Margaret A. Edwards Award

The Margaret A. Edwards Award, established in 1988, honors an author, as well as a specific body of his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature. The annual award is administered by YALSA and sponsored by School Library Journal magazine. It recognizes an author's work in helping adolescents become aware of themselves and addressing questions about their role and importance in relationships, society, and in the world.

Administered by:

Award and Frequency

Cash prize of $1,000 plus an appropriate citation.

Eligibility

The award will be given annually to an author(may be an individual or a co-author. The author must be living at the time of the nomination. In the case of co-authors, one must be living. If an author continues to write books of interest and appeal to young adults then he or she may receive more than once as warranted, as long as it is not more frequently than every six years.) whose book or books(indicates either a title or titles written specifically for young adults, or those titles written for adults which continue to be requested and read by young adults. The title or titles must be in-print at the time of nomination. Only those titles of an author's work which meet the criteria of the award will be cited.), over a period of time(means that the book or books must have been published in the United States no less than five years prior to the first meeting of the current Margaret A. Edwards Award Committee at the Midwinter Meeting. The five year period is stipulated so that the book or books have had enough time to filter down, i.e., reach a wide level of distribution, and to be accepted by young adults.), have been accepted by young adults as an authentic voice that continues to illuminate their experiences and emotions(means that the book or books have become a literary cornerstone for young adults.), giving insight into their lives. The book or books should enable them to understand themselves, the world in which they live, and their relationship with others and with society. The book or books must be in print at the time of the nomination.

Applicant Responsibility

• The author will be required to attend the event to accept the award and to make a short acceptance speech.
• The author must be living at the time of the nomination.

Application Instructions

Nomination Form

Contact Information

Selection Criteria

The committee making its selection of nominees must be aware of the entire range of books for young adults and will take into account the following:

• Does the book(s) help adolescents to become aware of themselves and to answer their questions about their role and importance in relationships, society and in the world?
• Is the book(s) of acceptable literary quality?
• Does the book(s) satisfy the curiosity of young adults and yet help them thoughtfully to build a philosophy of life?
•  Is the book(s) currently popular with a wide range of young adults in many different parts of the country.
•  Do the book or book(s) serve as a "window to the world" for young adults?