Kids & YA Newsletter: February 2020
A summer morning turns into a nightmare when police burst into seventeen-year-old Piper’s home and arrest her mother for stealing an infant years ago. Piper soon learns she was that child. Now there’s a long-lost family determined to take her back. Confused, alone, and terrified to be whisked away to a new life, Piper slips out of town in the middle of the night. She gains an unlikely passenger—her brother’s best friend, Finn. They barely evade law enforcement, while constantly knocking heads as Finn urges her to return home. When the authorities catch up, Piper faces a future with strangers who insist on calling her “Greta.” She quickly realizes that this picture-perfect, wealthy family is steeped in secrets and flaws, and not everyone is happy to see her. In today’s era of DNA testing, Sophie Dekker delivers a compelling and all-too-imaginable story. Both heartbreaking and joyous, DON’T CALL ME GRETA invites readers to consider: “What would you do if you learned your whole life has been a lie?” (Please note, Jane Dystel is the agent on this project.)
When Andrew stumbles upon Jamie’s house, he’s injured, starved and has nothing left to lose. The super-flu has killed off over 90% of the world’s population, including everyone Andrew and Jamie have ever loved. The post-flu world has taught them both to be scared of what other desperate people will do, but Andrew’s injury makes him vulnerable and Jamie empathetic. And after so much time spent alone, it turns out a little human companionship is a good thing—maybe a necessary one. When threatening strangers arrive, the boys’ time in Jamie’s house is cut short and they flee south together in search of civilization. But Andrew has a dark secret, one he fears could destroy them and everything they’re building together on the road. Jamie has a secret, too. He’s starting to feel something more than friendship for Andrew, adding another layer of fear and confusion on top of an already tumultuous journey. The road ahead of them is long. Jamie and Andrew have forgotten that cruelty and injustice were a part of "civilization" even before the bug. To survive, they must shed their secrets, face the consequences of their actions, and learn how to carry on when all that's left in the world is the love they have for each other. Erik Brown’s dual-POV, post-apocalyptic, queer YA adventure novel ALL THAT'S LEFT IN THE WORLD is a slow-burn romance full of fast-paced action and suspense and perfect for fans of both What If It’s Us and Wilder Girls. (Please note, Michael Bourret is the agent on this project.)
Sixteen-year-old Lenna Lively has seen the dark side of celebrity: her social-media-influencer sister Violet was abducted and killed by a stalker two years ago. Since then, Lenna has avoided attention and confrontation, working as an editor of the obsolete news team at her corporate-sponsored high school and trying to improve her Tastemaker score before it drops too low and they kick her out. Her cousin John uses his platform as a top Tastemaker to do the opposite: call out the injustices of the new school voucher system. Until the night of Lenna’s stepdad’s campaign party, when John is found dead in a hot tub. Lenna and the news team dig in to find the real story on John... except all evidence seems to have been wiped from existence. As Halloween Homecoming and the California election draw near, the window of time to find John’s killer is dwindling as fast as the wildfire-ravaged landscape. And just as viral retweeted false stories hindered Violet’s case, the complete lack of social media attention is suffocating John’s. Because if something isn’t posted, it’s like it never happened. Perfect for fans of Courtney Summers’ Sadie and Tiffany Jackson’s Monday’s Not Coming, TO ASSUME is a distressingly believable, near-future YA thriller from debut author Shanna Rogers. (Please note, Jim McCarthy is the agent on this project.)
The Island of New Amity has a secret: when the black shark migration arrives to its shores and the seasonal summer tourists flock to its beaches, the Summer Boys return carried by the tide into the arms of the women left behind. But the reunion is always short-lived, and the curse that afflicts them drives them into the sea when summer ends. Seventeen-year-old newcomer Cora Turner knows all about curses. Haunted by the disappearance of her older brother, Caleb, Cora and her mother have moved to the island to start over. When she meets Jess Cooper, a Summer Boy, she realizes helping end his curse might be the answer to breaking her own—by bringing back Caleb. As they spend their summer days together attempting to solve the mystery of the curse, Cora learns that the residents of New Amity don’t trust the Summer Boys or their dark secrets. When Cora’s aunt June is murdered, the Island quickly places blame on the nearest Summer Boy, and Jess is accused and arrested for the crime. But summer is ending, and if Jess doesn’t return to the sea when called, he’ll die. So Cora sets out to find the real killer on an island of old magics where nobody trusts the Summer Boys, or their friends, and where everyone seems to be hiding dark secrets of their own. To save Jess—and maybe herself—she will have to race to solve the mystery of the killer and the curse. The sea waits for no one. THE SEA KEEPS is a fast-paced, twisty, gorgeously written YA contemporary fantasy in the vein of Maureen Johnson’s Truly, Devious and Margo Lanagan’s The Brides of Rollrock Island by MFA grad and published author Sarah Ahiers. (Please note, Michael Bourret is the agent on this project.)
At LA’s Westlake High, all Bobby Agbayani wants is to keep his sexuality secret, maintain a 4.0 GPA, and stay alive. Unfortunately, Westlake’s resident graffiti vandal outs him, and school bully Rex and his gang make kicking his ass an extracurricular activity. Then Rex steals Bobby’s bike, the last thing Bobby’s dad gave him before he died. But Bobby has a plan, and its name is Manny Pacquiao, boxing world champion. He studies Pacquiao’s fights, learns to box like him at the local gym, and challenges Rex to a fight in the ring in front of the entire school—with the bike going to the victor. Days before the bout, Pacquiao calls gay people “worse than animals” in the press, and Bobby is shattered. Like his worst enemy, his hero is homophobic. But he can’t dwell on that now. Not with the upcoming fight, and his life and his dad’s final gift on the line. CHASING PACQUIAO is Rod Pulido’s fantastic, thoughtful debut. Not just a consideration of how we survive the disappointments of our heroes, it is also a joyful celebration of young love and the friends that fight alongside you. With humor, compassion, and a bone-deep knowledge of his characters, Pulido’s novel is a triumph. (Please note, Jim McCarthy is the agent on this project.)
Twelve-year-old Hazel has a secret. She and her mother are polyglots. And her mom might be a spy. Why else does she insist on keeping the number of languages they know a secret? And lately those languages—only supposed to be spoken in the privacy of their home—are escaping at the most inconvenient times. When Hazel’s frequent headaches lead to a nearly fatal fall, she wakes up in a hospital without the ability to speak any languages except one she’s never learned. Determined to fix her, Hazel’s mom hires a speech pathologist to help Hazel recall her languages. Only Hazel isn’t so sure she wants them back. Without them she isn’t afraid to try new, exciting things like surfing and zip-lining. And with her translator by her side, a whole other world opens up—one where Hazel is the brave, adventurous person she’s always dreamed of being. One where her anxiety is banished along with her languages. One where she finally feels like she belongs. Except, now her brain is betraying her again. Slowly, her languages are pushing their way back in, bringing her anxiety and fear right back with them. But with the help of her family, she discovers that the real meaning of courage is listening to the language of her heart. THE LANGUAGE OF THE HEART by Jennifer Camiccia, author of The Memory Keeper, explores a world full of words and secrets that will appeal to kids of all ages. (Please note, Stacey Glick is the agent on this project.)
Earthquakes are terrifying and mysterious. And yet, for about the last hundred years seismologists, or geophysicists, have made tremendous strides in answering the many riddles of why the earth shakes, rattles, and rolls. AFTERSHOCKS: WOMEN THAT ROCK EARTHQUAKE SCIENCE by Lori Polydoros is the first book to celebrate the tenacity and innovation of the female scientists who have crushed obstacles to this field of study in a male-dominated profession. AFTERSHOCKS explores the ABCS of earthquakes, offers a timeline of underground mysteries, and will include 10 detailed biographies. Susan Hough (“Seismo Sue”), physicist Peggy Hellweg, Nicaraguan immigrant Edith Caroline Rojas, Tanya Atwater (the “Mother of Plate Tectonics”), geologist Debbie Weiser, and Inge Lehmann, who is considered the “Grand Dame of Seismology,” are some of the women profiled. Written by a native Californian who has taught elementary science and published over 80 books, AFTERSHOCKS will appeal to a wide range of readers it teaches children how to explain some of the shaking beneath their feet, prepare for a natural disaster, and find their inspiration through the stories of strong, curious women. (Please note, Ann Leslie Tuttle is the agent on this project.)
Almost-eleven-year-old Maya is navigating life in fifth grade at an elite San Francisco private school, facing homework, math quizzes, shifting friendships, and mean girls. Maya has always worn used uniforms and hand-me-down-shoes—while some girls sport diamond earrings and designer rain boots—but after tragedy strikes, Maya’s family loses the only house she’s ever lived in. And suddenly, Maya is commuting to her school from a homeless shelter. Chronicling typical fifth-grade struggles and also considering homelessness through one fifth grader’s lens, SHELTER follows a poignant day in Maya’s life. From the moment when she wakes up shivering at the shelter to the moment when she falls asleep holding her mother’s hand, Maya encounters fear, bullying, sadness, exhaustion, hunger, and loss. But she also experiences friendship, support, gratitude, hope, and love. And she realizes that having a house isn’t the only way to have a home. This middle grade debut from Christie Matheson, author and illustrator of the award-winning picture books Tap the Magic Tree and Touch the Brightest Star, is a reminder of the things we shouldn’t take for granted—and what truly matters most. (Please note, Stacey Glick is the agent on this project.)
Isn’t it time we took a whole new look at fish? Fish are the least understood and most exploited group of vertebrates on Earth. Yet, the past 20 years have seen a revolution in our understanding of these animals. MINDING NEMO by PhD biologist and author of the New York Times bestselling What a Fish Knows (translated into 15 foreign languages), Jonathan Balcombe, aims not just to inform young readers about fish, but to encourage a sense of connection to them. This fun, eye-opening book has a serious goal: presenting the latest scientific revelations about a diverse collection of over 33,000 sentient, cognitive, and socially sophisticated species. MINDING NEMO presents a phantasmagoria of fascinating vignettes to help readers uncover subtle, amazing secrets from the lives of fish. Guided by text accompanied by arresting photographs and illustrations, readers discover fish versions of tool use, planning, artistry, virtue, culture, deception, collaboration, apprenticeship, mental mapping, ballistics, bird-catching, spa-treatments, mucus-nipping, flatulent communication, outwitting chimpanzees, and much more. Delivered in a light-hearted voice sprinkled with humor, the book nevertheless harbors a deeper, timely message that fish deserve our respect and compassion. Worldwide, our aquatic cousins are in trouble. We haul up at least several hundred billion of them from their homes every year, and scientists estimate that we’ve lost half of all marine life since 1970. MINDING NEMO aims to steer a developing generation of ocean consumers towards a generation of ocean guardians. (Please note, Stacey Glick is the agent on this project.)
Jiyeon Pak has carved out a niche for herself with her picture books that gently address difficult subjects, particularly with elderly relatives. Kirkus Reviews called My Grandma’s Memories, “A comforting cup of tenderness for children when aging and memory loss issues begin to brew,” while SLJ declared My Grandpa’s Chair, “[A] sweet story of devotion and dedication… brilliantly illustrated.” Now, with MOM’S PAJAMAS, Pak turns her gaze to a daughter and her single mother struggling to balance all of her responsibilities. After being told all day that Mom is busy and will help her later, a girl snuggles up with her mom’s pajamas. She wishes Mom would wear them all day, because “only Mom in her pajamas is not busy.” But when it snows the next day and Mom DOES stay in her pajamas, the girl realizes what SHE can do to help Mom be less busy. With simple yet expressive illustrations to appeal to even the youngest readers, MOM’S PAJAMAS is a winning celebration of a mother and a daughter learning how to make it work. (Please note, John Rudolph is the agent on this project.)
