Paul’s Acampora’s latest middle grade novel, In Honor of Broken Things, is out now from Dial Books for Young Readers.

Three unlikely friends become partners in heartbreak and hope during a middle school pottery class in this powerful, poignant novel--perfect for fans of Gordon Korman and Lynda Mullaly Hunt.

At West Beacon Middle School, eighth graders Oscar Villanueva, Ellie Baptiste, and Noah Wright become unlikely friends during Introduction to Clay class. Oscar, a football star, just lost his little sister to cancer. Ellie's been dragged away from Philadelphia by her single mom to a new life in West Beacon, a tiny Pennsylvania coal town that's smaller than Ellie's old school. Noah's spent his whole life as a homeschooler and just started West Beacon Middle School as a result of his parents' train wreck of a divorce. Through art, football, failure, faith, and trust, the friends help one another to piece things back together again. In true friendship, they also discover that some injuries may never heal, some things can never be unbroken--and that's okay too.

 

PRAISE for In Honor of Broken Things: 

“Writing with insight and wit, Acampora portrays teens and adults as complicated, sometimes surprising people.” –Booklist

 

"This book is a solid story of friendship…in a world of upheaval.” –School Library Journal

 

“Reminiscent of Gary D. Schmidt’s sparse writing style, this book...shows that true friendship truly does have the power to heal...a fine testament to kindness, friendship...Recommended."”–School Library Connection

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Happy book birthday to Nicole Collier's debut middle grade novel, Just Right Jillian, out today from Versify (Clarion/HarperCollins)!

Penned for shy children everywhere, the book introduces us to fifth grader,Jillian, who must learn to break free of her shell in order to enter her school's academic competition and keep her promise to her grandmother.

Fifth grader Jillian will do just about anything to blend in, including staying quiet even when she has the right answer. After she loses a classroom competition because she won't speak up, she sets her mind on winning her school's biggest competition. But breaking out of her shell is easier said than done, and Jillian has only a month to keep her promise to her grandmother and prove to herself that she can speak up and show everyone her true self.

Just Right Jillian is a warm and relatable middle grade debut novel about family, friendship, and finding the confidence to break free from the crowd and be who you truly are.

“A heartwarming novel about developing the courage to stop hiding.” --Kirkus

“A tender tale of self-acceptance and friendship.” --BCCB

Congratulations, Nicole!

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We are happy to announce that the UK edition of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw will be published by Pushkin Press in May 2022. Waterstone's will be offering a special exclusive edition, featuring a brand new bonus story.

Stateside, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies (WVU Press, 2020) won the 2021 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, the 2020/2021 Story Prize, and the 2020 Los Angeles Times Book Prize: The Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction, and was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award for Fiction. We are so happy to see Church Ladies looking peachy-keen in its new UK home.

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We are thrilled to announce that Brian Broome's debut memoir, Punch Me Up to the Gods (HMH/Mariner Books, 2021) is the winner of the 2021 Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction. The judges had this to say of Broome's book: "This powerfully vulnerable and bleakly funny memoir reveals the author struggling to shake off the restrictive, frequently dangerous role of a gay, Black man in America. Broome resists an easy redemption narrative, showing instead how he gradually came to terms with internalized toxic masculinity. The judges were dazzled by the book’s unique structure, framed by Gwendolyn Brooks’ poem 'We Real Cool,' and by its self-lacerating but ultimately hopeful insights." 

Congratulations to Brian and to all of the 2021 Kirkus Prize winners!

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PUBLISHING A CHILDREN’S BOOK: UNDERSTANDING THE MARKET & FINDING AN AGENT is an information-intensive workshop in two 90-minute long sessions, designed to give you the tools you need to get your work in front of the right agents and editors. Susan Hawk will take participants on an insider’s exploration of the children’s and YA book market—defining the elements that make for an irresistible book for kids or teens; revealing the stories publishers are hungry for; detailing how to avoid common beginner’s pitfalls; and guiding you through the querying process step-by-step.

After the second session, Susan will review your query letter and provide you with written feedback on how to improve it, so you’re ready to find the perfect agent for your work.

Who is the workshop designed for?

  • Writers who are curious to explore the world of children’s and YA book publishing;
  • Those who know they want to write for kids or teens, and need to better understand the children’s book market;
  • Writers with a completed manuscript, who are ready to tackle the querying process;
  • Those who’ve been querying but haven’t grabbed an agent’s attention yet.

Interested? Here are the key details:

  • Sessions take place October 19th and 26th, 4pm PT / 7pm ET and are an hour and a half long.
  • Each session is $100, so it’s a total of $200 to sign up.
  • We’re limited to 20 participants, so grab your spot now!

To sign up and find more details, please click here: Publishing a Children's Book.

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New Deals!
October 15, 2021
Susan Hawk

We're excited to announce a raft of new deals for UC clients!  Stay posted for the publication of these goodies:

Beth Hautala's middle grade novel, MIRACLE SEASON, to Liza Kaplan at Viking Children's, by Danielle Chiotti.

Joy Givens' debut picture books text, SUPER NOAH, to Kelsey Skea at Two Lions/Amazon, by Danielle Chiotti.

E.A. Carrington's THE KINDA SORTA NORMAL LIFE OF JOSHUA JONES, a graphic novel text about a boy who finds a magical wish-granting star and uses it to wish for endless snow days, to Andrew Arnold at Harper Alley, for publication in summer 2023, by Danielle Chiotti, for the author.

National Book Award nominee and Stonewall Award-winning author Kyle Lukoff's MERMAID DAYS, a fully-illustrated early reader series about a friendly mermaid and a new-to-town octo-kid and their adventures in Tidal Grove, illustrated by Kat Uno, to Rachel Matson at Scholastic Acorn, in a three-book deal, for publication in summer 2022, by Kayla Cichello for the illustrator (world).

Author of The Summer of Impossibilities Rachael Allen's HARLEY QUINN: RECKONING, first in a new YA trilogy within the DC Icons universe detailing Harley Quinn's origin story from vigilante teenager to super-villainess, to Sasha Henriques at Random House Children's in a three-book deal, for publication in spring 2022, by Susan Hawk (world).

Rachel Elliott's debut THE REAL RILEY MAYES, when rumors fly about a queer crush, a girl pops the top off her magic marker and, with the help of new friends and an old celebrity, wins over the mean girls in this heartfelt middle-grade Graphic novel about first inklings of identity and belonging in a small town, to Donna Bray at Balzer + Bray, in a good deal, at auction, for publication in May 2022, by Susan Hawk (world English).

Author of Conspiracy and Fly Girls, P. O'Connell Pearson's WE ARE YOUR CHILDREN TOO, an account of the student-led strike in Prince Edward County, Virginia that became part of Brown v. Board of Education, about how white leaders closed public schools for five years rather than desegregate, and the courage of the Black community in demanding equality then and forging a better future today, for middle grade and YA readers, to Kendra Levin at Simon & Schuster Kids, for publication in summer 2022, by Susan Hawk (world).

Author of Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life, Shelley Tougas's LILY AND THE OTHER GUY, a picture book in which a girl misses her dad and isn't sure about the new guy her mom is seeing, but with a little patience and humor she learns that having fun with a new stepparent doesn't mean forgetting mom or dad, and that letting someone new into your life means more love all around, illustrated by Sara Palacios, to Kate Jacobs with Emily Feinberg editing, for publication in summer 2022, by Susan Hawk for the author (world).

Kirsti Call's THE BIG SCREAM, a board book teaching readers how to pause, breathe in, and feel better after a tantrum, illustrated by Denis Angelov, to Cindy Kim at Little Simon, for publication in summer 2022, by Susan Hawk for the illustrator (world).

Author of The Voice That Won the Vote, E Boxer's SPLASH!: A SWIMMING LEGEND SEND OUT RIPPLES OF CHANGE, a picture book about Ethelda Bleibtrey, who took up swimming to recover from polio and went on to be the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in swimming, illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley, to Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear Press, for publication in 2023, by Alexandra Penfold for the illustrator (world).

NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book Winner for Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code Laurie Wallmark's A PASSION FOR SCIENCE: MARIA MITCHELL, ASTRONOMER, a picture book telling the story of the first female professional astronomer in America, illustrated by Liz Wong, to Marissa Moss at Creston Books, for publication in fall 2022, by Alexandra Penfold for the illustrator (world).

Founder of HealingHonestly.com Alisa Zipursky's HEALING HONESTLY: REAL TALK ON BEING A CHILD SEX ABUSE SURVIVOR, a survivor-centered book helping adult readers unpack the untrue stories of their abuse and challenge those stories in order to find validation, levity, and support, to Charlotte Asklock at Berrett-Koehler, for publication in 2023, by Danielle Chiotti (world).

Christyne Morrell's TREX, pitched as Liar & Spy meets Stranger Things, a contemporary middle grade mystery told by three unreliable narrators, following a boy with an experimental implant, a reclusive girl training to be a spy, and their adventures together as they're pitted against school bullies, their own parents, and an evil, brain-hacking corporation, to Wendy Loggia at Delacorte, for publication in fall 2022, by Danielle Chiotti (NA).

Congratulations to all our clients!

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PUBLISHING A CHILDREN'S BOOKS: UNDERSTANDING THE MARKET & FINDING AN AGENT is an information-intensive workshop in two hour-long sessions, designed to give you the tools you need to get your work in front of the right agents and editors. Susan Hawk will take participants on an insider’s exploration of the children’s and YA book market—defining the elements that make for an irresistible book for kids or teens; revealing the stories publishers are hungry for; detailing how to avoid common beginner’s pitfalls; and guiding you through the querying process step-by-step.

After the second session, Susan will review your query letter and provide you with written feedback on how to improve it, so you're ready to find the perfect agent for your work.Who is the workshop designed for?

  • Writers who are curious to explore the world of children’s and YA book publishing;
  • Those who know they want to write for kids or teens, and need to better understand the children’s book market;
  • Writers with a completed manuscript, who are ready to tackle the querying process;
  • Those who’ve been querying but haven’t grabbed an agent’s attention yet.

Interested? Here are the key details:

  • Sessions take place June 15th and 22nd, 5pm PT / 8pm ET and are an hour long.
  • Each session is $100, so it’s a total of $200 to sign up.
  • We’re limited to 20 participants, so grab your spot now!

To sign up and find more details, please visit: https://www.speakeasy.com/e/publishing-childrens-book.

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A huge hooray for Ruth Spiro on the publication of her second MAXINE picture book!

Best friends Maxine and Leo combine their maker and artistic skills to create (and save!) the ultimate garden in this empowering, STEM-focused picture book

After sketching and plotting and planting, Maxine and Leo know they’ve made The Greatest Garden Ever! But they’re not the only ones who think so. Soon, all sorts of animals make their way in, munching on carrots and knocking over pots. When Leo and Maxine can’t agree on a way to deter these unwelcome critters, it looks like there’s more on the line than saving their garden–they just might need to save their friendship too.PRAISE for Maxine and the Greatest Garden Ever!“Offers kids lots of minutiae to look at, including clever endpapers with comical one-liners...Detailed, animated, vibrant drawings accentuate the drama and neatly depict the concluding message that celebrates compromise...Kids will enjoy the quirky visuals while appreciating the creative relationship of these two companions.” —Kirkus“Illustrations show small detailed and colorful vignettes of Maxine, her family, and friends in full invention mode...Each has a strong personal view and a bit of attitude as they express themselves through their approaches...This title allows young readers to view changing relationships through strong-willed characters who learn how to work together.” —School Library Journal

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When Nephele has a terrible freshman year, she does the only logical thing for a math prodigy like herself: she invents a time travel app so she can go back and do it again (and again, and again) in this funny love story, Groundhog Day for the iPhone generation. Fourteen-year-old Nephele used to have friends. Well, she had a friend. That friend made the adjustment to high school easily, leaving Nephele behind in the process. And as Nephele looks ahead, all she can see is three very lonely years.

Nephele is also a whip-smart lover of math and science, so she makes a plan. Step one: invent time travel. Step two: go back in time, have a do-over of 9th grade, crack the code on making friends and become beloved and popular.

Does it work? Sort of. Nephele does travel through time, but not the way she planned–she’s created a time loop, and she’s the only one looping. And she keeps looping, for ten years, always alone. Now, facing ninth grade for the tenth time, Nephele knows what to expect. Or so she thinks. She didn’t anticipate that her new teacher would be a boy from her long ago ninth grade class, now a grown man; that she would finally make a new friend, after ten years. And, she couldn’t have pictured someone like Jazz, with his deep violet eyes, goofy magic tricks and the quietly intense way he sees her. After ten freshman years, she still has a lot more to learn. But now that she’s finally figured out how to go back, has she found something worth staying for?

A Kirkus Review’s 10 Outstanding Fall Titles for Teens

Feature title in Publishers Weekly’s Time Loops and Multiverses: A Children's and YA Book List, “a selection of books for young readers that bend space and time, reminiscent of iconic series such as Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time Quintet and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy.”

“A teen genius learns the perils and pluses of time travel....Lariviere revels in math and science, unabashedly celebrates science fiction and romance novels, and anchors the story in a realistic, comfortably cozy coastal Californian setting. The lack of catastrophic, explosion-riddled scenes, evil overlords, or alien invasions renders this a gentle, grounded read, reminiscent of A Wrinkle in Time...A heartwarming story of hacking high school through math.”— Kirkus Reviews

“Lariviere’s YA debut is a multifaceted mélange of math and hormones; Nephele’s introspective monologues are filled with elegantly descriptive detail, tending toward a rambling stream-of-consciousness that many readers will find winning.” — Publishers Weekly

"Captivating and wildly creative, TIME TRAVEL FOR LOVE AND PROFIT gave me that thrill of excitement you feel when you find a new YA voice that you know will become one of your favorites." — Rachael Allen, author of A Taxonomy of Love and The Summer of Impossibilities

"A wild and funny ride through that most treacherous time of all: freshman year. This is a wise and timely reminder that there are no do-overs in life!" —Brent Hartinger, author of Geography Club and The Otto Digmore Difference

"Smart, tender, and deliciously nerdy." — Ariel Kaplan, author of We Are the Perfect Girl

“This bittersweet, beautifully funny novel is wonderfully weird and infinitely loveable. Staying up all night reading it is like an all-time memorable sleepover with your best, most oddball friend.” – Harriet Reuter Hapgood, author of How To Be Luminous and The Square Root of Summer

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Congratulations and hooray to Sue Soltis, whose picture book text, THE MOON MOVED IN, has sold to Melissa Manlove at Chronicle Books for Children and will be illustrated by Sonia Sánchez. I can't wait to hold this beautiful story in my hands!

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