There has been a resurgence of interest in novels written by black authors in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement.
This list features many outstanding examples, broadly aimed at children aged 11-14 (although it is worth double checking each individual title for suitability). These are books have been read by Mr Jones, Emanuel’s librarian, have been recommended by other librarians or have been highlighted by organisations such as the Book Trust or the National Literary Trust. All the titles featured on the list will be available in the school library stock in September.
TEEN DRAMAS
Dean Atta – The Black Flamingo
A boy comes to terms with his identity as a mixed-race gay teen – then at university he finds his wings as a drag artist. This novel tackles very mature themes and has been attracting rave reviews after being shortlisted for this year’s Carnegie Medal. (AGE 13/14+)
Kit De Waal – Becoming Dinah
Seventeen-year-old Dinah runs away from the strange Scottish commune she was raised in, going on a coming-of-age journey covering hundreds of miles and a series of odd adventures and friendships made. (AGE 13+)
Danielle Jawando – And the Stars Were Burning Brightly
A rich story of mental health, bullying, grief and social media. This is one of the most highly tipped YA novels of 2020 dealing with the aftermath on a family of the eldest teen taking their own life and the complex causes behind it. (AGE 13+)
Leah Johnson – You Should See Me in a Crown
Liz’s plan to escape her small American town comes crashing down when she can’t get the financial help she needs to attend university – until she’s reminded of her school’s scholarship for prom king and queen and things take a decidedly unexpected turn when she throws her hat in the ring. (AGE 12+)
Janae Marks – The Faraway Truth
Zoe Washington never met her father, who was sent to prison shortly before she was born. When she receives a letter from him on her twelfth birthday, it’s a huge surprise and as a consequence she begins to examine his absence from her life. (AGE 10+)
Lisa Moore Ramee – A Good Kind of Trouble
Tremendous American novel about a girl who, when she joins Junior High, is accused of being ‘not black enough’. A powerful and thought provoking story of social responsibility and political activism very relevant to 2020 and young teenagers of today. (AGE 11+)
Justin A Reynolds – Opposite of Always
A looping story of time travel, love and grief which could be inspired by the famous film Groundhog Day. A girl wakes up to her alarm and realises the same morning is repeating itself, but she needs to work out what to do differently to get out of the time loop as she dies in a car crash at the end of the day. (AGE 12/13+)
Jewell Parker Rhodes – Ghost Boys
A young boy is killed by a policeman and returns as a restless spirit, meeting the ghosts of other unjustly killed kids. We featured this fantastic book for our TSBA Six Book Challenge and it was a huge hit with the pupils. (AGE 10+)
Nic Stone – Jackpot
Rico is a cashier who races home every day, after school and work, to take care of her younger brother. When Rico sells a jackpot-winning lotto ticket, she thinks her luck will finally change after nobody claims the winnings. If only she could track this person down and alert them to their windfall? (AGE 13+)
Nic Stone – Clean Getaway
Set to the backdrop of a segregated America, a young boy goes on a road trip of discovery with his grandmother in a touching story of complex family dynamics and coming-of-age. (AGE 10+)
Alex Wheatle – Liccle Bit
South Crongton’s notorious gang leader has Lemar running errands which becoming increasingly more dangerous. When Lemar’s actions put his own family at risk, can he put things right? This is the start of a loose series (Crongton) set around the Brixton area of south London and is written with authentic dialogue, which does feature very spiky language. (AGE 13+)
Angie Thomas – On the Come Up
Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time and after a battle of the bands competition records a song which begins to make waves in the local music scene. Excellent second novel from the author of the mega-selling The Hate U Give, set against the authentic backdrop of poverty, gangs and hip hop. (AGE 13+)
Benjamin Zephaniah – Refugee Boy
Honest, wry and poignant story of a young refugee left in London whose family come from an African country at war. Written many years before the current troubles in Syria, but made even more powerful because of it. Other terrific novels by the same author include Teacher’s Dead, Terror Kid and Gangsta Rap. (AGE 12+)
TEEN THRILLERS
Malorie Blackman – Noughts and Crosses series
Blackman has written a considerable number of terrific YA novels, of which Noughts and Crosses remains one of the most famous, set in an alternative version of Britain where Black people are the ruling class and the white race are the underclass. This is an incredibly powerful and thought-provoking modern classic which has recently been brought to the screen by the BBC and is reminiscent of Apartheid in 1980s South Africa, but with the races reversed. Other highly recommended titles by this outstanding author include Dead Gorgeous, Boys don’t Cry and Stuff of Nightmares. (AGE 13+)
Tanya Byrne – Heart Shaped Bruise
Awaiting trial at Archway Young Offenders Institution, Emily Koll is going to tell her side of the story for the first time in this terrific drama thriller. Follow the plot very closely though, as her revelations are miles apart from the story sensationalised by the media and newspapers. (AGE 13+)
Jay Coles – Tyler Johnson Was Here
When Marvin Johnson’s twin, Tyler, goes to a party, Marvin decides to tag along to keep an eye on his brother. But what starts as harmless fun turns into a shooting, followed by a police raid and soon his brother is no more than a statistic and a hashtag in this powerful story which recalls many real incidences in modern day America. (AGE 12/13+)
Sharna Jackson – High Rise Mystery
It’s a hot summer in London, and there’s been a murder in the high-rise home to resident teen detectives, Nik and Norva, who find themselves in deep water when they try to solve it. The sequel Mic Drop has also been recently released which features a brand new adventure. (AGE 11+)
Patrice Lawrence – Orangeboy
Marlon has promised his mum that he’ll be good, and turn out nothing like his elder gang-leader brother Andre. But everything change’s when Marlon’s first date with the beautiful Sonya ends in tragedy and he is sucked into a complex web of deceit which is impossible to extract himself from. We have other great books by this author in the library including Indigo Donut and Rose Interrupted. (AGE 12/13+)
FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION
Tomi Adeyemi – Children of Blood and Bone
Zelie has one chance to bring back magic by outwitting and outrunning the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good in an incredible fantasy novel which is inspired by African mythology. The highly anticipated sequel Children of Virtue and Vengeance has also just been released. (AGE 13+)
Patience Agbabi – The Infinite
‘Leapings’, children born on the 29th of February, are very rare. Rarer still are those Leapings with the ability to jump through time. Elle Bibi-Imbele Ifie can do it, but she has not until now figured out how it truly works, but when she does goes on a crazy series of adventures. (AGE 10+)
Yaba Badoe – A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars
A powerful, haunting debut that steps seamlessly from the horrors of people-trafficking to the magic of African folklore. In this beautiful blend of magical realism fourteen-year-old Sante feels her ancestors calling from beyond the grave whilst she lives and works in a circus. (AGE 12+)
Akwaeme Emeki – Pet
How do you save the world from monsters if nobody will admit they exist? This is a truly unique reading experience, which is very strange and will not be to all tastes, but it cleverly straddles several genres when a monster comes out of a painting and tells a child that evil exists in their supposed perfect utopian city. Together, they must do something about it. (AGE 13+)
Brittney Morris – Slay
Black Panther meets Ready Player One. A fierce teen game developer battles a real-life troll intent on ruining the Black Panther-inspired video game she created and the safe community it represents for black gamers. (AGE 13+)
Nnedi Okorafor – Binti
Binti is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy in this tense and intimate coming-of-age story. Other recommended novels by this author include Akata Warrior and What Sunny saw in the Flames. (AGE 13+)
HISTORICALLY BASED
Candy Gourlay – Bone Talk
Samkad is a boy from the remote Filipino ‘headhunter’ tribe called Bontok in the highlands of the Philippines when invaders arrive. Set in the early 20th Century, this is a riveting coming-of-age tale set in a vividly drawn landscape. Tall Story is another excellent novel by this author, which also takes in both Philippine culture and basketball. (AGE 10+)
Catherine Johnson – Sawbones
Ezra is apprenticed by a well-regarded London surgeon. However, his world is turned on its head when a failed break-in at his master’s house sets off a strange and disturbing series of events that involves grave robbing, body switching and murder. Catherine Johnson is one of the finest writers of historical fiction around, other recommended titles include The Curious Tale of the Lady Caraboo, Freedom and Blade and Bone. (AGE 10+)
Kathryn Parsons – How High the Moon
It’s 1944, and in a small South Carolinian, segregated town, eleven-year-old Ella spends her summers running wild with her cousins and friends, but a holiday in Boston opens her eyes and shows her that the racism she experiences at home is not the same elsewhere and it is very difficult to return to her old life. (AGE 11+)
Mildrid Taylor – Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry
Classic story of a girl growing up in the Deep South of America. Set in Mississippi at the height of the American Depression, this is the gripping and uplifting tale of a family’s struggle to maintain their integrity, pride and independence against the forces of a cruelly racist society. This novel is the most famous of the seven books in the Logan Family Saga series. (AGE 12+)
WRITTEN IN VERSE
Elizabeth Acevedo – The Poet X
An American teen of Dominican heritage clashes with her strict and traditional parents when she begins to notice boys and develop an interest in music and poetry. Written in beautiful, free flowing, loose verse which is a joy to read and was a worthy winner of the prestigious Carnegie Medal book prize. Other excellent novels by the same author include With the Fire and High and Clap When You Land. (AGE 13+)
Kwame Alexander – Booked
Football, family, and love – Nick wrestles with problems at home, stands up to bullying and tries to impress the girl of his dreams. In another novel, The Crossover, the same author once again has sport as a theme, basketball this time, with both written in free-flowing verse. (AGE 12+)
SPORT
Peter Kalu – The Silent Striker
Marcus, a black teenager and football prodigy, is so good he is tipped to be signed by Manchester United, until he begins to go deaf. Moving story of acceptance which takes in school, growing up, family, girls, racism and the challenge of a life-changing disability. (AGE 11+)
Justin A Reynolds – Ghost
A black kid from a disadvantaged background is talent-spotted to join a group of elite runners who come from both diverse and difficult backgrounds, but with the love of running as a unifying force. Start of a series which continues with Patina and then Sunny. (AGE 11+)
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Maya Angelou – I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
In this first volume of her six books of autobiography, Maya Angelou beautifully evokes her childhood with her grandmother in the American south of the 1930s. Taking in discrimination, segregation and extreme poverty, but also hope, joy, achievement and celebration in one of the finest memoirs ever written, which continues in Gather Together in My Name. (AGE 13+)
GRAPHIC NOVELS
Jerry Craft – New Kid
Moving graphic novel about a new boy starting school where diversity is low and the problems he encounters when he tries to both fit in and stand up for himself. (AGE 10+)
HORROR
Justina Ireland – Dread Nation & Deathless Divide
The dead come back to life during the American Civil War and fifteen years later black American teenagers are used as the first line of defence against the zombie hordes in a startling reimagining of history where slavery did not end. This powerful novel is a stunning alternative history where black teenagers are completely disposable, but show incredible resilience in both fighting against the zombies and their white masters. But which of the two are worse? (AGE 13+)
