Sally Kim at Little, Brown acquired world English rights, at auction, to Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children, the adult nonfiction debut
by Mac Barnett (pictured l.), U.S. national ambassador for young people’s literature , from Steven Malk at Writers House. The publisher called the book “an incisive, intimate, and moving invitation to think expansively about children's literature not only as an art form but as a portal into the lives of children—a timely call to arms, a celebration, and a reminder of the power of storytelling and imagination.” Publication is planned for next summer.

Helen Healey-Cunningham at Thesis took North American rights to Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy by American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten from Richard Pine at InkWell Management. The book, the publisher said, tells “the story of what teachers do and why those who are afraid of freedom and opportunity try to stop them,” and “why the fate of American democracy is inexorably intertwined with the fate of public education.” Publication is set for September.

Lynn Raposo at Mira picked up world English rights to Briar Boleyn’s Bloodwing Academy series from Amanda Jain at BookEnds. The publisher called it “a dark academia new adult romantasy saga melding vampires, fae, magic, and Arthurian legend following Medra Pendragon, a half-fae princess from Camelot who finds herself thrust into a world where vampires and mortals coexist.” Publications for the first three, previously published series titles are set for August, November, and next March, respectively;
a fourth, untitled novel is scheduled for early 2027.

Jessica Vestuto at Mariner preempted North American rights to Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix, translated from the French by Helen Stevenson, from Helen Edwards, who has an eponymous agency, on behalf of Pete Ayrton and Rosemarie Hudson at SmallAxes/HopeRoad. The novel was shortlisted for this year’s International Booker Prize and is “based on the true story of a French naval traffic officer who ignored distress calls from migrants drowning in the English Channel,” per the publisher, which described it as “a parable for our time about how those of us in a place of safety cannot avoid a collective responsibility.” Publication is set for fall 2026.

Michel Moushabeck at Interlink acquired world rights to The Slightest Green by Sahar Mustafah from Robin Straus and Danielle Matta at the Robin Straus Agency. The novel, the publisher said, tells the story of Intisar Jaber, who “receives word that her estranged father is dying, returns to Palestine for the first time in decades, and finds herself confronting the legacy of resistance, abandonment, and the meaning of home.” Publication is set for fall 2025.

In Brief

  • Olivia Peluso at DK preempted North American and U.K. rights to Party People by actor Brie Larson and chef Courtney McBroom, “an entertaining cookbook featuring more than 100 creative recipes for any kind of party,” from Eve Attermann
    at WME, for an October release.

  • Eric Obenauf at Two Dollar Radio secured world rights, unagented, to Nora Lange’s short story collection Day Care, billed as “a biting reflection on American identity, the male gaze, and consumerism,” for an April 2026 release.

  • Rachel Rokicki at Modern Library scored North American rights to three Japanese mystery novels by late Akutagawa Literary Prize winner Seichō Matsumoto from Amelia Evans at PRH UK. Tokyo Express and Suspicion—both translated by Jesse Kirkwood, with the former featuring an introduction by Amor Towles—will be released in October and next spring, respectively; A Quiet Place, translated by Louise Heal Kawai, is due next summer.

  • Cassidy Sachs at Dutton purchased, at auction, world rights, excluding Dutch, to Sleep Intelligence: The High-Performance Blueprint for Sharper Thinking by neuroscientist Els van der Helm from Leila Campoli at Calligraph, for a spring 2027 release.

This article has been updated with further information.