Valery Badio

Macmillan's Children, Henry Holt Books for Young Readers

My Manuscript Wish List®

Valery Badio is a Haitian-American editorial assistant at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group. She is looking for young adult (crossover welcome), chapter books, graphic novels, and picture books.

She is interested in vulnerable and humorous realistic stories that center underrepresented characters. She especially loves stories featuring coming of age; girly and/or queer friend groups;  precocious main characters; first loves (and heartbreaks); immigrant or intergenerational families (especially BIPOC or Caribbean); anything illustrated; flawed and awkward characters; mental health; the spooky and the whimsical; magical realistic connections to nature; quirky schools and teachers; fun murder mysteries; mother-daughter relationships; emotional support pets; and art driven picture books.

Fun facts about me:

Valery has a black cat named Humphrey.

Submission Guidelines

Agented submissions only

Vital Info

valery.badio@macmillan.com

@vbadioo

Linkedin

Editor

Fiction:

BIPOC Literature, Caribbean Literature, Children's, Contemporary, Graphic Novel, Literary, Magical Realism, Middle Grade, Picture Books, Young Adult

Favorite sub-genres:

Contemporary YA, Cozy mysteries, Epistolary, Feminist Horror, Film/TV, Graphic Novels (for all ages), Illustrated, LGBTQ+, Literary YA & MG, Magic Realism, Mothers and Daughters, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Drama, Slice of life, coming of age, contemporary middle grade, crossover appeal, dramedy, friendship, spooky mg, witches

I’d like the next…

  • To All the Boys trilogy
  • Turning Red
  • Dear Dumb Diary series
  • Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
  • Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell
  • Skim by Jillian and Mariko Tamaki (anything that could comp to something by this duo!)
  • Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
  • Pretty Little Liars
  • Clueless
  • 90s Sabrina the Teenage Witch
  • Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith
  • Phoebe’s Diary by Phoebe Wahl
  • Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler and Maira Kalman
  • Yolk by Mary H. K. Choi

Not for me…

  • High fantasy
  • Sci-fi

My favorites include…

Books:

  • Maame by Jessica George
  • Emma by Jane Austen
  • Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin
  • The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
  • Sula by Toni Morrison

Movies:

  • Bridget Jones’ Diary
  • My Big Fat Greek Wedding
  • Moonlight
  • Jennifer’s Body
  • Anything Studio Ghibli

T.V. Shows:

  • Insecure
  • New Girl
  • Big Little Lies
  • Bob’s Burgers
  • Girlfriends