The MLA Youth Literary Awards promote excellence in literature for youth. Each year work groups made up of library staff in Michigan spend thousands of hours reading, reviewing and discussing hundreds of books to come up with the top titles published in the calendar year.
Mitten Award
The Mitten Award recognizes and promotes quality literature for youth in picture book format.
The Thumbs Up! Award recognizes an outstanding contribution to teen literature that has both literary quality and teen appeal for those 13 to 18 years of age.
MLA 2022 Youth Literary Awards Winners and Honor Books
We announced the winners and honor books of the 2022 Mitten, YouPer and Thumbs Up! Awards on Friday, May 27 at the MLA 2022 Youth Literary Awards. The awards selection group members worked throughout the year spending thousands of hours reading, reviewing and ranking hundreds of books to determine the top titles published in 2021. Watch the announcement below! Download the full list of winners.
2022 Mitten Award Winner
Milo Imagines the World By Matt de la Pena, Illustrated by Christian Robinson
2022 YouPer Award Winner
Ophie’s Ghosts By Justina Ireland
2022 Thumbs Up! Award Winner
In the Wild Light By Jeff Zentner
2022 Mitten Award
The Mitten Award recognizes and promotes quality literature for youth in picture book format.
Winner
Milo Imagines the World Author: Matt de la Peña Illustrator: Christian Robinson Publisher: Putnam Publishers
Top Ten Titles
(Listed in random order)
Milo Imagines the World Author: Matt de la Peña Illustrator: Christian Robinson Publisher: Putnam Publishers
Out of Nowhere Author: Chris Naylor-Ballesteros Illustrator: Chris Naylor-Ballesteros Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Time for Bed, Old House Author: Janet Costa Bates Illustrator: A.G. Ford Publisher: Candlewick
We All Play Author: Julie Flett Illustrator: Julie Flett Publisher: Greystone Books
Best Day Ever! Author: Marilyn Singer Illustrator: Leah Nixon Publisher: Clarion
Dumplings for Lili Author: Melissa Iwai Illustrator: Melissa Iwai Publisher: Norton Young Readers
Looking for a Jumbie Author: Tracey Baptiste Illustrator: Amber Ren Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Areli is a Dreamer: A True Story by Areli Morales, a DACA Recipient Author: Areli Morales Illustrator: Luisa Uribe Publisher: Random House Studio
The Midnight Fair Author: Gideon Sterer Illustrator: Mariachiara Di Giorgio Publisher: Candlewick Press
Dad Bakes Author: Katie Yamasaki Illustrator: Katie Yamasaki Publisher: Norton Young Readers
2022 YouPer (Young Person) Award
The YouPer (Young Person) Award recognizes and promotes quality literature for youth in chapter book format.
Cece Rios and the Desert of Lost Souls Author: Kaela Rivera Publisher: Harper an Imprint of Harper Collins
Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids Author: Edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith Publisher: Heartdrum an Imprint of Harper Collins
Top Ten Titles
(Listed in random order)
Starfish Author: Lisa Fipps Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books an Imprint of Penguin Random House
Maya and the Robot Author: Eve L. Ewing Illustrator: Christine Almeda Publisher: Kokila an Imprint of Penguin Random House
Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna Author: Alda P. Dobbs Publisher: Sourcebooks Young Readers
The Swag is in the Socks Author: Kelly J. Baptist Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers an Imprint of Penguin Random House
Playing the Cards You’re Dealt Author: Varian Johnson Publisher: Scholastic Press
Ophie’s Ghosts Author: Justina Ireland Publisher: Balzer + Bray an Imprint of Harper Collins
World In Between Author: Kenan Trebincevic and Susan Shapiro Illustrator: Susan Shapiro Publisher: Clarion Books an Imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers
The Comeback Author: E. L. Shen Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young People an Imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group
Cece Rios and the Desert of Lost Souls Author: Kaela Rivera Publisher: Harper an Imprint of Harper Collins
Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids Author: Edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith Publisher: Heartdrum an Imprint of Harper Collins
2022 Thumbs Up! Award
The Thumbs Up! Award recognizes outstanding contribution to teen literature with both literary quality and teen appeal, with characters, setting, subject and themes that appeal to teens age 13 to 18 years old.
Winner
In the Wild Light Author: Jeff Zenter Publisher: Crown Books for Young Reader, part of Penguin Random House
Honor Books
Firekeeper’s Daughter Author: Angeline Boulley Publisher: Henry Holt and Co., an Imprint of Macmillan
Concrete Rose Author: Angie Thomas Publisher: Balzer + Bray, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
The Girls I’ve Been Author: Tess Sharpe Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, an Imprint of Penguin Random House
All of Us Villains Author: Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman Publisher: Tor Teen, an Imprint of Macmillan Publishers
Top Ten Titles
(Listed in random order)
In the Wild Light Author: Jeff Zenter Publisher: Crown Books for Young Reader, part of Penguin Random House
Firekeeper’s Daughter Author: Angeline Boulley Publisher: Henry Holt and Co., an Imprint of Macmillan
Concrete Rose Author: Angie Thomas Publisher: Balzer + Bray, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
The Girls I’ve Been Author: Tess Sharpe Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, an Imprint of Penguin Random House
You’d Be Home Now Author: Kathleen Glasgow Publisher: Delacorte Press, an Imprint of Penguin Random House
Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry Author: Joya Goffney Publisher: HarperTeen, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Muted Author: Tami Charles Publisher: Scholastic Press
Last Night at the Telegraph Club Author: Malinda Lo Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Reads, an Imprint of Penguin Random House
Instructions for Dancing Author: Nicola Yoon Publisher: Delacorte Press, an Imprint of Penguin Random House
All of Us Villains Author: Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman Publisher: Tor Teen, an Imprint of Macmillan Publishers
