October 2021 Part Two News, Deals, Reveals, & More

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Melanin in YA News

Stay tuned for the 2021 Holiday Gift Guide and the first Holiday Giveaway coming in the next news roundup!

Book Deals

In a six-figure deal, R. Eric Thomas sold his YA contemporary debut Kings of B’MORE, coming summer 2022 from Kokila.

Sami Brice sold her YA graphic novel, RIPPLE, coming 2024 from Random House Graphic.

Circe Moskowitz and illustrator, Caleb Hosalla sold their debut graphic novel, GOOD MOURNING, coming fall 2024 from Dial.

Aleema Omotoni sold her debut, EVERYONE’S THINKING IT, coming spring 2023 from HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray.

Publisher Breakdown 2021 So Far

Available to Patreon and Newsletter Subscribers Only

Foreign Rights

THE TAKING OF JAKE LIVINGSTON by Ryan Douglass sold to Italy.

MONDAY’S NOT COMING and ALLEGEDLY by Tiffany D. Jackson sold to Poland. WHITE SMOKE sold to Poland and Spain. GROWN sold to Finland.

FINDING JUPITER by Kelis Rowe sold to Brazil.

Tinseltown – Adaptation News

The film adaptation for ON THE COME UP by Angie Thomas began filming.

Cover Reveals

The cover was unveiled for OUT THERE: INTO THE QUEER NEW YONDER anthology edited by Saundra Mitchell, featuring stories by K. Ancrum, Kalynn Bayron, Alechia Dow, Leah Johnson, Claire Kann (June 7, 2022).

Kingdom of Souls Universe unveiled the cover for MASTER OF SOULS by Rena Barron (Summer 2022).
- Artwork: Adeyemi Adegbesan
- Design: Jenna Stempel-Lobell

Rebecca Barrow unveiled the cover for BAD THINGS HAPPEN HERE (June 28, 2022).

i09 unveiled the cover for BLOODMARKED by Tracy Deonn (July 26, 2022).
- Jacket Illustration: Hillary Wilson
- Jacket Design: Laura Eckes

Penguin Teen unveiled the cover for ZYLA & KAI by Kristina Forest (June 7, 2022).
- Artist: Adriana Bellet
- Cover/Jacket Design: Kaitlin Yang

The Rumpus unveiled the cover for HOW YOU GROW WINGS by Rimma Onoseta (August 9, 2022).
- Illustration: Adriana Bellet

We Need Diverse Books unveiled the cover for FINDING JUPITER by Kelis Rowe (May 31, 2022).
- Illustration: Delmaine Donson
- Design: Ray Shappell

Liselle Sambury unveiled the cover for BLOOD LIKE FATE (August 9, 2022).
- Illustration: Thea Harvey Design
- Design: Becca Syracuse

Ciannon Smart celebrated UK Black History Month by unveiling the cover of EMPRESS CROWNED IN RED (Summer 2022).
- Illustration: Ashley Straker

R. Eric Thomas unveiled the cover for KINGS OF B’MORE (May 31, 2022).
- Art: Alexis Franklin

Bestseller Lists

NYT: WITHIN THESE WICKED WALLS by Lauren Blackwood debuted at #5.

Indie: WITHIN THESE WICKED WALLS by Lauren Blackwood debuted at #9.

Awards/Honors

Elizabeth Acevedo, Nikki Grimes, and Jason Reynolds received a nomination for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Awards.

Buzz – Starred Reviews

Kirkus – ASHES OF GOLD by J. Elle

General Updates

The New York Times featured Lauren Blackwood, whose debut novel, WITHIN THESE WICKED WALLS was also chosen as Reese Witherspoon’s YA Book Club October 2021 Pick. Let’s also not forget Britney mutha fuckin Spears shouting out Lauren’s book on the gram.
Buzzfeed published 16 Books Written By Black Women That Everyone Should Read.
THE SOUND OF STARS by Alechia Dow earned out. Congratulations, Alechia!
Epic Reads published The 16 Most Anticipated YA Books to Read in November.
Harper Glenn‘s previously Untitled debut speculative novel, out in Fall 2022, is now titled MONARCH RISING.
Tiffany D. Jackson is now a homeowner. Congratulations, Tiffany!
Amber McBride narrates her own audiobook for ME (MOTH) which releases November 2, 2021.
Publishers Weekly published their Best Books of 2021 and landing on the YA list is BLACKOUT by the big 6, REVOLUTION IN OUR TIME: THE BLACK PANTHER’S PROMISE TO THE PEOPLE by Kekla Magoon, and SKIN OF THE SEA by Natasha Bowen.
Pop Sugar published The 12 Best YA Books of November Include a High Seas Adventure and a Deadly Game.
Reader’s Digest shared the 50 Best Books for Teens of All Time which features CLAP WHEN YOU LAND by Elizabeth Acevedo, EVERY BODY LOOKING by Candice Iloh, THIS IS MY AMERICA by Kim Johnson, ONE OF THE GOOD ONES by Maika & Marita Moulite, LONG WAY DOWN by Jason Reynolds, DEAR MARTIN by Nic Stone, THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas, & AMERICAN STREET by Ibi Zoboi.

Podcasts

Everything is Canon
- Lauren Blackwood – October 18, 2021
- Ryan Douglass – October 27, 2021
Umi Says
- Michelle Coles – October 14, 2021

November 2021 Book Releases

November 2, 2021

Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen

A Psalm of Storms and Silence by Roseanne A. Brown

Black Was the Ink by Michelle Coles

Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed Edited by Saraciea J. Fennell

November 23, 2021

Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon

Happy reading!

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