Earlier this week, the Canada Council for the Arts revealed today the 2022 finalists in the prestigious Governor General’s Literary Awards (GGBooks).
“The Governor General’s Literary Awards illustrate the dynamic nature and constant renewal of our literary scene. The quantity, quality and diversity of books the Canada Council for the Arts received attest to the creative forces of those who devote their lives to literature. Books have the power to help us grow; they are with us on our journey through the complexities of the world and the demands of life, and they contribute to our individual and collective emancipations.” — Simon Brault, Director and CEO, Canada Council for the Arts
Following a rigorous process, the Canada Council’s peer assessment committees determined that these 70 books were the best to have been published in Canada in 2022, across seven categories, in both English and French. The 14 winners for 2022 will be announced on ggbooks.ca on November 16, 2022.
The English- and French-language finalists in the children’s/youth categories are listed below.
Young People’s Literature – Text
A Boy Is Not a Ghost
Written by Edeet Ravel (Montreal, QC)
Groundwood Books
Sorry for Your Loss
Written by Joanne Levy (Clinton, ON
Orca Book Publishers
Step
Written by Deborah Ellis (Simcoe, ON)
Groundwood Books
The Summer of Bitter and Sweet
Written by Jen Ferguson (Playa del Rey, United States)
Heartdrum/HarperCollins Publishers
Urchin
Written by Kate Story (Peterborough, ON)
Running the Goat, Books & Broadsides
Peer assessment committee: Michael Hutchinson, Sharon Jennings and Wesley King
Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books
kā-āciwīkicik / The Move
Written by Doris George (Easterville, MB) and Don K. Philpot (Shippensburg, United States)
Illustrated by Alyssa Koski (Okotoks, AB)
Heritage House Publishing
Mina
Written by Matthew Forsythe (Montreal, QC)
Simon & Schuster Canada
The Big Bath House
Written by Kyo Maclear (Toronto, ON)
Illustrated by Gracey Zhang (Coquitlam, BC)
Random House Studio/Penguin Random House
The Sour Cherry Tree
Written by Naseem Hrab (Toronto, ON)
Illustrated by Nahid Kazemi (Montreal, QC)
Owlkids Books
Time is a Flower
Written by Julie Morstad (Vancouver, BC)
Tundra Books
Peer assessment committee: Kate Beaton, Nhung N. Tran-Davies and Frank Viva
Young People’s Literature – Text
Cancer ascendant Autruche
Written by Julie Champagne (Mirabel, QC)
Groupe d’édition la courte échelle
Dessiner dans les marges et autres activités de fantôme
Written by Carolanne Foucher (Quebec City, QC)
Éditions de la Bagnole
La pluie des autres
Written by Daphné B. (Montreal, QC)
Groupe d’édition la courte échelle
Les Bulles
Written by Reynald Cantin (Quebec City, QC)
Éditions du Boréal
Les carnets de novembre
Written by Marie-Hélène Jarry (Montreal, QC)
Groupe d’édition la courte échelle
Peer assessment committee: Edith Kabuya, Daniel Marchildon and Mireille Villeneuve
Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books
La fin des poux?
Written and illustrated by Orbie (Percé, QC)
Éditions Les 400 coups
Trèfle
Written by Nadine Robert (Varennes, QC)
Illustrated by Qin Leng (Toronto, ON)
Comme des géants
Truffe
Written by Fanny Britt (Montreal, QC)
Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault (Montreal, QC)
Éditions de la Pastèque
Seuls
Written by Paul Tom (Montreal, QC)
Illustrated by Mélanie Baillairgé (Montreal, QC)
Groupe d’édition la courte échelle
Un rhume de cheval
Written by Pierrette Dubé (Saint-Lambert, QC)
Illustrated by Enzo (Montreal, QC)
Éditions Fonfon
Peer assessment committee: David Bouchard, Beatriz Carvalho and Ninon Pelletier
The Canada Council for the Arts contributes to the vibrancy of a creative and diverse arts and literary scene and supports its presence across Canada and around the world. The Council is Canada’s public arts funder, with a mandate to “foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts.”
The Council’s grants, services, initiatives, prizes, and payments support Canadian artists, authors, and arts groups and organizations. This support allows them to pursue artistic expression, create works of art, and promote and disseminate the arts and literature.
Through its arts funding, communications, research, and promotion activities, the Council fosters ever-growing engagement of Canadians and international audiences in the arts.
The Council’s Public Lending Right (PLR) program makes annual payments to creators whose works are held in Canadian public libraries.
The Council’s Art Bank operates art rental programs and helps further public engagement with contemporary arts through exhibition and outreach activities.
The Council is responsible for the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, which promotes the values and programs of UNESCO to contribute to a future of peace, reconciliation, equity, and sustainable development.
Media relations contacts
For interviews with the finalists:
Charlene Coy
C2C Communications
charlene@c2ccommunications.com
416-451-1471
Canada Council for the Arts
Communications and Engagement
media@canadacouncil.ca
613-239-3958
1-800-263-5588, ext. 5151
About the GGBooks
Founded in 1936, the Governor General’s Literary Awards are some of Canada’s oldest and most prestigious prizes, with a total annual prize value of $450,000. The Canada Council for the Arts has funded, administered and promoted these awards since 1959.Finalists are selected by category-specific, language-based peer assessment committees (seven in English and seven in French), who consider eligible books published between August 1, 2021, and July 31, 2022. Each writer, translator, or illustrator whose book is selected as winner in its category receives a $25,000 prize. Publishers receive $3,000 to promote the winning book; finalists receive $1,000 each.