Mock Printz 2026 discussion

Here are the books we read and discussed this year. If we missed books that you would like to add to the final list the choose from, please add the title in the comment box.

On January 13th, I will post the final list for everyone to cast their final vote. The Printz winners will be announced on January 27th.

Pet by Akawaeke Emenzi
The Lovely War by Julie Berry
Shout by Laura Halse Anderson
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay
Dig by AS King
Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki

Dawn is going to add:
Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind them all by Laura Ruby
1919 The Year That Changed America by Martin W. Sandler
Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds
Frankly in Love by David Yoon
The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali

I would add: Shout and The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali

And I would remove The Undefeated, lovely as it is. WAY too young a title for the Printz.

Mary HD wrote: "And I would remove The Undefeated, lovely as it is. WAY too young a title for the Printz."

I agree. It's a picture book.

My bad, clearly I haven’t read it. Lol
I’ll take it off

White Bird (RJ Palacio)

Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of "The Children's Ship" (Deborah Heiligman)

The Moon Within (Aida Salazar)

(These books are all in the YA section at my library, but I don't know if they officially have a YA designation to qualify for the Printz.)

Although it skews more middle grade, I found Queen of the Sea to be quite strong and better than the majority of what we’ve read this year.

Beth wrote: "White Bird (RJ Palacio)

Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of "The Children's Ship" (Deborah Heiligman)

The Moon Within (Aida Salazar)

(These books are all in the YA section a..."

I think these are all middle grade; they are for grades 5-8 and Printz chooses from books for grades 6-12.

Tatiana wrote: "Although it skews more middle grade, I found Queen of the Sea to be quite strong and better than the majority of what we’ve read this year."

I believe this is middle grade; it is listed for grades 5-8.

Middle grade that skews older, like the ones mentioned above, still fall within the Printz range, though.

I'd add All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater

Leslie wrote: "I'd add All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater"

It was published in 2017.