When Cynthia Levinson, author of award-winning picture book and MG nonfiction, mentioned the title WHO OWNS THE MOON? to me, I was hooked. I could only imagine how she would explore big, meaty questions about space and ownership and laws and ethics for upper middle grade readers. And when she said she was going to collaborate with award-winning science writer Jennifer Swanson, who would tackle the technology side of things, it got even better! And THEN I read this in the project’s proposal: "Today’s teens are growing up in a time in which Earth will no longer be the only inhabited celestial body. In fact it’s likely their world will eventually consist of civilizations on multiple planets and Moons.” WOW! We can’t even fathom the world they will live in!

I was very happy to work with Lori Kilkelly, representing Jen, on what turned into an auction—and thrilled to have the project land at Peachtree, which has published Cynthia’s other MG nonfiction (as well as Jen’s SAVE THE CRASH-TEST DUMMIES), with Margaret Quinlin. 

Watch for this one in summer 2024!

Congratulations, Cynthia!

—Erin