Kara Grajkowski is a classroom-educator-turned-literary-agent at 3 Seas Literary Agency who specializes in contemporary middle grade and YA fiction, with a strong pull toward #OwnVoices stories, Black joy, and books that reflect the lived realities of real kids.
In brief
Kara Grajkowski's background as an elementary teacher and behavioral interventionist is not decorative — it is the lens through which every submission is evaluated. If a project could live in a real classroom library, it stands a much better chance.
Contemporary MG is the declared top priority. The emphasis on urban settings, Black joy, and characters who are still figuring themselves out signals a very specific emotional register: honest, warm, and grounded in community rather than fantasy.
Despite listing several adult categories in directory profiles, the current agency page narrows the stated wishlist to contemporary MG, contemporary YA, and #OwnVoices — writers pitching adult romance or new adult rom-coms should note this potential drift and query with caution.
Picture books with non-traditional structures, fourth-wall breaks, disability representation, SEL themes, or curriculum ties are welcomed — but Kara is not seeking picture books from authors alone; the classroom-library framing suggests a preference for projects with strong illustrative vision or author-illustrator submissions.
Submissions are CLOSED as of August 31, 2025 — verify the live form before querying; do not rely on any older open-status signals.
Lately
Kara's current agency page condenses the wishlist to three clear pillars: contemporary MG fiction, contemporary YA fiction, and #OwnVoices storytelling — a tighter, more focused list than older directory profiles suggest. Writers should treat this as the authoritative current statement.
What Kara is looking for
This is Kara's self-described favorite category and the one most directly tied to their professional life as an educator. The ideal project features a protagonist who is still in the messy middle of growing up — not yet sorted out, but earnestly trying. Urban settings earn extra attention, as do stories that center Black joy and BIPOC experiences. The emotional throughline Kara looks for is one that makes a reader laugh, cry, and feel genuinely changed by the end.
Kara wants contemporary YA with emotional authenticity and social relevance — stories that reflect the real world of today's teenagers, particularly those from underrepresented communities. #OwnVoices narratives are actively prioritized. YA rom-coms and stories with layers of social or emotional complexity are especially welcome. Fantasy, time travel, and speculative sub-genres are explicitly not a fit.
Kara gravitates toward picture books that celebrate diversity, community, and the full texture of childhood — particularly those that deploy humor alongside a lesson. A structural hook is a significant plus: fourth-wall breaks and non-traditional narration styles are specifically called out as favorites. Books championing disability representation, social-emotional learning, or regulation strategies are welcome, as are curriculum-aligned nonfiction picture books. Rhyming texts are generally not a fit unless the humor is strong enough to carry them.
Kara takes new adult rom-coms only very selectively. The bar is high: sharp, witty writing is non-negotiable, and a fresh angle on a familiar romantic premise is a meaningful advantage. Writers in this category should consider carefully whether their voice is genuinely distinct before querying.
Kara is interested in nonfiction that addresses issues in schools, education broadly, mental health, or trauma — but memoirs are explicitly excluded. The ideal project is more explanatory, research-grounded, or issue-focused than personal narrative. Given the classroom background, curriculum-adjacent or educator-facing nonfiction would align particularly well.
Not the right fit
On Kara's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Kara
Do not email a query — Kara's guidelines state that email queries are deleted without being read. All submissions must go through the agency's online submission form.
Confirm the form is open before submitting; it was closed as of August 31, 2025, and there is no announced reopening window.
Lead with what makes your story feel real to a real child. Kara evaluates submissions partly by imagining them in a classroom library — grounding your pitch in authentic, specific character experience will resonate more than high-concept plot summary.
Call out #OwnVoices status explicitly if it applies — Kara actively requests this signal in the submission and it carries genuine weight in the evaluation.
If pitching a picture book with a structural device (fourth-wall breaks, unusual narration, non-linear format), name and describe that device upfront — it is a specific attractor for Kara rather than a gimmick to downplay.
For new adult rom-coms, make the voice do the work in the first pages. Kara has set a high bar here — 'sharp and witty' should be demonstrable on page one, not described in the query letter.
Avoid pitching fantasy, time travel, or rhyming picture books (unless the humor is undeniable) — these are explicitly outside Kara's interests and will not be a good use of either party's time.