#1
Months on List: 18
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) • 18 Months on List
#2
Months on List: 5
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) • 5 Months on List
#3
Months on List: 20
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) • 20 Months on List
#4
Months on List: 1
The story emphasizes the power of female friendships and the importance of mutual support among young girls.
The Sunshine Queens
by Sherri Shepherd • Tommy Nelson (October 7, 2025) • 1 Months on List
#5
Months on List: 20
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) • 20 Months on List
#6
Months on List: 4
A Brooklyn girl spends her summer on Martha's Vineyard, trying to fit in, learn about Black history, and unravel the mystery behind a local teenage boy's shocking death.
Blood In The Water
by Tiffany D. Jackson • Scholastic Press (July 1, 2025) • 4 Months on List
#7
Months on List: 15
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) • 15 Months on List
#8
Months on List: 1
A tale of two siblings testing their courage, which results in unexpected chaos.
As Brave As You (reprint)
by Jason Reynolds • Atheneum (May 9, 2017) • 1 Months on List
#9
Months on List: 16
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) • 16 Months on List
#10
Months on List: 1
The book is a vivid account of the African American migration from the rural South to Northern industrial cities around the time of WWI through a series of powerful paintings complemented by a narrative text.
The Great Migration: An American Story
by Jacob Lawrence • Harpercollins (September 15, 1995) • 1 Months on List
#11
Months on List: 6
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) • 6 Months on List
#12
Months on List: 5
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) • 5 Months on List
#13
Months on List: 3
Two small-town brothers embark on a risky adventure with their enigmatic new neighbor, exchanging small items for bigger ones in pursuit of their wildest dream, until secrets surface that threaten to shatter their bonds and ruin everything.
The Season Of Styx Malone (paperback)
by Kekla Magoon • Random House Children's Books (December 3, 2019) • 3 Months on List
#14
Months on List: 3
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) • 3 Months on List
#15
Months on List: 4
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) • 4 Months on List
#16
Months on List: 5
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) • 5 Months on List
#17
Months on List: 10
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) • 10 Months on List
#18
Months on List: 5
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) • 5 Months on List
#19
Months on List: 1
A seventh grader competes in an international tournament of magical summoners, confronting monstrous beasts and a malevolent saboteur.
Jax Freeman And The Tournament Of Spirits
by Kwame Mbalia • Freedom Fire (October 7, 2025) • 1 Months on List
#20
Months on List: 18
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) • 18 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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