I’m eagerly on the hunt for picture books, middle grade, and YA that have unique takes on strong commercial hooks, driven by characters with voices that jump off the page.

In picture books, I am looking for stories with big hearts, and a healthy bite of humor or silliness that complements it, ala Hug Machine, Not Quite Narwhal, or Dragons Love Tacos. I tend to shy away from rhyme or sweeter, bedtime-esque books, unless there’s a new twist on the concept. I am always looking for picture books that empower kids and see the world fully through their eyes.

In middle grade fiction, I am eager for contemporary stories with a standout voice, lyrical writing, and a unique perspective. I love a big cast of quirky characters, hijinks, and humor is always a plus. I’m most drawn, however, to stories that have all these things, but include a deep emotional core as well, and explore those painful and confusing feelings that go with this in-between age. If it feels classic, but is fully entrenched in the specifics of how kids are growing up now, I’d love to see it. I’m looking more for friendship makeup stories than breakup stories, and the exploration of things that kids encounter but often don’t know how to talk about like disability, first periods, and economic inequality. Some of my favorite authors include Ali Benjamin, Emily Ecton, Hena Khan, Holly Goldberg Sloan, Jason Reynolds, Lynda Mullally Hunt, Cynthia Kadohata, and Erin Entrada Kelly.

In YA, I’m looking for contemporary realistic, high-concept stories with pitch-perfect dialogue. I enjoy all types of romance (both rom-coms and rom-dramas welcome!), but I really love when a book focuses on friendship or family too, and all the ways these relationships cross and come together. Give me all of your favorite tropes in a totally new way—a feminist Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants-type story or a YA When Harry Met Sally would make me drop everything and read. On the darker side, a good psychological thriller that really keeps me guessing ala One of Us is Lying or I Killed Zoe Spanos is high on my wishlist as well. While I tend to stick to contemporary realism, a unique speculative twist like Noggin that makes me buy into the world immediately will get my attention for sure. And finally, I’m really interested in stories that play with structure like The Way I Used to Be, which takes place in snippets of four years, or the musical The Last Five Years which is told in two perspectives, backwards and forwards. Some of my favorite YA authors are Morgan Matson, Kathryn Ormsbee, Robin Benway, Maureen Goo, Justin A. Reynolds, Becky Albertalli, Nicola Yoon, and S.K. Ali.

I am also looking for nonfiction and am interested in picture books and middle grades, particularly about real people (primarily women and BIPOC) or events that have been marginalized or lost to history. In general, I’m not a good fit for fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction, or anthologies.

When I’m not reading and editing, I’m voraciously consuming true crime podcasts, watching old musicals and Nancy Myers movies, taking a dance class, baking, playing Italian cards, and looking for new wines to try. My current TV obsessions are Netflix’s Dark, Brooklyn 99, and Yellowjackets. And while I have no athletic ability to speak of, I’m an avid sports fan (Giants, Mets, and Villanova basketball) and am always happy to yell at the TV with a fellow fan.