This year’s Longlist includes graphic novels, novels, and memoirs that explore things like racism, sexism, gender and sexuality, and self-esteem. They take place everywhere from fictional, alternate histories to the U.S. and Pakistan. The Longlist contenders were chosen by five judges out of 296 books submitted by publishers. This year’s judges are: Becky Albertalli, Joseph Bruchac, Meghan Dietsche Goel, Jewell Parker Rhodes, and Lilliam Rivera. Among the Longlist authors are two authors who have been nominated by the National Book Awards before: Anna-Marie McLemore was Longlisted for the award for Young People’s Literature in 2016 and 2021, and Traci Chee was a finalist in 2020. The Longlist for the 2022 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature is as follows: The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly BarnhillAlgonquin Young Readers / Workman Publishing The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen by Isaac BlumPhilomel Books / Penguin Random House A Thousand Steps into Night by Traci CheeClarion Books / HarperCollins Publishers Swim Team by Johnnie ChristmasHarperAlley / HarperCollins Publishers Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemoreFeiwel & Friends / Macmillan Publishers The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora ReyesBalzer + Bray / HarperCollins Publishers Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist For Justice by Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes, and Dawud Anyabwile Norton Young Readers / W. W. Norton & Company All My Rage by Sabaa TahirRazorbill / Penguin Random House Lotus Bloom and the Afro Revolution by Sherri WinstonBloomsbury Children’s Books / Bloomsbury Publishing Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa YeeRandom House Books for Young Readers / Penguin Random House The finalists will be announced on October 4. Find more news and stories of interest from the book world in Breaking in Books.
