Black Lives Matter: A Reading List
On this blog, we believe Black Lives Matter. I’ve been quiet here because I’ve just been absorbing and listening and loud on other platforms. But I wanted to take the time and share some books by Black authors that may not be on your radar, books besides The Hate U Give and Dear Martin and Children of Blood and Bone (though I hope you’re reading those too, you’ve probably heard of them at this point). It also won’t just be books about Black pain because Black people have a huge range of experiences and they all deserve to be heard.
All the links in this post will go to Mahogany Books, a Black owned bookstore in Washington, D.C. that does ship. If I can’t find it on their website, the link will go to Semicolon Bookstore, another Black owned indie bookstore, this one located in Chicago’s, Bookshop page. Please note that many books are currently backordered because there’s a huge rush on books by Black authors (especially anti-racist books) right now and there was already a paper shortage and delays in printing because of COVID-19. If that’s the case, check your local library’s digital resources or check other bookstores since they all have varying stock.
We Are Not Yet Equal by Carol Anderson and Tonya Bolden
Say Her Name by Zetta Elliott
This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell and Aurelia Durand
All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
Stamped by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Contemporary and Historical
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
Solo by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess
The Wicker King by K. Ancrum
Inventing Victoria by Tonya Bolden
Saving Savannah by Tonya Bolden
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
This is Kind of an Epic Love Story by Kacen Callender
Finding Yvonne by Brandy Colbert
Little and Lion by Brandy Colbert
Pointe by Brandy Colbert
The Revolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert
The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert
Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles
Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now by Dana L. Davis
The Voice in My Head by Dana L. Davis
When the Stars Lead to You by Ronni Davis
I Wanna Be Where You Are by Kristina Forest
Now That I’ve Found You by Kristina Forest
Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett
Endangered by Lamar Giles
Fake ID by Lamar Giles
Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles
Overturned by Lamar Giles
Spin by Lamar Giles
A Love Hate Thing by Whitney D. Grandison
Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson
Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson
Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson
Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
This is My America by Kim Johnson
You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
I’m Not Dying with You Tonight by Kim Jones and Gilly Segal
If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann
Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann
37 Things I Love (In No Particular Order) by Kekla Magoon
How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon
Light It Up by Kekla Magoon
By Any Means Necessary by Candice Montgomery
Home and Away by Candice Montgomery
Slay by Brittney Morris
Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite
Who Put This Song On? by Morgan Parker
The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe
Girls Like Us by Randi Pink
Sorry Not Sorry by Jaime Reed
All-American Boys by Jason Reynolds
The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds
For Every One by Jason Reynolds
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds
When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds
Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds
Truly Madly Royally by Debbie Rigaud
The Blossom and the Firefly by Sherri L. Smith
Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
Jackpot by Nic Stone
Odd One Out by Nic Stone
All the Things We Never Knew by Liara Tamani
Calling My Name by Liara Tamani
On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson
This Side of Home by Renee Watson
Watch Us Rise by Renee Watson and Ellen Hagan
The Beauty That Remains by Ashley Woodfolk
When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk
If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
American Street by Ibi Zoboi
Black Enough edited by Ibi Zoboi
Pride by Ibi Zoboii
Sci-Fi and Fantasy
Daughters of Nri by Reni K. Amayo
The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum
Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron
Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown
A Phoenix First Must Burn edited by Patrice Caldwell
The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
Mirage by Somaiya Daud
The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis
The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
Love is the Drug by Alaya Dawn Johnson
The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson
A River of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy
A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney
Agnes at the End of the World by Kelly McWilliams
The Black Veins by Ashia Monet
A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow
Akata Witch by Nendi Okorafor
Shadowshaper by Danielle Jose Older
Beasts Made of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi
War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi
Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
Orleans by Sherri L. Smith
Given by Nandi Taylor
This isn’t a complete list and I probably missed a bunch - especially since this list is very focused on mainstream publishing. I also added a few books that aren’t out yet, but are coming out this summer. But this is a starting place for whatever kind of YA book you want to read.
romaincrisis
turnnoffyourmind
yousharknotpass
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