Jessica Dandino Garrison, Executive Editor

Jessica Dandino Garrison (she/her) is an alumna of Emory University and joined Dial in 2004. She has edited bestselling authors, including Jandy Nelson and her Printz Award–winning I’ll Give You the Sun, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and her Newbery Honor–winning Fighting Words, Deborah Underwood, author of The Panda Problem, and David Soman and Jacky Davis, creators of the Ladybug Girl series. Newer to Jess’s list are rising talents Jack Cheng (See You in the Cosmos), Helena Fox (How it Feels to Float), and Shana Youngdahl (As Many Nows As I Can Get), plus picture book veterans Jane Godwin and Blanca Gomez (Red House, Tree House, Little Bitty Brown Mouse). Across all genres, Jess looks for nuanced and layered MG and YA fiction that has something to say. She seeks fresh voices, underrepresented points of view, a deep emotional pull, pacey storytelling, rich themes, and genre writing that transcends genre. A shot of humor also never hurts. Jess is drawn to clever pre-K fare and character-driven picture books that meld humor and empathy.