National Book Awards 2022

“The Rabbit Hutch” by Tess Gunty is a novel set in the low-cost housing complex of Vacca Vale, Indiana, where the main character Blandine lives with three teenage boys. Blandine is an obituary writer who is secretly struggling with a dark secret, and is also on a mission to rid her building of rodents. The story takes place over the course of one hot week in July, and ends with a shocking act of violence that changes everything.

The book is a poignant depiction of loneliness, longing, and entrapment, and also has moments of humor and beauty. It offers a snapshot of modern America and explores themes of foster care, meaning, and ultimately, freedom.

“South to America” by Imani Perry is a book that takes readers on a journey through the history, rituals, and landscapes of the American South, and argues that understanding the South is essential for understanding the United States as a whole. The author, a Black woman and native Alabaman, shares her thoughts on the complexity and diversity of the region, and explores the experiences of people from all walks of life, including immigrant communities, contemporary artists, and her own ancestors.

Through her personal journey and deep dives into the history of the South, Perry offers insight into the region’s troubling history and the joys and challenges of Southern life. She argues that in order to create a more humane future for the country, it is necessary to focus on the South and its unique culture and history.

“Punks” is a book of poetry by John Keene that includes both new and previously published work. The collection is divided into seven sections and spans several decades, showcasing the depth and range of Keene’s poetry. The poems in “Punks” explore themes of loss, lust, and love through the voices of a diverse cast of characters, including historic Black figures and the poet’s friends and lovers.

The poems address issues of desire, oppression, AIDS, and grief through sorrowful songs that reflect the hard realities of life. Keene’s ability to work in a variety of poetic forms is on full display in “Punks,” solidifying his reputation as one of the most important voices in contemporary poetry.

“The Seven Houses in These Seven Stories” is a collection of strange and unsettling tales from internationally acclaimed writer Samanta Schweblin. In each story, something is missing or amiss in the house, whether it’s a person, a truth, or a memory. The houses in these stories are intriguing, unsettling, and sometimes empty, but something always returns to haunt the characters within them.

Schweblin’s stories are full of twists and turns that will keep readers on edge, as she explores themes of home, belonging, and the fragility of human connections. This collection is a masterful work from a brilliant modern writer and is sure to unsettle and surprise readers.

In “All My Rage,” #1 New York Times bestselling author Sabaa Tahir tells a sweeping, heart-wrenching story about family, forgiveness, and love that spans generations and continents. The novel is set in Lahore, Pakistan, where Misbah and Toufiq are newly married in an arranged match. After a tragedy shakes their young lives, they move to the United States and open the Clouds’ Rest Inn Motel, hoping to start over.

The story then moves to present-day Juniper, California, where Salahudin and Noor are more than best friends; they are family. But a fight destroys their bond, and Sal must struggle to run the family motel while his mother’s health fails and his father turns to alcoholism. Noor, meanwhile, works at her uncle’s liquor store and tries to keep the fact that she’s applying to college a secret, hoping to escape Juniper and her uncle forever.

When Sal’s efforts to save the motel spiral out of control, he and Noor must decide what their friendship is worth and how to defeat the monsters in their pasts and present. “All My Rage” is a poignant, tragic, and tender tale of young love and forgiveness from one of today’s most beloved young adult authors.