The Editors of Critique Carousel 2026

Introducing the seven (7!!!) editors who will be critiquing for the 2026 Critique Carousel.

 

Courtney Stevenson

Editor, Harper Collins

 

Courtney joined HarperCollins in 2016, and since then has been lucky enough to work on both acclaimed frontlist and beloved backlist titles. In building her own list, Courtney is largely focused on middle grade and YA books, with a particular interest in historical stories that haven't been told before, clever humor, queer romance, family dynamics, the occasional pop nonfiction, and writing that pulls her along to the next page. Some of her recent titles include Queso, Just in Time by Ernesto Cisneros; The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene by Corey Ann Haydu; The Deep Well by Laura Creedle; and Money Out Loud: All the Financial Stuff No One Taught Us by Berna Anat.

 Find Courtney’s wishlist here. 

 For the 2026 Critique Carousel, Courtney will be critiquing:

•        Picture book fiction
•        Picture book nonfiction
•        Picture book dummy
•        Chapter book
•        Middle grade fiction
•        Middle grade nonfiction
•        YA fiction
•        YA nonfiction

 

Foyinsi Adegbonmire

Editor, Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan Children’s 

 

Foyinsi Adegbonmire is an Editor at Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. She acquires Middle Grade and Young Adult fiction, and is open to coming-of-age, mystery, romance, and fantasy, while enjoying lighthearted stories with conversational narrative voices. She was named a PW Star Watch Honoree and her acquisitions include Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, Dear Wendy by Ann Zhao, and The Beanstalk Murder by P.G. Bell. When not reading or thinking about her very large TBR, she can be found watching people react to her favorite media, or doomscrolling on TikTok or Instagram(@Foyinsi_Pub)

Find Foyinsi’s wishlist here.

Foyinsi will be critiquing:

•         Middle grade fiction
•         YA fiction
•         Novel-in-verse

 

Jin Soo Chun

Assistant Editor, Atheneum

 

Jin Soo Chun (first name “Jin Soo”) joined Atheneum in 2024 and assists Reka Simonsen. Previously, she worked in book marketing at Ecco and in the fashion and restaurant industries. Jin Soo enjoys working on middle grade, YA, graphic novels/nonfiction, and picture books across all genres.

 

For picture books, she is drawn to books that celebrate the complex interior worlds of children and mischievous stories that make readers feel like they’re a partner in crime as they tag along with the protagonist on misadventures. In MG and YA (graphic and prose), she loves vividly imagined stories full of heart and humor and is especially partial to narratives propelled by an unforgettable, diverse cast of characters ranging from the spunky and spirited to the devious and terrible. Jin Soo delights in dynamic, cinematic storytelling that balances lively dialogue and emotionally stirring prose, and overall, she’s a big fan of books that humanize characters through their flaws and mistakes and allow for growth without compromising the essence of who the characters are.

Find Jin Soo’s wishlist here.

Jin Soo will be critiquing:

• Picture book dummy
• Chapter book
• Middle grade fiction
• YA fiction
• Graphic novels fiction or nonfiction
• Novel-in-verse
• Portfolio review

 

Kade Dishmon

Assistant Editor, Peachtree Teen & Peachtree Publishing

Kade Dishmon (they/he) is an assistant editor at Peachtree Publishing currently acquiring middle grade and young adult fiction. Across genres, Kade is actively seeking stories with something to say—either socio-politically or about life itself. He’s drawn to work with cathartic character arcs, authentic tween and teen messiness, and a strong sense of emotional immediacy. Kade is passionate about uplifting underrepresented voices, whether those stories are gritty and unflinching or warm and hopeful. 

Their most recently published acquisitions include YA folk horror AND THE TREES STARE BACK by Gigi Griffis, a Vermont Green Mountain Book Award Nominee, A Kirkus Best Book of the Year, a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults title, a CBC Choice, and a JLG selection; and YA dark fantasy THIS RAGING SEA by De Elizabeth, which is also available in France, the UK, Poland, and Germany. 

Find Kade’s wishlist here. 

For the 2026 Critique Carousel, Kade will critique:

•      Middle grade fiction
•       YA fiction
•       Novel-in-verse 

 

Matt Phipps

Editor, G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

 

Matt Phipps (he/him), editor at G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, acquires picture books, middle grade, young adult, and crossover, including graphic novels across categories. Books he has recently edited include the middle grade novels The Extraordinary Orbit of Alex Ramirez by Jasminne Paulino, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year; Majestica by Sarah Tolcser, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year; and the picture books At the Cookout by Nadia Fisher and The Crayon Stub by Marcus Cutler. Prior to joining Putnam in 2020, he spent several years on Penguin’s School and Library Marketing team. He was an Editor Mentor with The Word: A Storytelling Sanctuary and volunteered with the Representation Matters Mentorship Program, in addition to serving on the board of the Penguin Random House LGBTQ+ Network. He has also worked as a bookseller, a Spanish-English translator, and a college writing instructor.

Find out more about Matt’s editing taste here.

 

Matt will be critiquing:

·        Picture book fiction

·        Picture book nonfiction

·        Picture book dummy

·        Middle grade fiction

·        Middle grade nonfiction

·        YA fiction

·        YA nonfiction

·        Graphic novels fiction or nonfiction

·        Novel-in-verse

 

Milena Blue Spruce 

Associate Editor, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Milena Blue Spruce is an Associate Editor at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. She has been at LBYR for 5 years and acquires projects across all age categories: picture books, middle grade, young adult, and new adult. Milena is particularly interested in finding projects with disability representation, and her favorite project to read is a young adult speculative novel. When not at work, she's passionate about volunteering at her local food pantry, volunteer gardening at the park, and feeding the local feral cat colony.     

Milena will be critiquing:

• Picture book nonfiction
• Middle grade fiction
• YA fiction
• Novel-in-verse

 

Tova Seltzer 

Assistant Editor, Neal Porter Books

Tova Seltzer (she/her) joined the Neal Porter Books team in 2022, with a background in freelance editing, sensitivity reading, and bookselling. She is looking to acquire fresh, surprising picture books with spare, potent prose and a strong narrative arc, whether fiction or nonfiction. She’s also partial to books touching on art and design (triple points for interior design and architecture). A few of her all-time favorites are Pokko and the Drum by Matthew Forsythe, Everything You Need for a Treehouse by Carter Higgins and Emily Hughes, and Speak Up, Blanche! by Emily Arnold McCully.

 Tova’s wishlist can be found here.

 For the 2026 Critique Carousel, Tova will be critiquing:

• Picture book fiction 
• Picture book nonfiction 
• Picture book dummy 

 

RECAP:

If you read the last installment where our agents were introduced, then the following is a review. If you didn’t read last installment, find it here. And to refresh your memory:

• Remember to research the professionals you’d like to submit to, read interviews with them, find out their Manuscript Wish Lists, and read the information on their professional websites. I’ve given you links and a start above, but there’s more, so much more.

• Be sure your manuscripts/portfolios/dummies are in tip-top shape. Being professional and following guidelines goes a long way in proving you’ve done your due diligence.

• Here’s the website with all the details: cost, guidelines, procedures, and more.

• Registration will open September 19 for SCBWI-Michigan members. If you haven’t yet joined SCBWI, do so here (you’ll get a better rate for the event)!

• E&I scholarship available!

 

·       Questions? We have answers! 😊 Please read through all the info before emailing me!

 

September 1-12 - E&I scholarship application period

September 19 – Critique Carousel 2026 opens for Michigan SCBWI members

September 20 – Critique Carousel 2026 opens for all KidLit creators

September 30 – Registration closes

October 1 at 11 PM – all materials due via the form provided with your paid registration

 

Good luck, everyone!

 

Your Critique Carousel Coordinator,

Wendy BooydeGraaff

critiquecarousel@gmail.com

 

Wendy BooydeGraaff is the author of the picture book Salad Pie (Ripple Grove Press/Chicago Review Press) and her middle grade story “The Michigan Triangle” was included in the Haunted States of America anthology (Henry Holt, 2024). Her poetry, fiction, and essays have been included in Alaska Quarterly Review, X-R-A-Y, South Dakota Review, Southword, and elsewhere. Connect on Bluesky @onlybooyskies.bsky.social.