Sterling Children's Books has acquired Spineless, a middle grade debut by Samantha San Miguel that follows Algie Emsworth, whose asthma takes him from 19th-century London to a health resort in the jungles of Florida. An aspiring naturalist, Algie longs for adventure—but between a supposed curse, reckless poachers, and the possible discovery of a fabled cryptid, this trip might be more than he bargained for. Publication is planned for spring 2021.