The William C. Morris YA Debut Award is an annual award given to a work of young adult literature by a "first-time author writing for teens". It is administered by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).
The award is named for twentieth-century American publisher, William C. Morris, (born 1928 or 1929 and raised in Eagle Pass, Texas, died Sept 28, 2003 in Manhattan), characterized as "an influential innovator in the publishing world and an advocate for marketing books for children and young adults".
The award is funded by the William C. Morris Endowment, established in 2000 and activated in 2003 with a bequest of $400,000 from the Morris estate. Morris donated the money to ALA to fund programs, publications, events, or awards in promotion of children's literature.
In addition to being a member of ALA, Morris was the first recipient of its Distinguished Service Award in 1992. The shortlist for the first award was announced on December 8, 2008, and the winner, A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce, was announced on January 26, 2009, at the ALA's midwinter meeting.
"To be eligible, a title must have been designated by its publisher as being either a young adult book or one published for the age range that YALSA defines as 'young adult', i.e., 12 through 18". About 4000 "YA titles" are published annually and about 10% may be debuts.
Recipients + Morris Award winners and finalists Year Author Book Result 2009WinnerGracelingFinalistAbsolute BrightnessMadappleMe, the Missing, and the Dead2010Flash BurnoutWinner and Margaret Stohl Beautiful CreaturesFinalistHold StillAsh2011WinnerHushFinalistGuardian of the DeadHold Me Closer, NecromancerCrossing the Tracks2012Where Things Come BackWinnerFinalistPaper Covers RockUnder the MesquiteBetween Shades of Gray2013SeraphinaWinnerAfter the SnowFinalist Love and Other Perishable Items Wonder Show2014WinnerFinalistDr. Bird's Advice for Sad PoetsBelle EpoqueIn the Shadow of Blackbirds2015 Gabi, A Girl in Pieces Winner Finalist 2016Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda WinnerBecause You'll Never Meet MeFinalistConviction2017 WinnerGirl Mans UpFinalistRani Patel in Full EffectTell Me Something Real2018 WinnerDear MartinFinalistDevils WithinSaints and MisfitsStarfish2019Darius the Great is Not Okay WinnerBlood Water PaintFinalistCheck, Please!: #HockeyChildren of Blood and BoneWhat the Night Sings2020WinnerFinalistFrankly in LoveGenesis Begins AgainThere Will Come a Darkness2021If These Wings Could FlyWinnerBlack Girl Unlimited: The Remarkable Story of a Teenage WizardFinalistIt Sounded Better in My HeadWoven in Moonlight2022Firekeeper's DaughterWinnerAce of SpadesFinalistVampires, Hearts & Other Dead ThingsMe (Moth)What Beauty There Is2023WinnerFinalistWake the BonesHell Followed with Us2024Rez BallWinnerAll the Fighting PartsFinalistOnce There WasSaints of the HouseholdShe Is a Haunting2025Not Like Other GirlsWinnerAisle NineFinalistDead Things are Closer Than They AppearShut Up, This is Serious2026All the Noise at OnceWinnerFirst Love LanguageFinalistLove, MishaRed Flags and ButterfliesYou and Me on Repeat
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