2022 CALA Best Book Award (Chinese American Librarians Association) Winners & Honor Books

2022 CALA Best Book Award (Chinese American Librarians Association) Winner · Children's Fiction

Sale price

$1797

Picture Book · Ages 4–7 · 2021

Watercress

By Andrea Wang, Jason Chin (Illustrator)

A roadside discovery reveals a family's hidden heritage and unites past and present.

Newbery Honor (2022)Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor (2021)Caldecott Medal (2022)CALA Best Book Award (Chinese American Librarians Association) (2022)Cybils Award (2021)Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature (2022)

32 pages· 497 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud

5.8/7 Bookroo experts·4.5/5 Goodreads · 5,994 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Summary: In Ohio, a young girl feels embarrassed when her immigrant parents stop to gather wild watercress. As her mother shares a poignant story from their past in China, the girl begins to understand the significance of their foraging. This journey into family history transforms her embarrassment into appreciation, creating a new, cherished memory. Discover how a simple act of gathering connects generations and uncovers the power of heritage.

2022 CALA Best Book Award (Chinese American Librarians Association) Winner · Young Adult Fiction

Sale price

$1348

Chapter Book · Ages 14–+ · 2021

Last Night at the Telegraph Club

By Malinda Lo · Last Night at the Telegraph Club series

In 1950s Chinatown, two girls risk everything for forbidden love amid Red-Scare paranoia.

National Book Award for Young People's Literature (2021)CALA Best Book Award (Chinese American Librarians Association) (2022)Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature (2022)Michael L. Printz Honor (2022)Stonewall Book Award – Children's & Young Adult Literature (2022)

416 pages· 105,147 words· Est. 10 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 126,600 ratings

$13.99Save 4%

Summary: In 1954 San Francisco, Lily Hu discovers love and identity under the neon glow of the Telegraph Club. As she and Kath navigate their forbidden romance, they face the looming threat of Red-Scare paranoia and her father's potential deportation. Can their love survive in a world that demands conformity? This gripping tale of courage and self-discovery unfolds against the backdrop of historical upheaval, challenging societal norms and personal boundaries. Will Lily and Kath's love endure the pressures of a society not ready to accept them? Dive into a story where love defies the odds and history shapes destiny.

2022 Honor Books

Sale price

$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2021

The Many Meanings of Meilan

By Andrea Wang

A girl navigates identity and injustice after moving from Chinatown to rural Ohio.

CALA Best Book Award (Chinese American Librarians Association) Honor (2022)

364 pages· 70,540 words· Est. 8 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 641 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Summary: Meilan Hua's life is uprooted from Boston's Chinatown to rural Ohio after a family feud. Struggling with identity, she adopts different personas inspired by Chinese characters. As she faces school injustices, Meilan learns the power of uniting her many selves. Can she find her true home within herself amidst the chaos?

Sale price

$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 14–18 · 2021

Iron Widow

By Xiran Jay Zhao · Book #1 in the Iron Widow series

A girl defies a deadly system, seeking revenge and power in a world of giant robots.

CALA Best Book Award (Chinese American Librarians Association) Honor (2022)

394 pages

4.0/5 Goodreads · 113,710 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Summary: Zetian, a determined 18-year-old, becomes a concubine-pilot to avenge her sister's death. Unexpectedly, she kills her partner through their psychic link, earning the title Iron Widow. Paired with the formidable Li Shimin, Zetian must navigate a treacherous world where girls are sacrificed to power mecha. As she battles for survival, she seeks to unravel the misogynistic pilot system and save future girls from the same fate. Will Zetian's newfound power be enough to change a world that fears her strength?

The 2022 CALA Best Book Award (Chinese American Librarians Association)

Watercress

Last Night at the Telegraph Club

The Many Meanings of Meilan

Iron Widow

CALA Best Book Award (Chinese American Librarians Association) Winners by Year

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