534 agents · 320 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.
Authors, illustrators, children's books, picture books
Children's book authors and illustrators through Folio Jr. The public page does not list agent-specific interests for this agent.
Review the Folio submission page and follow the instructions for the selected agent. Do not submit to more than one Folio agent at the same time.
Authors, illustrators, children's books, picture books
Children's book authors and illustrators through Folio Jr. The public page does not list agent-specific interests for this agent.
Review the Folio submission page and follow the instructions for the selected agent. Do not submit to more than one Folio agent at the same time.
Authors, illustrators, children's books, picture books
Children's book authors and illustrators through Folio Jr. The public page does not list agent-specific interests for this agent.
Review the Folio submission page and follow the instructions for the selected agent. Do not submit to more than one Folio agent at the same time.
Authors, illustrators, children's books, picture books
Children's book authors and illustrators through Folio Jr. The public page does not list agent-specific interests for this agent.
Review the Folio submission page and follow the instructions for the selected agent. Do not submit to more than one Folio agent at the same time.
Fiction, nonfiction, young adult, upmarket fiction, book club fiction, mystery, suspense, historical fiction, literary horror, grounded science fiction, grounded fantasy, narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, history, pop culture, aapi voices, underrepresented voices, lgbtq and
Wants: Query letter, sample pages, proposal
Amy represents fiction, nonfiction, and YA. She is seeking upmarket and book club fiction, mystery or suspense elements, propulsive plots with beautiful writing, historical fiction, literary horror, grounded SFF by women of color, coming-of-age stories, global retellings, expert-driven narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, history, pop culture, YA with murder and intrigue, immigrant stories, queer stories, girls working for justice, and light-hearted contemporary YA.
Use the QueryManager route linked from Amy Bishop-Wycisk's Trellis profile and review her current wishlist before querying.
Literary fiction, contemporary fiction, upmarket fiction, young adult romance, nonfiction, memoir, cookbooks, pop culture
Cole Lanahan is listed by The Seymour Agency as a literary agent. He is interested in literary, contemporary, and upmarket fiction. For young adult romance, he wants big romantic, coming-of-age stories. In nonfiction, he is looking for memoirs, cookbooks, and pop-culture work. He says his favorite projects are books that move readers to tears, laughter, or a need to call their mom.
The official Seymour Agency about page lists Cole Lanahan's contact as cole@theseymouragency.com. The current official contact or submissions page did not expose a separate Cole-specific QueryManager link or detailed materials checklist in this run, so use only the official Seymour contact route and verify current openness before querying.
Adult commercial fiction, young adult, middle grade, graphic novels, adult nonfiction, picture books, dual-language projects
Wants: Query letter, sample pages, proposal
Jenna is seeking adult, YA and MG commercial fiction in most genres, graphic novels from middle grade to YA, adult nonfiction, very selective picture books, and dual-language English/Spanish projects.
Follow Jenna Satterthwaite's Storm Literary submission guidelines when available, no current direct query route was confirmed in this pass.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, young adult, graphic novels, picture books, latinx voices, african-american voices
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages
Johanna is a senior agent at Writers House. Public profiles describe her as building a list across literary and commercial fiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, YA fiction, graphic novels, and picture books, with interest in diverse voices, particularly Latinx and African-American writers.
Writers House asks writers to email an individual agent with a query letter, credentials, what makes the book unique, a synopsis, and 10 pages in the body of the email. Writers should consult the agent's individual profile for any specific requirements and should not query two Writers House agents simultaneously.
Middle grade, young adult, adult fiction
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Jolene represents middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction and joined Donald Maass Literary Agency in 2022.
Submit through Jolene Haley's current query route when open. Follow the agency rule to query one DMLA agent at a time.
Fantasy, science fiction, romance, young adult, middle grade, speculative fiction
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Kat Kerr is listed as a literary agent at Donald Maass Literary Agency in current agent directories and query databases. Specific wishlist details require a deeper official-page pass.
Submit through Kat Kerr's current DMLA query route if open. Follow the agency rule to query one DMLA agent at a time.
Science fiction, fantasy, children's books, middle grade, young adult, picture books
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Michelle is a literary agent at Storm with strong interest in heroic stories, science fiction, fantasy, and children's/young reader projects informed by her school and writing-contest background.
Follow Michelle Hauck's Storm Literary submission guidelines when available, no current direct query route was confirmed in this pass.
Serious nonfiction, literary fiction, children's books, graphic novels, history, sociology, psychology, anthropology, medicine, cultural criticism, popular culture, journalism, african american work, picture books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult
Tanya McKinnon is Principal at McKinnon Literary. She represents serious nonfiction, literary fiction, children's books, and graphic novels. She is always looking for work that takes her beyond current boundaries, including history, sociology, psychology, anthropology, medicine, cultural criticism, popular culture, journalism, and sheer whimsy. In fiction she looks for story- and character-driven engrossing work with a strong voice. She has a particular interest in multicultural and African American work, has a passion for graphic novels for adults or young readers, and represents children's books from picture books through chapter books and middle grade readers to young adult.
McKinnon Literary's official Tanya McKinnon profile confirms her interests but did not expose stable public submission instructions or a public query route in this run. No third-party submission details were imported.
Literary fiction, science fiction, fantasy, speculative fiction
Layered and deeply satisfying upmarket fiction, bookclub fiction with light speculative elements, and science fiction and fantasy stories with fresh worlds and nuanced themes. Her taste is eclectic across genres and age ranges, and she welcomes queries from authors uncertain whether their work fits her list.
Query Mary Moore through Aevitas Creative Management's contact and submissions form. Include information about your manuscript and your writing background. She prefers to begin representation in one genre before expanding to others, though she is comfortable representing multiple genres and age ranges for established clients.
Middle grade, young adult, commercial fiction
Commercial novels with exciting premises and lyrical, atmospheric writing; imaginative, genre-blending tales and speculative worlds infused with haunting, quietly wondrous magic. Fresh retellings of mythology, ballet, opera, and classic literature, as well as sharply funny rom-coms and graphic novels for all ages. Fearless storytellers who tackle big ideas and contemporary issues, with a commitment to marginalized authors and stories representing the full spectrum of human experience.
Submit your query through Query Manager at the link provided. Erica only accepts submissions through this platform.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, science fiction, fantasy, narrative nonfiction, history, memoir, biography, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, children's fiction, children's nonfiction, picture books, illustration
Wants: Query letter, credentials, synopsis, first ten pages
Writers House represents adult and juvenile fiction and nonfiction, including literary and commercial fiction, women's fiction, science fiction and fantasy, narrative nonfiction, history, memoir, biography, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult and juvenile work, picture books, and illustration.
Email an individual Writers House agent with a query letter, credentials, an explanation of what makes the book unique, a synopsis, and 10 pages in the body of the email. Consult the agent's Publishers Marketplace profile for any agent-specific requirements. Do not query two Writers House agents simultaneously.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, crime, thrillers, narrative non-fiction, memoir, current affairs, personal development, humor, ya
Stephanie Cabot represents a range of fiction and non-fiction at the New York office of Susanna Lea Associates. The agency seeks 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. They are always looking for new voices and good stories with strong international potential.
Check agent's submission page
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, crime, thrillers, narrative non-fiction, memoir, current affairs, personal development, humor, ya
Stephen M. Morrison represents a range of fiction and nonfiction at Susanna Lea Associates' New York office. His interests encompass Literary Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Women's Fiction, Crime, Thrillers, Narrative Nonfiction, Memoir, Current Affairs, Personal Development, Humor, and select Young Adult with crossover appeal.
Check agent's submission page
Fiction, non-fiction
Wants: Synopsis, first fifty pages
Ameerah looks for writing that explores diverse experiences with elements of intersectionality. She is drawn to stories that take you on a journey through growth and loves a good friendship story. She enjoys contemporary works, writing derived from performing arts, romance, and novels in verse. For nonfiction, she's interested in pop culture, astrology, and discussions of mental health in minority communities.
Complete a form available on genre submission pages. Synopsis of the work that details the plot, plus the first fifty pages or first three chapters of manuscript for fiction and proposal for nonfiction.
Graphic novels, visual storytelling
Janna is a literary agent specializing in graphic novels and visual storytelling.
Check agent's submission page
Thrillers, contemporary novels, magical realism, young adult, books for kids, pop-culture, gift books, memoir
Strong storytelling in all genres, smart writing, high concept books, work with great emotional resonance, humor, authors with distinctive voice
Check agent's submission page
Picture books, children's fiction, children's nonfiction, ya, illustration
Writers and illustrators across children's publishing, from picture books through young adult novels. Beautifully written stories and nonfiction that connect, inspire, and affirm the lives of young people.
Submit via the Aevitas Creative Management contact and submissions form on their website.
Adult fiction, ya, grounded speculative stories, contemporary romance, illustrated picture books, middle-grade fiction, nonfiction
Grounded, speculative stories, page-turning contemporary romance, non-linear storytelling, and elevated writing across the board. In children's books, Rebecca's looking for illustrated picture books with humor or heart that would work well for story time and middle-grade fiction that discusses big life moments. In the non-fiction space, Rebecca is interested in millennial experiences and perspectives, especially ones that challenge societal norms, or that feel fresh and from underrepresented voices. She's also interested in food, pop culture, psychology, and social commentary with hints of humor
Email: rrodd@lgrliterary.com
Romance, women's fiction, young adult, middle grade fiction, select non-fiction
Fantastic writers with a voice of their own
Submission form: http://querymanager.com/Michelle3Seas
Fantasy, science fiction, horror, women's fiction, romance, mystery or suspense, young adult
Wants: Query letter, book proposal for nonfiction
Works with a unique premise and unforgettable characters, underrepresented viewpoints, twisty layered stories, and strong worldbuilding.
Use The Knight Agency submissions page and the relevant QueryManager link, do not query multiple TKA agents simultaneously.
Young adult fantasy, young adult contemporary, romantasy, adult contemporary, thriller, grounded fantasy, women's fiction
Wants: Query letter, book proposal for nonfiction
Unique hooks, propulsive writing, YA fantasy/contemporary/romantasy/genre-bending, adult contemporary, thriller, grounded fantasy, romantasy, genre-bending, and women's fiction.
Use The Knight Agency submissions page and the relevant QueryManager link, do not query multiple TKA agents simultaneously.
Ya, children's literature, upmarket fiction, projects on religion and spirituality
Elevating voices and stories that start important cultural conversations and is particularly interested in YA and children's literature, upmarket fiction, and projects on religion and spirituality
Check agent's submission page
Middle grade fiction, young adult fiction
She is actively building her list in all genres of middle grade and young adult fiction. Her taste can be summed up as 'eclectic,' and she is drawn to high-concept commercial projects with a literary aura, unexpected hooks, strong A/B plots, and distinct voices. She's especially passionate about supporting diverse and underrepresented creators from all backgrounds. A lover of anthropomorphic characters, she dreams of repping the next blockbuster animal novel or series.
Check agent's submission page
Children's fiction, adult fiction, women's fiction, narrative non-fiction, memoir, debut fiction, young adult, middle grade
She loves women's fiction, narrative non-fiction, memoir, and debut fiction. On the children's side, she is interested in select Young Adult and Middle Grade. She loves strong characters and voice-driven stories that break out of the typical tropes of their genres, and she's always looking for unique new voices in stories.
Check agent's submission page
Science fiction, fantasy, mystery, romance, thriller, suspense, young adult
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Katie Shea Boutillier is vice president and rights director at Donald Maass Literary Agency and is listed as an agent in current publishing databases. Specific wishlist details require a deeper official-page pass.
Email Katie Shea Boutillier at ksboutillier@maassagency.com when she is open, following current DMLA submission guidance.
Narrative nonfiction, military, sports, celebrity memoir, thriller, mystery, historical fiction, young adult, romance, music, style, business, home improvement, cookbooks, self-help, science, theater, fiction, nonfiction
Wants: Query letter
Doug represents a mix of fiction and nonfiction, including narrative nonfiction, military, sports, memoir, thrillers, mysteries, historical fiction, young adult fiction, romance, music, style, business, home improvement, cookbooks, self-help, science, theater, and general fiction/nonfiction.
Query by email. Historical agency guidance lists query@dgliterary.com as the submissions address and asks writers not to send sample material unless requested.
Filter the full directory by genre, country, submission method, and open status, then save agents and track your submissions.
Browse all agents