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Black History Month: A Young Adult Reading List
Listen, read, and reflect on classics to modern hits from Black YA authors.
Published on January 27, 2022
Felix Ever After
Kacen CallenderBlack, queer, and trans, 17-year-old artist Felix Love is having a complicated summer. Targeted by an anonymous transphobic bully, Felix catfishes his suspected tormentor, but his plan for revenge sends him on an adventure of love and self-discovery. With a fantastic (and diverse) cast, this feel-good novel is wonderfully messy, warm, and full of friendship and love.
Calling My Name
Liara TamaniA lyrical coming-of-age story told in episodic vignettes, Tamani beautifully and eloquently captures the pains of growing up as readers join Taja on her journey from girlhood to the brink of adulthood. Born into a religious family, Taja struggles with familial expectations and questions about her faith as she discovers who she is and what she truly believes in.
Black Enough
Ibi ZoboiA YA anthology of stories from some of the genre’s best authors is more than enough reason to dive into “Black Enough,” edited by National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi. Stories of friendships, sibling relationships, unrequited love, and the constant challenges of being young and Black are all woven into a collection of captivating stories by critically-acclaimed authors like Justina Ireland, Nic Stone, and Jason Reynolds.
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice (Newbery Honor Book; National Book Award Winner)
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice (Newbery Honor Book; National Book Award Winner)
Phillip HooseHoose brings to life a name that has been all but forgotten by the history books. On March 2, 1955 a young Black girl refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus. However, it wasn’t Rosa Parks, who is widely credited with sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott, but Claudette Colvin. Claudette was only fifteen years old at the time. Although she was later dismissed by her community and peers, her bravery and strength pushed her to not only stand up against segregation but also serve as a key plaintiff in a landmark Supreme Court Case that later struck down segregation laws.
One of the Good Ones
Maika MouliteTimely and poignant, “One of the Good Ones” tackles complex themes of systemic racism, generational trauma, and police brutality. After teen activist Kezi Smith is killed under mysterious circumstances, her family is left to pick up the pieces. Happi, Kezi’s younger sister, is struck by two questions: What does it mean to be “one of the good ones” and why are only certain people worthy of being missed?
Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry
Joya GoffneyQuinn is a high school senior who has a list for everything — for things she wants to do, things she’s too scared to do, things she’s ashamed of, and more. Her lists, kept in her journal, go missing and soon Quinn becomes the victim of blackmail. Whoever’s holding her journal hostage demands that she check things off her list that she never dared to do before, or they’ll reveal her lists for the entire school to see.
I'm Not Dying with You Tonight
Kimberly JonesLena and Campbell don’t have much in common, beyond the fact that they’re both teenage girls, one of whom is Black and the other white. But after a Friday night football game erupts in chaos and their city becomes the scene of a violent race riot, fate throws the two together. This novel brings conversations about America’s racial tension to the surface in a way that readers of any age can examine and understand.
Long Way Down
Jason Reynolds
This will be the most intense elevator ride of your life. Every second counts in this experimental story about a boy contemplating revenge for his brother’s murder. Jason Reynolds’s book has received many accolades, including a Newbery Honor and LA Times Book Prize.
The Hate U Give
Angie ThomasStarr is living life on a balancing beam. She’s caught between two worlds: her mostly Black neighborhood and her mostly white prep school. As hard as she tries to separate the two, her worlds collide after she witnesses the horrific murder of her friend at the hands of police. Angie Thomas’ “The Hate U Give” is a powerful exploration of the ramifications of police brutality and what it means to grow up Black.
Akata Witch
Nnedi OkoraforTwelve-year-old Sunny has never quite fit in. Born in New York City with albinism, she now lives in Nigeria with her family, where she makes a shocking discovery: She has magical abilities. Tasked with tracking down an elusive killer, Sunny must figure out how to control her surging powers and learn to perform spells, juju, and shape-shifting, all while keeping her magic a secret from her parents.
Ordinary Light: A Memoir
Tracy K. SmithPart of growing up is understanding your family’s past. Suburban California and rural Alabama offer very different experiences for a young Black woman, something Tracy K. Smith learns after spending a summer with her grandmother in the South. Smith’s memoir explores the juxtaposition of her comfortable family life with her family’s past and her own future with poetic, beautiful prose.
The Black Flamingo
Dean AttaGrowing up in London as a gay, mixed-race kid — Greek-Cypriot and Jamaican — Michael has never truly known where he fits in. As he grows older and comes out, he makes his own path and his own identity as Black Flamingo, a member of the Drag Society. The book is written in lyrical, poetic prose and narrated by the author, Dean Atta, and offers an insightful look at how life’s many layers can make up our identities.
Grown
Tiffany D. JacksonEnchanted is young, talented, and determined to make a name for herself as a singer. When legendary musician Korey Fields singles her out, he promises to make her dreams come true. What started as a fantasy soon turns into a nightmare as Enchanted becomes trapped in a tangled web of obsession, manipulation, and murder. Jackson dives deep into the dangers that face young Black women who are at risk of grooming, abuse, and victim blaming.
Happily Ever Afters
Elise BryantA sweet story about overcoming imposter syndrome and staying true to yourself. Tessa, a gifted romance writer, is accepted into a creative writing program at a prestigious art school. However, once there, her words just won’t flow like they used to. Encouraged by her best friend to find real-life romantic inspiration, Tessa sets out on a journey to spark her own romance.
The Cost of Knowing
Brittney MorrisAll Alex wants is to live in the present. But he’s finding that difficult given his ability to see into the future. His whole world comes crashing down when he sees the death of his younger brother, Isaac. Dedicated to, “All the Black boys who had to grow up too early,” “The Cost of Knowing” is an incredibly powerful story of brotherhood, masculinity, and what it means to be a young Black male growing up in America.
When You Look Like Us
Pamela N. HarrisJay has more on his plate than any teenager should: He’s taking care of his aging grandmother and trying to keep an eye on his sister, Nic, all while dealing with the pressures of paying bills, holding down a job, and trying to make it through high school. When Nic goes missing and the police dismiss the case as just another missing Black girl, Jay does everything in his power to bring her home. “When You Look Like Us” is a heartbreaking story of loss, family, and growing up too fast.