Jemiscoe Chambers-Black

August Zhang will illustrate Michael L. Printz Medal winner and National Book Award finalist An Na's A ZOMBIE DAY, in which a zombie's first day at a new school is filled with humorous mishaps and misunderstandings, and only with time will everyone discover her gifts. Make me a World will publish in summer 2026.

Noreen Nanja's THE SUMMERS BETWEEN US, pitched as Carley Fortune meets WELL-BEHAVED INDIAN WOMEN, set in Canadian cottage country and told in a dual-timeline narrative, in which a young, ambitious lawyer returns to her family's rural property after 10 years and must confront her deepest fears and long-buried secrets for a second chance at love with the one that got away, despite her family's expectations. Random House Canada will publish in summer 2025.

Maisha Oso's VENUS WASHINGTON AND THE LASAGNA DRAMA, the first in a chapter book series, following a girl who enlists her hamster, two girls from across the street, and their cat to find grandma's super secret lasagna ingredient after grandpa says she put her foot in it, illustrated by Courtney Lovett. Atheneum bought at auction, and will start to publish the 3-book series in spring of 2026.

Author-illustrator Nadia Fisher's debut AT THE COOKOUT, following a young girl searching all over the family's summer cookout for her favorite cousin—and when he's not running through the sprinklers, turning the double Dutch ropes, playing spades with the uncles, or chatting with the aunties, she finally finds him in the most unexpected place. Putnam will publish in summer 2026.

Leah Giles will illustrate Natasha Tripplett's DOWNTOWN DOORS, about a boy noticing all the doors as he walks through his city with his mom, emphasizing community, food insecurities, homelessness, and the small ways we can care for each other. Waterbrook

Lucas Elliott will illustrate, Celina Frenn's graphic novel, SPY GRANDMA, which follows a 12-year-old girl and her younger brother who must spend the summer with their supposedly boring grandma, only to discover she used to be a spy, and the villains she once fought are now out to get her—and them. Aladdin will publish in spring of 2026.

Michelle Jing Chan's debut graphic novel SOMEWHERE IN THE GRAY, following a girl who is dating the most popular girl at school, and what seems easy for her friends—being intimate in any way with their partners—doesn't feel quite right to her as she learns it's more than okay to live somewhere in the gray of asexuality. Farrar, Straus Children's acquired at auction, for six figures, and will publish in the fall of 2026.

Amy Buchanan's LET'S CALL A TRUCE, a sexy debut contemporary romance, about a recently widowed single mom reentering the corporate world and her annoying (and attractive) workplace rival, who call a truce on their feud to complete a career-making project, but when that truce turns into something more, the past comes back to threaten their second chance at love. Griffin will publish the first book in 2024 (world English).

USA Today-bestselling author Shannon Messenger and adapter Celina Frenn's graphic novel adaptation of KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES, parts one and two, in which a girl discovers she has secrets buried in her memory—secrets others would kill for—and has to figure out why she's the key to a brand new world, illustrated by Gabriella Chianello. Aladdin will publish in fall 2023.

Author BUNNY'S BOOK CLUB and BRAVO, LITTLE BIRD Annie Silvestro's SIGNS OF FRIENDSHIP, following two best friends who communicate using sign language as they grow together, share a clubhouse, plant a garden, and discover that there's always room for more friends—including the new boy next door, illustrated by Ziyue Chen. Paula Wiseman Books will publish in spring 2025.

Tanisia "Tee" Moore's WASH DAY, showcasing a sacred rite of passage in Black culture—the hair wash day routine—and on Saturday, it goes down in a girl's house, if momma can catch her. Scholastic will publish in spring 2025.

Amaka Egbe's RUN LIKE A GIRL follows a 17-year-old high school track star who moves in with her estranged father only to find out her new school doesn't have a girls track team, so she joins the boys' team instead. HarperCollins | Harlequin, Inkyard Press will publish in summer 2024.