Hali Baumstein

For picture books, I gravitate toward quirky, funny, offbeat, and clever stories that center on a memorable character(s) or weave in deeper themes about friendship, mental health, etc. I'd love to find author-illustrators who can capture that sensibility in both text & art. #MSWL

I also enjoy a good thriller (Murderino here!), but I’d love to see a unique way into the story that will set it apart from what's out there. Always seeking good unreliable narrators! #MSWL

I’d also love to find some hooky YA contemporary! In addition to my dream of finding a Jewish rom-com, I’ve also loved reads like Fangirl, Geekerella, and Simon Vs. with fully realized characters and fun hooks (themes of nerd/pop/fandom culture always interests me, too!). #MSWL

And in YA fantasy, I’m always looking for a lush, fully realized world that feels fresh and new somehow—but also for compelling characters who will root the reader in the story. I’m always game for a really inventive, smart magic system, too. #MSWL

Fantasy was my first love as a reader, so I'm always seeking that in MG & YA, too! On the MG side, I'd love to find "modern-feeling classics" that evoke the spirit of Ella Enchanted, or humorous, wry voices in the Dealing with Dragons vein. #MSWL

I'd also love to find mind-bendy, genre twisting stories that feel in the vein of my recent Netflix obsessions Black Mirror, Russian Doll, The OA, and Dark. That obviously includes a huge range, but they're all contemporary-rooted stories with speculative elements woven in. #MSWL

In tandem with that, I just wached the series finale of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and I really loved the way Rachel Bloom wove Rebecca Bunch’s Judaism into a bigger narrative (and of course, THE MUSICAL NUMBERS)—I’d love a book about a teen version of that character! #MSWL

Firstly, I'm really eager to find more Jewish voices, across categories & genres. I have a stronger interest in contemporary (for YA, rom-coms included!) or sci-fi/fantasy stories that features Jewish characters. I've found I'm not usually the right person for historical. #MSWL

Hey agents! I'm raring to acquire lots of new and exciting projects at the moment (PB through YA), so I'm going to post my latest #MSWL today.(authors, as a heads up, I don't accepted unsolicited subs at this time!)

YES. I'm all about this!! #MSWL

I'm also all about epic, sweeping fantasies. I'd love to see thoughtfully built, fresh-feeling worlds (bonus points if they contain rich magic systems), inhabited by complex characters. And I'm always excited to see fantasy from diverse voices! #MSWL

MG and YA with Jewish characters (from any subset of Judaism), in any genre! I feel like there are nowhere near enough of these. I'd especially love to see stories with modern Jewish kids/teens. #MSWL

MG fantasy that echoes the enchantment and wonder of a good animated film, like Coco or anything by Miyazaki. #MSWL

I love a good psychological thriller (Gillian Flynn, Ruth Ware, etc.)--would love to find a teen one that plays with unreliable narrators, unexpected plot twists, etc. #MSWL

In YA, I would love to find a near-future sci-fi in the vein of Black Mirror or Orphan Black. I also just saw the film Ex Machina, which asks incredibly fascinating questions about AI. #MSWL

Same! #MSWL

Also #MSWL--any story that was inspired or could be a topic covered on two of my fave NPR podcasts, Hidden Brain and Invisibilia.

#MSWL!!! I love stuff that feels like it SHOULD be sci-fi... but it could actually happen.

ME TOO!!! Agents, this is my absolute Top Wishlist Desire. #mswl twitter.com/precociouspenn…