Printz Award

Michael L. Printz Award

The Michael L. Printz Award

The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a Topeka, Kansas school librarian who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association. The award is sponsored by Booklist, a publication of the American Library Association. Learn more about Michael Printz via this video from cjonline.com.

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See Current Committee Contacts Here

Read Speeches from Past Winners Here

jacket for the graphic novel brownstone featuring the gold printz winner seal

2025 Michael L. Printz Award Winner: BROWNSTONE

“Brownstone,” written by Samuel Teer and illustrated by Mar Julia, co-published by Versify and HarperAlley, imprints of Harper Collins Publishers.

In 1995, fourteen-year-old Almudena’s mother wants to fulfill a lifelong dancing dream in Europe, which means Almudena must spend the summer with her father whom she has never met as he restores a historic brownstone. Almudena learns more about her Guatemalan identity, herself, and the importance of community. Evocative graphic novel illustrations elevate this layered, character-driven, fish-out-of-water story of found family.

2025 Michael L. Printz Honor Books

2025 Michael L. Printz Committee

Members of the 2025 Printz Award Committee are Chair Jacqueline E. Bush, Stratford Library Association, Connecticut; Ginny Edwards, Irondale Public Library, Alabama; Paula Gallagher, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, Maryland; Dr. Tara A. Gold, Riverside High School, Durham, North Carolina; Dr. Marie A. LeJeune, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, Oregon; Gia Ruiz, Santa Monica Public Library, California; Jennifer Sutton, Lake Park High School East Campus, Roselle, Illinois; Carinna Tarvin, Stewart Middle School, Tacoma, Washington; Carolyn Vidmar, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, Maryland; and Award Administrative Assistant Kelley Blue, Portland Public Library, Maine.

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