The Hamilton East Public Library is proud to present our Best Books of 2022! Explore our annual recommendations for kids and adults, curated by our expert librarians. The books on these lists are perfect for gifting, book club selections, or personal reading. They include fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, picture books, and more! All of these books are in the Library’s catalog, and many are available in multiple formats, including e-books and audiobooks. Happy reading!
Jump to: Kids | Teens | Adults
For Kids
Board Books
Boop the Snoot by Ashlyn Anstee
The best title of a playful, rhyming board book that also happens to help babies develop motor skills with fingerplay.
Peek-a-You! by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illus. by Brian Pinkney
Sure to elicit squeals of delight with this classic game in a book! You’ll be getting your child ready to read by playing.
Picture Books
Luli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wang, illus. by Hyewon Yum
Because of language barriers, all the children in ESL daycare play by themselves, but Luli has a plan to change that with tea, cookies, and friendly faces.
Uncle John’s City Garden by Bernette G. Ford, illus. by Frank Morrison
The pictures in this book bring the words to life showing how much love is put into growing the garden and sharing its bounty with others.
Hot Dog by Doug Salati
Wanna know what a dog is thinking and feeling? You’ll never feel as close to a pup as you do with this picture book wherein a sweltering canine needs to get calm, free, and cool at the beach. Kids will pore over the detailed pages again and again!
A Gift for Nana by Lane Smith
A beautifully illustrated picture book about a young bunny who loves his Nana and the adventure he goes on to bring her the perfect gift.
This Book Will Get You to Sleep! by Jory John, illus. by Olivier Tallec
We can’t guarantee you’ll put your child to sleep with this hilariously loud book. The author of the popular Bad Seed books will be sure to elicit lots of laughs.
Gibberish by Young Vo
The anxieties of learning a new language are realistically rendered as young Dat’s comfort and knowledge grow with blooming color.
My Paati’s Saris by Jyoti Rajan Gopal, illus. by Art Twink
A young child helps their paati (the Tamil word for grandmother) get ready for a night of festivities.
I-Can-Read Fiction
Gigi and Ojiji by Melissa Iwai
Gigi is excited that her grandfather is going to live with her, though reality sure has its ups and downs!
Chapter Books
Spooky Sleuths: The Ghost Tree by Natasha Deen, illus. by Lissy Marlin
Perfect for shorter chapter book readers who want something spooky! Follow along with 4th grader Asim whose belief in the supernatural just might save the town.
Pets Rule!: My Kingdom of Darkness by Susan Tan, illlus. By Wendy Tan Shiau Wei
This beginner chapter book made us LOL as we followed along with rescued chihuahua Ember, whose quest for world domination means defeating the acorn-lobbing squirrels next door.
Nonfiction
The Adventures of Dr. Sloth by Suzi Eszterhas
This book is full of sloth pictures and facts, but it also shares information about becoming a scientist who studies sloths.
Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, illus. by Daniel Minter
Who knew the color blue could be so cool, vivid, and fascinating?
The Snowy Owl Scientist by Mark Wilson
Find out if snowy owls are in trouble as you follow along with a scientist in the field and all their fun gear, featuring supportive ways to help snowy owls by keeping a safe distance.
A Seed Grows by Antoinette Portis
A bold and colorful look at the growth cycle of a sunflower. Portis is a favorite picture book author to share with young kids.
Yoshi and the Ocean: A Sea Turtle’s Incredible Journey Home by Lindsay Moore
Rescued as a baby, Yoshi is tagged and released into the wild to follow her instincts home.
Middle Grade
Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega
Fun middle grade read following three young witches-in-the-making on an adventure full of magic, friendship, and an epic battle against a magical creature called the Nightbeast.
Key Player by Kelly Yang
Mia Tang is a favorite middle grade character, and this story once again showcases her spunk and determination to follow her dreams.
The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill
A fabulous story about community and friendship and how they suffer when deception and lies are allowed to sneak in. This heartwarming tale of compassion and kindness, that overcomes evil and bitterness, will have you cheering for an Ogress and the children who are trying to save their town.
The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat
Aiding an ancient mapmaker in this adventurous fantasy, Sai journeys to find out who she can be in a world set against her.
Aviva vs. the Dybbuk by Mari Lowe
Aviva is overwhelmed by both her mother’s depression after the loss of Aviva’s father and by a mischievous dybbuk that’s haunting their home.
Graphic Novels
The Real Riley Mayes by Rachel Elliott
Navigating new friendships in a new school year is hard, but budding comic artist Riley is trying to make it through without her best friend that moved away. Fans of Shannon Hale and Raina Telgemeier’s graphic novels will enjoy this one too!
Little Monarchs by Jonathan Case
Mystery and adventure readers alike will enjoy this graphic novel in which 10-year-old Elvie and her guardian track monarch migration patterns, convinced that the butterflies are the key to a vaccine for a mysterious disease that has killed most of the world’s population.
Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas
You’ll be rooting for Bree in this attention-grabbing, feel-good graphic novel about an underdog athlete diving headlong into her worst fear with courage and the help of friends.
For Teens
Middle School (MS) Fiction
I Know You’re Lying by Daphne Benedis-Grab
A twisty middle school mystery about what happens when bullying goes too far.
Shot Clock by Caron Butler and Justin A. Reynolds
The first book in a new middle grade series about a boy trying to make it on an AAU basketball team coached by a former NBA player, while also trying to heal from losing his best friend.
Two Degrees by Alan Gratz
An action-packed middle grade novel featuring three different teens caught up in a wildfire, a snowy tundra, and a hurricane — all devastating effects of climate change.
Middle School (MS) Graphic Novels
Enemies by Svetlana Chmakova
A middle grade graphic novel about the thin line between friends and enemies.
High School Fiction
Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed
Teen journalist Safiya Merza investigates the murder of “Bomb Boy” and addresses the danger of racism in this thrilling mystery.
Love from Mecca to Medina by S.K. Ali
The romantic sequel to Love from A to Z, Adam and Zayneb agree to go on a pilgrimage from Mecca to Medina over Thanksgiving break so they can finally spend time together. However, this trip may put one too many wedges between them for their love to survive.
The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
In the third book of The Inheritance Games series, Avery is just weeks away from becoming the richest teenager in the world, but as fans of the series know, nothing is simple with so many secrets and riddles surrounding the Hawthornes!
Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen
The first book in a new fantasy series with an enemies-to-lovers plot involving Violet, a prophet and a liar, and Prince Cyrus, the king-to-be that plans to strip Violet of her position.
Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn
In the highly-anticipated book 2 of the fantasy series The Legendborn Cycle, Bree now knows of her ancestral powers, but can she learn to control them in order to rescue the boy she fell in love with?
The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber
In the highly-anticipated sequel to Once Upon a Broken Heart, Evangeline Fox swears she will never trust the Prince of Hearts again, but he may be the only person she can trust when a new murderous spell is cast.
Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong
In the first book in a new duology, two spies must work undercover together to find out who is behind a series of murders in 1931 Shanghai.
Five Survive by Holly Jackson
A thrilling mystery of a road trip turned deadly: 8 hours, 6 friends, 5 survive.
The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson
With suspenseful horror inspired by Stephen King’s Carrie, a Georgia school’s first integrated prom turns deadly after relentless bullying of biracial student Maddy.
Tokyo Dreaming by Emiko Jean
In the sequel to rom-com Tokyo Ever After, overnight princess Izumi Tanaka tries to ensure her parents’ happily-ever-after without losing her own.
A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin
In book 1 of The Book of Tea fantasy series, Ning competes in a magical tea-making competition to win a favor from the princess to save her sister’s life.
Family of Liars by E. Lockhart
In this prequel to We Were Liars, the wealthy Sinclair family spends another summer on their private island, where betrayal and secrets are hidden by lies to keep up appearances.
Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore
Part of the Remixed Classics, this book includes all the same beloved characters but with modern twists!
Nothing More to Tell by Karen McManus
Brynn is investigating the murder of a teacher from her old school as a part of her internship on a true-crime show, but digging into the past is turning up new secrets and dangers in the present.
Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin
A spectacular mash-up of art and text that describes in three powerful sentences and 300 pages the changes happening while the world was sheltered inside.
Scattered Showers: Stories by Rainbow Rowell
Nine beautifully-written love stories with unforgettable characters and laugh-out-loud moments that will make readers swoon!
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
In this historical thriller set in 1989 Romania, anyone could be a spy, and the rest of the world has no idea the country is being led by a cruel dictator turning neighbors against neighbors.
The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera
In the prequel to best-seller They Both Die at the End, two boys registered with Death-Cast to be notified when they are going to die, but after meeting and forming a deep connection, only one of them gets an End Day call leading to a heart-breaking goodbye.
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
In the first book in a Mexican-inspired fantasy duology, ten teens are chosen to compete in a series of challenges where the stakes are life and death.
YA/High School Graphic Novels
Crumbs by Danie Stirling
A romantic graphic novel based on the WEBTOON webcomic, featuring a magical bakery, first love, and all the delicious complications of growing up.
Clementine: Book One by Tillie Walden
In this graphic novel set in the world of The Walking Dead, tough survivor, Clementine, meets an Amish boy too naive for his own good and a small group of teens with hidden agendas, as they plan to create a walker-free establishment without knowing if they actually trust each other.
For Adults
Fiction
All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers
Set in a small town in Indiana, this debut novel follows a young journalist seeking to solve an unsolved murder—and possibly prevent a second one.
Babel by R.F. Kuang
A new series from one of the most exciting new voices in speculative fiction, this is a story about a powerful institution of translation and the dark secrets found within.
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
A debut novel about a family history and an intertwining mystery bringing its members together.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
This consistently popular author is back with another sweet romance with a twist.
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
One of the great modern American writers presents a pseudo-retelling of a classic Dickens novel as an allegory for growing up in poverty in present-day South.
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
The perennial favorite horror writer delves into fantasy with a battle of good and evil that becomes so much more.
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
A social media darling: this is an epic fantasy set in a mythical coffee shop.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
When a brilliant scientist’s life is uprooted, she turns instead to cooking—though not by choice—and the differences turn out to be not all that different in this funny yet poignant story.
The Maid by Nita Prose
After Molly finds the perfect job for herself as a housekeeper, a horrible crime shocks her out of her daily routine where she learns more about herself in the process.
The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford
In the most recent novel from HEPL’s featured Books Build Bridges author, a poet reflects on relatives from her past to deal with trauma of the present.
The Netanyahus by Joshua Cohen
This literary meta-novel (which won the Pulitzer Price in Fiction) is about a historian tasked with evaluating an eccentric scholar with humorous and revelatory effects on life.
Now Is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson
A coming-of-age story about a writer who is confronted with an event from her past.
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
In the newest from the reliable thriller author, a young woman uncovers secrets about her half-brother the more she learns about his current living situation.
The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy
The inimitable longtime author unveils his first work in over fifteen years with a duology about a crash diver and his outlook on life.
The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty
Set in a fictional town in Indiana, this literary fiction debut about a week in a young writer’s life was the winner of the National Book Award in Fiction.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
An endearing debut novel about an unlikely friendship between a woman and an octopus.
Run, Rose, Run by James Patterson and Dolly Parton
An iconic matchup: a bestselling author and a beloved musician team up to tell a thrilling story about a young musician overcoming obstacles to start her career.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
A coming of age romance novel with a technological twist broad enough to appeal to many generations.
Tracy Flick Can’t Win by Tom Perrotta
In the long-awaited follow-up to Election, this book picks up with the classic character now in her career twenty years later.
Trust by Hernan Diaz
Literary historical fiction about the effect of money and power on young New Yorkers in the early twentieth century.
Nonfiction
And There Was Light by Jon Meacham
The well-known presidential biographer returns with a comprehensive telling of Lincoln’s life—a worthy addition in a crowded field.
Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole by Susan Cain
From the bestselling author of Quiet, this book examines the use of pain and longing and how it can be beneficial.
Cuba: An American History by Ada Ferrer
In this winner of the Pulitzer Prize in History, scholar and historian Dr. Ferrer outlines the complex history of Cuba and its relationship with the United States.
River of the Gods by Candice Millard
A narrative nonfiction just as adventurous as it is informative about explorations along Egypt’s Nile River.
Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s Cold Cases by Paul Holes
A memoir from a detective responsible for tracking down several high-profile cases.
Graphic Novels
The Nice House on the Lake by James Tynion IV
In this graphic novel which won the Eisner Award for Best New Series, a group of people with one figure in common are brought together to withstand the end of the world.