The winners of this year's Jhalak Prize were announced on Thursday 26 May 2022; they are graphic novelist, Sabba Khan, winner of the Jhalak Prize and children’s author, Maisie Chan, winner of the Jhalak Children’s & Young Adult Prize.

Sabba Khan won the Jhalak Prize for her ‘impeccable’ and ‘striking’ graphic debut novel The Roles We Play (Myriad), which was praised by the judges as a "powerful, moving and thought-provoking story which shimmers with hard-earned wisdom and wonder". It is the first time a graphic novel has won the Prize. Sabba Khan is also a designer and architect, and co-director of Khan Bonshek, an architectural practice set up by her and her partner in Stratford, London, where both are completing the final stages of their self-build home. Sabba was supported in her writing of the novel by Jerwood Arts and an extract from The Roles We Play was shortlisted for the Myriad First Graphic Novel Award.

Maisie Chan, based in Glasgow, won the Jhalak Children’s and Young Adult Prize for her "warm and funny" children’s novel Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths (Piccadilly Press). Already shortlisted for the Blue Peter Awards 2022 and chosen as the Scottish Book Trust’s Book of the Month in July 2021, the novel was praised by the judges for "the warm-heartedness, humour and nuanced way it approaches the challenges of being a child negotiating multiple identities." Both winners are published by small independent publishers, Myriad & Piccadilly Press, recognising the remarkable success of the independent publishing sector.

The Jhalak Prize 2022 judges were authors Mary Jean Chan, Chimene Suleyman and Stephen Thompson. The judges for the Jhalak Children’s and Young Adult Prize 2022 were authors Sufiya Ahmed, Nii Ayikwei Parkes and Patrice Lawrence. Previous winners include Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, Patrice Lawrence, Johny Pitts, Guy Gunaratne, Reni Eddo-Lodge and Jacob Ross.

We are excited to welcome the winners to the London Library with two year's complimentary membership, alongside the short listed authors who will also receive a year's membership.