Emilia Rhodes

Editor

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers

Editorial director at Clarion Books/HarperCollins Childrens. I tweet a lot about dogs, and think a lot about dessert. All opinions are my own. (she/her)

Emilia Rhodes
@emiliarhodes
Editor
Editorial director at Clarion Books/HarperCollins Childrens. I tweet a lot about dogs, and think a lot about dessert. All opinions are my own. (she/her)
26 MSWL

Always a quick way to my heart in any form are dogs, desserts, and true crime. And a few recent favorite “for fun” reads have been Mexican Gothic, Malibu Rising, The Other Black Girl, Luck of the Titanic, Solutions and Other Problems, and Finlay Donovan Is Killing It.

Emilia Rhodes
@emiliarhodes
Editor
Editorial director at Clarion Books/HarperCollins Childrens. I tweet a lot about dogs, and think a lot about dessert. All opinions are my own. (she/her)
26 MSWL

NOT at the top of my list right now are non-fiction, picture books, gross out humor, books set in space, books set during a theater production, or books centered around a mass shooting. Not knocking any of it, just not right for me!

Emilia Rhodes
@emiliarhodes
Editor
Editorial director at Clarion Books/HarperCollins Childrens. I tweet a lot about dogs, and think a lot about dessert. All opinions are my own. (she/her)
26 MSWL

On the speculative side of YA, give me a world or a circumstance I’ve never seen before. I love high-stakes, plot-driven fantasy and sci-fi, where the world enhances the story more than is the focus.

Emilia Rhodes
@emiliarhodes
Editor
Editorial director at Clarion Books/HarperCollins Childrens. I tweet a lot about dogs, and think a lot about dessert. All opinions are my own. (she/her)
26 MSWL

I’d love to find thoughtful and fresh YA thrillers, books that go beyond the mystery to question the character’s views or the status quo. Think Tiffany Jackson, Kara Thomas, Courtney Summers, or the show Cruel Summer.

Emilia Rhodes
@emiliarhodes
Editor
Editorial director at Clarion Books/HarperCollins Childrens. I tweet a lot about dogs, and think a lot about dessert. All opinions are my own. (she/her)
26 MSWL

In YA, I’m always looking for a great contemporary voice that makes the everyday heartbreaks, secrets, and revelations feel epic. Remind me why being a teenager is hard but in so many ways the most true versions of ourselves.

Emilia Rhodes
@emiliarhodes
Editor
Editorial director at Clarion Books/HarperCollins Childrens. I tweet a lot about dogs, and think a lot about dessert. All opinions are my own. (she/her)
26 MSWL

For graphic novels both MG and YA, give me your messy, flawed, embarrassing, relatable coming-of-age. Think Roller Girl, Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me, Invisible Emmie, El Deafo, Stargazing, Check Please.

Emilia Rhodes
@emiliarhodes
Editor
Editorial director at Clarion Books/HarperCollins Childrens. I tweet a lot about dogs, and think a lot about dessert. All opinions are my own. (she/her)
26 MSWL

Again in MG, I’d love to find more grounded or just slightly speculative adventure stories. Spies, detectives, quest and adventure seekers. I’m a sucker for a good competition!

Emilia Rhodes
@emiliarhodes
Editor
Editorial director at Clarion Books/HarperCollins Childrens. I tweet a lot about dogs, and think a lot about dessert. All opinions are my own. (she/her)
26 MSWL

On the more fantastical side of MG, I love weird! Send me the stories that Henry Selick would turn into animated movies.

Emilia Rhodes
@emiliarhodes
Editor
Editorial director at Clarion Books/HarperCollins Childrens. I tweet a lot about dogs, and think a lot about dessert. All opinions are my own. (she/her)
26 MSWL

In MG, I love heart-tugging, honest voices that are either grounded or have a slight magic touch. Think Tae Keller, Karina Yan Glaser, Rebecca Stead.

Emilia Rhodes
@emiliarhodes
Editor
Editorial director at Clarion Books/HarperCollins Childrens. I tweet a lot about dogs, and think a lot about dessert. All opinions are my own. (she/her)
26 MSWL

It’s that time of year when fall submissions start flying, so here’s a little #MSWL thread! Big picture, I’m acquiring MG and YA novels and graphic novels in all genres and am always looking for more underrepresented voices in all categories.

Emilia Rhodes
@emiliarhodes
Editor
Editorial director at Clarion Books/HarperCollins Childrens. I tweet a lot about dogs, and think a lot about dessert. All opinions are my own. (she/her)
26 MSWL

Agents, I'm in the mood for some epic YA contemporary in my submission inbox! That moment that changed everything, that person that shifted the way you see the world, that secret you kept, or that summer you'll never forget. #MSWL

Emilia Rhodes
@emiliarhodes
Editor
Editorial director at Clarion Books/HarperCollins Childrens. I tweet a lot about dogs, and think a lot about dessert. All opinions are my own. (she/her)
26 MSWL
Emilia Rhodes
@emiliarhodes
Editor
Editorial director at Clarion Books/HarperCollins Childrens. I tweet a lot about dogs, and think a lot about dessert. All opinions are my own. (she/her)
26 MSWL

YA thrillers that feel surprising and new. I'm a murderino at heart and am currently loving Sadie by Courtney Summers. Also would really love to see thrillers written by POC writers and other writers from marginalized backgrounds. I know they're out there! #MSWL

Emilia Rhodes
@emiliarhodes
Editor
Editorial director at Clarion Books/HarperCollins Childrens. I tweet a lot about dogs, and think a lot about dessert. All opinions are my own. (she/her)
26 MSWL

Also, weird books that can't easily be categorized! A.S. King and Emily X.R. Pan's Astonishing Color of After are favorites. Speculative books that break rules and push boundaries. #MSWL

Emilia Rhodes
@emiliarhodes
Editor
Editorial director at Clarion Books/HarperCollins Childrens. I tweet a lot about dogs, and think a lot about dessert. All opinions are my own. (she/her)
26 MSWL

A little fall submission #MSWL! At the top of my list is YA contemporary realistic that is emotional and layered and classic coming-of-age. This summer I loved Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian and We Are Okay by Nina LaCour. Two different books that really got it.

Emilia Rhodes
@emiliarhodes
Editor
Editorial director at Clarion Books/HarperCollins Childrens. I tweet a lot about dogs, and think a lot about dessert. All opinions are my own. (she/her)
26 MSWL
Emilia Rhodes
@emiliarhodes
Editor
Editorial director at Clarion Books/HarperCollins Childrens. I tweet a lot about dogs, and think a lot about dessert. All opinions are my own. (she/her)
26 MSWL
Emilia Rhodes
@emiliarhodes
Editor
Editorial director at Clarion Books/HarperCollins Childrens. I tweet a lot about dogs, and think a lot about dessert. All opinions are my own. (she/her)
26 MSWL

A friendly reminder I can't accept direct submissions from writers. Writers, keep me in mind if you work with an agent down the line! #MSWL

Emilia Rhodes
@emiliarhodes
Editor
Editorial director at Clarion Books/HarperCollins Childrens. I tweet a lot about dogs, and think a lot about dessert. All opinions are my own. (she/her)
26 MSWL

In YA and MG, very much looking for more diversity and especially #ownvoices. We want to see your stories and share them. #MSWL