Here is the Canada Reads 2022 longlist

Fifteen books are on theCanada Readslonglist for 2022.

From deeply personal memoirs, engaging short story collections, expansive storiesand gothic fiction, this year's longlisted books inspire readers to reflect on communityandwho we are in the world we live in.

The 2022longlist is:

• The Spoon Stealer by Lesley Crewe
• Driven by Marcello Di Cintio
• Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
• What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akkad
• Book of Wings by Tawhida Tanya Evanson
• Satellite Love by Genki Ferguson
• Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch by Rivka Galchen
• Five Little Indians by Michelle Good
• Scarborough by Catherine Hernandez
• All the Quiet Places by Brian Thomas Isaac
• Dominoes at the Crossroads by Kaie Kellough
• Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
• Life in the City of Dirty Water by Clayton Thomas-Mller
• From My Mother's Back by Njoki Wane
• We Two Alone by Jack Wang

The five panellists and the five books they choose to championwill be revealed on Jan. 26, 2022.

The debates will take place March 28-31, 2022.

They will be hosted byAli Hassanandwill be broadcast onCBC Radio One,CBC TV,CBC Gemand onCBC Books.

Hassan has hostedCanada Readssince 2017.

Hassan is an actor, comedian andhost ofCBCRadio'sLaugh Out Loudand a frequent guest host ofAs it Happensandq. He can also be seen in his TV roles onDesignated Survivor,Odd SquadandRun the Burbs.

• Ali Hassan shares 5 reads that have shaped his life

2022marks the 21stedition ofCanada Reads.

Canada Readspremiered in 2002. The first winning book wasIn the Skin of a Lionby Michael Ondaatje, whichwas defended by musician Steven Page.

OtherpastCanada Readswinnersinclude Lawrence Hill'sThe Illegal, defended by Olympian Clara Hughes,Kim Thy'sRu, defended by TIFF artistic director Cameron Bailey and Lisa Moore'sFebruary, defended by comedian Trent McClellan.

Last year's winner was actor Devery Jacobs, championing the novelJonny Appleseedby Joshua Whitehead.You can rewatch the 2021debates here.

You can see a complete list of past winners and contenders here.

You can learn more about the books on theCanada Reads2022longlist below.

The Spoon Stealer by Lesley Crewe

The Spoon Stealeris a novel that uses wit and humour to tell a story aboutfamily secrets,friendship and belonging. Emmelineis a compulsive spoon stealer and always had issues fitting into life on her family's rural Nova Scotian farm. Facing a family crisis during the First World War, Emmeline flees to England to create a new life for herself with her best friend, Vera, a small white dog. When she decides to write her memoirs, secrets are uncovered and friendships are formed asshe learnsmore about herself and the world she lives in.

• Tyler LeBlanc, Alison Taylor, Lesley Crewe among 2021 Atlantic Book Award winners

Lesley Crewe is a Nova Scotia columnist, screenwriter andauthor of several novels, including the forthcoming novelNosy Parker,as well asBeholden,Mary, Mary,Amazing Grace,Chloe Sparrow,KinandRelative Happiness, which has been adapted into a feature film.Crewe won the Jim Connors Dartmouth Book Award for Fiction forThe Spoon Stealer.

Drivenby Marcello Di Cintio

Marcello Di Cintio explores the role of the taxi cab in contemporary culture inDriven.Taxis are both public and private space, andtheirsmalldimensionsmean strangers share an intimate closeness during the duration of atrip.Di Cintiointerviews several taxi drivers from different backgrounds, and attempts to make sense of the role cabsplayin our culture,while also sheddinglight on those who drive them, often silently and anonymously.

• What travel writer Marcello Di Cintio discovered in exploring the inner-lives of Canada's cab drivers

Marcello Di Cintio is a travel writer and author from Calgary. His other books includeWallsandPay No Heed to the Rockets.Wallswonthe 2013 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing. Hisworkcan also be found in the International New York Times, Afarand Canadian Geographic.

The Sunday Magazine22:53The secret lives of taxi drivers

In 'Driven: The Secret Lives of Taxi Drivers', Marcello Di Cintio unearths the tales of a handful of Canadian cabbies, and he hears the stories you may miss if you don't pay attention.

Washington BlackbyEsiEdugyan

Washington Blacktells the story of 11-year-old Washington Black, who was born into slavery on a Barbados sugar plantation. His master is Christopher Wilde, a man obsessed with developing a machine that can fly. The two develop a bond, but when a man is killed, Wilde must choose between his family and saving Washington's life and the choice results in an unforgettable adventure around the world.

Washington Blackwon the 2018 Scotiabank Giller Prizeand wasa finalist for the 2018 Man Booker Prizeandthe2018 Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize.

• How Esi Edugyan wrote her novel Washington Black and won her second Scotiabank Giller Prize

Esi Edugyanis also the author of the novelsThe Second Life of Samuel Tyneand Half-Blood Blues, the latter of which won the 2011 Scotiabank Giller Prize and was defended on Canada Reads by Donovan Bailey in 2014.She delivered the CBC Massey Lecturesand adapted the series into the bookOut of the Sun: On Race and Storytelling. Raised in Calgary, Edugyan now lives in Victoria, B.C.

The Next Chapter13:19Genki Ferguson on Satellite Love

Genki Ferguson talks to Shelagh Rogers about his novel, Satellite Love.

What Strange Paradiseby Omar El Akkad

What Strange Paradiseis a novel that tells the story of a global refugee crisis through the eyes of a child. Nine-year-old Amir is the only survivor from a ship full of refugees coming to a small island nation. He ends up with a teenage girl named Vanna, who lives on the island. Even though they don't share a common language or culture, Vanna becomes determined to keep Amir safe.What Strange Paradisetells both their stories and how they each reached this moment, while asking the questions, "How did we get here?" and "What are we going to do about it?"

What Strange Paradisewonthe 2021 Scotiabank Giller Prize.

• Omar El Akkad talks about writing his novelWhat Strange Paradise

Omar El Akkad is a Canadian journalist and author who currently lives in Portland, Ore. He is also the author of the novelAmerican War, which was defended onCanada Reads2018 by actor Tahmoh Penikett.

Writers and Company52:03Rivka Galchens reimagining of a 17th century witch trial is a story that speaks to our time

The Canadian-born American novelist talks about magic and science and her new book about the real-life witch trial of the mother of 17th century astronomer Johannes Kepler.

Book of Wingsby Tawhida Tanya Evanson

Book of Wingsis a novel that follows an artist on a global journey with her lover, from Canada to the Caribbean to Paris and beyond. Along the way, their relationship falls apart, but the artist goes on a personal and spiritual journey as she traverses the globe.

• 58 Canadian works of fiction that were published inspring 2021

Tawhida Tanya Evanson is an Antiguan Qubecois writer, artist and performer who currently lives in Montreal. She is also the author of the poetry collectionsNouveau GriotandBothism.Book of Wingsis her first work of fiction.

The Next Chapter12:57Njoki Wane on From My Mother's Back: A Journey from Kenya to Canada

The author and award-winning scholar Njoki Wane on her memoir From My Mother's Back: A Journey from Kenya to Canada.

Satellite Loveby Genki Ferguson

The novelSatellite Loveis set in a city in Japan in 1999. Anna is a lonely teenager who turns to stargazing for comfort and escape. But when the Low Earth Orbit satellite (aka LEO) returns Anna's gaze and comes down to earth as Leo, what follows is an unconventional story about love, loneliness and human connection.

• Genki Ferguson explores feelings of young love and isolation with debut novelSatellite Love

Genki Ferguson is a writer from Calgary.Satellite Loveis his first book.

Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witchby Rivka Galchen

Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witchtakes place in a small German town in 1618, where an elderly widow is accused of witchcraft. In the German duchy of Wrttemberg, fear is palpable the plague is spreading, and The Thirty Years' War has begun. So when a woman named Ursula Reinbold accuses widow Katharina of offering her a witchy drink that has made her ill, Katharina is in trouble.

Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witchwasshortlisted forthe 2021 Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize.

• Rivka Galchen'sEveryone Knows Your Mother Is a Witchreimagines a real-life witch hunt read an excerpt now

Rivka Galchen is a Canadian American writer. She is also the author of the novelAtmospheric Disturbances. She lives in New York City.

Five Little Indiansby Michelle Good

InFive Little Indians, Kenny, Lucy, Clara, Howie and Maisie were taken from their families and sent to a residential school when they were very small. Barely out of childhood, they are released and left to contend with the seedy world of eastside Vancouver. Fuelled by the trauma of their childhood, the five friends cross paths over the decades and struggle with the weight of their shared past.

Five Little Indianswon the2020 Governor General's Literary Award for fictionandthe 2021 Amazon Canada First Novel Award.It was alsoonthe 2020 Writers'Trust Fiction Prize shortlistandthe 2020 Scotiabank Giller Prize longlist.

• Michelle Good on how residential schools fit into our national story

Michelle Good is a Cree writer and retired lawyer, as well as a member of Red Pheasant Cree Nation in Saskatchewan.Good holds an MFA and a law degree from the University of British Columbia and, as a lawyer, advocated for residential school survivors.Five Little Indiansis her first book.CBC Books named her a writer to watch in 2020.

Scarborough by Catherine Hernandez

Scarboroughisthe multi-voiced story of a neighbourhood that refuses to fall apart in the face of poverty and crime. Weaving together the stories of three children growing up in difficult circumstances with the stories of three adults who are doing their best to help them out,Scarboroughis a vibrant and emotional debut.

• How Catherine Hernandez's resilient neighbourhood inspired her debut novel

Catherine Hernandezis a Canadian writer, author and playwright.CBC Books named Hernandez a writer to watch in 2017and her debut novelScarboroughwas shortlistedfor the 2017 Toronto Book Award, the 2018 Trillium Book Awardand the 2018 Edmund White Award for debut fiction.Scarboroughwas also on the 2018 Canada Reads longlistand has been adapted into a feature film. Her sophomore novel,Crosshairs,was published in 2020.

All the Quiet Placesby Brian Thomas Isaac

InAll the Quiet Places, it's 1956 andyoungEddie Toma lives on the far edge of the Okanagan Indian Reserve with his mother and little brother. In the summer, he tags along with his mother, his nephew and her friends to farm in Washington state. After tragedy strikes, Eddie comes home grief-stricken, confused and lonely. As he grows up, his life is governed by the decisions of the adults around him. And every time things start to look up, circumstances beyond his control crash down around him and the effects of guilt, grief and despair keep piling up, threatening everything Eddie has ever known or loved.

Brian Thomas Isaac was born on the Okanagan Indian Reserve, in south central B.C. He's worked in oil fields, as a bricklayer and he had a short career riding bulls in local rodeos. As a lover of sports, he has coached minor hockey.All the Quiet Placesis his first book.

Dominoes at the Crossroadsby Kaie Kellough

InDominoes at the Crossroads,Kaie Kelloughnavigates Canada's Caribbean diaspora, through a broad cast of characterswho seek music and a connection to their past. They includejazz musicians, hitchhikers, suburbanites, student radicals, secret agents, historiansand their fugitive slave ancestors.Their stories stretch from Montreal's Old Port to as far as the South American rainforests.

• How an album title inspired Kaie Kellough to become a writer

Kaie Kelloughis a writer based in Montreal. His novelAccordonwas a finalist for the Amazon.ca First Novel Award in 2017. He is also the author of the poetry collectionMagnetic Equator,which wonthe 2020 Griffin Poetry Prize.

Velvet Was The Nightby Silvia Moreno-Garcia

InVelvet Was The Night, it's the 1970s in Mexico City and Maite is a secretary who lives to read the latest issue of Secret Romance. She escapes into stories of passion and danger, ignoring the student protests and political unrest that consume the city. When her next-door neighbour, Leonora, a beautiful art student, disappears under suspicious circumstances, Maite searches for her and uncoversLeonora's secret life of student radicals and dissidents. Eccentric criminal Elvis, at the request of his boss, is also looking for Leonora. As Maite and Elvis come closer to finding out the truth behind Leonora's disappearance, they can no longer escape the danger that threatens to consume their lives.

• Silvia Moreno-Garcia likes to write genre-bending novels

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a Canadian writerwho was born and raised in Mexico. She's the author of novelsMexican Gothic,Gods of Jade and Shadow,Signal to Noise,Certain Dark ThingsandThe Beautiful Ones. She has previously won the Goodreads Readers Choice Award and the Copper Cylinder Award.

Life in the City of Dirty Waterby Clayton Thomas-Mller

Life in the City of Dirty Wateris a memoir by Cree activist Clayton Thomas-Mller. It covers his entire life: from playing with toy planes as a way to escapethe intergenerational pain of Canada's residential school systemto spending time in juvenile detentionand later becoming an activist in the fight against colonial racism and violence. Along thisrocky road, Thomas-Mllerremainstied to his Cree heritage and spirituality.

• Cree activist Clayton Thomas-Mller embarks on a storytelling journey through trauma, healing, and Indigenous uprisings

Clayton Thomas-Mller is a member of the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, located in Northern Manitoba. He's campaigned on behalf of Indigenous peoples around the world for more than 20 years, working with numerous organizations.Life in the City of Dirty Wateris his first book.

From My Mother's Backby Njoki Wane

Njoki Wane'sFrom My Mother's Backreflects on her childhood living in Kenya where her parents owned a small coffee farm. It explores her African identity and how her upbringing and close relationship with her mother ensured her sense of self. The book later follows her to Canada, as she pursues her academic dreams and experiences what it means to be a Black African womanin a predominantly white society.

• Njoki Wane's memoirFrom My Mother's Backis a story of Black resilience and developing a strong sense of self

Njoki Wane is a professor at the University of Toronto and a recognized scholar in the areas of Black feminism and African spirituality.

We Two Aloneby Jack Wang

Set over a century and spanning five continents,We Two Alonetraces the evolution of the Chinese immigrant experience. Following various people, families and professionals across the globe, Jack Wang creates a tapestry of experience that encompasses the trials and tribulations of a diaspora trying to find its place in the world.

We Two Alonewon the2021 Danuta Gleed Literary Award for best first short story collection.

• Jack Wang wins $10K Danuta Gleed Literary Award for best first short story collection for We Two Alone

Jack Wang's short stories have been published inJoylandMagazine,The Humber Literary ReviewandThe New Quarterly.We Two Aloneis his first book.