Cynthia Leitich Smith

Cynthia Leitich Smith (Mvskoke Nation) is the 2026 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature Winner, a two-time American Indian Youth Literature [Young Adult] Award winner, a 2026 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award Candidate, a NSK Neustadt Laureate, Southern Miss Medallion winner, Texas Literary Hall of Fame inductee, and the author-curator of Heartdrum, a Native-focused imprint at HarperChildren’s. Cynthia also has been named to deliver the 2026 ALSC Children’s Literature Lecture. She’s a New York Times bestselling author, and her latest titles include HERE COME THE AUNTIES!, FIREFLY SEASON, and LEGENDARY FRYBREAD DRIVE-IN: INTERTRIBAL STORIES.