books by black authors masterlist
Supporting art by Black creators is a great way to support the black community; read their stories, support their stories and ensure that our voices are heard. It goes without saying that each and everyone us who does read should be putting effort into reading stories of POC because even through fiction, we’re learning more about different cultures and countries and heritages. But for today I’ve put together a list of fiction by black authors that only scratches the surface of books by black authors out there, and there’s also a section that includes a few queer reads! If you like reading then please consider having a look!
(P.S in light of it being Caribbean Heritage Month in June, each book in the list that takes place or is about a Caribbean country is marked in brackets next to the title!)
· How to love a Jamaican- Alexis Arthurs (Jamaica) a debut collection of stories about Jamaican immigrants and their families
· Here comes the sun- Nicole Dennis- Benn (Jamaica) ‘a cast of unforgettable women battle for independence while a maelstrom of change threatens their Jamaican village.’
· Everything inside: Stories- Edwidge Danticat Rich with hard-won wisdom and humanity, set in locales from Miami and Port-au-Prince to a small unnamed country in the Caribbean and beyond, Everything Inside is at once wide in scope and intimate, as it explores the forces that pull us together, or drive us apart, sometimes in the same searing instant.
· Breath, eyes memory -Edwidge Danticat (Haiti) When her mother leaves Haiti to find work in the US, Sophie is raised by her aunt. Their parting, years later, when her mother sends for her, is as wrenching as the reunion in New York. Though she barely knows her mother they both carry secrets from their homeland that will haunt them forever.
· A small place- Jamaica Kincaid (Antigua) ‘In A Small Place, Jamaica Kincaid candidly appraises where she grew up, and makes palpable the impact of European colonisation and tourism.’
· Ayiti- Roxane Gay (Haiti) ‘From New York Times-bestselling powerhouse Roxane Gay, Ayiti is a powerful collection exploring the Haitian diaspora experience.’
· Clap when you land- Elizabeth Acevedo (Dominican Republic)
‘In a dual narrative novel in verse that brims with both grief and love, award-winning and bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo writes about the devastation of loss, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the bittersweet bonds that shape our lives.’
· The Hate you Give- Angie Thomas Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, this is a powerful and gripping YA novel about one girl’s struggle for justice.
· On the Come Up- Angie Thomas a powerful story about hip hop, freedom of speech – and fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you.
· Dear Martin- Nic Stone Raw, captivating, and undeniably real, Nic Stone boldly tackles American race relations in this stunning debut.
· YA Jackpot- Nic Stone Seventeen-year-old Rico splits her time outside school between looking after her younger brother and working in the local gas station to help her mum pay the bills. So when she sells a jackpot-winning lotto ticket and the money goes unclaimed, Rico thinks maybe her luck has changed.
· Dear Haiti, Love Alaine- Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite (Haiti) Alaine Beauparlant has heard about Haiti all her life…But the stories were always passed down from her dad–and her mom, when she wasn’t too busy with her high-profile newscaster gig. But when Alaine’s life goes a bit sideways, it’s time to finally visit Haiti herself.
· Get a life, Chloe Brown- Talia Hibbert Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan, and a list. After almost—but not quite—dying, she’s come up with seven directives to help her “Get a Life”
· This is my America- Kim Johnson The Hate U Give meets Just Mercy in this unflinching yet uplifting first novel that explores the racist injustices in the American justice system.
· You should see me in a crown -Leah Johnson Becky Albertalli meets Jenny Han in a smart, hilarious, black girl magic, own voices rom-com by fantastic debut talent ,Leah Johnson.
· The sun is also a star- Nicola Yoon The New York Times bestselling love story from Nicola Yoon, author of Everything, Everything.
· The Field Guide to the North American Teenager- Ben Philippe Norris Kaplan is a black, French Canadian teenager who has been uprooted from his home after moving to Austin, Texas with his mother.
· Opposite of Always- Justin A. Reynolds Jack and Kate fell for each other and had their own love story, but it soon ended after Kate’s unexpected death. Then, through reasons Jack can’t explain, Kate’s death sends him into a repetitive time loop, taking him back to the moment they first met.
· Queenie- Candice Carty-Williams Queenie is a young Jamaican woman living in London. After her breakup from her boyfriend, Queenie embarks on a journey of self-discovery, self-acceptance, and self-worth
- Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson (Monday Charles is missing, and only Claudia seems to notice.)
· Queen of the Conquered- Kacen Callender On the islands of Hans Lollik, Sigourney Rose was the only survivor when her family was massacred by the colonizers. When the childless king of the islands declares he will choose his successor from amongst eligible noble families, Sigourney is ready to exact her revenge.
· Children on Blood and Bone- Tomi Adeyemi Tomi Adeyemi conjures a stunning world of dark magic and danger in her West African-inspired fantasy debut Children of Blood and Bone.
· Black Leopard, Red Wolf- Marlon James ‘A game-changing modern fantasy classic’.
· The Belles- Dhonielle Clayton If you could change everything about yourself, would you?Should you?
· An Unkindness of Ghosts – Rivers Solomon “This book is a clear descendent of Octavia Butler’s Black science fiction legacy, but grounded in more explicit queerness and neuroatypicality.”
· Song of Wraith and Ruin- Roseanne A Brown- The first in a gripping fantasy duology inspired by West African folklore in which a grieving crown princess and a desperate refugee find themselves on a collision course to murder each other despite their growing attraction
· Song below water- Bethany C Morrow a captivating modern fantasy about black mermaids, friendship, and self-discovery set against the challenges of today’s racism and sexism.
· Felix Ever after- Kacen Callender a novel about a transgender teen grappling with identity and self-discovery while falling in love for the first time.
· The Stars and The Blackness Between Them - Junauda Petrus Audre and Mabel, Black girls who find romance just in time for everything to fall even further apart.
· By any means necessary- Candice Montgomery By Any Means Neccesary dives into the intersection of race and sexuality through the lens of its main character, Torrey, a gay Black college student.
· Full Disclosure- Camryn Garratt Camryn Garrett’s debut novel follows a Black, HIV-positive teen as she explores her first romantic relationship. There are few books that discuss what it’s like to live with HIV, especially those that are light, relatable, and told through the lens of a young Black girl.
· The Black Flamingo- Dean Atta Atta pens a coming-of-age story about a boy accepting his identity as a mixed-race gay teen, but then finds a place where he belongs as a drag artist named The Black Flamingo.
· Juniper Leaves- Jaz Joyner Kinky-haired blerd Juniper Bray used to believe in magic, until she lost her best friend: her grandmother. Now this 15-year-old shy girl is headed to her father’s research trip on a farm hundreds of miles away, with a family she barely knows and the opposite of a best friend, her new arch nemesis, Bree Mckinney. As if she wasn’t miserable enough. Little does she know the next few months Juniper will discover magical powers she never knew she had, get a crush on a girl she never knew she’d like and well, quite frankly, save the world.
· The Gilded Ones- Namina Forna Inspired by the work of Angela Carter and Anthony Burgess, The Gilded Ones is a gritty psychological crime drama with twists and turns that will have readers hooked.
· Spin- Lamar Giles This murder-mystery will leave you on the edge of your seat; when famed DJ ParSec is found dead, her best friend Kya and number one groupie Fuse put their differences aside and team up to find out what happened.
Keep sharing, signing petitions and donating where you can. The more people who are actively anti-racist, the better. We don’t want to let this go silent, we need change globally, and for all POC, the fear and threat of racism is EVERYDAY for us, we need allies that will help change the system. If you have any books you’d like to add to the list feel free!!
