#1
Months on List: 14
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) • 14 Months on List
#2
Months on List: 1
A gifted young runner aspires to be the best in his middle school's track team, but his ambitions are tested by a violent past with his father.
Ghost (paperback)
by Jason Reynolds • Atheneum (August 29, 2017) • 1 Months on List
#3
Months on List: 11
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) • 11 Months on List
#4
Months on List: 16
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) • 16 Months on List
#5
Months on List: 2
When 11-year-old Dally, predestined to inherit her family business, discovers a magical library where every book is a portal to a specific point in time, she embarks on thrilling adventures that reveal her family's hidden past and force her to choose between a life of strict routine or uncontrolled excitement.
Secret Library (paperback)
by Kekla Magoon • Candlewick (May 6, 2025) • 2 Months on List
#6
Months on List: 16
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) • 16 Months on List
#7
Months on List: 1
A U.S. spokesperson at an international symposium for kids with different abilities navigates her journey in London, interacting with like-minded children and seeking to make a worldwide impact through her words.
Out Of My Dreams
by Sharon M. Draper • Atheneum (September 3, 2024) • 1 Months on List
#8
Months on List: 15
Three sisters journey from Brooklyn to Oakland to reconnect with their estranged poet mother, only to find themselves enrolled in a Black Panther summer camp.
One Crazy Summer
by Rita Williams-garcia • Quill Tree Books (December 27, 2011) • 15 Months on List
#9
Months on List: 1
A girl with cerebral palsy aims to overcome her fear of horses at a summer camp.
Out Of My Heart (paperback)
by Sharon M. Draper • Atheneum (April 9, 2024) • 1 Months on List
#10
Months on List: 12
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.
Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry
by Mildred D. Taylor • Puffin Books (November 27, 2001) • 12 Months on List
#11
Months on List: 2
Two ten-year-olds face the choice of uniting their imaginative skills to form an unstoppable team and win their school's esteemed storytelling contest.
J Vs. K
by Kwame Alexander And Jerry Craft • Little Brown Books For Young Readers (May 6, 2025) • 2 Months on List
#12
Months on List: 3
In this young urban fantasy, Jaxon and his friends must break the rules and navigate the streets of Brooklyn to safely deliver mischievous baby dragons to a mystical world, under the guidance of a witch who's not quite his grandmother.
Dragons In A Bag
by Zetta Elliott • Yearling B (August 13, 2019) • 3 Months on List
#13
Months on List: 13
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.
The Watsons Go To Birmingham—1963
by Christopher Paul Curtis • Yearling B (September 8, 1997) • 13 Months on List
#14
Months on List: 2
When a prize-winning horseback rider moves to a rural area and becomes the only Black kid in her new class, she learns to navigate change, forms a diverse team of equestrian friends, and redefines what it means to win.
Creaky Acres: A Graphic Novel
by Calista Brill And Nilah Magruder • Kokila (May 6, 2025) • 2 Months on List
#15
Months on List: 3
A determined girl from a poor neighborhood navigates societal expectations, a mentorship program, and her outsider status at a private school, striving to express herself and make a difference without losing her authenticity.
Piecing Me Together
by Renée Watson • Bloomsbury Ya (June 5, 2018) • 3 Months on List
#16
Months on List: 18
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) • 18 Months on List
#17
Months on List: 15
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) • 15 Months on List
#18
Months on List: 1
The book features excerpts from two stories exploring courage and the supernatural.
Look Both Ways: A Tale Told In Ten Blocks (paperback)
by Jason Reynolds • Atheneum (October 27, 2020) • 1 Months on List
#19
Months on List: 8
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) • 8 Months on List
#20
Months on List: 3
In this heartwarming middle-grade series opener, young Ryan Hart navigates school, self-image, and family adjustments with unyielding spirit and sunshine, demonstrating her unique ability to find light in challenging circumstances and embody kindness amidst change.
Ways To Make Sunshine
by Renée Watson • Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (April 27, 2021) • 3 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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