Michael L. Printz Award 2014: Complete list of winners

The Michael L. Printz Award, which celebrates the most outstanding literary merit in young adult literature, crowned Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick as its 2014 Young Adult winner. Sedgwick’s haunting novel, which weaves together multiple timelines and perspectives across centuries on a remote island, exemplifies exactly the kind of ambitious, formally inventive storytelling that the Printz committee honors year after year. The book’s fragmented narrative structure and exploration of love and mortality across different eras demonstrates that YA literature continues to push artistic boundaries and tackle complex themes with sophistication.

The Printz Award, named after a pioneering librarian who championed teen readers and their literature, remains one of the most prestigious honors in the field. Unlike some book prizes that prioritize popularity or commercial appeal, the Printz focuses purely on literary excellence—a commitment that makes its selections particularly influential among educators, librarians, and serious YA readers who want to discover work that challenges and moves them. Sedgwick’s win adds to his already impressive accolades and serves as a reminder that experimental narrative forms have a powerful place in literature written for young adults.

Below, you’ll find the complete list of 2014 winners and honorees across all categories.

Young Adult

• Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick