Pitch-a-Polooza 2025 Results

Explanation of Scoring:

Judges received "blind" entries; names were removed for impartiality. We asked our judges to “like” each pitch they wanted submitted to them. We also asked them to rank their top three picks of pitches. Scores for each pitch were obtained from a combination of the number of "likes" received for each pitch, or the ranking (1st, 2nd, or 3rd place) awarded by each judge, if applicable. The following "weight" was assigned to each element: Like = 1 point, 3rd place ranking by judge = 2 points, 2nd place ranking by judge = 3 points, 1st place ranking by judge = 4 points.

1st place: Tay Berryhill (8 pts)

2nd place: Tonya Grant (7 pts)

3rd place: Melissa Miles (6 pts)

Winning Pitches:

1st Place: Tay's pitch received likes from 3 judges! Here is the breakdown: A first-place ranking from Jen Newens, a second-place ranking from Vicky Weber, and a like from Kelly Dyksterhouse.

FOR ALL TIME+HEATHERS  

Haunted by her 4 past murders, each before age 18, 17yo Lacy enlists a past life therapist to break the curse & get justice. But this time her killer seems more soulmate than slayer—& holds a secret that can save them both. #YA #R #HF #LGBT #DIV  

2nd Place:

Tonya's pitch received first-place ranking from Vicky Weber, and a second-place ranking from Caitlyn Johnson.

11-year-old Wesley is determined to stay out of trouble in his new group home, but when he discovers his psychic powers can help find his mother and the truth behind her disappearance, he must leave or risk capture by corrupt scientists. (STRANGER THINGS X RAISING DION) #MG #POC

3rd Place: Melissa’s pitch received a first-place ranking from Della Farrell, and a third-place ranking from Caitlin Johnson.

THE GREATEST X THE LAST STAND

A young girl’s grandpa is the ONLY DOCTOR IN THE VALLEY—for the young, old, and not-yet-born. She discovers the vital role he plays, providing healthcare to a rural Appalachian community where payment is often made with bartering. Lush, lyrical #PB

Honorable Mention:

Neema Jn Baptiste (5 pts)

LOVE IS A PLACE— Where mountains stand tall, and lush hills beckon me to frolic. Where bamboo cannons boom bold messages to me. Where my fingers playfully meet mushy mud, molding dumplings, and mixing cocoa tea. A proud Caribbean girl extrapolates love where she lives and plays.

Top rated pitches with each judge:

Della Farrell, Editor with Holiday House

1) THE GREATEST X THE LAST STAND A young girl’s grandpa is the ONLY DOCTOR IN THE VALLEY—for the young, old, and not-yet-born. She discovers the vital role he plays, providing healthcare to a rural Appalachian community where payment is often made with bartering. Lush, lyrical #PB (Melissa Miles)

2) 17-year-old Mindy lives in a fishbowl since her dad is a small-town preacher in the South. But when she’s summoned to be a defense witness in a high-profile murder trial, rumors go viral leaving her spiraling to gain control of her life, find her voice, & stand up to bullies.#YA (Melissa Miles)

3) BIG LITTLE LIES x PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER When a night of crescendoing violence & toxic family secrets rock a 15yo-musician’s upbeat world, he must decide btw hiding what happened to stay in tune with his gaslighting relatives or surviving as the solo witness #YA #Tragicomedy (Meredith York)

Kelly Dyksterhouse, Agent at Tobias Literary Agency

1) Exceptionally loyal and brave, Ranger knows his future. He’s going to be a guide dog. But when he forms an unbreakable bond with his puppy raiser and best friend, thirteen -year-old Zahra, that dream is tested. Will he choose his destined path or follow his heart?#MG (Angela Hatch)

2) To keep his newfound home, a houseless doormat must rally a porch of damaged denizens to foil a plot to steal its priceless door knocker, while convincing the new homeowners to stay despite recent burglaries and solving the deeper mystery of how and why they are alive. #MG #F #M (Deborah Topolski)

3) MONTY PYTHON + HAMSTERS MAKE TERRIBLE ROOMMATES Sir Snacks-A-Lot the Brave, a class pet hamster with delusions of grandeur, protects the realm from evil Ogres. But when an unusual “damsel” protests her own rescue, will this Knight in Shining Hamster listen? #PB #Humor (Amanda Fletcher)

Jen Newens, Agent at Martin Literary Management

1) FOR ALL TIME+HEATHERS Haunted by her 4 past murders, each before age 18, 17yo Lacy enlists a past life therapist to break the curse & get justice. But this time her killer seems more soulmate than slayer—& holds a secret that can save them both. #YA #R #HF #LGBT #DIV (Tay Berryhill)

2) Harold the turtle is afraid to go in his shell. It’s haunted! But when he finds himself cornered, he must face his fear or be a fox’s dinner! Inside, he finds more than safety – a magical home and a new friend. HAROLD’S HAUNTED SHELL is a 514-word humorous, heartwarming tale. #PB (Charline Yutmeyer)

3) Mom’s hospitalized again, Abbey moves north of nowhere to dad’s. To keep mom’s illness hush, she avoids friendships. Loneliness proves harder than secrets. So Abbey works, finds romance, sees her true self. Time to return to mom: Will Abbey let her life shrink to nothing again? #YA (Jessica DeHart)

Caitlin Johnson, Editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books

1) LOVE IS A PLACE— Where mountains stand tall, and lush hills beckon me to frolic. Where bamboo cannons boom bold messages to me. Where my fingers playfully meet mushy mud, molding dumplings, and mixing cocoa tea. A proud Caribbean girl extrapolates love where she lives and plays. #PB (Neema Jn Baptiste)

2) 11-year-old Wesley is determined to stay out of trouble in his new group home, but when he discovers his psychic powers can help find his mother and the truth behind her disappearance, he must leave or risk capture by corrupt scientists. (STRANGER THINGS X RAISING DION) #MG #POC (Tonya Grant)

3) THE GREATEST X THE LAST STAND A young girl’s grandpa is the ONLY DOCTOR IN THE VALLEY—for the young, old, and not-yet-born. She discovers the vital role he plays, providing healthcare to a rural Appalachian community where payment is often made with bartering. Lush, lyrical #PB (Melissa Miles)

Honorable Mention: SOUL FOOD SUNDAY X I’LL GO AND COME BACK. Eight year old Ashton prepares a traditional healing soup for his grandma—only to discover that he doesn’t have all the right ingredients. He has no choice but to follow his heart and find the special ingredient for Grandma’s sake. #BVM #PB (Janet Kelly)

Vicky Weber, Agent at Creative Media Agency

1) 11-year-old Wesley is determined to stay out of trouble in his new group home, but when he discovers his psychic powers can help find his mother and the truth behind her disappearance, he must leave or risk capture by corrupt scientists. (STRANGER THINGS X RAISING DION) #MG #POC (Tonya Grant)

2) FOR ALL TIME+HEATHERS Haunted by her 4 past murders, each before age 18, 17yo Lacy enlists a past life therapist to break the curse & get justice. But this time her killer seems more soulmate than slayer—& holds a secret that can save them both. #YA #R #HF #LGBT #DIV (Tay Berryhill)

3) 6 year old cis African American boy, Pax, wants one thing – to be a mom. When his mom becomes ill one day, he gets his chance and he’s not blowing it! But being a mom is not as easy as it looks. #PB (Guyla Johnson)

Honorable Mention: Science-geek, Lilah, longs to see the stars but limited vision thwarts her dream. Each attempt fails. Until her classmates & town surprise her with OPERATION CONSTELLATION, leaving Lilah truly starry-eyed!

A PB story of resilience; Vivi Loves Science + Peter’s Rockin’ Ear. #OWN (Gail Handler)

Honorable Mention: The cows decide they need a vacation, so, with thirty-seven snacks, rope, and a brand-new tent, the herd takes to the mountains. When a raccoon runs away with the snacks, and a cow ends up drifting away in the river, they find that teamwork makes for the best adventure. #PB (Kimberly Edmondson)

Honorable Mention: What do you do when a donkey moves in, wrecks your stuff, and follows you everywhere? One kid tries everything…until they realize they can’t control the donkey, only their response. How to Ditch a Donkey is a humorous picture book about big feelings and self-regulation. #PB (Liz DeAngelo)

Kristie Choi, Editor for the Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint at Simon & Schuster

1)  A cheeky girl is sure she knows exactly HOW TO DRAW THE SUN: Big! Bold! Bright! Except—her masterpiece flops. With wild ideas, hope, and *maybe* even some help, though, she just might turn her mess to magic in this lyrical ode to creativity. #PB BOOK OF MISTAKES x BEAUTIFUL OOPS! (Jessica Ruthven)

2) If pirates get marooned in your neighborhood, you may be excited to befriend them. But when they plunder lunches, dig up soccer fields & make you walk the plank, will they ever stop wreaking havoc? Arrgh! If only these scallywags could behave, but PIRATES DO NOT HAVE MANNERS. #PB (Taylor Girard)

3) SHE PERSISTED IN SCIENCE x THE GREAT STINK Everyone knows Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb, but he didn’t do it alone. ONE BRIGHT IDEA illuminates the overlooked inventors, thinkers, and tinkerers from diverse backgrounds who helped spark history’s brightest idea. #PB #NF (Taylor Woolley)