The 12 Shortlists of the 2022 British Book Awards are revealed today, and are their broadest yet, with new talent storming the categories and giving the stalwarts a run for their money.

The  British  Book  Awards  recognise  the  books  that  have  made  waves,  started conversations,  been  part  of book  clubs  and  bestseller  lists,  and the  hard work and creativity of the publishing and bookselling  teams that bring those books to readers across  the  country.

Alice  O’Keeffe,  Books  Editor  of  The  Bookseller  and  overall  Chair  of  the  Books  of  the Year commented:

“From fresh new voices  to big brand authors,  this year’s shortlists  celebrate  the very best  books  published  in  2021.  In  Non-Fiction:  Narrative  we  see  the  resurgence  of the  celebrity  memoir  reflected  in  the  shortlist  with  three  famous,  and  now bestselling,  faces  telling  their  own  stories.  This  year’s   Debut  shortlist  includes some  unforgettable  first  novels  that  will  surely  be read  far beyond  our  present  time. Some  very  difficult  decisions  lie  ahead  for  our  judges!”

New for 2022  is a  split  of  the  Children’s  Awards  into  Non-Fiction  and  Illustrated,  in  addition  to  the  Fiction  award. LoveReading4Kids is delighted to be supporting the Illustrated Book Category this year.

National  hero  Marcus Rashford and his  inspirational  book  for  children written  with journalist  Carl  Anka,  You  Are  a  Champion makes the shortlist, a book which we called: "A positive and inspiring guide for life, packed full of stories from Marcus’s own life and calling for the readers to be their OWN champion."

Adam Kay is  shortlisted  for  the  third  year  in  a  row  for Kay’s  Marvellous  Medicine, another brilliantly funny and highly educative medical guide from the bestselling doctor and stand-up comedian.

A Different Sort of Normal written and illustrated by Abigail Balfe appears on the shortlist: "a factual book full of useful hints and tips for all in navigating this world and all its different types of people."

They join Dr Ranj Singh,  How to Grow  Up and  Feel  Amazing!  on  the  Children’s: Non-Fiction  shortlist.

In  Children’s:  Fiction,  Carnegie-shortlisted  Phil Earle  is  recognised  with  his  20th book,  When  the  Sky  Falls,  a Star Book if there ever was one, and a powerful story of friendship against the odds inspired by real events in World War II.

The Last Bear by Hannah Gold deservingly appears: "beautifully illustrated by Levi Pinfold, The Last Bear invites readers to care about the science behind the fate of an endangered species and to believe in one girl’s magical solution to the problem."

Karen McManus is shortlisted for another addictive thriller  You’ll  Be  the  Death of  Me  and debut Ace  of  Spades by  Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is also highlighted: "an ingeniously twisty thriller exposing white supremacy in an elite high school."

Elsewhere  in  Children’s:   Illustrated,   beloved   author   Julia Donaldson and  Victoria Sandøy’s The  Christmas  Pine takes  on  illustrator  Dapo Adeola’s Hey You! which is a powerful, cohesive and beautiful book. This book is outstanding in its gathering of talent to provide the illustrations to Adeola’s messages. It is a powerful, personal response to the murder of George Floyd and the awakening around the world to the Black Lives Matter movement. It is an honest and very personal letter to Adeola’s younger self, messages he wishes he had seen and heard at a young age, created now for the children of the future. 

Heartstopper Volume  Four written and  illustrated  by  Alice Oseman also makes the shortlist, the bestselling LGBTQ+ graphic novel is about life, love, and everything that happens in between.

To see the full shortlists visit our British Book Awards page.

The  twelve   Book  of  the  Year  winners  will  be  decided  by  separate panels,  with  judges including  TV  presenter  and  broadcaster  Gabby Logan  and  actress  and  Sex Education  star  Tanya  Reynolds,  to  former  rugby  union   player  and  2021  Strictly Come  Dancing   contestant  Ugo Monye and  skincare  expert  and  winner  of  the  2021 Book  of  the  Year:  Non-Fiction:  Lifestyle  Caroline Hirons.

Produced by The Bookseller, The British Book Awards, also known as the Nibbies, are a celebration  of  the  UK’s  best-loved   books  and  authors.  This year’s winners  will  be  unveiled  at a  ceremony  taking  place  at  Grosvenor  House  London on 23rd May 2022.

Take a look at the newspiece about the full list of awards' shortlists including the fiction and non-fiction for adults over on LoveReading and also on their awards section for the British Book Awards 2022 Page.