Publisher Profile / Zest Books

Zest Books

Facts

Mission and genres: “Zest Books is a leader in young adult nonfiction, publishing books on entertainment, history, science, health, fashion, and lifestyle advice.”

Founder/Publisher and Creative Director: Hallie Warshaw

Publishing Director: Dan Harmon

Year Founded: 2006

An Interview with the Publishing Director Dan Harmon

Dan Harmon
An interview with Dan Harmon, the editorial director of Zest Books, a San Francisco-based publisher of teen nonfiction.

What is Zest’s book publishing mission? How, when, and where did you begin? At Zest Books we publish smart, funny, and informative nonfiction books for teens and young adults. The company was founded in 2006 by Hallie Warshaw. Hallie had been packaging books for a tween audience up to that point, but she felt that by publishing teen nonfiction, she could really fill a need for libraries, parents, and teens themselves. We now publish 12–14 books a year that run the gamut from memoirs to fashion guides, graphic novels, histories, and pop culture books. We’re distributed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, but our offices are located in the SOMA district of San Francisco.

Read the interview with Dan Harmon

Reviews

Votes of Confidence: A Young Person’s Guide to American Elections by Jeff Fleischer

Plotted: A Literary Atlas by Andrew DeGraff & Daniel Harmon

Rockin’ the Boat: 50 Iconic Revolutionaries by Jeff Fleischer

Members Only: Secret Societies, Sects, and Cults—Exposed! by Julie Tibbott

Daisy to the Rescue: True Stories of Daring Dogs, Paramedic Parrots, and Other Animal Heroes by Jeff Campbell

The Green Teen Cookbook: Recipes for All Seasons—Written by Teens, for Teens Edited by Laurane Marchive & Pam McElroy

Sticky Fingers: DIY Duct Tape Projects by Sophie Maletsky

Undecided: Navigating Life and Learning after High School by Genevieve Morgan

Scared Stiff: Everything You Need to Know about 50 Famous Phobias by Sara Latta

Historical Heartthrobs: 50 Timeless Crushes-from Cleopatra to Camus by Kelly Murphy

Super Pop! Pop Culture Top Ten Lists to Help You Win at Trivia, Survive in the Wild, and Make It through the Holidays by Daniel Harmon

Little Fish: A Memoir from a Different Kind of Year by Ramsey Beyer

How to Lose Everything: A Mostly True Story by Philipp Mattheis

Make the Grade: Everything You Need to Study Better, Stress Less, and Succeed in School by Lesley Schwartz Martin

The Prom Book: The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need by Lauren Metz

Holy Spokes: A Biking Bible for Everyone by Rob Coppolillo, Illustrated by Todd Telander

Zoo Station by Christiane F., Translated by Christina Cartwright

Regine’s Book: A Teen Girl’s Last Words by Regine Stokke

Dear Teen Me: Authors Write Letters to Their Teen Selves Edited by E. Kristin Anderson & Miranda Kenneally

The Book of Styling: An Insider’s Guide to Creating Your Own Look by Somer Flaherty

The End: 50 Apocalyptic Visions from Pop Culture That You Should Know about… before It’s Too Late by Laura Barcella

Don’t Sit on the Baby: The Ultimate Guide to Sane, Skilled, and Safe Babysitting by Halley Bondy

Scandalous! 50 Shocking Events You Should Know About So You Can Impress Your Friends by Hallie Fryd

Indie Girl by Arne Johnson & Karen Macklin

Awards

Whoppers: History’s Most Outrageous Lies and Liars by Christine Siefert. 2015 Finalist for Young Adult Nonfiction

Prison Island: A Graphic Memoir by Colleen Frakes. 2015 Finalist for Graphic Novels & Comics

UnSlut: A Diary and a Memoir by Emily Lindin. 2015 SILVER Winner for Young Adult Nonfiction

Plotted: A Literary Atlas by Andrew DeGraff and Daniel Harmon. 2015 Finalist for Art

Tomboy: A Graphic Memoir by Liz Prince. 2014 HONORABLE Mention for Graphic Novels & Comics

Daisy to the Rescue: True Stories of Daring Dogs, Paramedic Parrots, and Other Animal Heroes by Jeff Campbell. 2014 BRONZE Winner for Young Adult Nonfiction

Sticky Fingers: DIY Duct Tape Projects by Sophie Maletsky. 2014 Finalist for Young Adult Nonfiction

Super Pop! Pop Culture Top Ten Lists to Help You Win at Trivia, Survive in the Wild, and Make It through the Holidays by Daniel Harmon. 2013 Finalist for Young Adult Nonfiction

How to Lose Everything: A Mostly True Story by Philipp Mattheis. 2013 GOLD Winner for Young Adult Nonfiction

Little Fish: A Memoir from a Different Kind of Year by Ramsey Beyer. 2013 Finalist for Young Adult Nonfiction

Make the Grade: Everything You Need to Study Better, Stress Less, and Succeed in School by Lesley Schwartz Martin. 2013 Finalist for Young Adult Nonfiction

Regine’s Book: A Teen Girl’s Last Words by Regine Stokke. 2012 BRONZE Winner for Young Adult Nonfiction

Dear Teen Me: Authors Write Letters to Their Teen Selves Edited by E. Kristin Anderson and Miranda Kenneally. 2012 Finalist for Young Adult Nonfiction

Scandalous! 50 Shocking Events You Should Know About So You Can Impress Your Friends by Hallie Fryd. 2012 GOLD Winner for Young Adult Nonfiction