Does literary quality mean that a writer has to have a strong authorial presence? I bring this up because Beyond Magenta is a wonderful nonfiction book. It’s easily one of the strongest contenders for this year’s YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction—but will it be a serious Printz contender?

I guess what I’m really struggling with is how to asses a book that is shaped largely by the personal narratives of individuals told in their own words. Susan Kuklin has edited and arranged the six stories that appear in the book but I keep thinking that the things that moved, enlightened, and challenged me in Beyond Magenta were the teens’ voices—their stories and their analysis of their identities.

Not all of the Printz criteria need to be applied to declare a book exceptional but I find that theme and possibly design are the main elements to examine for literary quality here, and I’m not sure that they show the very best work of the year. What makes this book outstanding is the way that Kuklin allows the teen voice to shine, with very little authorial interruption. So if we’re considering voice, can we call the work extraordinary if the author’s role was to preserve the subject’s voice by presenting their words?

Maybe I’m diminishing Kuklin’s role, but when I think about what impressed me in this book, I think of Christina, the girl who came out as transgender while attending an all boys Catholic school. When she talks about her experience, she’s able to convey her bravery and her fragility at that time. Those are her words; she’s done the hard work of thinking about who she is and what she’s been through and is able to share that with the reader. Similarly, Cameron is incredibly thoughtful about their experience (“their” is Cameron’s preferred pronoun), exploring male privilege, the way that clothes reflect and influence their gender identity, and other aspects of what it means to be a trans teen. Cameron’s exploring those themes, and it feels like Kuklin is facilitating more than creating.

In terms of Printz criteria, the easiest element to trace back to Kuklin is theme. The importance of physical appearance to a transgender teen is a recurring theme among the six teens profiled. Nineteen-year-old Mariah talks about the common wisdom that “it’s what’s inside that counts.” She astutely observes—and she’s not alone in mentioning this—that feeling good about one’s appearance is a major part of their confidence building. Furthermore, some of the teens interviewed talk about their rejection of society’s gender binary system, feeling more comfortable living in-between the two. These ideas are powerful and can inspire endless debate and discussion. To be so prominent, Kuklin surely edited the interviews to bring those ideas forward as a common thread, in addition to honoring each individual’s personal take on their gender identity.

Beyond Magenta is powerful and important reading. It’s a book that every teen should read. But all of these questions I have make me unsure if it has the literary chops to be a Printz winner or honor book. I’d love to have more debate about this (from both sides) in the comments, so tell us what you think!