The 2022 shortlist for the YA Book Prize has been announced and includes three debut novels alongside titles by leading YA authors. Launched in 2014 by The Bookseller, the YA Book Prize is the first prize in the UK and Ireland to specifically focus on fiction for teenagers. By celebrating and highlighting outstanding books by YA authors resident in the UK or Ireland, the YA Book Prize aims to encourage more teenagers to read.

The ten shortlisted titles were selected by a team at The Bookseller. The overall winner will be chosen by a panel of experts made up of editors, reviewers, authors and booksellers who will be joined by teenage judges from schools in London, Hereford, Bradford and Edinburgh.

Commenting on the shortlist, chair of the YA Book Prize Caroline Carpenter said: ‘I’m really happy with this year’s incredibly strong YA Book Prize shortlist, which spans a whole host of genres — from contemporary to fantasy to thrillers and romance — and covers a wide range of themes and issues including institutional racism, time travel, first loves, friendship, and the refugee crisis. There’s something for everyone!’

Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors!

The 2022 YA Book Prize shortlist:

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (Usborne Publishing)

The Yearbook by Holly Bourne (Usborne Publishing)

Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen (Penguin)

Afterlove by Tanya Byrne (Hodder Children’s Books)

The Upper World by Femi Fadugba (Penguin)

You’re the One That I Want by Simon James Green (Scholastic)

Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar (Hodder Children’s Books)

The Crossing by Manjeet Mann (Penguin)

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland (Hot Key Books)

First Day of My Life by Lisa Williamson (David Fickling Books)

The winner of the YA Book Prize 2022 will be announced at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Thursday 25th August in a ceremony that will also be streamed live on the Festival’s website and YouTube channel.