Michael L. Printz Award 2024: Complete list of winners

The Michael L. Printz Award, one of the most prestigious honors in young adult literature, has announced its 2024 winner, and it’s a genuinely unexpected choice that speaks volumes about where YA fiction is heading. The Collectors: Stories, edited and featuring contributions from A. S. King alongside M. T. Anderson, E.E. Charlton-Trujillo, David Levithan, Cory McCarthy, Anna-Marie McLemore, Greg Neri, Jason Reynolds, Randy Ribay, and Jenny Torres Sanchez, takes the crown this year. This anthology represents something we don’t often see recognized at this level: a multi-authored collection that treats a shared concept with the kind of literary ambition typically reserved for standalone novels.

What makes this Printz Award selection particularly notable is how it reflects a broader shift in young adult publishing—a willingness to embrace experimental formats and collective authorship. Rather than centering a single narrative voice, The Collectors brings together some of the most respected names in contemporary YA, each bringing their distinctive style to interconnected stories. The assembled roster of writers reads like a who’s who of the field, from Jason Reynolds’ spare, propulsive prose to David Levithan’s introspective sensibility, suggesting a project that demanded only the most accomplished storytellers.

The Michael L. Printz Award has long recognized literary excellence in young adult literature, and this year’s choice underscores the award’s commitment to honoring innovation in form as much as content. Here’s the full breakdown of this year’s honorees and what they’re bringing to teen readers:

Young Adult

• The Collectors: Stories by A. S. King(ed.), written by King,M. T. Anderson,E.E. Charlton-Trujillo,David Levithan,Cory McCarthy,Anna-Marie McLemore,Greg Neri,Jason Reynolds,Randy Ribay, andJenny Torres Sanchez