Michael L. Printz Award 2013: Complete list of winners

The Michael L. Printz Award, which honors the most outstanding literary quality in young adult literature, announced its 2013 winner with In Darkness by Nick Lake taking top honors. Lake’s haunting novel, set against the backdrop of Haiti’s 2010 earthquake, represents exactly the kind of ambitious, formally inventive storytelling that the Printz Award celebrates. The novel’s fragmented narrative structure and profound exploration of survival and resilience demonstrated that YA literature could tackle devastating real-world events with both literary sophistication and emotional authenticity.

Named after a school librarian who championed teen readers, the Printz Award has become the gold standard for recognizing exceptional writing in the young adult space. Unlike many awards that focus on popularity or commercial success, the Printz Committee specifically evaluates books on literary merit—examining narrative voice, character development, thematic depth, and prose quality. Lake’s win affirmed a growing trend in the early 2010s of YA authors pushing narrative boundaries and engaging with complex geopolitical subjects that challenged their young readers intellectually.

The selection of In Darkness underscored the award’s commitment to books that resonate on multiple levels, offering both the immediate engagement that draws teen readers in and the literary craftsmanship that rewards close analysis. Below, you’ll find the complete list of 2013 Michael L. Printz Award winners and honors.

Young Adult

• In Darkness by Nick Lake