Sophia Jimenez

Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster

My Manuscript Wish List

I'm a children's editor looking to acquire young adult, middle grade, and select picture books for Atheneum Books for Young Readers, a division of Simon & Schuster. I am mainly looking for fiction in all three categories but am also open to voice-driven nonfiction.

My genre tastes are eclectic, but across the board I love voice-driven and character-driven books with tons of atmosphere and beautiful line-level writing, and am always looking to spotlight marginalized perspectives. I'd particularly love to see submissions by Latine authors and illustrators, and I'd also love to see submissions that are bilingual or have some Spanglish sprinkled in! When in doubt, anything with a strong voice and a whip-smart sense of humor is a good bet.

I love children’s books for their potential to tackle life's big questions in a fun and hopeful way—and I also love them just for the FUN! So I’m not necessarily the best fit for a book that’s message-driven or straightforwardly educational, but I don’t mind when a book tackles serious themes, as long as there’s some light at the end of the tunnel.

I am NOT the best fit for:

straightforward educational books
super message-driven books
board books
chapter books
STEM books
World War II books
YA romances that revolve entirely around the romance (I need other plot threads!)
paranormal romance
horror
the witchy aesthetic (I respect it, just not my thing!)