#1
Months on List: 23
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) • 23 Months on List
#2
Months on List: 25
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) • 25 Months on List
#3
Months on List: 10
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) • 10 Months on List
#4
Months on List: 25
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) • 25 Months on List
#5
Months on List: 2
A young girl on the verge of leaving the supernatural world behind is drawn back into danger when a mysterious curse begins turning people into machines, forcing her to investigate its connection to a powerful ancient magician and protect both magical and human communities.
Amari And The Metalwork Menace
by B. B. Alston • Storytide (February 24, 2026) • 2 Months on List
#6
Months on List: 20
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) • 20 Months on List
#7
Months on List: 22
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) • 22 Months on List
#8
Months on List: 16
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) • 16 Months on List
#9
Months on List: 8
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) • 8 Months on List
#10
Months on List: 10
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) • 10 Months on List
#11
Months on List: 19
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) • 19 Months on List
#12
Months on List: 8
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) • 8 Months on List
#13
Months on List: 20
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) • 20 Months on List
#14
Months on List: 10
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) • 10 Months on List
#15
Months on List: 8
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) • 8 Months on List
#16
Months on List: 7
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) • 7 Months on List
#17
Months on List: 13
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) • 13 Months on List
#18
Months on List: 5
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) • 5 Months on List
#19
Months on List: 20
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) • 20 Months on List
#20
Months on List: 12
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) • 12 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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