Rachel Stark

🌟Contemporary middle grade stories that take a “light and bright” approach to social change, solidarity, and self-discovery
▫️Think: Front Desk, From the Desk of Zoe Washington, George #MSWL

🌟High-concept comedy that can be summed up in a single sentence
▫️Think: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, Jacked Up, Beauty Queens #MSWL

🌟High-stakes competition w/ a radical, subversive bent & meaningful consequences for the characters
▫️Think: the Squid Game of YA (but note that sobs don't have to be violenct, & I am definitely not looking for violence that’s used for shock value or voyeuristic pleasure) #MSWL

🌟YA thrillers, psychological horror, supernatural, & speculative fiction that radically represents & explores queer, female, and BIPOC rage & revenge
▫️ Think: Iron Widow, Sadie, Nimona, or, for a film example, Jennifer’s Body #MSWL

Here's what I'm looking for in NOVELS:
🌟High-concept YA fantasy and speculative fiction, especially that which uses the conventions of its genre to critique, subvert, or illuminate a truth about our world
▫️Think: Raybearer, Graceling, Dread Nation, The Witch King #MSWL

GRAPHIC NOVEL GUIDELINES: I'm open to GNs for ages 5+ (inc. adult!). Sadly it's hard for me to consider scripts w/o artists attached at this time. Art should be energetic, expressive, inventive, accessible, & commercial—full-color for MG & younger, at least 2-color for YA #MSWL

🌟Campy, fun, & funny stories for middle graders & teens that fully commit to the bit while maintaining a strong heart at their core
▫️Think: Lumberjanes, Cucumber Quest
🌟Early reader GNs w/ unforgettable characters, particularly human protagonists, & a strong sales hook #MSWL

🌟Grounded MG fantasy w real-world settings
▫️Think: the Stranger Things of graphic novels (but not necessarily horror!)
🌟Stories with creative, fresh ties to holidays/seasonal moments, esp cultural holidays & those outside of Xmas, V Day, & Halloween
▫️Think: Pumpkinheads #MSWL

(GNs) 🌟Middle grade humor with a big heart—I’d particularly like to explore careers outside of policing that nonetheless lend themselves to multiple adventures over the course of a series
▫️Think: Dog Man, InvestiGators #MSWL

That's the stuff that never changes! And here are the specifics about what I'm particularly looking for right now.

IN GRAPHIC NOVELS
🌟Young adult contemp romance w/ substance, especially centering characters w/ marginalized identities
▫️Think: Heartstopper, Pumpkinheads #MSWL

🌟Nuanced stories about rebellion against unjust systems, building solidarity and mutual support, or imagining a world better than our own #MSWL

🌟Sharp & original humor that shows a deep understanding of its readers—whether goofy, over-the-top humor for middle graders or well-observed sarcasm for teens
🌟Books that slide adeptly between humor & poignancy, that make me laugh on one page & cry on the next #MSWL

▪️Unique family structures depicted in a positive light—found families, guardians other than parents, multigenerational households, & loving & supportive separated families
#MSWL

▪️Queer/LGBTQ+ protags—esp. trans, non-binary, asexual, aromantic, intersex, queer, & bi chars
▪️All BIPOC protagonists, but especially Black American, Indigenous, & Latinx protags
(cont.) #MSWL

🌟Authentic, own-voices rep of characters w/ marginalized & intersectional identities in stories of adventure, romance, friendship, joy, & personal growth. Especially but not exclusively:
▪️Protags w/ disabilities &/or neurodivergences
(cont.) #MSWL

In ALL formats, I'm excited by:
🌟Original, unforgettable characters w/ potential to become beloved household names
🌟Expansive, unique, cinematic worlds—whether imagined or a part of the real world that’s underrepresented and/or feels fresh through the creator’s eyes #MSWL

And as an outspoken advocate for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in media, I am particularly keen to invest in the work of writers and illustrators who have historically been marginalized in American media. #MSWL

BROADLY, I'm looking for big bets w/ high-concept commercial hooks, expert plotting & pacing, & the potential to become leads. My taste skews toward upmarket voices & art paired with a strong sales hook that can be summed up in an intriguing line or two. #MSWL

New year, new #MSWL! And my big 2022 news is that, in addition to being @DisneyBooks's resident graphic novel expert (send me all your future comics bestsellers!), I am opening to YA and MG novel submissions for the first time in ~5 years.

Here's what I'm looking for (thread)

New year, new #MSWL! I’ll be sharing the latest on what I’m looking for, including some BIG changes, tomorrow 👀 Stay tuned!