530 agents · 321 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.
Picture books, middle grade fiction, young adult fiction
Query Letter, Full Manuscript, First Ten Pages
For picture books, paste the full text of your manuscript beneath your query letter. For chapter books through Young Adult, paste the first ten pages beneath your query letter. Illustrators should include website information and or or an attachment with the entire illustrated book project.
Picture books, graphic novels, middle grade, young adult, illustrated books
Elizabeth Bennett represents a balanced list of picture book, graphic novel, middle grade, and YA authors and illustrators. She loves books that pull at the heart strings, make her laugh, make her think, make her smile, and make even a reluctant reader want to read.
Elizabeth Bennett is accepting submissions by referral only and will not respond to unsolicited submissions.
Women's fiction, historical fiction, mystery, romance, romantic comedy, horror, science fiction, fantasy, young adult, humor, nonfiction
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages
Courtney represents women's fiction, historical fiction, mysteries, romance and rom-coms, horror, science fiction and fantasy, YA novels, humor, and nonfiction. Her list emphasizes work from underrepresented voices.
Check Handspun submission status and submit through the agency query system when open. Query each project once with the agency.
Illustration, picture books, middle grade, young adult, adult fiction, nonfiction, fantasy, thriller, romance, science fiction, horror
Chelsea Hensley represents work across ages and genres, including illustration, picture books, middle grade, YA, adult fiction, nonfiction, fantasy, thrillers, romcoms, science fiction, horror, and BIPOC creators. Her official profile highlights lyrical prose, voice, intricate plots, complex emotional arcs, immersive worlds, bold formal or genre-blending work, smart mysteries and thrillers, arresting horror, fresh fantasy and sci-fi, and author-illustrator picture books.
Chelsea Hensley is currently closed to queries. Her official Mad Woman profile links to QueryManager, and the linked form states that she is not accepting queries while focusing on existing clients and clearing her inbox.
Children's books, fiction, nonfiction
See source page for more info
Marcia is not open to submissions at this time
Romantasy, cozy fantasy, horror, science fiction, fantasy, southern gothic
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages
Cheyenne is interested in manuscripts from historically excluded communities, gritty or dark romantasies, cozy fantasy with high stakes, feminist-leaning horror, horror-romance crossover, grounded science fiction, epic fantasy, Southern Gothic, and speculative stories with folkloric and atmospheric elements.
Check Handspun submission status and submit through the agency query system when open. Query each project once with the agency.
Children's books, young adult, illustrated books, graphic novels
Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries
Adriana is president and a literary agent at Stimola Literary Studio. Her profile emphasizes helping stories into being and building creative relationships across words and images.
Stimola Literary Studio's submissions page says Adriana Stimola is currently closed to submissions.
Commercial fiction, upmarket women's fiction, romance, romantic comedy, paranormal romance, romantasy, young adult, middle grade, science fiction, fantasy, horror, thrillers, nonfiction, own voices, feminist literature
Lauren Bieker is a literary agent and vice president at FinePrint. She is looking for commercial and upmarket women's fiction, romance including rom-coms, paranormal, and romantasy, YA and MG novels in most genres, and adult and YA science fiction, fantasy, horror, and thrillers. She primarily wants fiction but will consider nonfiction proposals, and she is looking for own voices stories, feminist and MeToo stories, and work by BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ authors.
FinePrint directs authors to check Lauren Bieker's status and submit through her official QueryManager page. The linked QueryManager page currently says Lauren Bieker is not accepting queries, so there is no open submission route at this time.
Middle grade, young adult, science fiction, fantasy, pop culture nonfiction
Ben Grange gravitates toward middle grade fiction and exceptional author-illustrators who write middle grade or young adult. He sometimes wants YA science fiction or fantasy, especially weird or slightly dark stories, loves epic fantasy and science fiction, and is interested in pop culture nonfiction from authors with established platforms.
Ben Grange is currently closed to all queries. L. Perkins Agency gives general email-query guidelines for open agents, but Ben's official profile states he is closed to all queries.
Fiction, nonfiction, young adult, middle grade, graphic novels, picture books, pop culture, music, comedy, science, journalism, history, health, wellness, lgbtq and
Wants: Query letter, first ten pages
Allison represents fiction and nonfiction for all ages, with interests including YA, middle grade, graphic novels, select picture books, pop culture, music, comedy, science, journalism, history, and health and wellness. Her submissions page says she is not currently looking for picture books or illustrators.
Stimola Literary Studio says Allison Hellegers is closed to unsolicited submissions and is only open to queries from industry professionals, existing clients, and authors who attended a conference or seminar where she was on staff. Referral or conference authors may email the spelled-out SLS address with query materials.
Fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery, thriller, graphic novels, non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, bio, sample pages
Shannon seeks dark gothic fantasy, horror across all speculative levels, science fantasy that blurs magic and science, mysteries with cinematic feel, and graphic novels with found families or unsettling elements. She values experimental styles, unreliable narrators, excellent prose, strange concepts, botanical uncanniness, and stories incorporating religious elements.
Submit via QueryManager only. Select one agent to submit to initially. Include polished query letter, bio, and appropriate sample pages based on format.
Horror, gothic romance, grounded fantasy, thriller, mysteries, commercial fiction, science fiction, speculative fiction, historical fiction, erotic fiction
Wants: Query letter, 10-20 pages, synopsis
She seeks horror across almost all subgenres and age categories, gothic romance, grounded fantasy, thrillers and mysteries with non-cop protagonists, commercial fiction, science fiction, speculative fiction, historical fiction featuring BIPOC and queer characters, and adult erotic fiction especially featuring BIPOC and LGBTQIA characters. She particularly welcomes stories by Honduran authors and Latine/x authors from Central America and the Caribbean.
All ALA agents use Query Manager. Submit to one agent at a time, but if one agent passes, you can submit to up to three agents at ALA. Submit 10-20 polished pages for novels.
Children's books, adult fiction, picture books
Query Letter, First Five Pages
Send a query letter and the first five pages of your manuscript within the email with no attachments. If it is a picture book, include the entire manuscript.
Fantasy, science fiction, horror, contemporary romance, mysteries, thriller
Wants: Query letter, bio, 10-20 pages
She intends to represent marginalized authors and is especially seeking to uplift indigenous voices and voices from the Global South. She's particularly keen on growing her contemporary romance, thriller, and horror lists. She's looking for K-drama-style high-stakes romance, queer rivals-to-lovers sports romance, sapphic romantasy, BIPOC vampire horror with social commentary, and sex-positive, kink-positive contemporary romance.
All ALA agents use Query Manager. Submit to one agent at a time with a polished query letter, bio, and 10-20 polished pages for novels.
Film and tv scripts, young adult contemporary, young adult science fiction, young adult urban fantasy, adult fiction, women's fiction, upmarket fiction, romance, new adult, cookbooks, entertainment, food, health and fitness, lifestyle, pop culture, self-help, women's issues
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages, full nonfiction proposal, one sentence pitch, comparable books
Micah Brocker is interested in fostering authors' and screenwriters' careers from the start. In film, she is interested in YA contemporary stories dealing with messy relationships and issues that help young adults put words to their experiences, and YA science fiction and urban fantasy that provide escape while connecting to everyday growing-up troubles. In adult fiction, she likes women's fiction and upmarket fiction about burdensome secrets, messy relationships, and characters with a deep desire to change their lives or the world, especially with psychological, science-fiction, or romantic twists. Her official linked QueryManager form says that when it is accepting, it is limited to romance.
Micah Brocker is on leave and is presently not reviewing queries or taking additional clients for 2026 according to her official Corvisiero profile. The linked QueryManager form is visible and says it is only open to romance, but the profile-level leave notice is treated as controlling for this remediation. Do not query more than one Corvisiero agent at a time.
Middle grade, young adult
Wants: Query letter, bio, sample pages
She is excited to find middle grade novels across all genres, including adventure, horror, historical, imaginative, and funny books with relatable voice and strong friendship themes. For young adult, she seeks exciting high-concept commercial novels, contemporary fiction, thrillers and mysteries, historical fiction, fantasy, magical realism, and especially smart space opera or grounded science fiction.
All ALA agents use Query Manager. Submit to one agent at a time with a polished query letter, bio, and 10-20 polished pages for novels.
Contemporary fiction, literary fiction, historical fiction, lgbtq, fantasy, magical realism, science fiction, pop culture, memoir, humor, creativity, craft, graphic novels
Wants: Query letter
She is primarily interested in fiction for adults, young adults and middle grade readers in contemporary fiction, literary fiction, historical fiction set in the 20th Century, LGBTQ issues, fantasy, magical realism, and science fiction. In non-fiction, she represents books by authors with demonstrable platforms in pop-culture, memoir, humor, creativity, and craft. She is also interested in graphic novels and memoirs for all ages.
Submit query via QueryManager only. No snail mail submissions will be considered.
Fiction, graphic novels, middle grade, young adult, adult fiction, fantasy, science fiction, historical fantasy, magical realism, psychological horror, literary fiction
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages
She is currently only open to graphic novel proposals. She seeks explorations of love, friendship, or familial bonds against fantastic backdrops, obscure retold fairy tales, women and girls in STEM, quirky middle grade, modernized mythologies, psychological horror/thrillers with speculative elements, literary and near-future science fiction, historical fantasy, magical realism, and internally consistent epic fantasy.
All ALA agents use Query Manager. Submit to one agent at a time. Include polished query letter, bio, and follow manuscript guidelines: novels submit 10-20 pages, graphic novels submit proposal with 10-20 sample pages and 2-4 full colored pages.
Fiction, narrative non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first five pages
Juvenile and adult fiction and eye-opening narrative non-fiction, particularly stories of the natural world, visible or invisible, including the human mind and body, or of people and events previously overlooked. She is also taking on a select group of illustrators.
Visit the About Us page for information about agents, their individual interests, and their query guidelines. Include a brief summary of your novel or scope of your non-fiction project, a short description why you're writing the project, any specific credentials you have for writing the book, and the first five pages for fiction only.
Upmarket literary fiction, literary non-fiction, picture books, middle grade fiction, middle grade non-fiction, young adult fiction, young adult non-fiction
Wants: Query letter
She seeks first and foremost voice, a strong narrative, memorable characters, unusual premises, and underrepresented people, places, and perspectives, including #OwnVoices writers and stories.
Starting January 2026, queries must be submitted through QueryManager only. Address query to the agent you think would be the best fit. Only send one query to Dunham Literary as agents share queries with each other when appropriate.
Science fiction, fantasy, non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, first three chapters
DongWon Song represents science fiction and fantasy for adults, young adult, and middle grade readers as well as select non-fiction.
To query DongWon Song, please email your query letter and the first three chapters of your novel or your full non-fiction book proposal.
Adult fiction, adult non-fiction, children's books, historical fiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, romance, fantasy, science fiction, biography, memoir, middle grade, young adult, picture books
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first 10 pages
In Adult Fiction she seeks captivating settings and relatable characters that highlight virtues like empathy and self-sacrifice in historical, literary/upmarket, romance, or fantasy/science fiction genres. In Adult Non-fiction she wants well-researched titles that make complex topics accessible, biography and memoir that connect diverse readers, and books about poverty and justice. For children's literature, she loves books that can be read aloud and shared with families, especially middle grade, and seeks books with hopeful, informative, or lyrical tones.
Starting January 2026, queries must be submitted through QueryManager only. Address your query to the specific agent you think would be the best fit. Only send one query to Dunham Literary as agents share queries with each other when appropriate.
Fiction, nonfiction, children's books, illustration
Ariana Philips represents a diverse range of award-winning fiction and nonfiction for adults and children, as well as talented illustrators. She loves to find new talent and work with clients to develop strong manuscripts and proposals. Her philosophy is to take on an author for the duration of their career and help guide them through the ever-changing publishing landscape.
Ariana Philips is an agent at the Jean V.
Horror, speculative fiction, romantasy, fantasy, gothic, magical realism, contemporary romance, picture books, graphic novels
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first 20 pages for graphic novels
#OwnVoices Horror, Speculative, and Romantasy; Horror including body horror, femgore, horror romance, monster horror, folk horror; Gothic romance; Magical Realism; Indigenous/First Nations works; Cozy fantasies; Picture books with climate change and environmental STEAM themes
Submit through QueryManager
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, thriller, speculative fiction, science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, young adult
Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, brief bio, title/genre/word count
Literary/commercial novels that tackle timely issues and uncomfortable relationship dynamics. High-concept, character-driven novels with one foot in genre. Delightful and emotionally engaging novels that can be read repeatedly. Character-driven thrillers, speculative, science fiction and fantasy that illuminate the world through imagined worlds.
Submit through Query Manager with a brief bio including writing credentials, title or genre or word count, query letter, and first ten pages.
Women's fiction, thriller, speculative fiction, commercial fiction, horror, mystery, historical romance, poetry, picture books
Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, bio, title/genre/word count
She seeks stories that surprise and delight with characters readers can't stop thinking about and sharp writing. She wants high-concept, twisty stories with strong voices in women's fiction, thriller, and speculative fiction. She's particularly interested in timely commercial fiction where the personal intersects with world events, stories about female rage and friendships, complex family dynamics, incisive horror with social commentary, and atmospheric mysteries set in close-knit communities.
Submit through Query Manager with a brief bio including writing credentials, title or genre or word count, query letter, and first ten pages.
Science fiction, fantasy, paranormal mysteries, queer romance, speculative fiction
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages
Science fiction with feels; Immersive Fantasy; Heists with paranormal/supernatural elements; Genuine Magical Realism; Queer Romance and alternative relationship structures; Speculative fiction that falls between genre cracks
Submit through QueryManager
Science fiction, fantasy, young adult, religious studies, criminal justice policy
Wants: Closed to all queries, query letter when open
Hannah Bowman is a literary agent at Liza Dawson Associates specializing in science fiction and fantasy. Her list also includes young adult novels, and she is interested in select nonfiction in religious studies and criminal justice policy.
Hannah Bowman is closed to all queries as stated on her official profile. When open, her stated route is to send only a query letter in the body of an email to queryhannah@lizadawsonassociates.com.
Illustrators, middle grade, young adult, picture books
Closed to submissions except referrals. Represents primarily Middle Grade fiction, Young Adult fiction, and illustrators. Her wishlist includes illustration with a distinctive perspective, magical realism in Middle Grade and Young Adult, Young Adult fantasy, and diverse character-driven fiction.
Full Circle accepts submissions through QueryManager only and does not review submissions sent directly by email or mail. Taylor is currently closed except referrals.
Science fiction, fantasy, horror, romantasy, young adult, speculative fiction, lgbtq and, graphic novels, comic books
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages
Mira focuses on science fiction, fantasy, horror, romantasy, YA, speculative fiction, LGBTQ+ stories, and visual storytelling, including comics and graphic novels.
Mira Landry is currently closed to queries according to her current Manuscript Wish List or QueryManager status. Corvisiero does not accept email submissions and asks writers to submit through QueryManager when an agent is open.
Fantasy, science fiction, horror, young adult, thriller, romance
Lisa is interested in fantasy and science fiction with complex systems, cohesive worldbuilding, moral ambiguity, non-Western settings, marginalized protagonists, and stories driven by character choices. She also wants horror, YA fantasy, YA horror, YA science fiction, YA thriller, and YA romance, and likes non-traditional narrative structures.
Lisa is closed to unsolicited queries. Do not send queries by email.
Children's books, middle grade, young adult, adult nonfiction, adult books
Wants: Closed to queries
Carrie Hannigan is a partner and literary agent at HG Literary. She specializes in children's books and represents a select, limited list of adult books. Her profile highlights children's, YA fantasy, and select adult nonfiction clients.
Carrie Hannigan is closed to queries. HG Literary's official profile and submissions page both state that Carrie is closed to queries.
Fiction, nonfiction, picture books, young adult
Wants: Query letter, sample chapter
Seth is looking for new voices, original ideas, and breathtaking creative angles in both fiction and nonfiction.
Seth Fishman is currently closed to queries. The Gernert Company asks writers to email info@thegernertco.com when querying open agents, indicate which agent they are querying, and include a query letter plus a sample chapter if appropriate.
Upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, thriller, mystery, historical fiction, young adult, narrative nonfiction, parenting, relationships
Wants: Query letter, sample chapter
Ellen likes women's upmarket and commercial fiction, smart original thrillers and mysteries, sweeping or revisionist historical fiction, witty YA with big topics, narrative nonfiction, and books on parenting and relationships.
Ellen Coughtrey is currently closed to queries. The Gernert Company asks writers to email info@thegernertco.com when querying open agents, indicate which agent they are querying, and include a query letter plus a sample chapter if appropriate.
Upmarket fiction, women's fiction, romance, contemporary romance, romantic comedy, romantic suspense, fantasy romance, paranormal romance, mystery, suspense, thriller, psychological thriller, young adult, contemporary ya, ya mystery, ya thriller, ya fantasy
Wants: Query letter, first five pages
Christine is interested in upmarket fiction, women's fiction with crossover or multicultural appeal, romance including contemporary, romantic comedy, mystery/suspense, fantasy/paranormal, mainstream mystery/suspense, psychological thrillers, and emotionally layered contemporary, mystery, thriller, or fantasy young adult.
Book Cents is currently closed to new submissions except by referral. When open, submit e-queries through the site submit button with a query and the first five pages. Book Cents does not send personalized responses unless interested.
Adult fantasy, adult science fiction, adult horror, adult romance, young adult science fiction, young adult fantasy, young adult romance, young adult contemporary
Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, author website
Matthew Valdez is a literary agent at Megibow Literary Agency. He represents adult and YA storytellers, especially voices from marginalized backgrounds and the LGBTQ+ community. He is looking for adult fantasy, high-concept science fiction, horror, romance, and YA science fiction, fantasy, romance, and contemporary.
Email matthewquery@megibowliterary.com. Megibow asks for a query letter, the first ten pages of the manuscript, and an author website if available. Matthew is only open to queries from the 15th through the end of each month. He does not currently accept nonfiction, middle grade, picture books, chapter books, poetry, short-story collections, screenplays, or religious or inspirational material.
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