Best Books of the Year
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School Library Journal Best Books of the Year 2022

School Library Journal Best Books of the Year 2022 names 163 books across 8 categories. 34 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Chapter Books

  1. Fly High, Lolo by Niki Dalysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Little Owl Rescue by Rachel Delahayesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Maggie Sparks and the Monster Baby by Steve Smallmansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Marya Khan and the Incredible Henna Party by Saadia Faruqisource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Miles Lewis: King of the Ice by Kelly Starling Lyonssource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Spooky Sleuths: The Ghost Tree by Natasha Deensource (opens in a new tab)

Graphic Novels

  1. Alte Zachen/Old Things by Ziggy Hanaorsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortegasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Galaxy: The Prettiest Star by Jadzia Axelrodsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalezsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanossource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Leviathan by Jason Shigasource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Little Monarchs by Jonathan Casesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Muhammad Najem, War Reporter by Muhammad Najem and Nora Neussource (opens in a new tab)
  9. New Masters by Shobo Cokersource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Red Scare by Liam Francis Walshsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Sir Ladybug by Corey R. Taborsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Smaller Sister by Maggie Edkins Willissource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Squire by Nadia Shammas and Sara Alfageehsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza by Mac Barnettsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Flamingo by Guojingsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The National Parks: Preserving America’s Wild Places by Falynn Kochsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Well by Jake Wyattsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Wolf Suit by Sid Sharpsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Twelfth Grade Night by Molly Horton Booth and Stephanie Kate Strohmsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Twin Cities by Jose Pimientasource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Victory. Stand! Raising My Fist for Justice by Tommie Smith and Derrick Barnessource (opens in a new tab)
  22. Wingbearer by Marjorie Liusource (opens in a new tab)

Manga

  1. Alice in Kyoto Forest, Vol. 1 by Mai Mochizukisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Blue Box, Vol. 1 by Kouji Miurasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Cat + Gamer, Vol. 1 by Wataru Nadatanisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. I Want to Be a Wall, Vol. 1 by Honami Shironosource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Josee, the Tiger and the Fish by Seiko Tanabesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Our Colors by Gengoroh Tagamesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Run on Your New Legs, Vol. 1 by Wataru Midorisource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Shonen Note: Boy Soprano, Vol. 1 by Yuhki Kamatanisource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Elusive Samurai, Vol. 1 by Yusei Matsuisource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Usotoki Rhetoric, Vol. 1 by Ritsu Miyakosource (opens in a new tab)

Middle Grade

  1. Air by Monica Roesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Answers in the Pages by David Levithansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Caprice by Coe Boothsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Chester Keene Cracks the Code by Kekla Magoonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Drew Leclair Gets a Clue by Katryn Burysource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Ellen Outside the Lines by A.J. Sasssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet by Barbara Deesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. In the Key of Us by Mariama J. Lockingtonsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yeesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Moonflower by Kacen Callendersource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Northwind by Gary Paulsensource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tolá Okogwusource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Shine On, Luz Véliz! by Rebecca Balcárcelsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl by Julie Kagawasource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Small Town Pride by Phil Stampersource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Step by Deborah Ellissource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Team Chu and the Battle of Blackwood Arena by Julie C. Daosource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Last Hope in Hopetown by Maria Tureaudsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Marvellers by Dhonielle Claytonsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Science of Being Angry by Nicole Mellebysource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Second Chance of Benjamin Waterfalls by James Birdsource (opens in a new tab)
  22. This Appearing House by Ally Malinenkosource (opens in a new tab)
  23. This Last Adventure by Ryan Daltonsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. Those Kids from Fawn Creek by Erin Entrada Kellysource (opens in a new tab)
  25. Wave by Diana Faridsource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas by Jeanne Walker Harveysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. American Murderer: The Parasite that Haunted the South by Gail Jarrowsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Augusta Savage: The Shape of a Sculptor’s Life by Marilyn Nelsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Buzzkill: A Wild Wander Through the Weird and Threatened World of Bugs by Brenna Maloneysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Call Him Jack: The Story of Jackie Robinson, Black Freedom Fighter by Yohuru Williams and Michael G. Longsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Concrete: From the Ground Up by Larissa Theulesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Finding My Dance by Ria Thundercloudsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Forest Fighter: The Story of Chico Mendes by Anita Ganerisource (opens in a new tab)
  9. H Is for Harlem by Dinah Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Hidden Powers: Lise Meitner’s Call to Science by Jeannine Atkinssource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Hope Is an Arrow: The Story of Lebanese-American Poet Kahlil Gibran by Cory McCarthysource (opens in a new tab)
  12. How to Build a Human: In Seven Evolutionary Steps by Pamela Turnersource (opens in a new tab)
  13. I Could Not Do Otherwise: The Remarkable Life of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker by Sara Lattasource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Ida B. Wells, Voice of Truth: Educator, Feminist, and Anti-Lynching Civil Rights Leader by Michelle Dustersource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Inaugural Ballers: The True Story of the First U.S. Women’s Olympic Basketball Team by Andrew Maranisssource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Mammoth Math: Everything You Need to Know About Numbers by David Macaulaysource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Maya’s Song by Renée Watsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Moving Forward: From Space-Age Rides to Civil Rights Sit-Ins with Airman Alton Yates by Chris Bartonsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Murder Among Friends: How Leopold and Loeb Tried to Commit the Perfect Crime by Candace Flemingsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. My Big Book of Outdoors by Tim Hopgoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. One Million Trees: A True Story by Kristen Balouchsource (opens in a new tab)
  22. One Wish: Fatima al-Fihri and the World’s Oldest University by M.O. Yukselsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. Overground Railroad: (The Young Adult Adaptation): The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America by Candacy Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. Peace Is a Chain Reaction: How World War II Japanese Balloon Bombs Brought People of Two Nations Together by Tanya Lee Stonesource (opens in a new tab)
  25. Pride: An Inspirational History of the LGBTQ+ Movement by Stella Caldwellsource (opens in a new tab)
  26. Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality by Eliot Schrefersource (opens in a new tab)
  27. 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)
  28. Snowy Owl Scientist by Mark Wilsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  29. Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler by Ibi Zoboisource (opens in a new tab)
  30. The Greatest Song of All: How Isaac Stern United the World to Save Carnegie Hall by Megan Hoytsource (opens in a new tab)
  31. The Lady and the Octopus: How Jeanne Villepreux-Power Invented Aquariums and Revolutionized Marine Biology by Danna Staafsource (opens in a new tab)
  32. The Sun Does Shine (Young Readers Edition): An Innocent Man, A Wrongful Conviction, and the Long Path to Justice by Anthony Ray Hinton, Lara Love Hardin and Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovichsource (opens in a new tab)
  33. The Tower of Life: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs by Chana Stiefelsource (opens in a new tab)
  34. The Universe in You: A Microscopic Journey by Jason Chinsource (opens in a new tab)
  35. The Woman Who Split the Atom: The Life of Lise Meitner by Marissa Mosssource (opens in a new tab)
  36. Unequal: A Story of America by Michael Eric Dyson and Marc Favreausource (opens in a new tab)
  37. We’re in This Together: A Young Readers Edition of We Are Not Here to Be Bystanders by Linda Sarsoursource (opens in a new tab)
  38. Where Butterflies Fill the Sky: A Story of Immigration, Family, and Finding Home by Zahra Marwansource (opens in a new tab)
  39. Yoshi and the Ocean: A Sea Turtle’s Incredible Journey Home by Lindsay Mooresource (opens in a new tab)
  40. You Ruined It by Anastasia Higginbothamsource (opens in a new tab)

Picture Books

  1. Air Miles by John Burningham and Bill Salamansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Berry Song by Michaela Goadesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Carrimebac, the Town That Walked by David Barclay Mooresource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Dadaji’s Paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpandesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Endlessly Ever After: Pick YOUR Path to Countless Fairy Tale Endings! by Laurel Snydersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Every Dog in the Neighborhood by Philip C. Steadsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Farmhouse by Sophie Blackallsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Field Trip to Volcano Island by John Haresource (opens in a new tab)
  9. How to Eat a Book by Mrs. and Mr. MacLeodsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Hundred Years of Happiness by Thanhhà Lạisource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Kapaemahu by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer and Joe Wilsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Kimchi, Kimchi Every Day.Soaring Kite by Erica Kimsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Love in the Library by Maggie Tokuda-Hallsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Mariana and Her Familia by Mónica Mancillassource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Moonlight by Stephen Savagesource (opens in a new tab)
  16. My Paati’s Saris by Jyoti Rajan Gopalsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. My Party, Mi Fiesta: A Coco Rocho Book by Raúl the Thirdsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eadysource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Nour’s Secret Library by Wafa’ Tarnowskasource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Out of a Jar by Deborah Marcerosource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Powwow Day by Traci Sorellsource (opens in a new tab)
  22. Somewhere in the Bayou by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphreysource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The Depth of the Lake and the Height of the Sky by Jihyun Kimsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. The Talk by Alicia D. Williamssource (opens in a new tab)
  25. The Wishing Balloons by Jonathan D. Vosssource (opens in a new tab)
  26. The World Belonged to Us by Jacqueline Woodsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  27. Tía Fortuna’s New Home: A Jewish Cuban Journey by Ruth Beharsource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. Abuela, Don’t Forget Me by Rex Oglesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. And We Rise: The Civil Rights Movement in Poems by Erica Martinsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Inheritance: A Visual Poem by Elizabeth Acevedosource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Marshmallow Clouds: Two Poets at Play Among Figures of Speech by Ted Kooser and Connie Waneksource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Voices of the People by Joseph Bruchacsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Yuck, You Suck!: Poems About Animals That Sip, Slurp, Suck by Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemplesource (opens in a new tab)

Young Adult

  1. African Town by Irene Latham and Charles Waterssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynoldssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. All My Rage by Sabaa Tahirsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartzsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Children of Ragnarok by Cinda Williams Chimasource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmedsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. How You Grow Wings by Rimma Onosetasource (opens in a new tab)
  8. I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetyssource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches by Kate Scelsasource (opens in a new tab)
  10. I’m the Girl by Courtney Summerssource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Long Story Short by Serena Kaylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Medusa by Jessie Burtonsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Only a Monster by Vanessa Lensource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albertsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman by Kristen R. Leesource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R.M. Romerosource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Honeys by Ryan La Salasource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Red Palace by June Hursource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Silent Unseen: A Novel of World War II by Amanda McCrinasource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Fergusonsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomassource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jacksonsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. This Rebel Heart by Katherine Lockesource (opens in a new tab)
  24. Three Kisses, One Midnight by Roshani Chokshi, Evelyn Skye and Sandhya Menonsource (opens in a new tab)
  25. We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammondssource (opens in a new tab)
  26. What’s Coming to Me by Francesca Padillasource (opens in a new tab)
  27. When You Call My Name by Tucker Shawsource (opens in a new tab)

About the School Library Journal Best Books of the Year

School Library Journal's annual Best Books list, 2006-2025. Year is the list year (published each November or December). Categories follow the sections SLJ used that year: 2006, 2007 and 2009 were one alphabetical list (category 'Best Books'); 2008 and 2010-2013 used Picture Books, Fiction and Nonfiction; 2014 onward split Fiction into Middle Grade and Young Adult; Chapter Books (SLJ also called it Transitional Chapter Books or Transitional Books) from 2016; Graphic Novels from 2018; Poetry in 2018 and from 2021; Manga (SLJ's Top 10 Manga, linked as a Best Books section) from 2019; Nonfiction split into Nonfiction Elementary and Nonfiction Middle to High School from 2023. A book SLJ placed in two sections appears in both. Excluded: the separately edited Adult Books 4 Teens and Top 10 Graphic Novels lists, and non-book lists (apps, audiobooks, music, DVDs). Sources: slj.com pages; Wayback Machine copies for 2006 (schoollibraryjournal.com), 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016-2017 (slj.com/bestofYYYY microsites), where the live pages no longer carry the list.

Organization: School Library Journal. Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2022