Elaine Ho's CRY, VOIDBRINGER, in which a jaded warrior, conscripted by a kingdom battling their imperialist masters, accidentally rescues a child whose existence can easily turn the tide of a war, and they must navigate the games kingdoms play, where their captors look to reclaim a memory of an empire, while the cities they reconquer don't want their version of liberation. The book will be published by Bindery Books (US) in fall 2025, and Solaris (UK).

Auden Patrick's THOUGHTS BE BLOODY, pitched as a queer and trans retelling of Hamlet set at a magical college, in which a struggling student and the resident golden boy are cursed to destroy the mysterious and unknown heart of the school, exploring identity and institutional power. The book will be published by DAW in early 2026.

Debut author Yuvashri Harish's KILL YOUR DARLINGS, where two teens accidentally unleash the monsters of their favorite horror stories, and the witch who wrote them, on their small town, pitched as Hocus Pocus meets Madeleine Roux. The book will be published by Putnam Children's.

Pushcart Prize-nominated author A. D. Sui's THE IRON GARDEN SUTRA, about a death monk on a mission to perform final rites and a group of academics sent to explore a thousand-year-lost generation ship found floating across the galaxy, only to discover that not everything on the ship has passed. The book will be published by Erewhon in early 2026.

Katie Abdou's A PRINCE AMONG PIRATES, pitched as Our Flag Means Death for fans of F.T. Lukens and Aiden Thomas, with the irreverent voice of MY LADY JANE, in which a foppish nobleman accidentally joins a pirate ship and falls for its debonair captain. The book will be published by Atheneum in summer 2026.

K.A. Reynolds, Eric Smith, and Jazz Taylor's THE ADOPTED KIDS' GUIDE TO SURVIVING SEVENTH GRADE, a multi-POV story about the varying experiences of adopted kids, by adopted kids, and the joy that can be found in community, speaking up, and even—gasp!—talking about your feelings. The book will be published by Crown Children's in summer 2026.

Joshua Cenyaotl Herron's debut TEAMO PRIMO, about three primos who become fast friends thanks to a big move across the country, and must learn to navigate the challenges of middle school alongside the complicated dynamics of their extended familia without sacrificing their friendship. The series will be published by Knopf Books for Young Readers in summer 2027.

MOTHER OF SHARKS and SEA OF CONSTELLATIONS author Melissa Cristina Marquez's LEO'S LOBO, about a little boy adopting his first pet, only to discover it's an alebrije, a fantastical creature inspired by Mexican folklore, illustrated by Maria Gabriela Gama. The book will be published by Penguin Workshop in Spring 2026.

Shameen Abubakar's The Echo of Empires series, the author's debut, pitched as a crossover fantasy for fans of Shannon Chakraborty, Sabaa Tahir, and Hafsah Faizal, about three former street rats who become magically bound to mythical beasts, crash a royal wedding, and accidentally unravel an empire. The book will be published by Disney-Hyperion.

Lindsey Duga's COUP D'ETAT, the second book in the Royal Heirs series, in which the Ashland heirs and the new heir apparent return to Almus Terra where they must face new love rivals, fake dating schemes, destructive alliances, family secrets, and powerful, hidden threats. The book will be published in winter 2026 by Christy Ottaviano Books.

Author of TJ POWAR HAS SOMETHING TO PROVE Jesmeen Kaur Deo's REASONS WE BREAK, a romantic drama in which the golden girl of her Sikh community agrees to handle a gang's books to help a former member avoid being forced back in—but when her actions inadvertently drag them into a gang war, they find out just what they'd be willing to sacrifice for each other. The book will be published by Disney-Hyperion in fall 2025.

Brittney Arena's debut A DANCE OF LIES, following a disabled dancer who, after being framed for murder, is thrust into a lethal feud between royals when her king offers her freedom in exchange for espionage; but as the king's tasks grow increasingly deadly, she must use her wits and artistry to thwart his plans, even as her ploys land her in the center of a dangerous political web that risks her heart as much as her neck. The novel will be published by Del Rey in summer 2025.

Author of Stonewall honoree ANDER AND SANTI WERE HERE Jonny Garza Villa's FUTBOLISTA, a romance following a college freshman soccer player who, after befriending (and kissing) a classmate, realizes he's not as straight as he thought he was. The novel will be published by Levine Querido in spring 2025.

Author of ASKING FOR A FRIEND Ronnie Riley's LOOK PRETTY, in which a lesbian nonbinary kid explores their gender identity and the gender roles of their multi-generational family when their sister announces she's getting married. The book will be published by Scholastic Canada in fall 2025.

Suzanne Samin and Amalas Rosa's FEAR OF FALLING, in which former best friends from the Bronx—a Syrian American teen grappling with his mother's death and a talented college basketball star with ADHD—must suddenly confront the love they thought they'd left behind. The graphic novel will be published by Putnam in summer 2026.

Author-illustrator Alondra Araujo's debut MI TIO HERNAN, about a genderfluid teen sent to live with their estranged tio, a Mexican horseman, in an attempt to "masculinize" them, where they must balance two separate lives over the summer until they uncover the truth to their tio's mysterious past. The graphic novel will be published by Feiwel and Friends in winter 2028.

Emily Rosenthal's debut LEROY HAS SOMETHING TO SAY, about a gardening ghost who tries to communicate with people through the language of flowers but is misunderstood until he meets a non-speaking girl who shares his passion for plants and uses a tablet to communicate. The book will be llustrated by Thai My Phuong and published by Bloomsbury in spring 2026.

Mushens Entertainment is thrilled to now be working with Azantian Literary Agency to sell their bestselling and critically acclaimed list of novels into translation markets. Effective immediately, Mushens Entertainment will be the agency handling ALA translation rights, as well as partnering to bring select titles into the UK market, and they have kicked off their partnership with their first two foreign pre-empts, within a fortnight of beginning to work together.

Jill Tew's AN OCEAN APART, set in a dystopia 180 years before the events of THE DIVIDING SKY, where a working-class girl secretly enters a dating competition at sea to win the heart of a wealthy water heir, in the hopes that his love for her will be enough to convince him to save her water-starved community; but when her childhood best friend sneaks onboard the ship to help, she must decide between her mission and her heart. The book will be published by Joy Revolution in fall 2025.

Victoria Ying's CHASING SUNSPOTS, about a high school girl who, in her attempt to find validation for her dreams to enter the comics industry, finds the strength and self-worth to overcome a manipulative relationship with a much older cartoonist. The graphic novel will be published by First Second in 2027.

Taylor Rouanzion and Stacey Chomiak's WHO YOU WILL BE, narrated by parents who say no matter whether their baby's favorite color is blue or pink, or green or orange, or if their bow is on their head or on their collar, a baby of any shape and size is a perfect one, pitched as for readers of I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK and THE COLOR COLLECTOR. The book will be published by Philomel 2024.

Taylor Rouanzion and Stacey Chomiak's RAINBOW BOY AND THE PRIDE PARADE, a sequel to RAINBOW BOY, in which a boy and his parents attend a Pride parade, counting all the ways Pride is celebrated around him. The picture book will be published by Beaming Books in May 2025.

Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author of BOUND FEET Kelsea Yu's DEMON SONG, a gothic horror novella about the heady and hungry price of fame, following a young girl and her mother who move to a Beijing opera house and discover a terrifying, demonic secret haunting its walls. The novella will be published by Titan Books in September 2025.

Pitch Wars alumna Roanne Lau's debut THE SERPENT CALLED MERCY, a Malaysian Chinese-inspired epic fantasy, about a debt-ridden slumdog who joins an illegal monster-fighting arena for some fast coin, but quickly learns the most dangerous beasts are outside the ring, pitched as The Witcher meets Squid Game. The book will be published by DAW.

Comedian Charlie James and illustrator Paige Tompkins's I'M JUST A LITTLE GUY, a humorous illustrated lifestyle book based on the authors' viral TikTok character "Little Frog on a Lily Pad," about divesting from the grind and reinvesting in a slower, softer, sillier life. The book will be published by Quirk Books in fall 2025.

Forbes 30 Under 30 shark scientist Melissa Cristina Marquez's SHARK CODE: LESSONS FROM NATURE'S FIERCEST PREDATORS, in which the author dives into her journey as a woman of color in shark science, challenging Western media's portrayal of sharks and exposing its detrimental effect on our oceans, while contrasting these views with the ancient wisdom of Indigenous cultures to offer a fresh perspective on these oceanic predators. The book will be published by Columbia University Press in spring 2026.

Author of SHAD HADID AND THE ALCHEMISTS OF ALEXANDRIA George Jreije's next middle grade, BASHIR BOUTROS AND THE JEWELS OF THE NILE, in which a shy 11-year-old finds a mysterious golden ring and accidentally awakens a centuries-old jinn. The novel will be published by Harper Children's in summer 2025.

Lambda Literary program director and FIYAH magazine cofounder L. D. Lewis's THE YEAR OF THE MER, pitched as a queer retelling of The Little Mermaid in which Ariel's granddaughter, the ruler of a human kingdom, is forcibly ousted from her throne, leading her to revisit her mermaid kin and strike a vengeful bargain with a notorious sea witch who has plans of her own. The book will be published by Saga Press in summer 2025.

Author of the forthcoming THE DIVIDING SKY, Jill Tew's middle-grade debut KAYA MORGAN'S CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT, which follows a 12-year-old Black girl competing to be queen at her local Renaissance Faire's summer camp; to win, she will have to defy others' expectations of what role she really belongs in and overcome her own internal pressure to honor the memory of her late Faire-loving father. The book will be published by Freedom Fire in spring 2025.

Former journalist and author of the forthcoming A PRODUCT OF GENETICS (AND DAY DRINKING) Jess H. Gutierrez's ADULTHOOD FOR AMATEURS, a collection of essays on “growing up” and other pitfalls of being an elderly millennial, including a dubious ode to the Twilight series, sweet but weird 40-something perspectives on marriage and kids, tales of epic wardrobe malfunctions, Hawaiian vacation disasters, and more. The book will be published by Tiny Reparations Books.

Author of ANIMAL CLIMATE HEROES and the forthcoming DETECTIVE DOGS ARE ON THE CASE Alison Pearce Stevens's THE WILD MILE, about the amazing efforts put in place to transform urban waterways into wildlife sanctuaries and promote access to green spaces within big cities. The book will be published by Holiday House as a part of their Books for a Better Earth initiative in summer 2025.

Marlowe Lune's ANISE AND THE DEVIL, pitched as adapted from the Vasilisa the Fair fairy tale and as THROUGH THE WOODS meets MONSTRESS, in which after her mother is executed for witchcraft, a young woman realizes the only women wielding power in a puritanical world are the ones who have made deals with the devil; under the teaching of a witch, she rejects the world and embraces the role as a vicious young witch of the woods, but in the dark woods will she risk her humanity entirely or return to a society that loathes her? The title will be published by Abrams ComicArts in 2027.

Science writer Alison Pearce Stevens's WHEN BEAVERS MOVE IN, about the extraordinary efforts of rehoming beavers in the Cascade Mountains by the Tulalip Tribes to help heal their traditional lands, illustrated by Metis artist Natasha Donovan. The book will be published by Henry Holt/Godwin Books in winter 2026.

Shannon Chakraborty's THE ADVENTURES OF AMINA AL-SARAFI was a top finalist in the Fantasy category and Sara Hashem's THE JASAD HEIR was a top finalist in the Romantasy category.

Eric Smith's novel, WITH OR WITHOUT YOU, a delightful YA rom-com about two teens caught in the middle of their families’ orchestrated rivalry between their Philly cheesesteak food trucks, was selected as a Junior Library Guild Pick!

SIR CALLIE AND THE DRAGON’S ROOST, the second book in Esme Symes-Smith's SIR CALLIE series, was named an Indie Bestseller and featured in USA TODAY'S Top 100 Bestseller List!

Debut author Susan J. Morris's STRANGE BEASTS, pitched as an exploration of feminine power through the lens of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes, which follows Jonathan Harker's daughter as she attempts to stop the notorious Beast murders in turn-of-the-century Paris, while torn between an alluring doctor and mounting evidence she might be using her as just another chess piece in a deadly game. The book will be published by Bindery Books in fall 2024. UK rights sold to Hodderscape.

Author of THE REMARKABLE RETIREMENT OF EDNA FISHER, E. M. Anderson's THE KEEPER OF LONELY SPIRITS, pitched as for fans of TJ Klune and Sangu Mandanna, in which a grumpy old immortal ghost hunter must confront his tragic past to embrace his found family, to Dina Davis at Mira, in a good deal, in a pre-empt, in a two-book deal. The title will be published by Mira.

Lindsey Duga's THE ACADEMY, in the A Royal Heir series, set in a prep school for royals and future world leaders, pitched as THE INHERITANCE GAMES meets The Princess Diaries. The book will be published by Christy Ottaviano Books in winter 2025.

S.R. Appavu's debut young adult horror graphic novel, THE GHOST KEY, in which a trans high school senior is haunted by grief and prophetic dreams of death after the loss of their sister must fight the ghost of their guilt and come to terms with themself to prevent the imminent tragedy in their new recurring nightmare. The graphic novel will be published by Holiday House in 2026.

Alison Pearce Stevens' next middle grade nonfiction title, ANIMAL CLIMATE HEROES, has been named a Junior Library Guild selection for 2024!

Alfredo Caceres's THROUGH THE BLACK GATE, in which two 12-year-olds, alongside a cat that one believes harbors her father's soul, travel to the land of the dead and must reckon with the recent grief of losing their loved ones, face their fears, and embrace what makes life special, or risk the fate of both the living and the dead, in a significant deal, in a pre-empt, in a two-book deal. The graphic novel will be published by Atheneum in fall 2025.

Hemant Nayak's A MAGIC FIERCE AND BRIGHT, a YA fantasy in which a stubborn, magic-wielding teen fights her way across an enchanted India with a sentient motorcycle and a wickedly handsome thief in order to rescue her twin sister. The novel will be published by Simon & Schuster Children's in 2024.

Jessica Ricole's debut MAGIE AND THE SOULES, in a two-book deal, about a girl who struggles to adapt to life at a magical boarding school where she's secretly the only student without a mystical companion, and must choose between who she wants to be versus who everyone expects her to be. The series will be published by Andrews McMeel in fall 2025.

Clare Edge's I PUT A SPELL ON YOU, a contemporary fantasy-romance, in which a heartthrob enby spell-caster must teach the new girl in school to wield magic to save their emerging powers in a rivals-to-lovers game of wits. The novel will be published by Harper Children's in fall 2025.

Mary G. Thompson's THE WORD, in which a young woman is reunited with her mother after being kidnapped by her father at age seven and growing up in a cult, and is faced with a life-altering decision: risk everything to return to her father or discover what life can be when she makes her own choices. The book will be published by Page Street in spring 2024.

Veronica V. Jones's EARTH'S WORST DEFENDER, the first in the Marty Milagros series, pitched for fans of HILO, in which a boy who is often called a klutz and a payaso must harness his innate leadership and power to stop an evil galactic empire. The first in the series will be published by Andrews McMeel in spring 2025.

Author-illustrator Jayme Brodie's debut STICK TOGETHER, which follows a 12-year-old eager to become fast friends with her new neighbor and join her school's field hockey team, but her burgeoning friendship with (and crush on) one of the prettiest & coolest girls that she's ever seen threatens to come between them, and she must reconcile their differences and feelings before they tear the team and each other apart. It will be published by Feiwel and Friends in spring 2026.

Clare Edge's debut ACCIDENTAL DEMONS series, about a type-one-diabetic witch whose magic—and her family's safety—is threatened when each drop of blood she needs to test her blood sugar accidentally pulls a demon through the Veil to mischievous and mysterious effect. The first in the two-book series will be published by Inkyard Press in summer 2024.

Debut author Jared Pechacek's THE WEST PASSAGE, a medieval fantasy novel about a young girl and a young boy's journeys through an impossibly large, frightening, and strange palace where apes learn to write, birds keep bees, and large eldritch ladies of unknowable power enforce their wills to warn of the rising of the beast. It will be coming from Tordotcom in July 2024.

“This is a beautiful book with brave characters who fiercely guard friendship as a safe space filled with unconditional love — and set about to make the world that way. Jude Saves the World cracked my heart open and poured joy right in.”
—Justin Colussy-Estes, Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, GA

Rushie Ellenwood's debut A SONG FOR NOLAN, about a nonbinary child who, while attending a birthday party at a rollerskating rink, is inspired to request a song for a gender-inclusive "all-skate," illustrated by Sally Chen. It will be published by Little Bee Books, in partnership with GLAAD in summer 2024.

“A swashbuckling high seas quest that’s rousing, profound and irresistible. . . Impressively researched history underpins it all, offering fascinating context and realism that elevate this adventurous tale of a fantastical heist as it explores parenthood, faith, ambition, friendship and the enduring allure of forging a legacy.” — BookPage (starred review)

Lucas Soto and Samuel Soto-Saines's YA graphic novel THE STREET KING, about a 17-year-old as he grapples with grief and trauma years after witnessing his father's death in an MMA match while rising to stardom as an eSports star in a bid to secure enough prize money to save his uncle's arcade. It will be coming from Holt Children's in fall of 2025.

Jill Tew's debut THE DIVIDING SKY, a dual-POV sci-fi romance in which a cunning merchant of memories who deals illegal happiness on the side seeks refuge outside of a futuristic Boston, but is unknowingly being trailed by the ambitious and charismatic rookie enforcer charged with bringing her to justice. It will be coming from Joy Revolution in summer 2024.

“I read The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi with a wide grin, my heart thrilling at each twist in our protagonist’s story. The sense of place Chakraborty has conjured is one of the novel’s signal achievements. Her research on the politics of the Indian Ocean in the 12th century is evident throughout, and there is plenty of adroit commentary on class conflict, piety, warfare and gender politics, particularly how these things are perpetuated through myth and storytelling. But there is also the fulfilled promise of a good time.”
— New York Times Book Review

Author of YUSUF AZEEM IS NOT A HERO Saadia Faruqi's DON'T BE SCARED will be illustrated by Shadia Amin! About a Pakistani American boy who forges new friendships while making a movie about a local haunted house and connects with his father through ghost stories. It will be coming from First Second in May 2025.

"A thrilling, transportative adventure that is everything promised–Chakraborty's storytelling is fantasy at its best." — R.F. Kuang, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Babel

Makana Yamamoto's debut HAMMAJANG LUCK, an enemies-to-lovers lesbian space heist pitched as Ocean's 8 meets GIDEON THE NINTH, in which an ex-con must reunite with the partner who betrayed them for one last job to save their indebted family. It will be coming from Gollancz in January 2025.

Environment concept artist and co-creator of MAPLE'S THEORY OF FUN Kate McMillan's SUSTAINABLE STRUCTURES, featuring innovative and sustainable architecture around the world. It will be coming from Holiday House as a part of their Books for a Better Earth Collection in fall 2024.

"A thoughtfully rewarding read for those who need one most." ―Kirkus Reviews

“This stunning fantasy debut sings with lyrical storytelling and lush world-building. Spun from traditional Middle Eastern folk tales, Abdullah has created something that feels both familiar and entirely new and exciting. The Stardust Thief is an epic adventure of ancient magic and found family.” —Kat S, Speculative Fiction Buyer

Author-illustrator of upcoming HUNGRY GHOST Victoria Ying's SHANG-CHI AND THE QUEST FOR IMMORTALITY, in which the titular Marvel superhero discovers his father's power waning and secretly leaves the training compound for the first time only to learn that his father's legacy is more complicated than he had ever imagined. It will be published by Graphix in October 2023.

“TJ Powar Has Something To Prove is unlike any book I've read before. It’s unflinchingly honest, real, and raw in its examination of body image. Every hairy brown girl will see a reflection of their lives in its page.”—Adiba Jaigirdar, author of Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating and The Henna Wars

Kate McMillan and Ruthie Prillaman's debut MAPLE'S THEORY OF FUN, an illustrated diary-style series about a science-minded 11-year-old determined to solve become more fun & win her best friend back. The first in the series is set to publish in spring 2024 by Aladdin/Simon & Schuster.

"The Stardust Thief is a dream written upon a page—absorbing, lingering, and poignantly told. Abdullah weaves a sweeping adventure of tales within tales, while laying bare the ways those we love can both uplift us and break our hearts."—Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter

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