to celebrate her and her friends at a Disability Pride Parade with her family and how the neighborhood's accessibility makes it safe and healthy for all, illustrated by DeAnn Wiley, to Emily Settle at Feiwel and Friends, in an exclusive submission, for publication in winter 2026, by Jess Regel at Helm for the author, and by James McGowan at BookEnds Literary for the illustrator (world).
*****
THE GRACE KELLY DRESS
Film Rights
Brenda Janowitz's THE GRACE KELLY DRESS, the story of an heirloom wedding gown and the hopes, dreams, and secrets of the three generations of women who were married in it, to Hallmark Channel, by Rich Green at The Gotham Group on behalf of Jessica Regel at Helm Literary.
Pinna’s popular podcast series Quentin & Alfie’s ABC Adventures will be adapted into a series of books for young readers from Farrar, Straus, and Giroux Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan. The series of hardcover titles will launch in early 2023, with books to follow in multiple formats.
*****
GHOST CIRCUS
Children’s: Middle Grade Graphic Novel
Children’s: Middle Grade Graphic Novel
Christopher Duffy at Union Square Kids has acquired debut MG graphic novel Ghost Circus by Adrienne Kress, illustrated by Jade Zhang, the story of a 12-year-old boy, a creepy ghost girl, an adorable polterghost, and a group of spirited circus performers, as they spend one freaky night trying to evade the Headless Horseman and solve the mystery of the Ghost Circus. Publication is planned for 2025; Jessica Regel at Helm Literary represented the author, and Erin Casey Westin at Gallt and Zacker represented the illustrator.
*****
HBO Max Lands Adaptation of Maulik Pancholy’s YA Novel ‘The Best At It’ (The Hollywood Reporter)
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