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Booklist (American Library Association)

Booklist Editors' Choice 2022

Booklist (American Library Association)'s Booklist Editors' Choice 2022 names 151 books across 18 categories. 48 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Adult Books for Young Adults: Fiction

  1. Big Girl by Mecca Jamilah Sullivansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Dark Earth by Rebecca Stottsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Never Been Kissed by Timothy Janovskysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Nightcrawling by Leila Mottleysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allensource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jenningssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Ghost that Ate Us: The Tragic True Story of the Burger City Poltergeist by Daniel Kraussource (opens in a new tab)
  8. True Biz by Sara Novićsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Yerba Buena by Nina LaCoursource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books for Young Adults: Nonfiction

  1. 30 Animals That Made Us Smarter: Stories of the Natural World That Inspired Human Ingenuity by Patrick Aryeesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Acne by Laura Chinnsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Crying in the Bathroom by Erika L. Sánchezsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. It Won’t Always Be like This by Malaka Gharibsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Shotgun Seamstress: An Anthology by Osa Atoesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The World Record Book of Racist Stories by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamarsource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Arts

  1. Martha Graham: When Dance Became Modern by Neil Baldwinsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Saxophone Colossus: The Life and Music of Sonny Rollins by Aidan Levysource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Cookery

  1. One: Pot, Pan, Planet; A Greener Way to Cook for You and Your Family by Anna Jonessource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Fiction

  1. Big Girl by Mecca Jamilah Sullivansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. By Her Own Design by Piper Huguleysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolversource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Didn't Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta by James Hannahamsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Horse by Geraldine Brookssource (opens in a new tab)
  6. If I Survive You by Jonathan Escofferysource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Lark Ascending by Silas Housesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Liberation Day by George Saunderssource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marrasource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ngsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Signal Fires by Dani Shapirosource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabinelisource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm by Laura Warrellsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garciasource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Daltonsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Patron Saint of Second Chances by Christine Simonsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Guntysource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Swimmers by Julie Otsukasource (opens in a new tab)
  19. True Biz by Sara Nóvicsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Yonder by Jabari Asimsource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Genre Fiction

  1. After the Lights Go Out by John Verchersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Anywhere You Run by Wanda M. Morrissource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution by R. F. Kuangsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleursource (opens in a new tab)
  5. How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsusource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Marlowe Banks, Redesigned by Jacqueline Firkinssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. One-Shot Harry by Gary Phillipssource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandelsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Secret Identity by Alex Segurasource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Island by Adrian McKintysource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The It Girl by Ruth Waresource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzisource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Two Nights in Lisbon by Chris Pavonesource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Where We End & Begin by Jane Igharosource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Geography & Travel

  1. Africa Is Not a Country: Notes on a Bright Continent by Dipo Faloyinsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation by Imani Perrysource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: History

  1. Agent Josephine: American Beauty, French Hero, British Spy by Damien Lewissource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad by Matthew F. Delmontsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Last Call at the Hotel Imperial: The Reporters Who Took on a World at War by Deborah Cohensource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Papyrus: The Invention of Books in the Ancient World by Irene Vallejo, translated by Charlotte Whittlesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Stay True by Hua Hsusource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Literature

  1. Great Short Books: A Year of Reading—Briefly by Kenneth C. Davissource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Memoirs

  1. All Darkness Down Wide by Seán Hewittsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Constructing a Nervous System by Margo Jeffersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Crying in the Bathroom by Erika L. Sanchezsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Diary of a Misfit by Casey Parkssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beatonsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Easy Beauty by Chloé Cooper Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Invisible Storm: A Soldier’s Memoir of Politics and PTSD by Jason Kandersource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Poetry

  1. Antes Que Isla Es Volcán / Before Island Is Volcano by Raquel Salas Riverasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Hurting Kind by Ada Limónsource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Social Sciences

  1. African Founders: How Enslaved People Expanded American Ideals by David Hackett Fischersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Atoms and Ashes: A Global History of Nuclear Disasters by Serhii Plokhysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Equal Partners: Improving Gender Equality at Home by Kate Manginosource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Fine: A Comic about Gender by Rhea Ewingsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. His Name is George Floyd: One Man's Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice by Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipasource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Life on the Rocks: Building a Future for Coral Reefs by Juli Berwaldsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Herseysource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Rescue Effect: The Key to Saving Life on Earth by Michael Mehta Webstersource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Viral Underclass: The Human Toll When Inequality and Disease Collide by Steven Thrashersource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Fiction, Middle Readers

  1. A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Wargasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. All Four Quarters of the Moon by Shirley Marrsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Different Kinds of Fruit by Kyle Lukoffsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Ellen Outside the Lines by A. J. Sasssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone by Tae Kellersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Lily and the Night Creatures by Nick Lakesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Little Monarchs by Jonathan Casesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Love in the Library by Maggie Tokuda-Hallsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yeesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. My Aunt Is a Monster by Reimena Yeesource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Oh, Sal by Kevin Henkessource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Swim Team by Johnnie Christmassource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Patron Thief of Bread by Lindsay Eagarsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Sheep, the Rooster, and the Duck by Matt Phelansource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Those Kids from Fawn Creek by Erin Entrada Kellysource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Unfadeable by Maurice Broaddussource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Worser by Jennifer Zieglersource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Fiction, Older Readers

  1. All My Rage by Sabaa Tahirsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Alone out Here by Riley Redgatesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. And They Lived . . . by Steven Salvatoresource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Diamond Park by Phillippe Diederichsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Heartbreak Symphony by Laekan Zea Kempsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph Whitesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Kiss and Tell by Adib Khorramsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Man Made Monsters by Andrea L. Rogerssource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Nothing Burns as Bright as You by Ashley Woodfolksource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Only on the Weekends by Dean Attasource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albertsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemoresource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Squire by Nadia Shammas and Sara Alfageehsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Epic Story of Every Living Thing by Deb Calettisource (opens in a new tab)
  15. This Place Is Still Beautiful by Xixi Tiansource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Torch by Lyn Miller-Lachmannsource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Fiction, Younger Readers

  1. Agatha May and the Anglerfish by Nora Morrison and Jessie Ann Foleysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Berry Song by Michaela Goadesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Butterfly Child by Marc Majewskisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Con mucho amor by Jenny Torres Sanchezsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Farmhouse by Sophie Blackallsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Kat Hats by Daniel Pinkwatersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Luli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wangsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina LaCoursource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Mina by Matthew Forsythesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Sir Ladybug by Corey R. Taborsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Depth of the Lake and the Height of the Sky by Jihyun Kimsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Queen in the Cave by Júlia Sardàsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Tiny Dino by Deborah Freedmansource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Together We Ride by Valerie Bollingsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. With Lots of Love by Jenny Torres Sanchezsource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Nonfiction, Middle Readers

  1. Bottle Tops: The Art of El Anatsui by Alison Goldbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Free at Last: A Juneteenth Poem by Sojourner Kincaid Rollesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Going Places: Victor Hugo Green and His Glorious Book by Tonya Boldensource (opens in a new tab)
  4. How Science Saved the Eiffel Tower by Emma Bland Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Just a Girl: A True Story of World War II by Lia Levi, translated by Sylvia Notinisource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Maya’s Song by Renée Watsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Serengeti: Plains of Grass by Leslie Bulionsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Woman Who Split the Atom: The Life of Lise Meitner by Marissa Mosssource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis’ Secret Code by Rebecca E. F. Baronesource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Nonfiction, Older Readers

  1. Better Than We Found It: Conversations to Help Save the World by Frederick Joseph and Porsche Josephsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Freedom! The Story of the Black Panther Party by Jetta Grace Martinsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Gender Queer: A Memoir, Deluxe Edition by Maia Kobabesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Murder among Friends: How Leopold and Loeb Tried to Commit the Perfect Crime by Candace Flemingsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America (Young Reader’s Edition) by Candacy Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality by Eliot Schrefersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Seen and Unseen: What Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adams's Photographs Reveal about the Japanese American Incarceration by Elizabeth Partridgesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee (Young Readers Adaptation): Life in Native America by David Treuer and Sheila Keenansource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Victory. Stand! Raising My Fist for Justice by Tommie Smith and Derrick Barnessource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Nonfiction, Younger Readers

  1. A Bear Far from Home by Susan Fletchersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Is for Bee: An Alphabet Book in Translation by Ellen Hecksource (opens in a new tab)
  3. A Perfect Fit: How Lena “Lane” Bryant Changed the Shape of Fashion by Mara Rockliffsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Just like Jesse Owens by Andrew Young and Paula Young Sheltonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Luminous: Living Things That Light Up the Night by Julia Kuosource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Tower of Life: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs by Chana Stiefelsource (opens in a new tab)

About the Booklist Editors' Choice

Booklist's annual Editors' Choice lists, read from Booklist's own feature articles on booklistonline.com (fetched through the site's public JSON API at pub.booklistonline.com, which the client-side page loads). Covers the book lists only: Adult Books, Adult Books for Young Adults, Books for Youth, and Graphic Novels (a separate list from 2023). Audio, Media, Video, and Reference Sources lists are left out; reference titles that Booklist placed inside the Adult Books list are kept. Year is the year in the list's title (the publication year of the books); the list appears in the December 1 or January 1 issue that follows. Category is the list name plus Booklist's own section heading for that year (for example Adult Books: Social Sciences, Books for Youth: Nonfiction, Older Readers), so section names change when Booklist renamed them. Every entry is a Selection; Booklist does not rank them. For edited anthologies the editor is recorded as author. Expected counts are the citations printed under each section of the cited feature.

Organization: Booklist (American Library Association). Official site (opens in a new tab)

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