Katherine Harrison

I’m a children’s book editor at Knopf Books for Young Readers, focusing on young adult and middle grade fiction, as well as the occasional picture book or nonfiction project.

Above all else, I’m looking for fresh literary voices. The very best writers make you feel so immersed in their world and so invested in their characters that you’d follow them to the ends of the Earth—and that’s what I’m seeking. I love a good commercial hook as much as the next person, but without a distinct point of view and a keenly honed knack for storytelling, even the most brilliant concept can fall flat.

Some books I’ve edited that are representative of my taste include:

• Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
• Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken
• Friday I’m in Love by Camryn Garrett
• Lotería by Karla Arenas Valenti
• The Cookie Chronicles by Matthew Swanson & Robbi Behr
• Our Friend Hedgehog by Lauren Castillo
• Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff
• How to Solve a Problem by Ashima Shiraishi & Yao Xiao
• Thank you, Moon by Melissa Stewart & Jessica Lanan

A few specific wishlist items are:

• Character-driven fantasy—whether it’s light and funny MG like Ella Enchanted or richly developed YA like The Golden Compass or Lore.
• Humor—whether it’s a quirky MG romp, a painfully awkward YA rom-com, or a heartfelt contemporary that brings levity to a dark situation.
• High-concept dystopian YA with a fresh literary voice. Think Neal Schusterman, M.T. Anderson, Martha Wells or the show Squid Game.
• Darkly funny, twisty thrillers—ala Samantha Downing or the movie Drop Dead Gorgeous.
• Feel-good sports stories. I’m a sucker for movies like Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken, Bend it Like Beckham and Breaking Away as well as books like The Running Dream. I want to be weeping in the third act as the soundtrack swells and the underdog prevails!
• Science and nature. I love survival stories like Hatchet. And in the picture book space, STEM nonfiction is a sweet spot.
• Diverse perspectives across all genres.

Submission Guidelines

I will respond to agented submissions only.