Brian Geffen

Editor

Henry Holt Books for Young Readers

Senior Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He/him

Brian Geffen
@Brian_Geffen
Editor
Senior Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He/him
58 MSWL

Or a dash of speculative in contemporary is great too! For YA fantasy, I love swoony, action-packed stories with fresh magic systems and diverse worldbuilding #MSWL.

Brian Geffen
@Brian_Geffen
Editor
Senior Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He/him
58 MSWL

I'm usually specific with my wish list and comps, but I'm going to try something more general here, because I love seeing the unexpected in my inbox. For YA contemporary, send me the feels! Love stories! Coming of age stories focused on identity! Quirkiness OR grittiness! #MSWL

Brian Geffen
@Brian_Geffen
Editor
Senior Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He/him
58 MSWL

Brian Geffen @Brian_Geffen

3/ 2019 #MSWL Agents: 1st and always, I want to curate a list of authors (and books) that accurately reflects the world around me--one that is filled with diverse creators and content--and support them in our shared goal of creating more mirrors (and portals) for kids and teens.

Agent friends! Since I was closed to submissions for a while, I want to declare that I am/have been BACK OPEN FOR BUSINESS! Please send your clients' amazing projects my way. I'm particularly eager to find more YA contemporary and fantasy, plus MG contemporary. #MSWL

Brian Geffen
@Brian_Geffen
Editor
Senior Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He/him
58 MSWL

Agents: We need YA and kidlit and wonderfully distracting creativity more than ever right now! My inbox is wide open. #MSWL contemporary realistic & fantasy MG, YA, and GNs! Let's make some books!

Brian Geffen
@Brian_Geffen
Editor
Senior Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He/him
58 MSWL

9/ #MSWL: Middle-grade and YA graphic novels about identity, particularly coming-of-age stories that explore relationships and friendships with emotional depth. Books like This One Summer, Real Friends, and American Born Chinese.

Brian Geffen
@Brian_Geffen
Editor
Senior Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He/him
58 MSWL

8/ #MSWL: High-stakes MG and YA contemp that feature breakers of tradition and characters who forge their own paths, as well as novels about identity and overcoming adversity. Wonderful books like I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, Dear Martin, and The Stars Beneath Our Feet

Brian Geffen
@Brian_Geffen
Editor
Senior Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He/him
58 MSWL

7/ #MSWL: Deep contemporary YA! The gritty and dark variety as well as quirky and poignant novels. Books that deal with challenging subjects, mental health, and other important questions and ideas that affect teens, but ultimately offer hope. I.e. Jandy Nelson & Nina Lacour.

Brian Geffen
@Brian_Geffen
Editor
Senior Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He/him
58 MSWL

5/ #MSWL: Fast-paced, high-stakes YA fantasy, specifically with unique magic systems and fresh worldbuilding. I'm particularly attracted to lyrical prose, and recent YA favorites include Leigh Bardugo's King of Scars and Laini Taylor's Muse of Nightmares.

Brian Geffen
@Brian_Geffen
Editor
Senior Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He/him
58 MSWL

#MSWL Agents: I'd love to see more YA contemporary submissions in my inbox! It would be especially cool to see submissions that comp well to recent favorites, I AM NOT YOUR PERFECT MEXICAN DAUGHTER and DEAR MARTIN.

Brian Geffen
@Brian_Geffen
Editor
Senior Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He/him
58 MSWL

Agents: Forever and always, I'd love to edit a YA or MG with an MC who is a rapper. A man can dream! #MSWL

Brian Geffen
@Brian_Geffen
Editor
Senior Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He/him
58 MSWL
Brian Geffen
@Brian_Geffen
Editor
Senior Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He/him
58 MSWL
Brian Geffen
@Brian_Geffen
Editor
Senior Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He/him
58 MSWL
Brian Geffen
@Brian_Geffen
Editor
Senior Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He/him
58 MSWL

#MSWL Agents, I'm intrigued by MG & YA characters who are a little damaged--antiheroines, emotionally scarred, suffered loss, outcasts

Brian Geffen
@Brian_Geffen
Editor
Senior Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He/him
58 MSWL

1/#MSWL Agents: I'm on the hunt for great mses! MG and YA fict: fantasy, magical realism, realistic fic (dark and dangerous), act/adventure

Brian Geffen
@Brian_Geffen
Editor
Senior Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He/him
58 MSWL

Agents: #MSWL MG w quirky characters, heart, & whimsy (realistic fic, fantasy, magical realism). YA contemp fantasy with fresh worldbuilding

Brian Geffen
@Brian_Geffen
Editor
Senior Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He/him
58 MSWL

I'd love to find a YA that reminds me of @azizansari's brilliant, funny, and wise Master of None on @netflix #MSWL @PhilomelBooks

Brian Geffen
@Brian_Geffen
Editor
Senior Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He/him
58 MSWL

Agents, I want to see coming-of-age YA fiction subs for existential, reflective, introspective teens. #MSWL

Brian Geffen
@Brian_Geffen
Editor
Senior Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He/him
58 MSWL

Agents, are there any YA family crime dramas like Sons of Anarchy or Peaky Blinders out there? Send them my way! #MSWL @PhilomelBooks