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BLK Bestsellers List — December 2024

America’s Bestselling Books by Black Writers and Illustrators

Young Adult — December 2024
#1
Months on List: 5
by Tomi Adeyemi
Henry Holt (June 25, 2024), Hardcover
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.
#2
Months on List: 11
by Angie Thomas
Balzer & Bray/harperteen (May 3, 2022), Trade Paperback
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.
#3
Months on List: 8
by Tomi Adeyemi
Square Fish (February 27, 2024), Trade Paperback
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.
#4
Months on List: 10
by Tracy Deonn
Margaret K. Mcelderry Books (February 1, 2022), Trade Paperback
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.
#5
Months on List: 1
by Krystal Marquis
Dial Books (November 12, 2024), Hardcover
Four young Black women from a wealthy Chicago family navigate love, ambition, and societal expectations in the summer of 1910, facing scandals, heartbreak, and bold new opportunities.
#6
Months on List: 6
by Wes Moore
Ember (September 10, 2013), Trade Paperback
<em>Discovering Wes Moore</em> explores the divergent paths of two men from the same neighbourhood with the same name, one achieving great success while the other succumbs to a life of crime, shedding light on the pivotal role of choices, adversity, and support in shaping lives.
#7
Months on List: 2
by Jason Reynolds
Atheneum (October 8, 2024), Hardcover
A teen boy navigates love, intimacy, and self-doubt in a heartfelt, humorous stream-of-consciousness journey leading up to a life-changing moment with his girlfriend.
#8
Months on List: 11
by Nic Stone
Ember (September 4, 2018), Trade Paperback
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.
#9
Months on List: 11
by Walter Dean Myers
Amistad Books For Young Readers (March 5, 2019), Trade Paperback
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.
#10
Months on List: 11
by Jason Reynolds
Marvel Press (October 2, 2018), Trade Paperback
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.
#11
Months on List: 11
by Jason Reynolds And Ibram X. Kendi
Little Brown Books For Young Readers (March 10, 2020), Hardcover
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.
#12
Months on List: 11
by Angie Thomas
Balzer & Bray/harperteen (February 28, 2017), Hardcover
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.
#13
Months on List: 11
by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Square Fish (June 27, 2023), Trade Paperback
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.
#14
Months on List: 3
by Angie Thomas
Balzer & Bray/harperteen (September 4, 2018), Hardcover
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.
#15
Months on List: 7
by Ladarrion Williams
Labyrinth Road (May 7, 2024), Hardcover
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.
#16
Months on List: 11
by Melba Pattillo Beals
Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (July 24, 2007), Mass Market Paperback
A firsthand account of a teenager&rsquo;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.
#17
Months on List: 2
by Jason Reynolds
Atheneum (January 11, 2022), Hardcover
In this deeply personal and visually stunning work, bestselling author Jason Reynolds and artist Jason Griffin ingeniously explore what it means to be Black in contemporary America, tackling the symbolism of breath and struggle through a unique blend of art and narrative.
#18
Months on List: 9
by Angie Thomas
Balzer & Bray/harperteen (May 3, 2022), Trade Paperback
In the gritty underworld of Garden Heights, seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter must juggle gang life, fatherhood, and a quest for a better future, testing his loyalties and redefining what it means to be a man after witnessing a brutal murder.
#19
Months on List: 1
by Langston Hughes
Legacy Lit (November 19, 2024), Hardcover
<em>Blues in Stereo</em> is an insightful exploration of the early works of prolific Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes, complete with his undiscovered writings, poems published in The Crisis, and an unreleased original play, curated and introduced by National Book Award finalist Danez Smith.
#20
Months on List: 8
by Angie Thomas
Balzer & Bray/harperteen (December 1, 2020), Trade Paperback
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.

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.