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US Young adult (YA) Literary Agents

535 agents · 324 currently open to submissions

Young adult fiction in the United States has a heavier publishing machine behind it than most writers expect, with dedicated YA imprints, school-and-library channels, and film scouts watching the bigger breakouts. The market runs from contemporary issue-driven novels to fantasy series with multi-book potential. The Hate U Give and Six of Crows show how wide the lane can be: one rooted in contemporary realism, the other in high-concept fantasy with an ensemble cast. Publishers usually target readers aged 12 to 18, though plenty of adults read YA too. When submitting to US agents who represent YA, look closely at whether they lean contemporary, fantasy, romance, thriller, or crossover. 200+ agents on this page represent young adult fiction, but the useful shortlist is the one that matches your book's shelf, age range, and pressure point.

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Represents

Adult romance, adult romantic comedy, adult science fiction and fantasy, adult speculative, crossover romance, crossover romantic comedy, crossover science fiction and fantasy, crossover speculative, young adult science fiction and fantasy, young adult speculative

Wants: Query letter, first 5 pages

Looking for

Allegra is only accepting queries from marginalized writers and represents romance, romcom, Science Fiction and Fantasy and speculative fiction across adult, crossover, and young adult categories.

How to submit

Submit through QueryManager form with query letter, first 5 pages, and confirmation of marginalized writer status. Address query to Allegra without titles that could misgender.

Last checked 3 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Romantasy, fantasy, science fiction, dark academia, mystery, gothic, romance, upmarket fiction

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Andrea is open to YA, new adult and adult romantasy, fantasy, science fiction, dark academia, mystery and gothic; for adult and new adult she is also open to romance and upmarket fiction.

How to submit

Submit through Andrea's official QueryTracker route.

Last checked 3 Sept 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Fantasy, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, adult fiction, young adult fiction, horror, gothic, dark academia

Wants: Query letter, first 10 pages, synopsis

Looking for

Crockett seeks upmarket, character-driven adult and Young Adult fiction with emotional depth, compelling stakes, and diversity. She represents fantasy including epic, historical, folklore/fairytale, horror, gothic, and dark academia, plus contemporary realistic fiction perfect for book clubs. In adult fiction only, she also seeks historical fiction that brings a new perspective.

How to submit

Submit queries through Query Manager. Include query letter, first 10 pages, word count, genre, target audience, and comparable books.

Last checked 3 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Fantasy, romantasy, romance, speculative fiction, magical realism, thriller, science fiction, young adult, middle grade, picture books

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Andie is building a list in adult fantasy, romantasy, romance, speculative fiction, thriller, grounded near-future science fiction, young adult fantasy, contemporary, mystery/thriller, eco-fiction, middle grade, and picture books with nature, science, STEM, humor or hopeful themes.

How to submit

Submit through Andie Smith's QueryManager form. CMA asks writers to query only one CMA agent at a time and to review each agent's bio, wishlist, and QueryManager page before submitting.

Last checked 3 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Nonfiction, young adult, fantasy, science fiction, action adventure, contemporary, magical realism, mystery, thriller, horror

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Sharon is seeking nonfiction and young adult, including YA fantasy, science fiction, action/adventure, contemporary, magical realism, mystery/thriller, and horror.

How to submit

Submit through Sharon's official QueryManager route. Belcastro asks writers to read each agent's wishlist, submit to one agent at a time, and use the Submit a Story button to reach the query form.

Last checked 3 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, science fiction, fantasy, nonfiction, memoir, biography, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, middle grade, children's, picture books, illustration

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages, credentials

Looking for

Writers House represents adult and juvenile fiction and nonfiction, including literary and commercial fiction, science fiction/fantasy, memoir, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, juvenile books, picture books and illustrators.

How to submit

Email an individual Writers House agent with a query letter, credentials, an explanation of what makes the book unique, a synopsis, and ten pages in the body of the email. Check individual Publishers Marketplace profiles for agent-specific requirements.

Last checked 3 Sept 2026Via Email
Represents

Suspense, psychological suspense, domestic suspense, romance, book club fiction, women's fiction, women's issues, practical nonfiction, pop culture, pop science, education, social science, young adult

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Laurie is looking for adult suspense, romance, book club fiction, women's fiction, practical nonfiction, women's issues, pop culture, pop science, education, social science, and young adult with a strong commercial hook.

How to submit

Submit through Laurie Dennison's QueryManager form. CMA asks writers to query only one CMA agent at a time and to review each agent's bio, wishlist, and QueryManager page before submitting.

Last checked 3 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Young adult, adult fiction, horror, horror romance, gothic horror, folk horror, historical horror, paranormal fiction, historical fiction, historical romance, fantasy, magical realism, dark academia, lgbtq and, bipoc

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages

Looking for

Ellen is seeking young adult and adult fiction, especially women-led and own-voices stories that subvert genre expectations. Her wishlist includes horror, horror romance, gothic horror, folk horror, historical horror, paranormal fiction, historical fiction, historical romance, fantasy, magical realism, dark academia, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ stories.

How to submit

Submit through Ellen Moore's QueryManager link from her Corvisiero profile. Corvisiero says email submissions are not accepted and writers should submit only one project to one Corvisiero agent at a time.

Last checked 3 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Women's fiction, book club fiction, fantasy, science fiction, paranormal, horror, romance, memoir, narrative nonfiction, true crime, cultural issues, lgbtq and, young adult, middle grade

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Haley is building a list in adult women's fiction, book club fiction, grounded genre fiction, romance, memoir, narrative nonfiction, true crime, cultural, LGBTQ+ and women's issues, plus young adult and middle grade across contemporary, mystery, fantasy, science fiction and horror.

How to submit

Submit through Haley Casey's QueryManager form. CMA asks writers to query only one CMA agent at a time and to review each agent's bio, wishlist, and QueryManager page before submitting.

Last checked 3 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Children's books, middle grade, young adult, picture books, adult fiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first fifty pages

Looking for

Brianne Johnson is a literary agent at HG Literary. She represents children's books of all stripes, especially character-driven middle grade and young adult fiction, and selectively represents picture books and adult fiction. She is interested in social justice stories, under-represented voices and perspectives, sex positivity, alternative lifestyles, quirky romances, well-researched historical fiction, witchy or mythy genre benders, humor, whimsy, darker settings, and stories that illuminate humanity in fresh and quirky ways.

How to submit

Submit to Brianne Johnson through her official QueryManager link. Her HG profile asks for a query letter, synopsis, and first fifty pages through QueryManager. HG Literary accepts electronic submissions only and asks writers to query only one HG Literary agent at a time.

Last checked 3 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Illustrators, author-illustrators, children's illustration, picture books, board books, young adult, graphic novels, educational publishing

Looking for

Illustrators and author-illustrators for children's publishing, including picture books, board books, educational work, Young Adult jackets, fantasy, graphic novels, and related children's illustration.

How to submit

Submit through Carter Hasegawa's QueryTracker form linked from the official contact page. Follow the form instructions for illustrator or author-illustrator queries.

Last checked 3 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Fantasy, horror, thriller, women's fiction, romance, nonfiction, cookbooks, memoir

Wants: Query letter, first twenty pages, full proposal

Looking for

V. is primarily interested in adult and teen fiction, especially fantasy, horror, thrillers, women's fiction, and romance, and is open to spiritual or esoteric nonfiction, cookbook proposals, and very select memoir.

How to submit

Submit through V.'s official QueryTracker route. Fiction queries include a query letter and first twenty pages, nonfiction queries include the full proposal.

Last checked 3 Sept 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Young adult fiction, adult fiction, commercial fiction, upmarket fiction, fantasy, romance

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Gabriella represents YA fiction and adult fiction, with interest in stories by Latinx/Hispanic authors, commercial or upmarket fiction, stories that present real issues in a digestible format, and YA/new adult fantasy or romance.

How to submit

Submit through Gabriella's QueryManager form. Great Dog accepts queries only through QueryManager and asks writers not to query multiple Great Dog agents.

Last checked 3 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, science fiction, fantasy, nonfiction, memoir, biography, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, middle grade, children's, picture books, illustration

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages, credentials

Looking for

Writers House represents adult and juvenile fiction and nonfiction, including literary and commercial fiction, science fiction/fantasy, memoir, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, juvenile books, picture books and illustrators.

How to submit

Email an individual Writers House agent with a query letter, credentials, an explanation of what makes the book unique, a synopsis, and ten pages in the body of the email. Check individual Publishers Marketplace profiles for agent-specific requirements.

Last checked 3 Sept 2026Via Email
Represents

Young adult, historical fiction, romantic comedy, dark romance, true crime, psychological thriller, gothic fiction, romantasy

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Rachel is looking for YA centering Jewish and/or queer voices, historical fiction about powerful women and hidden history, quirky rom-coms, dark romance without non-consent, respectful true crime, psychological thrillers, gothic fiction, and fresh romantasy.

How to submit

Rachel accepts queries in the first and last week of each month through her official QueryTracker route.

Last checked 3 Sept 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Fantasy, science fiction, speculative fiction, crossover fiction, macabre, folklore

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters

Looking for

Ben is looking for quirky, cozy, character-driven fantasy, science fiction, and other speculative fiction; crossover fiction; the macabre for all ages; off-the-beaten-path folklore; Deaf culture and community; and food-related work.

How to submit

Submit through the Handspun QueryManager form. Query each project once with the agency.

Last checked 2 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Romantasy, young adult, fantasy, romance, dark academia, science fiction

Wants: Query letter, author bio, comp titles

Looking for

Tara is primarily interested in romantasy with strong female characters, lush worlds and messy interpersonal relationships. She is open to YA and adult fantasy, romance, fairytale or legend retellings, dark academia, accessible fantasy, and science fiction with romantic elements.

How to submit

Submit through Tara's official QueryTracker route. Include word count, series information, author bio, comp titles, what sets the book apart, and character-led query material.

Last checked 2 Sept 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Commercial fiction, upscale fiction, mystery, thriller, suspense, women's fiction, romance, memoir, narrative nonfiction, practical nonfiction, business, parenting, young adult, middle grade

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Paige is looking for unique stories, fresh voices, snappy dialogue, unexpected twists, commercial and upscale fiction, mystery, thriller, suspense, women's fiction, romance, and narrative or prescriptive nonfiction from authors with a platform and new ideas.

How to submit

Submit through Paige Wheeler's QueryManager form. CMA asks writers to query only one CMA agent at a time, if querying Paige, send to her first because she does not accept pitches previously submitted to another CMA agent.

Last checked 2 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Fiction, nonfiction, literary fiction, mainstream fiction, children's, young adult, middle grade, picture books, memoir, wellness, self-help, lifestyle

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Cindy creates publishing opportunities for clients across a wide array of fiction and nonfiction. CAA client/title pages show representation across adult nonfiction, fiction, young adult, middle grade, and picture books.

How to submit

Submit through CAA Books Submittable from Cindy Uh's official CAA profile. The CAA profile is marked Accepting Submissions and links directly to the Books Submission form.

Last checked 2 Sept 2026Via Submittable
Represents

Literary fiction, health nonfiction, young adult, short stories

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages

Looking for

Ismita is seeking literary fiction, health-related nonfiction, YA, and short story collections. She is drawn to Southern settings, gritty realist writing, health or disability themes, and writing with a sense of humor.

How to submit

Submit through Ismita's QueryManager form. Great Dog accepts queries only through QueryManager and asks writers not to query multiple Great Dog agents.

Last checked 2 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, science fiction, fantasy, nonfiction, memoir, biography, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, middle grade, children's, picture books, illustration

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages, credentials

Looking for

Writers House represents adult and juvenile fiction and nonfiction, including literary and commercial fiction, science fiction/fantasy, memoir, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, juvenile books, picture books and illustrators.

How to submit

Email an individual Writers House agent with a query letter, credentials, an explanation of what makes the book unique, a synopsis, and ten pages in the body of the email. Check individual Publishers Marketplace profiles for agent-specific requirements.

Last checked 2 Sept 2026Via Email
Represents

Young adult, new adult, romance, fantasy romance, paranormal romance, retellings

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters

Looking for

Jess is building a list in young adult, new adult and select romance. She is open to any YA subgenre except tech-heavy science fiction, new adult romance focused on characters under twenty-five, and witchy or cozy fantasy romance.

How to submit

Submit through Jess Taylor's QueryTracker form. Query only one Martin-Newens representative at a time.

Last checked 2 Sept 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Young adult, horror, science fiction, fantasy, romance, women's fiction, commercial fiction, book club fiction, speculative fiction, thriller, nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages, one sentence pitch

Looking for

Amy wants fiction with messy characters, unreliable narrators, diverse casts, social commentary, and big twists. She is interested in YA horror, grounded science fiction/fantasy and gothic; adult and new-adult romance, women's fiction, horror/speculative fiction, thrillers, and selected platform-driven nonfiction.

How to submit

Submit through Amy's official QueryManager route with a query letter, synopsis, one-sentence pitch, and first 10 pages pasted into the form. Review her current exclusions before querying.

Last checked 2 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Romance, horror, contemporary fantasy

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

She is particularly drawn to books that showcase a strong commercial appeal combined with literary writing. She has a soft spot for stories that break genre boundaries, especially those that incorporate speculative elements or deliver unexpected twists to familiar genre structures. She is looking for stories that are both engaging and thought-provoking, offering readers a truly immersive and memorable reading experience.

How to submit

Submit via Query Tracker. Unsolicited queries sent to her email address will be deleted unread.

Last checked 2 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, crime, thrillers, narrative non-fiction, memoir, current affairs, personal development, humor, ya

Looking for

Laura Mamelok represents a range of fiction and non-fiction at Susanna Lea Associates' New York office. Her interests include literary and commercial fiction, women's fiction, crime, thrillers, narrative non-fiction, memoir, current affairs, personal development, humor, and select young adult with crossover appeal.

How to submit

Check agent's submission page

Last checked 2 Sept 2026
Represents

Children's, young adult, adult fiction, picture books, illustration

Looking for

Ammi-Joan Paquette represents a wide range of children's and young adult authors and illustrators, and a select list of authors writing for adults. She is most excited by strongly voiced, bold stories that take risks and have depth and resonance. Tight pacing and rich, evocative language especially catch her eye. She accepts queries only by referral, or from creators who attend events where she is presenting.

How to submit

Submit your query using the submissions form available on the agency website. Contact the agency through their online form for non-submission inquiries.

Last checked 2 Sept 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Fantasy, science fiction, horror, romantasy, young adult, middle grade, graphic novels, romance

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, author bio, first chapter, sample illustrations

Looking for

Morgan is focused on marginalized voices and is open to adult and YA fantasy, science fiction, horror, romantasy, YA paranormal or mystery, middle grade fantasy, science fiction and horror, and graphic novels, especially fantasy, science fiction, horror, romance, and manga-inspired work.

How to submit

Submit through Morgan's official QueryManager route with a query including metadata, pitch or blurb, short bio, synopsis, content warnings if applicable, and first chapter or proposal. Sample artwork may be uploaded where relevant.

Last checked 2 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Young adult, poetry, adult fiction, horror, fantasy, romance, romantasy, dark academia, gothic horror, graphic novels, creative nonfiction, memoir

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Kenna is looking for LGBTQIA+ adult fiction and YA, horror, fantasy, romance, poetry collections, weird girl fiction, romantasy, dark academia, gothic horror, full-length story collections, graphic novels, and punk memoir or creative nonfiction.

How to submit

Submit through Kenna's official QueryTracker route.

Last checked 2 Sept 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Picture books, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, contemporary fiction, christian fiction, family saga, historical fiction, literary fiction, romance, women's fiction, humor, commercial fiction, multicultural fiction

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Syrone is focused on strong diverse and multicultural voices, picture books with humor and heart, middle grade, YA, graphic novels, coming-of-age, friendships, family saga, contemporary fiction, Christian fiction, historical fiction, literary fiction, contemporary romance, women's fiction, humor, commercial fiction, and stories with faith, redemption, forgiveness, and strong conversation hooks.

How to submit

Submit through Syrone's official QueryManager route. Belcastro asks writers to read each agent's wishlist, submit to one agent at a time, and use the Submit a Story button to reach the query form.

Last checked 2 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Adult fiction, adult non-fiction, young adult fiction, graphic novels

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Seeks narrative nonfiction, popular science, and pop culture in adult non-fiction. In adult fiction, he loves suspense, thrillers, mysteries, and adult romance. In Young Adult, he looks for contemporary romance, rom coms, boarding school settings, thrillers with horror hints, and fantasy. He has particular interest in Young Adult graphic novels.

How to submit

Submit via Query Manager. Include trigger warnings with queries. Unsolicited queries sent to email will be deleted unread.

Last checked 2 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Picture books, middle grade, young adult, literary fiction, general fiction, historical fiction, women's fiction, humor, drama

Wants: Query letter, first twenty pages

Looking for

Ritu is looking for kidlit, including picture books, middle grade and young adult novels; literary fiction such as drama, fairy tales and fiction in verse; general fiction including women's fiction, humor, realistic fiction, satire and tragedy; historical fiction, women's historical fiction, historical romantic fiction and historical fantasy.

How to submit

Send a query letter and the first twenty pages of the manuscript to ritu@d4eo.com.

Last checked 2 Sept 2026Via Email
Represents

Horror, fantasy, science fiction, graphic novels

Looking for

Strong commercial genre concepts with beautiful prose across horror, fantasy, science fiction, and graphic novels for all age ranges. Stories with big, campy stakes but surprising emotional cores, lovably immoral characters, queer-coded villains, and romantic moments amid chaos. Prioritizes queer and BIPOC joy, creating space for marginalized authors to rework the tropes that historically oppressed them.

How to submit

Submit your query through Query Manager at the link provided. Maeve only accepts queries via this platform.

Last checked 2 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, science fiction, fantasy, nonfiction, memoir, biography, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, middle grade, children's, picture books, illustration

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages, credentials

Looking for

Writers House represents adult and juvenile fiction and nonfiction, including literary and commercial fiction, science fiction/fantasy, memoir, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, juvenile books, picture books and illustrators.

How to submit

Email an individual Writers House agent with a query letter, credentials, an explanation of what makes the book unique, a synopsis, and ten pages in the body of the email. Check individual Publishers Marketplace profiles for agent-specific requirements.

Last checked 1 Sept 2026Via Email
Represents

Adult fiction, book club fiction, women's fiction, romance, romantic comedy, thriller, suspense, memoir, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, women's issues

Wants: Query letter, bio, comparable books, first twenty pages or proposal

Looking for

Allison Hunter is acquiring literary and commercial adult fiction, especially upmarket book club and women's fiction, romance and rom-coms, thrillers, and domestic suspense. She likes great storytelling, unforgettable characters, female friendship stories, campus novels, love stories, family epics, class and cultural identity, smart beach reads by underrepresented authors, select memoir, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, women's issues, and books speaking to the current cultural climate.

How to submit

Submit through Allison Hunter's official QueryManager form. Trellis accepts unsolicited submissions only through QueryManager and asks writers not to submit to multiple Trellis agents during the 8-12 week review window. Her form asks for author bio, why Trellis, title, word count, genre, query letter, comparable books, and the first 20 pages or full nonfiction proposal.

Last checked 1 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Speculative fiction, middle grade, young adult, horror, science fiction

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Looking for

Justina is looking for well-executed speculative fiction in most categories, including middle grade and young adult that asks complicated questions and offbeat adult books. She does not accept nonfiction, picture books, romantasy, contemporary, or previously self-published work.

How to submit

Submit through Justina's QueryManager form.

Last checked 1 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, science fiction, fantasy, nonfiction, memoir, biography, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, middle grade, children's, picture books, illustration

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages, credentials

Looking for

Writers House represents adult and juvenile fiction and nonfiction, including literary and commercial fiction, science fiction/fantasy, memoir, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, juvenile books, picture books and illustrators.

How to submit

Email an individual Writers House agent with a query letter, credentials, an explanation of what makes the book unique, a synopsis, and ten pages in the body of the email. Check individual Publishers Marketplace profiles for agent-specific requirements.

Last checked 1 Sept 2026Via Email

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