US Young adult (YA) Literary Agents

Picture books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, children's nonfiction, illustrated books

Wants: Contact information, bio, synopsis or proposal, sample chapters or manuscripts, portfolio link

Emily Mitchell represents authors and illustrators from picture books to YA and is accepting new clients in all genres for children. Wernick & Pratt is most interested in author-illustrators in picture books, humorous young chapter books with strong voice, unique and compelling chapter books, and literary or commercial middle grade and YA novels.

Email submissions to submissions@wernickpratt.com and indicate that you are submitting to Emily Mitchell. Send contact information, referral information if any, whether the submission is exclusive, background and publishing history, and format-specific materials: first three chapters and brief synopsis for novels, two different picture book manuscripts for picture books, full manuscript for chapter books, synopsis or proposal plus three sample chapters for MG or YA nonfiction, or PDF samples and a portfolio link for illustrators.

Adult fiction, non-fiction, ya, middle grade, children's

Jennifer Weltz has sold books domestically, internationally, and for film for over three decades. She takes on an author's career rather than just a single project, serving as business manager, confidant, task master, preliminary editor, and matchmaker. She is very careful and selective about signing on new authors.

Please only submit your query to one agent at the agency. Your query should include a brief description of your work and a short author bio.

Adult fiction, non-fiction, ya, middle grade

Alice Tasman represents a diverse range of writers with an emphasis on fiction. She is drawn to distinctive voices and unique perspectives, and she particularly enjoys discovering debut writers. She is dedicated to nurturing and developing her clients' careers over the long term.

Submit a query to one agent only at the agency. Your query should include a brief description of your work and a short author bio. Find Alice Tasman's specific submission instructions by clicking her name on the submissions page at https://www.jvnla.com or submissions. The agency does not accept queries by regular mail or AI-generated queries or manuscripts.

Narrative non-fiction, women's fiction, thrillers, young adult, middle grade, picture books, cookbooks, literary works, suspense, horror, speculative fiction, popular science, astrology, tarot, lifestyle, humor

Wants: Query letter, first chapter

Literary works, women's fiction, thrillers/suspense and especially interested in works with horror elements, speculative fiction and spooky reads for both adult and children's markets. For non-fiction: narrative works, books on popular science (especially space), astrology, tarot, cookbooks, lifestyle, and fun/interesting works in humor category

Query via email to dca@doncongdon.com with 'Query' and agent's full name in subject heading

Literary fiction, historical fiction, suspense, magical realism, multicultural fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, journalism, travel, popular science, women's issues, parenting, food writing, young adult, business, sports, pop culture

Wants: Query letter, bio, publishing history, proposal or manuscript status

Felicia Eth is interested in literary accessible fiction, historical and suspense novels with a literary bent that transcend genre, magical realism or multicultural fiction, narrative nonfiction including memoir, journalism, unusual travel books, popular science, psychological and social concerns, women's issues, fresh parenting ideas, and culinary writing. She may occasionally consider strong short story collections, crossover YA, idea-driven business books, sports books, and pop culture.

Send an email query to feliciaeth.literary@gmail.com or submit by hardcopy to the agency address. For fiction, write a query letter introducing yourself, the book, and your writing background, and wait for a response before sending sample pages unless requested. For nonfiction, introduce the idea, what has already been written, your background and expertise, and your platform.

New adult, young adult, middle grade, picture books, romantasy, mystery, speculative fiction, comedy, romantic comedy

Wants: Query letter

Estelle Laure edits picture books, middle grade, young adult, and new adult at Folio Jr. and shares a list with Emily van Beek. She is looking for new adult coming-of-age stories with series potential, romantasy, cozy mystery, high-concept speculative fiction, family drama, comedy, rom-coms, high-concept YA with bold voice and emotional connection, carefully chosen imaginative middle grade, funny or mischievous middle grade, and picture books by author-illustrators with award-worthy artwork and diverse stories.

Email Estelle Laure directly at estelle@foliolitmanagement.com. Her official profile says queries to her should also be considered queries to Emily van Beek.

Adult fiction, young adult, contemporary fiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, family saga, coming-of-age, rom-com, narrative nonfiction, memoir, self-help, sports, humor, pop culture, business, science, technology, social justice, human rights, feminist issues

Wants: Query letter, first five pages, full proposal

JL is reviewing fiction and nonfiction projects: adult and YA contemporary, upmarket and commercial fiction, family stories, coming-of-age, rom-coms, plus prescriptive and narrative nonfiction, memoir, style, fashion, art, culture, mental health, spirituality, self-help, sports, humor, pop culture, business, science, tech, social justice, human rights and feminist issues.

Submit a query letter and first five pages or full nonfiction proposal through the Next Level Lit QueryManager form. Do not query JL by email.

Fiction, nonfiction, children's, adult, teen

Wide ranging tastes—born out of deep curiosity and a passion for great writing in all its forms and for all readerships

Email submissions

Nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, histories, biographies, science, food, sports, fiction, thriller, mystery, romance, young adult, middle grade, sci-fi

Non-fiction, especially narrative nonfiction histories, biographies, international current events, finance, science and sports; fiction, particularly in the young adult, middle grade, mystery, sci-fi and thriller categories.

Send queries by email to jeff (at) jenniferlyonsliteraryagency (dot) com

Commercial and niche fiction and nonfiction, ya, speculative fiction, commercial fantasy, women's fiction, historical fiction, sci-fi, paranormal, unconventional westerns, pop-culture, music, history, health, inspirational, narrative nonfiction

Both commercial and niche fiction and nonfiction. Fiction interests include YA, speculative fiction, commercial fantasy, women's fiction, historical fiction, sci-fi, paranormal, unconventional westerns, and anything with unique, well-drawn characters and a dark or offbeat sense of humor. Her nonfiction interests include pop-culture, music, history, health, inspirational (but not spiritual), and extremely well-written narrative nonfiction.

Please submit your query or proposal via QueryTracker

Literary fiction, science fiction, thriller, horror, true crime, romance, young adult, cookbooks, interior design, gardening, parenting, self-empowerment, memoir, biography

Wants: Query letter, proposal, sample pages

Christine J. Lee is an Associate Literary Agent with interest in full-length literary fiction, sci-fi, thrillers, horror, true crime, romance, YA, cookbooks, interior design and gardening, parenting, self-empowerment, and memoirs or biographies touching on race, sex, class, and identity.

Submit through The Leshne Agency's official QueryManager route or email a query letter to submissions@leshneagency.com, but do not do both. Email subject lines should begin with QUERY followed by the title. For fiction, include author information, title, genre, word count, hook or tagline, brief synopsis, comp titles, and 10-20 sample pages. For nonfiction, include a complete proposal with overview, table of contents, chapter outline, target audience, marketing or promotion plans, comps, bio, and at least two fully written sample chapters.

Adult fiction, adult nonfiction, young adult, children's books, romance, romantasy, fantasy, science fiction, thriller, paranormal romance, urban fantasy, southern gothic, memoir, humor, gift books, bipoc voices, queer voices, chronically ill voices

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, sample chapter, ai disclosure

Patrice Caldwell is Founder and CEO of The Caldwell Agency and a literary agent. Her list is focused on adult fiction and nonfiction, YA, and children's books. Her official QueryManager notes broad interests across adult, YA, and children's work, including romantic fantasy, retellings, thrillers, memoir, humorous or tabletop nonfiction, science fiction, paranormal romance, urban fantasy, southern gothic, family dynamics, and work by BIPOC, queer, and chronically ill writers.

Submit to Patrice Caldwell through her official QueryManager or QueryTracker form. The form asks for author details, project details, genre, query letter, AI disclosure, and the first 10 pages or one sample chapter for nonfiction. Patrice notes that she may forward queries to Caldwell Agency colleagues if she thinks they are a better fit.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, mystery, historical fiction, biography, memoir, history, young adult fiction

Wants: Query letter

He is particularly drawn to historical fiction and voice-driven narratives, especially when both dark and humorous. He is also looking for realistic young adult fiction.

Query by email only. Query letters should be no more than two pages and should include a convincing overview of the book project and information about the author and his or her writing credits. Address queries to the specific agent.

Literary fiction, non-fiction, memoir, narrative non-fiction, history, biography, food writing, cultural criticism, graphic novels, young adult fiction

Wants: Query letter

Emily seeks voice-driven literary fiction and non-fiction, including original writing that jumps off the page. She is drawn to beautifully crafted writing, characters that come fully alive on the page, and stories rooted strongly in their setting. Humor is always welcome.

Query by email only. Query letters should be no more than two pages and should include a convincing overview of the book project and information about the author and writing credits.

Fiction, children's, young adult, non-fiction

Query Letter, First Ten Pages

Email query letters to mail@dclagency.com and paste the first ten pages of your manuscript below your letter. Address your email to a specific agent who you think might be the right fit. Submitting to more than one agent at a time is permitted, but please indicate in your letter which agents you are querying. Emails with attachments will not be opened.

Children's fiction, young adult fiction, genre fiction, speculative fiction, non-fiction, illustration

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Susan Graham represents illustrators across format and age categories, genre and speculative fiction, select nonfiction, and children's and young adult prose. They are very interested in children's and young adult nonfiction.

Email query letters to mail@dclagency.com and paste the first ten pages of your manuscript below your letter. Address your email to a specific agent. Submitting to more than one agent at a time is permitted, but indicate which agents you are querying. Emails with attachments will not be opened.

Science fiction, fantasy, speculative fiction, horror, romance, literary fiction

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Ambitious worldbuilding, strong voices, fast-paced plotting, cross-genre elements, dark romance, and anything slightly unhinged.

Email query letters to mail@dclagency.com and paste the first ten pages of your manuscript below your letter. Address your email to a specific agent. Submitting to more than one agent at a time is permitted, but indicate which agents you are querying. Emails with attachments will not be opened.

Children's

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

He is keen to develop partnerships with authors and artists who wish to look beyond the obvious and strive for the exceptional.

Email query letters to mail@dclagency.com, and paste the first ten pages of your manuscript below your letter. Address your email to a specific agent who you think might be the right fit. Submitting to more than one agent at a time is permitted, but please indicate in your letter which agents you are querying. Emails with attachments will not be opened.

Picture books, mg fiction, ya fiction, adult commercial fiction, fantasy, mystery or thriller, upmarket women's fiction

Picture Books: Author/Illustrators ONLY. MG fiction: funny, mad-cap adventures; epic fantasy; magical realism; high-concept twists; strong plots and voices. YA fiction: commercial and high-concept fiction (all genres). Plot-driven and escapist books. Humor, imagination, adventure, romance. Adult commercial fiction (accessible fantasy, mystery/thriller, upmarket women's fiction). Fun, escapist reads. Great hooks. Great writing.

Use QueryManager link provided

Women's fiction, romance, historical fiction, ya, fantasy, mystery, suspense

Bestselling authors in women's fiction, romance, historical fiction, YA, fantasy, mystery, and suspense, and is always looking for exciting new voices in fiction

Complete the form

Children's, fantasy, graphic novel, middle grade, new adult, science fiction, young adult

Query Letter, Synopsis, First 50 Pages

Submit query letter, synopsis, and first 50 pages through QueryManager platform. Include author biography and book details.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, mystery, crime, thriller, science fiction, horror, western, women's fiction, middle grade, young adult, narrative non-fiction, true crime, memoir

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, author bio, first five pages

She is a fan of magical realism, contemporary westerns, science fiction and all stories that quicken the pulse and imagination.

Make your submission letter to the point and as brief as possible. Include a short synopsis of your work, an author bio, and the first five pages of your manuscript pasted into the body of your email, no attachments please.

Middle grade, young adult, upmarket adult fiction, grounded fantasy, adult romance, narrative non-fiction, graphic novels, picture books

Michaela is most strongly interested in finding middle grade and young adult projects of all genres, upmarket adult fiction, and grounded fantasy. They are also open to select adult romance, narrative nonfiction for both children and adults, graphic novels, and picture books. Specifically seeks sibling stories.

Submit only via Query Manager. Include full query in body, first 25 pages for fiction or proposal with sample chapter for nonfiction. For picture books, include full text and dummy or sample art if available. Query only one agent at the agency at a time.

Romance, science fiction, fantasy, gothic tales, horror, cozy mysteries, upmarket commercial fiction, narrative non-fiction, young adult, middle grade

Wants: Query letter, author bio, sample pages, one-sentence pitch

Saritza seeks commercial fiction by diverse authors, particularly romance with complex characters, propulsive science fiction, character-driven fantasy, atmospheric horror, cozy mysteries, upmarket commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction about culture and food, and all Young Adult/Middle Grade genres especially science fiction and romance.

Submit via QueryManager link with query letter, author bio, contact information, and first 10 pages for novels. Include one-sentence pitch. Follow submission guidelines on agency website.

Fiction, non-fiction, memoir, popular culture, pop science, sports, self-help, inspiration, cookbooks, humor, lifestyle

Wants: Query letter, first five pages

DeFiore responds favorably to projects that demonstrate real storytelling talent with strong narrative drive and mastery of voice. In non-fiction he favors memoir, popular culture, pop science, sports, self-help and inspiration, cookbooks, humor and lifestyle. In fiction he seeks all sorts of novels except romance or western, for both adult and young adult readers.

Send a persuasive e-mail to Querybrian@defliterary.com indicating the kind of book you are writing, a brief description of the book's contents, anything about your life experiences that will make readers take notice, and demonstrate creativity, confidence, and precision in the prose.

Fantasy, mystery, horror, speculative fiction, romance, picture books, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, one paragraph pitch, first 3 chapters

She is primarily looking for bold, emotional narratives with layered characters, lyrical and atmospheric writing, voicey genre-blending tales, big stakes, speculative worlds filled with haunting quietly wondrous magic, sharply funny rom-coms and coming of age narratives, witty and heartfelt picture books, and fearless storytellers tackling big ideas. She loves working with and supporting marginalized authors and their stories.

Submit materials via Query Manager.

Speculative fiction, literary science fiction, upmarket book club fiction, thrillers, fairy tale retellings, magical realism, horror, suspense

Dorian is actively building her list in YA and adult fiction, especially speculative fiction, literary science fiction, upmarket book club fiction, thrillers, reimagined fairy tales, magical realism, unique voices, contemporary novels with mystery, horror, suspense, and innovative storytelling.

QueryManager submissions

Fiction, narrative non-fiction, idea books, entertainment, sports, cookbooks, design, satire, science fiction, thriller, spy stories, young adult, humor

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages

Luke seeks books that are prime examples of their type, successful at what they're trying to be with natural storytelling and strong voices. He particularly enjoys satire, high concept science fiction, big ambitious novels, humor, thrillers and spy stories.

Direct submission to Luke Janklow at submissions@janklow.com. For fiction: send informative description, brief synopsis and first ten pages in email body. For non-fiction: send informative description, full outline, and first ten pages in email body.

Commercial fiction, horror, non-fiction, young adult horror

Wants: Query letter

Lane represents a broad range of commercial fiction and serious nonfiction. In fiction, he is especially interested in projects broadly defined as horror. He is always looking for projects by underrepresented voices both in horror, fiction in general, and nonfiction. In nonfiction, Lane focuses on the sciences, cultural studies, history, pop-culture, and celebrity projects.

Submit through Query Manager only. Fiction requires completed manuscript. Nonfiction requires full-length proposal. Cannot query multiple agents simultaneously.

Picture books, middle grade fiction, middle grade non-fiction, young adult fiction, young adult non-fiction, graphic novels

Wants: Query letter

High concept stories with high level writing that bring something new to shelves. For middle grade, she loves books with ensemble casts, books about good kids making bad decisions, quests and hijinks, spooky stories and mysteries, and historical novels that feel relevant. For young adult, she seeks books with atmospheric settings, lush writing, and romance threaded through but not primary. She is particularly interested in fantasy told from unique perspectives, ghost stories, accessible science fiction, magical realism, and contemporary stories that challenge assumptions.

Submissions through QueryManager only. Fiction requires completed manuscript. No simultaneous submissions to multiple agents at the agency.

Commercial women's fiction, ya, contemporary romance, thrillers, suspense, historical fiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters

Commercial women's fiction with a fresh and fun hook, all genres of YA (especially diverse stories), contemporary romance, thrillers and suspense, the occasional historical fiction, and anything that might be read in a day on the beach

Complete the form with query letter, synopsis, and first three chapters

Thriller, horror, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, adult fiction, board books, picture books, early readers, chapter books, middle grade, young adult fiction, young adult non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, author bio, first 10 pages

Lara is currently open to adult fiction queries only. She seeks thrillers, horror with purpose, historical fiction that feels immediate and hooky, and grounded and unexpected science fiction and fantasy. She is always excited to see unreliable narrators, twisty mysteries, eerie settings, psychological horror, and character-driven stories with sparks of magic.

Submit through QueryManager with a short query letter, author bio, contact information, and first 10 pages of text for novels. Complete the required fields in the submission form.

New adult, young adult, middle grade, picture books, romantasy, mystery, speculative fiction, comedy, romantic comedy

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, picture book dummy, portfolio link

Emily van Beek is looking for new adult coming-of-age stories with series potential, romantasy with a fresh hook, cozy mysteries with series potential, high-concept speculative fiction, family drama, comedy, rom-coms, high-concept and well-written YA with bold voice and emotional connection, exquisitely imagined middle grade, funny or mischievous middle grade, and picture books by author-illustrators with award-worthy artwork, character-driven series potential, and diverse creators featuring diverse stories.

Email Emily van Beek at emily@foliolitmanagement.com with QUERY in the subject line. Send a query letter and the first ten pages of the manuscript in the body of the email. For picture books, attach a PDF dummy, portfolio links are welcome. Send queries to this address only because queries to other addresses may not be considered.

Nonfiction, fiction, commercial fiction, literary fiction, young adult

Tia Ikemoto is a CAA literary agent based in New York. She represents a diverse range of nonfiction and fiction across the commercial to literary spectrum. She is seeking fiction and nonfiction projects that resonate with a wide audience, and is drawn to compelling and propulsive storytelling, emotionally resonant narratives, and high-concept projects with unique hooks or fresh perspectives.

Use Tia Ikemoto's official CAA agent profile submission button or form. CAA says writers can find query instructions by clicking an agent profile and that open agents show a button or link on their profile to begin a submission.

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

Wants: Portfolio link, art samples, picture book dummy

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.

Email an introduction, five samples of children's-specific illustration work, or a direct link to a children's-specific website. Author-illustrators should include at least one and no more than three full-length picture book scripts. Put Nicole Tugeau's name in the subject line.

Picture books, cookbooks, middle grade, young adult, science fiction, fantasy, horror, suspense, contemporary fiction, upmarket women's fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir

Jennifer Wills is a literary agent at The Seymour Agency. She is interested in a wide range of picture books and cookbooks, especially author-illustrators of sweet and wacky picture books and cookbooks with health-conscious, budget-friendly, or celebrity-chef recipes. In fiction she is interested in middle grade and YA with a sci-fi/fantasy, horror/suspense, or contemporary bent, and upmarket women's fiction with a sense of humor. In nonfiction she welcomes narrative nonfiction and memoir. She wants a great hook, a distinct voice, and work that can make her laugh out loud or ugly cry.

Query Jennifer Wills through her official Seymour QueryManager link: https://querymanager.com or query or JenniferWills. The current Seymour profile also lists jennifer@theseymouragency.com as a contact email, but the public query route is QueryManager.