PW: Bologna 2016: Agents Talk Children's and YA Trends

In an article On PW, Publishers Weekly, by Diane Roback some of the biggest trends and surprizes in YA and Children's literarture are discussed for the 2016 Bologna Book Fair.

Some really nice points are made and here are a few that I liked:

Szilvia Molnar, Sterling Lord Literistic

Lately it’s been less about one topic or one series working everywhere, and more about the hook or the voice grabbing publishers’ attention. We have been having a lot of success with contemporary YA that tackles realistic issues, but that still comforts and entertains the reader, a kind of cozy or humorous realism. For middle grade, it’s been adventure series or standalone stories that have fantastical elements, with a voice that charms the reader from the very first page. Across the board we’re having success with gripping retellings of classic stories and an invigorated interest in science fiction.

Aside from film tie-ins and standing bestsellers, the markets have been pretty divided; Brazil, for example, is acquiring LGBTQ-themed books, while Europe is still not as on board. And we’re excited to have something for everyone. We’re seeing what’s happening in the news trickling down to YA and also noticing hard issues that would normally be in YA getting tackled in middle grade. It will be interesting to see how these issues that are such sensitive topics here in the U.S. fare in the global market. We’re also having more conversations than ever before about our picture book list—both backlist and frontlist—which is exciting.

Kate Schafer Testerman, KT Literary

I’m seeing a lot more high-concept and very hooky YA pitched. It’s not enough for a book to be a smart contemporary with a great story; it has to have a solid hook that’ll come across well in a 30-minute meeting when I might be pitching four or five great projects. And whereas the international market for YA can fluctuate between being sold to teens, as it is in the U.S., and finding a place on an adult list, middle grade is still very solid for children’s publishers. When you’ve got 15–20 meetings a day, you have to be able to describe a book quickly and memorably. A beautifully written story may sell here, and may go on to sell abroad, but it’s not going to get the quick response of “I need to see this!” that is the goal of a Bologna meeting. That’s why you need a strong hook.

Michael Bourret, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management

I like to think that while we all have an eye to the market, we’re also trying to shape the market. What’s been heartening to me is that We Need Diverse Books [the grassroots nonprofit] has clearly had an impact on authors, and I’m seeing submissions from people with such diverse backgrounds. Even better, they’re eager to explain how their backgrounds have shaped their work. That’s the most exciting thing for me.