Have you written a young adult mystery book? Are you now looking for a suitable publishing house to submit your manuscript to? Below we’ve featured 10 top young adult mystery book publishers.
1. Page Street Publishing Co.
Averaging more than 100 published titles a year, Page Street Publishing Co. continues to be one of the leaders in young adult publication to this day. The group publishes young adult fiction and non-fiction, as well as picture books for young readers and non-fiction books, including reading material on cooking and diet, among other topics.
With a distributing arrangement through one of the biggest printing firms in Macmillan allows the Salem, Massachusetts-based publishing company to continue to produce quality young adult novels, including romance, mystery and science fiction. The company is responsible for publishing books such as “The Queen Underneath” by Stacey Filak, “Beneath the Haunting Sea” by Joanna Rush Meyer, and “After Image” by Naomi Hughes.”
Writers with a manuscript who would like publish through Page Street Publishing Co. should include the first chapters of your manuscript, a synopsis and your author bio to the company by email.
2. Bloomsbury
Based in New York City, in the United States, Bloomsbury is a well-known publisher of books for all ages. Since their establishment in 1998, the company has released countless titles of fiction and non-fiction books for adults, young adults and children, including award-winning non-fiction books, and acclaimed young adult and children’s fiction.
Young adult readers will enjoy browsing through their extensive selection of adventure, fiction, contemporary, historical fiction and mystery novels. Check out titles such as “Medusa” by Jessie Burton, “Never Look Back” by Lilliam Rivera and “Defy the Night” by Brigid Kemmerer!
Writers wanting to go through Bloomsbury should review their submission requirements, posted on their website. Include a proposal that will make your book sound as attractive as possible!
3. Albert Whitman & Co.
Founder Albert Whitman created Albert Whitman & Co. over a hundred years ago, to support a culture of reading from an early age. Today, the company, lead by co-owners John Quattracchi and Pat McPartland, seeks to continue and honor his mission by continuing to release reading material that is engaging, entertaining and promotes the positive habit of reading.
Based in Illinois, in the United States, Albert Whitman & Co. produces books exclusively for children and young adults. Their offerings range from books for education, such as learning about the environment and the seasons, to mystery novels, science fiction and romance that challenge young adults to expand their vocabulary, as well as their conception of the world. They have released countless books that have been positively received, including “Keep This To Yourself” and “I Hope You’re Listening” by Tom Ryan.
Albert Whitman & Co. is currently accepting submissions and also welcome submissions from authors without a literary agent. They have requested writers contact them with a cover letter and copy of your manuscript.
4. Quirk Books
Since their founding in 2002, Quirk Books has been the source of original and creative reading material for both adult and children readers. Known early on for their success through the acclaimed “The Worst-Case Scenario” Survival Handbook” series, they have since expanded greatly to include both fiction and non-fiction books in multiple categories, for both children and adults alike.
Working out of their location in Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, in the United States, Quirk Books’ book offerings are aged and ranked according to age, including children and young adult, and category, including books about mystery, history, humor, horror. Take a look at some of Quirk Books’s offerings, like “Library of Souls” and “Hollow City” by Ransom Riggs.
Quirk Books welcomes any inquiries and submissions from interested writers! They ask that writers check out their page for submissions and approach the editor that aligns closest to the book they’re writing.
5. Charlesbridge
Charlesbridge is a publisher with a mission and focus on promoting reading material for all ages, in order to create lifelong reading habits. Situated in Watertown, Massachusetts, the publisher has an expansive repertoire of published books.
From fiction, such as young adult mystery and action novels, to nonfiction for young students, including books on science, math, social science, and history, Charlesbridge continues to look for more opportunities to release reading material that is sure to satisfy readers. Try out “Twice Dead” and “Trinity of Bones” by Caitlin Seal, “Blood and Ink” by Stephen Davies for a good look at what Charlesbridge offers the young adult literary scene.
Authors wanting to approach Charlesbridge should review their submissions page for detailed information about what is required to make it through their checks!
6. Allen & Unwin Book Publishers
The Australian book publisher Allen & Unwin Book Publishers was recognized as the 2020 Publisher of the Year, an award of which they have regularly been recipients. The award-winning group is well known for publishing countless quality books of multiple genres out of their offices worldwide, including domestic branches in Sydney and Melbourne and an office in London, in the United Kingdom.
Allen & Unwin Book Publishers’s books fall into several genres, suitable for young adults and kids. They produce both fiction and non-fiction books for young adults, with their fiction including romance, mystery and adventure. “Sherlock Bones and the Art and Science Alliance” by Renee Treml, “What the Woods Keep” by Katya de Becerra, and “Gap Year in Ghost Town” by Michael Pryor are a number of titles that are worth looking at, as good examples of their past published works.
Allen & Unwin Book Publishers accepts submissions from authors and ask for a information sheet, in addition to their first chapter of your book attached to an email.
7. Dancing Cat Books (DCB)
A Canadian publishing house, Dancing Cat Books, commonly referred to as simply DCB, is a reputable publisher that specializes in promoting writing done by Canadian authors. They are part of the Ontario Arts Council and supported by both the provincial government of Ontario and the federal government of Canada.
Based in Toronto, in Canada, DCB, associated with its mother company Cormorant Books, publishes both fiction and non-fiction books for young readers and young adults, including fiction, fantasy and mystery, among other genres. Look at a few of their previously published novels “Deep Girls” by Lori Weber”, “Delicate” by C.K. Kelly Martin, and “Messenger 93” by Barbara Radecki.
DCB is interested in submission for young adult fiction, but unfortunately, only publishes Canadian authors. Those that qualify should include your author’s bio, a synopsis of your book, and contact information formatted according to their specifications (which are on the website.)
8. Second Story Press
Founder Margie Wolfe was among the women who helped to put together Second Story Press in 1988 when it was first founded. For over three decades, the Toronto, Canada-based publishing company has created and promoted Canadian written works about feminism and featuring positive female characters.
Today, the company continues to search for excellent feminist books for both adults and younger readers. Genres that they publish include fiction, such as mystery, drama, and romance for young adults and adults, and non-fiction books for both adults and children alike. “The Scratch on the Ming Vase” and “The Secret of the Golden Flower” by Caroline Stellings are a few titles of the young adult mystery genre that might be worth taking a look at.
Second Story Press chooses to prioritize publishing works by Canadian writers. Their book submission process has been completely digitized and includes sending in a short synopsis as well as the writer’s contact information and C.V.
9. Flux
An imprint of North Star Editions, Inc., a publisher focusing on fiction and non-fiction for children and young adults, Flux is a publishing house that specializes in books for young adults. Based in North Star Edition’s offices in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, Flux has been regularly releasing entertaining reading material for young adults year on year.
The novels of young adult books that Flux publish fall into genres including fantasy, horror, mystery, romance, and books on LGBTQ. “Silver is for Secrets” by Laurie Faria Stolarz, “With Ball” by Linda Joy Singleton, and “Secret of the Sevens” by Lynn Lindquist are a few of the titles that Flux has been responsible for publishing in the last few years.
Interested writers should know that Flux is more than happy to field submissions and queries from writers with completed manuscripts. They ask for the first three chapters of the book in a Word document, as well as a standard query letter.
10. Sky Pony Press
Since opening its doors in 2011, Sky Pony Press has operated as the children’s book arm of Skyhorse Publishing. Their aim is to create memorable books for young readers and young adults to consume and enjoy, books of all genres including classics like Winnie the Pooh, and including new non-fiction books targeting more recent trend-setting subject matter like activity books for the popular game Minecraft.
Young adults should look to Sky Pony Press for fiction including romance and mystery, as well as non-fiction books on humor, science, and history. For good examples of Sky Pony Press’s previously published books, check out “People of the Lake” by Nick Scorza, “Emily Out of Focus” by Miriam Spitzer Franklin, and “The Hush” by Skye Melki-Wegner.
Writers working on manuscripts of picture books, middle-grade readers, and young adult fiction should feel free to send a proposal to Sky Pony Press, as they are actively looking for new books in those genres!