Algonquin Books is developing a new young readers’ program with fiction for young adults. The program will launch at the end of 2012 with about six titles.

Elise Howard, a HarperCollins graduate, will be heading up the new division for Algonquin Books. Aside from heading up HarperCollins’ Children’s Books division, Howard has also edited titles by Lynne Reid Banks, Chris Lynch, Rachel Vail and Neil Gaiman.

Howard commented on her new role, which begins in mid November, by stating: “Developing a brand-new young adult and middle-grade readers’ list is a rare opportunity. The really thrilling challenge is to do it within a program as esteemed as Algonquin’s, with the goal of building a small, focused, literary list that reflects and honors its origins in every way.”