Michael L. Printz Award is presented each year for “a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.” The award is presented by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).
Eligibility for the Printz Award differs slightly from other ALA awards in that the book does not need to be written by an American author. It only needs to have been published in the United States during the award year. The book must be designated as a young adult book or one that was written for young readers ages 12 to 18.
The full title of the award is the Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. The prize was established in 1999 and first presented in 2000. The award is sponsored by Booklist, a publication of the ALA. The award is named for Michael L. Printz (1937-1996), a high school librarian in Topeka, Kansas, who had a strong interest in supporting quality books aimed at teenage readers.
The Printz committee selects the winning book and up to four honor books published the previous year. The books may be fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or an anthology. The Printz Award is announced at the annual ALA midwinter meeting.
