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.
Fiction, non-fiction
Query Letter
Query the WME agent of your choice through their profile page. Query only one WME agent at a time, if no response after six weeks, try another agent in the department.
Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators
Query Letter, First 10 Pages
Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.
Fiction, non-fiction
Query Letter
Query the WME agent of your choice through their profile page. Query only one WME agent at a time, if no response after six weeks, try another agent in the department.
Young adult fiction, science fiction, fantasy, literary fiction, historical fiction, romantic comedy
Wants: Query letter, first five pages
Bridget is open to all genres of YA and has a soft spot for layered emotional contemporary, sophisticated or unusual SFF, and immersive historical fiction. She also represents literary SFF, historical fantasy, literary fiction with genre elements or interesting structure, contemporary fiction with speculative elements, and adult rom-coms.
Submit through Bridget's QueryManager form with a query and the first five pages. She is open for the first ten days of every month except December.
Fiction, non-fiction
Query Letter
Query the WME agent of your choice through their profile page. Query only one WME agent at a time, if no response after six weeks, try another agent in the department.
Fiction, non-fiction
Query Letter
Query the WME agent of your choice through their profile page. Query only one WME agent at a time, if no response after six weeks, try another agent in the department.
Fiction, non-fiction
Query Letter
Query the WME agent of your choice through their profile page. Query only one WME agent at a time, if no response after six weeks, try another agent in the department.
Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators
Query Letter, First 10 Pages
Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.
Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators
Query Letter, First 10 Pages
Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.
Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators
Query Letter, First 10 Pages
Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.
Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators
Query Letter, First 10 Pages
Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.
Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators
Query Letter, First 10 Pages
Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.
New adult or adult: romance, romantasy, and fantasy, young adult, middle grade, picture books
New Adult/Adult: Romance, Romantasy, and Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Picture Books. NOT interested in Graphic Novels for any age group or Early Readers, Chapter Books, or Board Books.
Use QueryTracker submission form
Fiction, non-fiction, literary fiction, climate fiction, speculative fiction, ya, narrative non-fiction
Literary, climate, and speculative fiction, occasional YA. Stories that hold up a mirror to our culture in new ways, queer and trans coming-of-age fiction (particularly from horror perspective). Narrative non-fiction chronicling recent history, cultural trends, technology, social rules. Work that is subversive in prose, style, or subject
Check agent's submission page
Mysteries, thrillers, cozies, contemporary romance, romcoms, upmarket women's fiction, memoirs, narratives, cookbooks, self-help, mg fiction, ya fiction, historical narratives
Adult Fiction: High-stakes mysteries and thrillers, and funny cozies––especially ones featuring ensembles, intergenerational family dynamics, and/or main characters outside of law enforcement, military, or journalism; contemporary romance and romcoms; upmarket women's fiction. Adult Non-Fiction: memoirs, narratives, cookbooks involving family heritage, self-help with concrete takeaways, empowerment, cultural tradition, and parts of history not typically taught in school. MG and YA: commercial fiction, including contemporary fantasy, horror, romance, mystery, and thriller––including ones with spooky or paranormal elements––especially ones that grapple with identity and/or intersectionality with fresh perspectives.
Use QueryManager link provided
Young adult, fantasy, horror, thriller, romance, graphic novels
Wants: Query letter, first 1-2 chapters
Young adult, fantasy, light horror, thriller, the occasional rom-com, graphic novels, and almost anything with a strong female lead.
Queries should be emailed to submissions@inkwellmanagement.com. In the body of your email, please include a query letter and a short writing sample (1-2 chapters). You may specify the name of the agent to whom you are submitting in the subject line.
Commercial romance, fantasy, science fiction, horror, upmarket thrillers, contemporary fiction, young adult fiction, cookbooks, food writing, sports, pop culture, music, psychology, lifestyle, wellness
Wants: Query letter, first 10 pages
In fiction, she is looking for commercial romance, adult and crossover fantasy, science fiction, horror, upmarket thrillers, contemporary fiction and select young adult fiction. She is drawn to stories that embrace genre conventions from a fun, fresh angle. In non-fiction, she is looking for cookbooks and food writing, sports, pop culture, music, psychology, lifestyle, and wellness, especially when approached from a specific, unique perspective.
Include the first ten pages of text only within the body of your email for adult fiction, adult memoir, adult non-fiction essay collection, or children's fiction and non-fiction.
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, select adult
Query Letter, Synopsis, One-sentence pitch, First 20 Pages, Book proposal for nonfiction
Rebecca is only accepting submissions via her personal QueryManager link. Please include your title, word count, genre, one-sentence pitch, synopsis, and query letter. For fiction, please include the first 20 pages of your manuscript. For nonfiction, please include your book proposal.
Picture books, graphic novels, chapter books, middle grade fiction, young adult fiction, new adult fiction, adult fiction, adult non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, first chapter, synopsis, full manuscript, sample chapter, book proposal
Picture books that are funny, unexpected, character-centric, interactive, or cover nonfiction/history. Middle-grade fiction with interactive elements, adventure/mystery stories with offbeat protagonists, and stories for kids who need consistent input. Young Adult/New Adult fantasy with big relationships, high-impact dangerous books, urban fantasy, and soapy drama. Commercial adult fiction including compelling fantasy, thrillers with bite, horror with romance, and weird feminist genre work.
Submit through QueryManager only. Fiction requires query letter, first chapter, and synopsis. Picture books need query and entire manuscript. Nonfiction needs full proposal with sample chapter.
Fiction, nonfiction, children's books, adult, young adult, middle grade, graphic novels
Wants: Query letter, first 10 pages
Contemporary & Upmarket fiction, Upmarket Romance, Speculative & Cozy Fantasy, Literary Thriller/Suspense/Psychological, Atmospheric & Genre-Bending, Fun & Offbeat, Graphic Novels, Big Ideas & Culture nonfiction, Literary Memoir
Send query and first 10 pages in body of email to helmsubmissions@gmail.com. No attachments will be opened.
Contemporary romance, thrillers, suspense, ya or na romance, commercial fiction, romantic comedies, fantasy, paranormal romance
Emotionally driven stories and swoony character arcs, contemporary romance, thrillers, suspense, YA/NA romance, commercial fiction, romantic comedies, and fantasy or paranormal romance, but only when the romance leads the way
Check agent's submission page
Mg, ya, graphic novels, contemporary romance, horror, speculative sci-fi, book club fiction, non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, bio, first 5-10 pages
Stories about identity, family relationships, and travel. MG, YA, & Graphic Novels. Contemporary romance, horror, speculative sci-fi, and book club fiction. Non-fiction submissions and illustrators
Send a short description, short bio, and 5-10 pages of text pasted into the body of the email. I do not open attachments
Literary fiction, historical fiction, crime, mystery, thrillers, horror, women's fiction, romance, young adult fiction, memoirs, essays, narrative nonfiction
Wants: Query letter, brief sample in email body
Literary fiction; historical fiction; sophisticated genre (crime, mystery, thrillers, horror); upmarket character-rich women's fiction and smart romance; realism-based young adult fiction; memoirs, essays, and narrative nonfiction. Nonfiction interests include: music, sports, wellness, the natural world, animal welfare, feminism, true crime, sociology, and culture both pop and serious.
Submissions strictly via dedicated email address: submissions@dvagency.com
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
Speculative fiction, horror, romance, mystery, thriller, literary fiction, fantasy, young adult, self-help, spiritual, occult, nature memoir, nature non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, first 10 pages
In fiction, she is particularly drawn to speculative, atmospheric, and voice-driven narratives for both adult and young adult audiences. She has a soft spot for hybrid genres, such as horror-romance or speculative thrillers, and books with big hooks. On the non-fiction side, she is interested in self-help, spiritual (Marina loves the woo woo!), and the occult. She's also very keen to find poignant nature memoirs and other nature-based non-fiction.
Please use this format in the subject field of your email: 'Marina or BOOK TITLE or CREATOR NAME or GENRE'
Adult fiction, crossover, young adult
Wants: Query letter, first 15 pages
Maria is looking for adult, crossover, and YA fiction across genres that feature compelling characters, complex relationships, and immersive settings (real or imagined).
Please send your query letter, contact information, and the first 15 pages of your manuscript via email to mministeri (at) gingerclarkliterary (dot) com with "mcm query" in the subject line.
Young adult, new adult, fantasy, thrillers, mysteries, suspense, romance, women's fiction, horror, literary fiction, historical fiction, contemporary, nonfiction, faith-based books, illustrators
YA (all subgenres except sci-fi), thrillers/suspense/mystery, horror, contemporary, romance, new adult, women's fiction, historical fiction, literary fiction, faith-based/inspirational fiction and nonfiction, true crime, illustrators. Welcomes BIPOC and disabled main characters.
Query via agency submission process
Adult nonfiction, adult fiction, children's literature, picture books, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels
Cooking, drinks, health/wellness, lifestyle, self-help, women's issues, memoir, cat content, underrepresented voices. Occasional adult fiction for existing clients or via referrals. Select children's literature in special circumstances.
Submit queries here: http:// queryManager.com or JenNewens
Fantasy, horror, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels
Wants: Query letter, sample pages, synopsis
He seeks hooky and high-concept books with commercial plots, strong craft writing, and compelling characters. He prioritizes underrepresented voices and LGBTQ+ stories. For middle grade, he wants epic adventures and magical stories with series potential. For young adult, he seeks dark stories, atmospheric horror, and unique formats.
Submit through Query Manager form with query letter, 10-20 pages for novels, complete manuscript for picture books, and graphic novel proposals with sample pages.
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.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, mystery, narrative non-fiction, cultural history, creative non-fiction, food writing, young adult, middle grade
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages
She seeks fresh, unexpected perspectives, particularly from underrepresented communities. She favors character-driven literary fiction that borrows from genre elements, narrative nonfiction that reorients understanding of history and culture, and creative nonfiction that appeals to heart, mind, and humor. For Young Adult she prefers realistic, emotional stories whether contemporary or historical.
Submit via Roma's QueryManager form. Include query letter, synopsis, comparable books, and upload first 20 pages for fiction or full proposal for nonfiction. One agent at a time, but can submit to up to three ALA agents if first passes.
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.
Music, pop culture, narrative non-fiction, food, literary fiction, humor, science
Wants: Query letter, project summary, author credentials, sample pages
Writers in the world of music, pop culture, narrative non-fiction, food, young adult, literary fiction and humor. Also interested in science and any authors with great ideas and an equally strong platform. He tends to have a soft spot for all Beatle related projects.
Send query letter that includes a brief summary of your novel or the scope of your non-fiction project, a short description why you're writing the project, any specific credentials you have for writing the book in question, and the first five pages for fiction only.
Graphic novels, young adult contemporary, young adult science fiction, young adult fantasy, adult romance, adult non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, biography, first 10 pages
He loves lyrical prose, wordplay, and humor. He is especially excited about working with queer, neurodivergent, BIPOC, and disabled creators. In Young Adult, he seeks contemporary realistic fiction and science fiction/fantasy. In adult fiction, he wants queer romance. For nonfiction, he prefers accessible, queer, and neurodivergent works.
Fill out his submission form via QueryManager. Submit one agent at a time, but can submit to up to three ALA agents if one passes. Include polished query letter, bio, and complete work.
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