#1
Months on List: 9
A young inmate, dubbed a 'Monster' by the prosecution, decides to narrate his chilling experience in Manhattan Detention Center through a self-made film, seeking redemption and understanding.
Monster
by Walter Dean Myers • Amistad Books For Young Readers (March 5, 2019) • 9 Months on List
#2
Months on List: 6
In the West African-inspired fantasy, <em>Children of Blood and Bone,</em> a young woman seeks to restore magic and strike against a ruthless monarchy, battling both outside dangers and her inner turmoil, creating a world of magic, conflict, and self-discovery.
Children Of Blood And Bone
by Tomi Adeyemi • Square Fish (February 27, 2024) • 6 Months on List
#3
Months on List: 3
In the thrilling conclusion of the Legacy of Orïsha series, Zélie must confront King Baldyr, her deadliest foe, and rally new allies in unknown lands, to save her people from annihilation driven by the terrifying Iron Skulls.
Children Of Anguish And Anarchy
by Tomi Adeyemi • Henry Holt (June 25, 2024) • 3 Months on List
#4
Months on List: 9
In a stark societal divide, 16-year-old Starr must navigate the backlash of her best friend's police shooting, juggling her community's unrest, her family's endangerment, and the burning question of what truly happened that fateful night.
The Hate U Give: A Printz Honor Winner
by Angie Thomas • Balzer & Bray/harperteen (May 3, 2022) • 9 Months on List
#5
Months on List: 9
In this emotionally gripping debut, honor student Justyce McAllister confronts American race relations, surviving a police brutality incident only to face public scrutiny, and turns to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s teachings for answers in a society where his merits are overshadowed by prejudice.
Dear Martin
by Nic Stone • Ember (September 4, 2018) • 9 Months on List
#6
Months on List: 8
When 16-year-old Bree Matthews discovers her latent magical abilities and a hidden connection to her mother's mysterious death, she infiltrates a secret society of <em>Legendborn</em> students, descendants of King Arthur's knights, to uncover the truth and decide whether to join their impending magical war or use her powers to destroy them.
Legendborn (reprint)
by Tracy Deonn • Margaret K. Mcelderry Books (February 1, 2022) • 8 Months on List
#7
Months on List: 9
A 16-year-old girl, navigating between her impoverished neighborhood and upscale school, becomes the sole witness to her unarmed friend's fatal shooting by a police officer, facing a dangerous dilemma of revealing the truth amidst social and legal pressure.
The Hate U Give
by Angie Thomas • Balzer & Bray/harperteen (February 28, 2017) • 9 Months on List
#8
Months on List: 9
An illuminating journey into the roots of racism in America, this transformative book exposes its insidious forms and offers practical solutions to dismantle it, promising a hopeful vision for an antiracist future.
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, And You: A Remix Of The National Book Award-winning Stamped From The Beginning
by Jason Reynolds And Ibram X. Kendi • Little Brown Books For Young Readers (March 10, 2020) • 9 Months on List
#9
Months on List: 9
When his spidey-sense starts glitching and his scholarship is threatened, Miles Morales must confront his family’s criminal past, navigate troubling school controversies, and uncover a dangerous plot that imperils his friends, neighborhood and his own future, forcing him to decide if he's truly cut out to be a superhero.
Miles Morales: Spider-man
by Jason Reynolds • Marvel Press (October 2, 2018) • 9 Months on List
#10
Months on List: 1
In this collection of poignant stories set in the heart of Harlem, renowned author Walter Dean Myers presents a vibrant tableau of life on 145th Street, capturing everything from a man planning his own funeral to a teenage love story and a quiet kid targeted by a gang, masterfully revealing the unique trials and triumphs of African-American life.
145th Street: Short Stories
by Walter Dean Myers • Random House Children's Books (February 14, 2012) • 1 Months on List
#11
Months on List: 5
In a high school poetry club, eighteen students bravely reveal their deeply hidden secrets and innermost thoughts, unmasking the struggles that lie beneath the public facade of teenage life.
Bronx Masquerade
by Nikki Grimes • Dial Books (August 8, 2017) • 5 Months on List
#12
Months on List: 4
In the aftermath of a tragic car accident that claims his best friend's life, guilt-ridden Andy must navigate grief and self-blame while learning to heal in the first book of Sharon M. Draper's Hazelwood High trilogy.
Tears Of A Tiger (hazelwood High Trilogy)
by Sharon M. Draper • Atheneum (July 23, 2013) • 4 Months on List
#13
Months on List: 9
In the high-stakes thriller <em>Ace of Spades,</em> two ambitious students at an elite academy must outwit an anonymous tormentor who threatens to destroy their futures by unveiling dangerous secrets through a relentless game.
Ace Of Spades
by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé • Square Fish (June 27, 2023) • 9 Months on List
#14
Months on List: 5
A teenage boy with hidden powers discovers his magical heritage at an HBCU for the gifted, uncovering family secrets, ancient magic, and a rising evil tied to the past.
Blood At The Root
by Ladarrion Williams • Labyrinth Road (May 7, 2024) • 5 Months on List
#15
Months on List: 1
In a world split between poverty and affluence, 16-year-old Starr Carter struggles with the aftermath and societal implications of witnessing her unarmed friend's death at the hands of a police officer, while determining if her voice can bring justice in an unconcerned society.
The Hate U Give Collector’s Edition: A Printz Honor Winner
by Angie Thomas • Balzer & Bray/harperteen (September 4, 2018) • 1 Months on List
#16
Months on List: 9
A firsthand account of a teenager’s bravery in integrating Little Rock’s Central High School, revealing the harsh realities of racism and the power of resilience in the Civil Rights Movement.
Warriors Don’t Cry: The Searing Memoir Of The Battle To Integrate Little Rock’s Central High
by Melba Pattillo Beals • Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (July 24, 2007) • 9 Months on List
#17
Months on List: 3
In this provocative, award-winning graphic novel adaptation of Walter Dean Myers's <em>Monster,</em> teenager Steve Harmon, on trial for murder and robbery, visualizes his harrowing journey through juvenile detention as a cinematic experience, captivating fans and reluctant readers alike with its stunning black-and-white illustrations.
Monster: A Graphic Novel
by Walter Dean Myers • Quill Tree Books (October 20, 2015) • 3 Months on List
#18
Months on List: 6
In this suspenseful YA novel, a biracial teen named Madison, forced to pass as white, faces the hostile climate of her small-town Georgia high school as it plans its first integrated prom, while she harbors a secret that could prove deadly to her classmates.
The Weight Of Blood
by Tiffany D. Jackson • Katherine Tegen Books (September 12, 2023) • 6 Months on List
#19
Months on List: 5
A grieving seventeen-year-old boy, Matt, navigates life's challenges while working at a local funeral home, until he meets Lovey, a resilient girl with her own troubled past, who helps him learn how to rise up when life keeps pushing him down.
The Boy In The Black Suit (reprint)
by Jason Reynolds • Atheneum (August 16, 2016) • 5 Months on List
#20
Months on List: 6
In <em>On the Come Up,</em> a determined teenager named Bri strives to become a successful rapper while navigating societal stereotypes and personal struggles, in an unflinching tale of overcoming odds to achieve her dreams amid racial and economic barriers.
On The Come Up
by Angie Thomas • Balzer & Bray/harperteen (December 1, 2020) • 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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