Yvonne Woon

The Edgar Allan Poe Awards, commonly referred to as the Edgars, are an annual recognition presented by the Mystery Writers of America. These awards are considered the preeminent accolades within the mystery writing field. A specific award for Best Young Adult Mystery was introduced in 1989, intended for readers aged twelve to eighteen, encompassing grades eight through twelve. Before this dedicated category existed, the Mystery Writers of America presented a special Edgar award to Katherine Paterson in 1977 for her novel, The Master Puppeteer. The provided text outlines the history and establishment of the Young Adult Edgar award, noting its inception year and target audience.