The 2022 Book Awards
were announced in January, and we’ve been excited to read them! (It took
us awhile to get through the list.) While the Caldecott is for best picture book,
the Newbery is for best middle grade book, and the Printz is for the best teen
book written in the past year, we found all three to be powerful, thoughtful reads
that are just as intriguing for adults.
Watercress by Andrea Yang: 2022 Caldecott Winner
(also the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature!)
Watercress is the story of a first generation
Chinese-American girl who is embarrassed of her parents, who stop to pick watercress by the side of the
road. When her mother tells a story of
life in China, however, the girl gains new perspective and connects more with
her heritage. Beautiful watercolor
illustrations in a style that has Chinese influences.
A quote from the book: "I
take a bite of the watercress, and it bites me back with its spicy, peppery
taste. It is delicate and slightly bitter, like Mom's memories of home."
Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera: 2022 Newbery
Winner (also the Pura Belpre Winner!)
So good on so many levels.
Set in a future where Earth will be destroyed by an asteroid, a few
groups of select scientists are chosen to undertake a journey to a new planet.
Petra is the daughter of 2 scientists chosen, although her interests lie more
with storytelling than science. She is
desolate at leaving Lita, her grandmother, the one who has taught her a wealth
of Mexican folklore, but is soothed by knowing the rest of her family will be
there to work together. When she wakes
up, however, she finds she is one of the last groups to be awakened and the Collective
is a rigid organization that wants to eradicate history and stories so that
everyone works toward a collective ideal. Although Petra feels weighted by
loss, she gathers enough strength and hope to attempt to save the others.
A truly spectacular piece of writing that weaves folklore
and questions of humanity into a gripping quest for survival in an unknown
land.
Firekeeper’s Daughter:
2022 Printz Award Winner
Daunis is half Native American, but not an enrolled tribal
member. She is an exceptional hockey player and is intrigued by a new guy on
her brother’s hockey team, though his story doesn’t seem to add up. Her birth had
a scandalous backstory and she feels like an outcast from both worlds, but she
is determined to be a healer and gain acceptance in her father’s tribe. When she witnesses a murder, the FBI hopes she
can use her connections to gain more clues about the murderer, but Daunis is
wary about trusting them, given their past conflicts with her family’s tribe
and she also finds it hard to know who to trust within the tribe.
A nailbiter of a read, this is also an intense read with triggers
of sexual assault, violence, racism, and abusive parents. While disturbing at
times, it is also richly nuanced with rare insight into tribal culture. A
gorgeous read about the lengths you would go to for love and justice, with a
powerful Native female heroine at the helm who is battered by tragedy yet
displays admirable resilience. The solitary nature and strong female lead
reminds me a bit of Where the Crawdads Sing, though the intensity was more on
the scale of Danish murder mystery authors like Stieg Larsson.
Do you have any favorite books from the last year that you
think should have won an award? We’re
keeping an eye on the ones coming out in hopes of guessing the 2023 picks!
