OIB 2022

WHEN THE WORLD WAS OURS

2/14/2022

by Liz Kessler
Simon & Schuster/Aladdin
(Austria/Poland/England)

Three best friends see Vienna from new heights in 1936 atop a Ferris Wheel. As Hitler invades Austria, two try to escape persecution and one joins the Hitler Youth. All three cherish this memory as life becomes darker, crueler, and more complex.

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WAR

2/14/2022

by José Jorge Letria
tr. from Portuguese by Elisa Amado
illus. by André Letria
Greystone Kids
(Portugal)

Written by the father-son team, Jose Jorge Letria and Andre Letria, this poetic picturebook conveys War’s devastating power. A somber color palette, cringeworthy creature comparisons, and verbal connotations of disease, deceit, and devastation showcase the physical, emotional, and geographical casualties that linger for generations.

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WALKING IN TWO WORLDS

2/14/2022

by Wab Kinew
Penguin Teens
(Canada)

A suspenseful, action-oriented story in which teenage Bugz navigates between the challenges of her family and clan and her virtual gaming world. The virtual and Indigenous worlds are adeptly interwoven to provide an engrossing story of family, friendship, and loyalty.

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FREEDOM SWIMMER

2/14/2022

by Wai Chim
Scholastic Press
(China)

Set during China’s Cultural Revolution, orphan Ming befriends Li who was brought to his village through one of the government’s social projects. The two boys plan to swim to Hong Kong to gain their freedom. This story is based on the author’s father’s life.

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CARRY ON: POETRY BY YOUNG IMMIGRANTS

2/14/2022

by Simon Boulerice (curator)
tr. from French by Susan Ouriou
illus. by Rogé
Owlkids
(Canada)

Touchstones like selfies and FaceTime punctuate immigration as an ongoing concern in poems capturing recent teen experiences. Spare language emphasizes sharp transitions between old homes and new; intense, lifesize watercolors of the young poets and other immigrants depict the range of newcomers among us.

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ALL THE COLORS OF LIFE

2/14/2022

by Lisa Aisato
tr. from Norwegian by Olivia Lasky
illus. by author
W1-Media/Arctis Books
(Norway)

Organized into six life stages, this picturebook offers readers of all ages an immersive journey constructed by a renowned Norwegian artist, Aisato. The evocative partnership of contemplative text and full-color, larger-than-life illustrations invite numerous meditations about the self, life, and the human experience.

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THE SWALLOWS’ FLIGHT

2/14/2022

by Hilary McKay
Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry Books
(England/Germany)

In this follow-up to The Skylarks’ War, the reader follows four young people as they reach adulthood between World War I and II. Vivid depictions of historic events and rich characters make this a poignant read about courage and the effects of war.

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SOUL LANTERNS

2/14/2022

by Shaw Kuzki
tr. from Japanese by Emily Balistrieri
Delacorte Press
(Japan)

Three Japanese middle-school students focus their art festival project around the Hiroshima bombing 25 years after it happened. Inspired by an annual lantern-floating ceremony honoring those lost in the bombing, they collect family stories and design a creative, compassionate way to share their loved ones' experiences.

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MOLLY AND THE MATHEMATICAL MYSTERIES: TEN INTERACTIVE ADVENTURES IN MATHEMATICAL WONDERLAND

2/14/2022

by Eugenia Cheng
illus. by Aleksandra Artymowska
Candlewick/Big Picture Press
(UK)

Molly, the main and only character, is a curious explorer on an adventure following mysterious, mathematical clues. Cheng and Artymowska’s vibrant, interactive book encourages readers to join in the exploration through numerous panels, inserts, and paper dials to help Molly solve the mathematical questions posed.

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LIVING WITH VIOLA

2/14/2022

by Rosena Fung
illus. by author
Annick Press
(Canada)

Told from the perspective of first-generation Chinese Canadian sixth grader, Livy, this graphic novel offers an insightful portrait of life with an anxiety disorder. Issues of identity and anti-Asian hate exacerbate internal struggles, represented as Viola. The inclusion of Cantonese contributes to the book’s authenticity.

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