February 17, 2026
Lynn Melnick Awarded 2026 Stern Prize
The American Poetry Review Is Happy to Announce 
the 2026 Winner of The Stern Prize 
 
Lynn Melnick
for her collection
I Deserve This, Thank You
 
The book will be published in April, 2027. 
 
Lynn Melnick is the author of three poetry collections, including, most recently Refusenik, winner of the Julie Suk award, and a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. She is also the author of the memoir, I've Had to Think Up a Way to Survive: On Trauma, Persistence, and Dolly Parton, most recently out in paperback with Spiegel & Grau. Her poems have appeared in The New Yorker, Poetry, New Republic, and A Public Space. She teaches at Princeton University and Columbia University, and lives in Brooklyn with her family. 
  • melnick 3 author photo photo credit ada donnelly