More than 90 people celebrated the third Diverse Book Awards last night at Waterstones Piccadilly in London. The evening was full of cocktails, cake, conversation... and of course, incredible diverse books!

Hosted by the first YA Diverse Book Awards winner in 2020, Sue Cheung, the evening was a roaring success after two years of the winners ceremony being hosted online thanks to the pandemic. More than 110 submissions were entered into The Diverse Book Awards 2022, created by award-winning author Abiola Bello and prize-winning publicist Helen Lewis.

The annual book prize showcases the outstanding diverse and inclusive books published by authors and publishers based in the UK and Ireland during 2021.

The Diverse Book Awards Winners 2022

Children’s Diverse Book Awards 2022 Winner

Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow by Benjamin Dean, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat

Second Place

Hey You! An Empowering Celebration of Growing Up Black by Dapo Adeola, Diane Ewan, Onyinye Iwu, Jade Orlando, Bec Glendining, Derick Brooks, Joelle Avelino, Dunni Mustapha, Kingsley Nebechi, Chanté Timothy, Nicole Miles, Camilla Sucre, Jobe Anderson, Alyissa Johnson, Chatlot Kristensen, Sharee Miller, Reggie Brown, Selom Sunu, Gladys Jose

Third Place

The Very Merry Murder Club edited by Robin Stevens and Serena Patel. Written by Abiola Bello, Annabelle Sami, Benjamin Dean, Dominique Valente, Elle McNicoll, E.L. Norry, Maisie Chan, Roopa Farooki, Nizrana Farook, Patrice Lawrence, Joanna Williams, Serena Patel, Sharna Jackson, illustrated by Harry Woodgate

YA Diverse Book Awards 2022 Winner

Skin of The Sea by Natasha Bowen

Second Place

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Third Place

You're The One That I Want by Simon James Green

Photography credit: Yakir Zur Photography

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