“‘When snow melts, what does it become?'
‘It becomes water, of course.'
‘Wrong! It becomes spring!’” ― Natsuki Takaya
As we move from the cold winter into a hopeful spring, let’s look ahead to all the incredible books coming our way this season. This is by no means an exhaustive list, so let us know your most anticipated Spring 2022 books in the comments below!
March Releases:
-
New from Here by Kelly Yang (March 1)
A timely and courageous story that follows Knox Wei-Evans, a 10-year-old boy who moves from Hong Kong back to California on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic. As Knox’s life spirals out of control amidst rising hate crimes, it’s only by embracing his own uniqueness that he’ll gain the strength to make it through.
-
Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa by Julian Randall (March 1)
Determined to find information on her cousin who disappeared 50 years ago, Pilar accidentally ends up on the fantastical island of Zafa, populated with demons, shapeshifters, and the fearsome Dominican boogeyman, El Cuco.
-
Troublemaker by John Cho (March 22)
Follows the events of the Los Angeles Riots through the eyes of Jordan as he and his friends are confronted with the racism within and affecting their community, both in the past and in the present.
-
Those Kids from Fawn Creek by Erin Entrada Kelly (March 22)
In the small town of Fawn Creek, Louisiana, nothing ever changes. That is until Orchid Mason arrives and what follows is a character-driven tale that embraces the power of kindness.
-
Ellen Outside the Lines by A. J. Sass (March 22)
Ellen is comfortable with her categorical and well-defined life. But when a school trip to Barcelona and a new classmate challenges Ellen’s rigidly defined world, she learns to embrace how life doesn't always stick to a binary.
April Releases:
-
Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega (April 5)
Ever since the placement ceremony, Seven’s life has taken a bit of a downward turn. Determined to become the powerful witch she knows she is, she embarks on a dangerous task with her two fellow Witchlings to gain their full powers.
-
Alice Austen Lived Here by Alex Gino (April 5)
Sam and their best friend TJ take a stand against the "Dead Straight Cis White Men" as they discover and explore the rich queer history of their Staten Island borough – a history that no longer needs to be quiet, as long as there are good people to stand up for it.
-
It's the End of the World and I'm in My Bathing Suit by Justin A. Reynolds (April 5)
Eddie is grounded until he can get his mountain of clothes clean. When the power goes out, leaving Eddie with only his swim trunks and flip-flops, he and the neighborhood kids soon discover they may be the only people left on Earth.
-
The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat (April 12)
Although Sai is the assistant to Mangkon’s most celebrated mapmaker, she fears her father’s past will spoil her future. So, she jumps at the chance to join an expedition to the fabled Sunderlands in the hopes of discovering who she may become.
-
Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl by Julie Kagawa (April 26)
Shinji’s world takes a turn when he becomes embroiled in a struggle between a nefarious corporation and an ancient power. This is the first of an epic new series that combines high-tech wizardry with old-world mythology.
May Releases:
-
Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao (May 3)
Zach is tasked by the spirit of the First Emperor of China (bound into Zack’s AR gaming headset) to heist magical artifacts from across China and defeat figures from history and myth to prevent the world from being overrun by the spirits of the underworld.
-
The Secret Diary of Mona Hasan by Salma Hussain (May 3)
Over the course of a year that sees a war break out in Dubai and her family immigrate to Canada, Mona learns to navigate these massive life changes and find her own, unique voice along the way.
-
Every Bird a Prince by Jenn Reese (May 10)
Eren’s life is confusing enough when a strange, magical bird requests her help to save their forest kingdom from an ancient foe. Though reluctant to get involved, Eren must find the bravery to not only save all those she holds dear, but she must also be brave enough to explore who she is becoming.
-
The Science of Being Angry by Nicole Melleby (May 10)
Joey is angry all the time and she doesn’t understand why. As her anger and temper overwhelm her, she knows she needs to figure out why she feels this way and so begins a journey to discover what makes a family and what makes us who we are.
-
Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit by Jesse Q. Sutanto (May 23)
Following his older brother’s death, Theo inherits his brother’s spirit companion – a fox named Kai. With Kai’s reluctant help, Theo must learn to embrace his heritage to solve his brother’s death.
Other Notable Releases:
-
Melissa by Alex Gino (April 5)
Formerly published as George, this re-branded publication now correctly reflects Melissa’s chosen name. You can read more about the change in this article from Publishers Weekly.
-
Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality by Roshani Chokshi (April 5)
This conclusion to the explosive Pandava quintet sees the Pandavas only have until the next full moon to stop the Sleeper from gaining infinite power. But how can Aru, Mini, and Brynne hope to defeat him without their celestial weapons?
-
Kiki Kallira Conquers a Curse by Sangu Mandanna (May 17)
In this sequel to Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom, Kiki is brought back to Mysore after her beloved kingdom’s only source of water suddenly vanishes. But saving her kingdom may mean dooming another to a terrible fate . . .
