There are a stunning array of awards that honor books, which means you can always find more reading suggestions. We’ve highlighted many of them here but they’re only the tip of the iceberg. And several organizations, including the various divisions of the American Librarian Association, announce their awards in January, so be on the lookout for the 2022 Newbery, Caldecott, Printz and Carnegie medal winners!
Pulitzer Prize for Literature
- History: Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America by Marcia Chatelain
- Biography: The Dead are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X by Les Payne and Tamara Payne.
- General Nonfiction: Wilmington’s Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy by David Zucchino
- Fiction: The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich
- Poetry: Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diaz
National Book Awards
- Fiction: Hell of a Book by Jason Mott
- Nonfiction: All That She Carried: The Journal of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake by Tiya Miles
- Poetry: Floaters: Poems by Martín Espada
- Translated Literature: Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Duaspin, translated by Aneesa Abbas Higgins
- Young People’s Literature: Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence
- Fiction: Deacon King Kong by James McBride
- Nonfiction: Fathoms: The World in the Whale by Rebecca Giggs
Booker Prize: The Promise by Damon Galgut
PEN / Faulkner Award for Fiction: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
PEN America Literary Awards
- PEN / Hemingway Award for Debut Novel: Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn
- PEN Translation Prize: A Country for Dying: A Novel by Abdellah Taïa, translated from the French by Emma Ramadan
- PEN / E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award: Owls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest to Find and Save the World’s Largest Owl by Jonathan C. Slaght
- PEN / John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction: Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments: Intimate Histories of Riotous Black Girls, Troublesome Women, and Queer Radicals by Saidiya Hartman
Women’s Prize for Fiction: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
PNBA Book Awards (Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association) included:
- Lupe Wong Won’t Dance by Donna Barba Higuera
- This Is My America by Kim Johnson
- The Magical Language of Others: A Memoir by E.J. Koh
- Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
- rough house: a memoir by Tina Ontiveros
- Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Washington State Book Awards
- The Cold Millions by Jess Walter
- Magical Language of Others: A Memoir by E.J. Koh
- Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen! by Sarah Kapit
- Think Black: A Memoir by Clyde W. Ford
- What I Carry by Jennifer Longo
- The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann
Kirkus Prize
- Fiction: Harrow by Joy Williams
- Nonfiction: Punch Me Up to the Gods: A Memoir by Brian Broome
- Young Readers: All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team by Christina Soontornvat
LA Times Book Prize
- Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
- Biography: Mad at the World: A Life of John Steinbeck by William Souder
- Current Interest: Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
- Fiction: At Night All Blood Is Black: A Novel by David Diop, translated by Anna Moschovakis
- Mystery/Thriller: Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby
- Ray Bradbury Prize for Science Fiction, Fantasy & Speculative Fiction: The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
- Science & Technology: The Smallest Lights in the Universe: A Memoir by Sara Seager
- Young Adult Literature: Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam
Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award: The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
Stonewall Book Awards
- Barbara Gittings Literature Award: The Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhadar
Lambda Literary Awards
- Lesbian Fiction: Fiebre Tropical by Juli Delgado Lopera
- Gay Fiction: Neotenica by Joon Oluchi Lee
- Bisexual Fiction: You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat
- Transgender Fiction: The Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhadar
- Bisexual Nonfiction: Wow, No Thank you: Essays by Samantha Irby
- Lesbian Memoir / Biography: My Autobiography of Carson McCullers by Jenn Shapland
- Lesbian Romance: Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
- LGBTQ Children’s / Middle Grade: King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender
- LGBTQ Young Adult: Flamer by Mike Curato
Arab American Book Awards
- Fiction: Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa
National Jewish Book Award Winners
- JJ Greenberg Memorial Award for Fiction: Apeirogon by Colum McCann
- Goldberg Prize for Debut Fiction: Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland
- Miller Family Book Club Award in Memory of Helen Dunn Weinstein and June Keit Miller: The Lost Shtetl by Max Gross
Christy Awards for Christian Fiction
- Book of the Year: The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox
- First Novel: The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox
- Contemporary Romance: Stay With Me by Becky Wade
- General Fiction: The Way It Should Be by Christina Suzann Nelson
- Historical: The White Rose Resists: A Novel of the German Students Who Defied Hitler by Amanda Barratt
- Historical Romance: A Portrait of Loyalty by Roseanna M. White
- Mystery / Suspense / Thriller: Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks
- Young Adult: Mortal Sight by Sandra Fernandez Rhoads
Bancroft Prizes in American History and Diplomacy
- Katrina: A History, 1915-2015 by Andy Horowitz
- Unworthy Republic: The Dispossession of Native Americans and the Road to Indian Territory by Claudio Saunt
Locus Awards (Locus Science Fiction Foundation)
- Science Fiction Novel: Network Effect by Martha Wells
- Fantasy Novel: The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin
- Horror Novel: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
- Young Adult Novel: A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher (Ursula Vernon)
- First Novel: Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
- Best Novella: Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
Hugo Awards (World Science Fiction Society)
- Best Novel: Network Effect by Martha Wells
- Best Novella: Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo
- Best Novelette: Two Truths and a Lie by Sarah Pinsker
- Best Series: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
Nebula Awards (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America)
- Best Novel: Network Effect by Martha Wells
- Best Novella: Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
- Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction: A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher (Ursula Vernon)
Bram Stoker Awards, presented by the Horror Writers Association
- Superior Achievement in a Novel: The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
- Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel: Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare
- Superior Achievement in Long Fiction: Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones
Silver Spur Awards, presented by the Western Writers of America
- Historical Novel: All Things Left Wild by James Wade
- Romance Novel: Midnight’s Whisperer by Tom Lowe
- Biography: Tecumseh and the Prophet: The Shawnee Brothers Who Defied a Nation by Peter Cozzens
- Contemporary Nonfiction: Billionaire Wilderness: The Ultra-Wealthy and the Remaking of the American West by Justin Farrell
Edgar Awards, presented by the Mystery Writers of America
- Best Novel: Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara
- Best First Novel: Please See Us by Caitlin Mullen
- Best Paperback Original: When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole
- Best Fact Crime: Death in Mud Lick: A Coal Country Fight Against the Drug Companies that Delivered the Opioid Epidemic by Eric Eyre
- Best Juvenile: Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce
- Simon & Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award: The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne by Elsa Hart
- G.P. Putnam’s Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award: Vera Kelly is Not a Mystery by Rosalie Knecht
Barbellion Prize for “work has best spoken of the experience of chronic illness and/or disability.” For more information about this new award, visit https://www.thebarbellionprize.com/
- Golem Girl: A Memoir by Riva Lehrer
Audie Awards, presented by the Audio Publishers Association
- Business / Personal Development: The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life by Dr. Edith Eva Eger, narrated by Tovah Feldshuh,
- Faith-Based Fiction & Nonfiction: Fierce, Free and Full of Fire by Jen Hatmaker, narrrated by Jen Hatmaker
- Fantasy: The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin, narrated by Robin Miles
- Fiction: Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, narrated by Nicole Lewis
- History / Biography: His Truth is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope by Jon Meacham, narrated by JD Jackson
- Humor: A Very Punchable Face: A Memoir by Colin Jost, narrated by Colin Jost
- Literary Fiction & Classics: The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi, narrated by Yetide Badaki & Chukwudi Iwuji
- Mystery: Fair Warning by Michael Connelly, narrated by Peter Giles & Zach Villa
- Nonfiction: Fire in Paradise: An American Tragedy by Alastair Gee & Dani Anguiano, narrated by T. Ryder Smith
- Science Fiction: The Deep by Rivers Solomon, Daveed Diggs, William Hutson & Jonathan Snipes; narrated by Daveed Diggs
- Thriller / Suspense: When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole, narrated by Susan Dalian & Jay Aaseng
- Young Adult: Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo, narrated by Elizabeth Acevedo & Melania-Luisa Marte
Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards (“The Eisners”)
- Best New Series: Black Widow by Kelly Thompson and Elena Casagrande
- Best Publication for Early Readers: Our Little Kitchen by Jillian Tamaki
- Best Publication for Kids: Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru
- Best Publication for Teens: Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang
- Best Humor Publication: Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen by Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber
- Best Graphic Album – New: Pulp by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
- Best Adaptation from Another Medium: Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru
- Best U.S. Edition of International Material – Asia: Remina by Junji Ito, translation by Jocelyne Allen
Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults: Everything Sad Is Untrue (a true story) by Daniel Nayeri
William C. Morris Award (debut author for teens): If These Wings Could Fly by Kyrie McCauley
John Newbery Medal for most outstanding contribution to children’s literature: When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller
Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience:
- Young Children: I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith
- Middle Grade: Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte
- Teen: This Is My Brain in Love by I.W. Gregorio
Coretta Scott King Awards
- Book Award: Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
- Illustrator Award: R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul illustrated by Frank Morrison & written by Carole Boston Weatherford
- John Steptoe New Talent Author Award: Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
Pura Belpré Awards honor a Latinx writer and illustrator whose children’s books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience
- Young Adult Author Award: Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez
- Children’s Author Award: Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros
- Illustrator Award: ¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat illustrated and written by Raúl the Third
Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States: Kent State by Deborah Wiles; narrated by Christopher Gebauer, Lauren Ezzo, Christina Delaine, Johnny Heller, Roger Wayne, Korey Jackson & David de Vries
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults: The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh by Candace Fleming
Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, which promotes Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage and is awarded based on literary and artistic merit.
- Picture Book Award: Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist by Julie Leung, illustrated by Chris Sasaki
- Children’s Literature: When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller
- Youth Literature: This Light Between Us by Andrew Fukuda
The Sydney Taylor Book Award is presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience by the Association of Jewish Libraries
- Picture Book: Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale with a Tail by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Susan Gal
- Middle Grade: Turtle Boy by M. Evan Wolkenstein
- Young Adult: Dancing at the Pity Party: A Dead Mom Graphic Memoir written and illustrated by Tyler Feder
Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature, awarded by the We Need Diverse Books organization
- Teen: Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam, illustrated by Omar T. Pasha
- Younger Readers: When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed, with color by Iman Geddy