#1
Months on List: 9
Born with cerebral palsy, Melody, 10, has never spoken a word. She is a brilliant fifth grader trapped in an uncontrollable body.
Out Of My Mind
by Sharon M. Draper • Atheneum (May 1, 2012) • 9 Months on List
#2
Months on List: 11
Nikki Maxwell deals with the trials and triumphs of middle school in this fifteenth installment of the Dork Diaries series!
Dork Diaries 15: Tales From A Not-so-posh Paris Adventure
by Rachel Renée Russell • Aladdin Paperbacks (September 26, 2023) • 11 Months on List
#3
Months on List: 11
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.
Dork Diaries 1: Tales From A Not-so-fabulous Life
by Rachel Renée Russell • Aladdin Paperbacks (June 2, 2009) • 11 Months on List
#4
Months on List: 11
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.
Hair Love Abcs
by Matthew A. Cherry • Kokila (August 29, 2023) • 11 Months on List
#5
Months on List: 12
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.
Something, Someday
by Amanda Gorman • Viking Books For Young Readers (September 26, 2023) • 12 Months on List
#6
Months on List: 5
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.
Amari And The Despicable Wonders
by B. B. Alston • Balzer & Bray/harperteen (August 27, 2024) • 5 Months on List
#7
Months on List: 4
This sequel provides a humorous and visually appealing look into the life of a girl on the verge of becoming a teenager.
Dork Diaries 2: Tales From A Not-so-popular Party Girl
by Rachel Renée Russell • Aladdin Paperbacks (June 8, 2010) • 4 Months on List
#8
Months on List: 5
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.
Dork Diaries 14: Tales From A Not-so-best Friend Forever
by Rachel Renée Russell • Aladdin Paperbacks (October 22, 2019) • 5 Months on List
#9
Months on List: 2
Complete your Dork Diaries collection with this boxed set featuring the adventures and mishaps of the bestselling series' characters in books #4, #5, and #6, all packed with humor and teen angst.
Dork Diaries Boxed Set (books 4-6): Dork Diaries 4; Dork Diaries 5; Dork Diaries 6 (boxed Set)
by Rachel Renée Russell • Aladdin Paperbacks (October 1, 2013) • 2 Months on List
#10
Months on List: 11
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.
Big
by Vashti Harrison • Little Brown Books For Young Readers (May 2, 2023) • 11 Months on List
#11
Months on List: 5
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.
Dork Diaries 13: Tales From A Not-so-happy Birthday
by Rachel Renée Russell • Aladdin Paperbacks (October 16, 2018) • 5 Months on List
#12
Months on List: 11
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.
Amari And The Night Brothers
by B. B. Alston • Balzer & Bray/harperteen (January 4, 2022) • 11 Months on List
#13
Months on List: 3
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.
Dork Diaries 3: Tales From A Not-so-talented Pop Star
by Rachel Renée Russell • Aladdin Paperbacks (June 7, 2011) • 3 Months on List
#14
Months on List: 6
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.
New Kid (paperback)
by Jerry Craft • Quill Tree Books (February 5, 2019) • 6 Months on List
#15
Months on List: 2
In the fourth installment of the Dork Diaries series, Nikki Maxwell and her best friends enter an ice-skating competition to save a local animal shelter from closing, while battling interference from their rival, MacKenzie.
Dork Diaries 4: Tales From A Not-so-graceful Ice Princess
by Rachel Renée Russell • Aladdin Paperbacks (June 5, 2012) • 2 Months on List
#16
Months on List: 4
In this uplifting picture book, a young, dynamic Black protagonist embraces his unique attributes and resilience, despite misunderstandings and adversity, asserting his potential as a future leader and reminding readers of the everyday superheroes amongst us.
I Am Every Good Thing
by Derrick Barnes • Nancy Paulsen Books (September 1, 2020) • 4 Months on List
#17
Months on List: 1
In the tenth installment of the Dork Diaries series, Nikki and her friends must juggle middle school life and parental scrutiny while secretly caring for seven adorable puppies, all while evading the vengeful plots of a mean girl.
Dork Diaries 10: Tales From A Not-so-perfect Pet Sitter
by Rachel Renée Russell • Aladdin Paperbacks (October 20, 2015) • 1 Months on List
#18
Months on List: 2
A boxed set following a middle schooler’s humorous and heartfelt diary entries as she navigates friendships, crushes, and social struggles with wit and creativity.
Dork Diaries Boxed Set (books 1-3): Dork Diaries; Dork Diaries 2; Dork Diaries 3 (boxed Set)
by Rachel Renée Russell • Aladdin Paperbacks (October 4, 2011) • 2 Months on List
#19
Months on List: 2
In the ninth installment of the bestselling Dork Diaries series, Nikki Maxwell's personal diary falls into the wrong hands, turning her worst nightmare into a dismal reality, and exposing her secrets to the world through the eyes of her arch-nemesis, Mackenzie.
Dork Diaries 9: Tales From A Not-so-dorky Drama Queen
by Rachel Renée Russell • Aladdin Paperbacks (June 2, 2015) • 2 Months on List
#20
Months on List: 1
In the twelfth installment of the Dork Diaries series, Nikki Maxwell grapples with the end of the school year, a summer of uncertainty, an unexpected love triangle, and a consequential choice that could bring about unprecedented drama.
Dork Diaries 12: Tales From A Not-so-secret Crush Catastrophe
by Rachel Renée Russell • Aladdin Paperbacks (October 17, 2017) • 1 Months on List
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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.
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