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BLK Bestsellers List — November 2024

America’s Bestselling Books by Black Writers and Illustrators

Juvenile Fiction — November 2024
#1
Months on List: 7
by Sharon M. Draper
Atheneum (May 1, 2012), Trade Paperback
Born with cerebral palsy, Melody, 10, has never spoken a word. She is a brilliant fifth grader trapped in an uncontrollable body.
#2
Months on List: 9
by Rachel Renée Russell
Aladdin Paperbacks (September 26, 2023), Hardcover
Nikki Maxwell deals with the trials and triumphs of middle school in this fifteenth installment of the Dork Diaries series!
#3
Months on List: 9
by Rachel Renée Russell
Aladdin Paperbacks (June 2, 2009), Hardcover
In this humorous and heartwarming diary-style narrative, eighth-grader Nikki Maxwell navigates the challenges of a new school, balancing friendships, crushes, family antics, and a riveting rivalry in a school-wide art competition.
#4
Months on List: 4
by Jerry Craft
Quill Tree Books (February 5, 2019), Trade Paperback
Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics.
#5
Months on List: 9
by Vashti Harrison
Little Brown Books For Young Readers (May 2, 2023), Hardcover
A young girl, once lauded for her maturity, battles societal pressure and criticism regarding her size, ultimately learning to embrace her uniqueness and discover true self-love.
#6
Months on List: 3
by B. B. Alston
Balzer & Bray/harperteen (August 27, 2024), Hardcover
In a war-torn supernatural world, young investigator Amari must outsmart her enemies, harness the power of dangerous magical Wonders, and make unimaginable sacrifices to restore peace and protect the realm of magic.
#7
Months on List: 1
by Karen English
Clarion Books (October 14, 2014), Trade Paperback
At Carver Elementary, newcomer Gavin must conquer a schoolyard bully, an irritating big sister, and an uncontrollable Pomeranian to prove his soccer and skateboarding prowess.
#8
Months on List: 8
by Christopher Paul Curtis
Yearling B (September 8, 1997), Trade Paperback
On their 25th anniversary road trip to Birmingham, Alabama, during a pivotal time in the civil rights movement, the Watson family unknowingly head towards one of America's darkest moments, learning the power of laughter and family amidst adversity.
#9
Months on List: 9
by Matthew A. Cherry
Kokila (August 29, 2023), Board Books
This is an alphabet board book that takes young readers on a journey through the beauty and diversity of Black hair, from Afros to Waves, while teaching them their ABCs.
#10
Months on List: 10
by Amanda Gorman
Viking Books For Young Readers (September 26, 2023), Hardcover
In the inspiring picture book, <em>Something, Someday,</em> by acclaimed presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman and award-winning illustrator Christian Robinson, readers are shown how even the smallest actions can create meaningful change in a world that often feels broken.
#11
Months on List: 1
by Kwame Mbalia
Freedom Fire (October 1, 2024), Hardcover
When 12-year-old Jax is sent to live in Chicago amid a family scandal, he unexpectedly enters a world of ancestral magic, battling vengeful ghosts, secret Praise Houses, and a mystery tied to his great-grandfather's past -- discovering he might be the most talented summoner of all.
#12
Months on List: 2
by Rachel Renée Russell
Aladdin Paperbacks (June 8, 2010), Hardcover
This sequel provides a humorous and visually appealing look into the life of a girl on the verge of becoming a teenager.
#13
Months on List: 3
by Rachel Renée Russell
Aladdin Paperbacks (October 22, 2019), Hardcover
When Nikki Maxwell lands her dream summer tour as an opening act for a world-famous band, her excitement turns into a nightmare as she has to share her journey and even her room with her crafty frenemy, MacKenzie Hollister, turning her dream tour from awesome to awful.
#14
Months on List: 9
by B. B. Alston
Balzer & Bray/harperteen (January 4, 2022), Trade Paperback
When Amari Peters discovers a nomination for a supernatural tryout in her missing brother's belongings, she embarks on a challenging journey in a world of magic and aliens, battling evil forces and prejudice to find him.
#15
Months on List: 1
by Stacey Abrams Aka Selena Montgomery
Balzer & Bray/harperteen (December 28, 2021), Hardcover
In this inspiring debut picture book by renowned author Stacey Abrams, a young girl with a passion for words overcomes her self-doubt and learns the power of her own voice while competing in a local spelling bee, revealing that sometimes, perseverance is the strongest word of all.
#16
Months on List: 3
by Rachel Renée Russell
Aladdin Paperbacks (October 16, 2018), Hardcover
In the thirteenth installment of the bestselling Dork Diaries series, Nikki Maxwell grapples with budget restrictions from her mom as she tries to plan an epic birthday party, while unexpected help and twists ensure a birthday she will never forget.
#17
Months on List: 1
by Rachel Renée Russell
Aladdin Paperbacks (June 7, 2011), Hardcover
In the third installment of the bestselling Dork Diaries series, scholarship student Nikki Maxwell enters a major talent competition at her school, aiming to win the top prize to protect her dad's job as a school exterminator and preserve her reputation.
#18
Months on List: 1
by Lisa Moore Ramée
Balzer & Bray/harperteen (June 16, 2020), Trade Paperback
In this warm, humorous debut novel, twelve-year-old Shayla navigates seventh grade, shifting friendships, family dynamics, racial identity questions, and ultimately finds her courage to stand up for what she believes in by joining the Black Lives Matter movement.
#19
Months on List: 1
by Kwame Mbalia
Rick Riordan Presents (September 22, 2020), Trade Paperback
After losing his best friend in a tragic accident, seventh-grader Tristan Strong inadvertently opens a portal to a mystical world populated by African American folk heroes and West African gods, and must outsmart the cunning trickster god Anansi to seal the breach and protect what he loves.
#20
Months on List: 5
by Mildred D. Taylor
Puffin Books (November 27, 2001), Trade Paperback
In the midst of racial indignities and rural Southern racism during the Depression, a black family finds strength, pride, and resilience through their fierce bond to each other and their cherished land.

Sales Data Source: Circana BookScan. Represents U.S. print sales from thousands of retailers.

Methodology: Books are categorized and filtered for Black Authors by the African American Literature Book Club. This list is a sneak peek into the Black Book Accelerator initiative.