Michael L. Printz Award 2002: Complete list of winners

The Michael L. Printz Award, one of the American Library Association’s most prestigious honors for young adult literature, celebrated exceptional storytelling in 2002 with a powerful winner that resonated with readers and critics alike. Established in 2000 to recognize the best young adult book published in the previous year, the Printz Award has quickly become a beacon for quality YA fiction, drawing attention to works that tackle meaningful themes with literary sophistication. The 2002 award recognized A Step From Heaven by An Na, a debut novel that captures the immigrant experience with remarkable tenderness and authenticity.

An Na’s award-winning novel follows a Korean American girl navigating the complexities of cultural displacement, family dynamics, and the search for identity in a new country. What makes this selection particularly significant is how it elevated voices and perspectives often underrepresented in young adult literature at the time. The Printz Award’s recognition of A Step From Heaven affirmed that YA fiction could address profound social and personal themes without sacrificing emotional honesty or literary merit—a message that would shape the landscape of young adult publishing in the years to come.

Young Adult

• A Step From Heaven by An Na