Mid-June 2021 News, Deals, Reveals, & More

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Melanin in YA News

Melanin in YA has reached $20k of its $25k start up fundraising goal! Please share the crowdfund campaign (GoFundMe) and help us get to $25k by Juneteenth! Thank you so much for your support!
There are new book profiles for ROMAN AND JEWEL by Dana L. Davis, INSTRUCTIONS FOR DANCING by Nicola Yoon, and EVERY BODY SHINES Anthology Edited by Cassandra Newbould.
The Van Cortlandt branch of NYPL featured Melanin in YA in their virtual Juneteenth Teen Room Display. Thank you!

Book Deals

Shannon Gibney and Nicole Chung sold (at auction) their anthology, ADOPTEE TO ADOPTEE coming fall 2023 from Harper Children’s.

George M. Johnson sold his nonfiction narrative, PROPERTY OF NO STATE in a preempt, coming fall 2022 from Little, Brown.

Ibi Zoboi sold world rights for her Black Panther novel, OKOYE TO THE PEOPLE coming March 1, 2022 from Marvel Press.

Publisher Breakdown 2021 So Far

Available to Patreon and Newsletter Subscribers Only

Foreign Rights

ACE OF SPADES by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé sold to Brazil and France.

LEGENDBORN by Tracy Deonn sold to Germany, Romania, and Italy.

BEASTS OF PREY by Ayana Gray sold to Italy.

Tinseltown

LET ME HEAR A RHYME by Tiffany D. Jackson will be adapted into a television series for Peacock with Morenike Balogun writing and Morgan Cooper both directing and executive producing. 50 Cent and G-Unit Film and Television are also attached to executive produce. – Deadline

Sanaa Latha will make her feature film directing debut with the adaptation of ON THE COME UP by Angie Thomas which is coming soon from Paramount Players. – Deadline

Nicola Yoon and husband, David Yoon launched their production company, Yooniverse Media and signed a first look deal with Anonymous Content – Deadline

Cover Reveals

Mahogany L. Browne unveiled the cover for her sophomore novel, VINYL MOON (January 11th, 2022).

Elise Bryant unveiled the cover for her companion novel, ONE TRUE LOVES (January 1, 2022).
- Designer: Jessie Gang
- Art Director: Alison Donalty
- Artist: Michelle D’Urbano

Alechia Dow revealed the cover for THE KINDRED (January 4, 2022).
- Cover Art: Aleea Rae
- Cover Design: Gigi Lau

Deborah Falaye revealed the cover for BLOOD SCION (March 8, 2022).
- Cover Artist: Taj Tenfold

Laila Sabreen unveiled the cover for YOU TRULY ASSUMED (February 8, 2022).
- Designed by: Gigi Lau
- Illustrated by: Alex Cabal

Penguin Teen revealed the cover for RIGHT WHERE I LEFT YOU by Julian Winters (March 15, 2022).
- Cover Design: Samira Iravani
- Illustrator: Daniel Clarke

Bestseller Lists

NYT: INSTRUCTIONS FOR DANCING by Nicola Yoon debuted at #1. ACE OF SPADES by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé debuted at #6. Jason Reynolds had 4 books on the NYT Bestseller List (4 different lists) in the same week including two #1 spots.

Indie: ACE OF SPADES by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé debuted at #6. INSTRUCTIONS FOR DANCING by Nicola Yoon debuted at #9.

Appearances

Note: To see the latest virtual events coming up, be sure to visit the Events page!

Nicola Yoon appeared on CBS This Morning to promote INSTRUCTIONS FOR DANCING. Watch the full interview here.

Awards, Honors, Stars, & More

Amazon Editor’s Pick: Best Young Adult of June 2021 include ACE OF SPADES by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, BLACKOUT by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, & Nicola Yoon, THE PASSING PLAYBOOK by Isaac Fitzsimons, BLOOD LIKE MAGIC by Liselle Sambury, and INSTRUCTIONS FOR DANCING by Nicola Yoon.

Kobo’s June 2021 Best of the Month for Young Adult include ACE OF SPADES by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, DARLING by K. Ancrum, BLACKOUT by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, & Nicola Yoon, THE MARVELOUS by Claire Kann, and BLOOD LIKE MAGIC by Liselle Sambury.

BLOOD LIKE MAGIC by Liselle Sambury received a starred review from Booklist.

Apple Books chose INSTRUCTIONS FOR DANCING by Nicola Yoon as one of their Best Books of June 2021.

Barnes & Noble selected ACE OF SPADES by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé as a YA Book Club Pick. You can also see THE BLACK FLAMINGO by Dean Atta, WINGS OF EBONY by J. Elle, and I’M NOT DYING WITH YOU TONIGHT by Kimberly Jones & Gilly Segal on the current roster.

General Updates

Bustle shared The Best New Books Out This Week, From Memoirs To Rom-coms which includes ACE OF SPADES by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé. Another piece was published, Books For, By, & About Black British LGBTQ+ People which includes THE BLACK FLAMINGO by Dean Atta and EIGHT PIECES OF SILVA by Patrica Lawrence.

Buzzfeed published 30 Of The Best YA Books To Get Your Hands On This Summer which features ACE OF SPADES by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, BLACKOUT by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, & Nicola Yoon, REDEMPTOR by Jordan Ifueko, RISE TO THE SUN by Leah Johnson, THE MARVELOUS by Claire Kann, ME (MOTH) by Amber McBride, A CHORUS RISES by Bethany C. Morrow, DON’T HATE THE PLAYER by Alexis Nedd, BLOOD LIKE MAGIC by Liselle Sambury, and INSTRUCTIONS FOR DANCING by Nicola Yoon

Pop Sugar shared their Best New YA Books of June 2021 which features ACE OF SPADES by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, BLOOD LIKE MAGIC by Liselle Sambury, and INSTRUCTIONS FOR DANCING by Nicola Yoon. Pop Sugar also published 25 of the Greatest Queer YA Books to Add to Your Summer Reading List which include THE SOUND OF STARS by Alechia Dow, FULL DISCLOSURE by Camryn Garrett, YESTERDAY IS HISTORY by Kosoko Jackson, IF IT MAKES YOU HAPPY by Claire Kann, MEET CUTE DIARY by Emery Lee and many more.

Tor shared Five Young Adult SFF Books With Asexual Leads which includes THE SOUND OF STARS by Alechia Dow and RAYBEARER by Jordan Ifueko. Also published, The 30 Most Anticipated SFF Books for the Rest of 2021 which includes THIS POISON HEART by Kalynn Bayron, SKIN OF THE SEA by Natasha Bowen, BAD WITCH BURNING by Jessica Lewis, and THE BONES OF RUIN by Sarah Raughley.

Shondaland featured Nicola Yoon in an interview to discuss INSTRUCTIONS FOR DANCING.

Podcasts

Bridges & Books Podcast
- Elise Bryant – June 8, 2021

Write or Die Podcast
- Liselle Sambury – June 14, 2021

June 2021 Joy

Be sure to check out Leah Johnson‘s Target ad here!

Happy reading!

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