#1
Months on List: 21
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) • 21 Months on List
#2
Months on List: 8
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) • 8 Months on List
#3
Months on List: 17
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) • 17 Months on List
#4
Months on List: 1
A middle-grade diary, filled with drama, tears, and laughs, gets a vibrant, full-color makeover, bringing a whole new life to its pages.
Dork Diaries 1 Full-color Edition: Tales From A Not-so-fabulous Life
by Rachel Renée Russell • Aladdin Paperbacks (November 18, 2025) • 1 Months on List
#5
Months on List: 23
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) • 23 Months on List
#6
Months on List: 18
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) • 18 Months on List
#7
Months on List: 23
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) • 23 Months on List
#8
Months on List: 18
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) • 18 Months on List
#9
Months on List: 2
A young Manifestor, living in a hidden remarkable city, is faced with the potential destruction from her vengeful favorite author, a dangerous new uncontrollable power, and a threatening prophecy, but must navigate these perils and uncover an old mystery to protect her newfound home and family.
Nic Blake And The Remarkables: The Book Of Anansi
by Angie Thomas • Clarion Books (September 16, 2025) • 2 Months on List
#10
Months on List: 6
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) • 6 Months on List
#11
Months on List: 1
When a reserved young boy named Max discovers two sticks, he embarks on a joyful journey of self-expression through rhythmic music-making, ultimately learning that emotions can be communicated without words.
Max Found Two Sticks
by Brian Pinkney • Aladdin Paperbacks (June 1, 1997) • 1 Months on List
#12
Months on List: 7
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) • 7 Months on List
#13
Months on List: 9
In the midst of the Depression-era Mississippi, young Cassie Logan navigates racism and social injustice as she learns the significance of land ownership to her family's pride and independence, while discovering her own inner strength and self-respect.
Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry
by Mildred D. Taylor • Puffin Books (April 12, 2004) • 9 Months on List
#14
Months on List: 11
In the aftermath of his unjust death, 12-year-old ghost Jerome, guided by the spirit of Emmett Till, navigates the complexities of racism, history, and loss, while sparking change in the living world through an unlikely connection with the daughter of the police officer who killed him.
Ghost Boys
by Jewell Parker Rhodes • Little Brown Books For Young Readers (September 10, 2019) • 11 Months on List
#15
Months on List: 19
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) • 19 Months on List
#16
Months on List: 8
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) • 8 Months on List
#17
Months on List: 13
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) • 13 Months on List
#18
Months on List: 1
In the grips of the Great Depression, a brilliant young girl named Deza Malone sets off with her mother and brother on a heart-wrenching journey to find her missing father, leading them from Gary, Indiana to a Hooverville in Flint, Michigan where they face uncertainty, hardship, and surprising opportunities.
The Mighty Miss Malone (paperback)
by Christopher Paul Curtis • Yearling B (March 12, 2013) • 1 Months on List
#19
Months on List: 5
A bullied girl finds strength in her unique identity through the lessons of her new teacher who unabashedly embraces her own skin condition.
The Skin I’m In
by Sharon G. Flake • Little Brown Books For Young Readers (October 16, 2018) • 5 Months on List
#20
Months on List: 6
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) • 6 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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