#1
Months on List: 2
This novel unravels the story of a 15-year-old boy grappling with the decision to avenge his brother's murder over a tense 60 seconds in an elevator, his journey complicated by the appearance of figures from his brother's past.
Long Way Down (paperback)
by Jason Reynolds • Atheneum (April 2, 2019) • 2 Months on List
#2
Months on List: 19
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) • 19 Months on List
#3
Months on List: 17
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) • 17 Months on List
#4
Months on List: 2
This book is a personal story of growing up mixed-race in apartheid-era South Africa, overcoming staggering obstacles through humor and intelligence, backed by a mother's unwavering love and indomitable will, offering a unique perspective on a country's tumultuous racial history.
It’s Trevor Noah: Born A Crime: Stories From A South African Childhood (adapted For Young Readers)
by Trevor Noah • Yearling B (April 7, 2020) • 2 Months on List
#5
Months on List: 19
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) • 19 Months on List
#6
Months on List: 2
Two teenagers, one black and one white, find their lives and community polarized following an unfounded accusation of theft, police brutality, and racial tension resulting from a single violent encounter.
All American Boys (paperback)
by Jason Reynolds • Atheneum (August 29, 2017) • 2 Months on List
#7
Months on List: 15
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) • 15 Months on List
#8
Months on List: 3
In this groundbreaking fantasy series, a young, magically gifted teenager on the run from his past uncovers hidden family ties and a world of magical intrigue at an HBCU, discovering his heritage and fighting to protect his loved ones against a reawakened ancient evil.
Blood At The Root (paperback)
by Ladarrion Williams • Labyrinth Road (May 6, 2025) • 3 Months on List
#9
Months on List: 19
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) • 19 Months on List
#10
Months on List: 1
A Black teenager attending a magical university for young conjurers seeks to unravel the mysteries of his powers, his newly found family, and his heritage while joining an ancient secret society to protect his community, all while potentially finding love.
Bones At The Crossroads
by Ladarrion Williams • Labyrinth Road (July 29, 2025) • 1 Months on List
#11
Months on List: 7
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) • 7 Months on List
#12
Months on List: 13
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) • 13 Months on List
#13
Months on List: 19
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) • 19 Months on List
#14
Months on List: 11
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) • 11 Months on List
#14
Months on List: 1
A boy finds himself battling a schoolmate-turned-termite intending to obliterate books and marginalize Black and Brown history, turning him into the only one capable of prevention.
Miles Morales Suspended: A Spider-man Novel (reprint)
by Jason Reynolds • Atheneum (June 25, 2024) • 1 Months on List
#16
Months on List: 1
A 15-year-old boy embarks on a quest for vengeance for his brother's death, guided and enlightened by seven apparitions that reveal crucial truths.
Long Way Down
by Jason Reynolds • Atheneum (October 24, 2017) • 1 Months on List
#17
Months on List: 2
In this emotionally charged memoir, prominent children's author, Walter Dean Myers, traces his challenging journey from a poor, quick-tempered boy in 1940s Harlem, finding solace in books amidst racial and class struggles, to becoming one of the most influential voices in young people's literature.
Bad Boy: A Memoir
by Walter Dean Myers • Amistad Books For Young Readers (May 12, 2020) • 2 Months on List
#18
Months on List: 2
In this touching coming-of-age novel, a loyal teenager navigates the challenge of urban life, while juggling school, boxing, looking out for his trouble-seeking best friend, and caring for his friend's brother with a syndrome, leading them into unexpected and dangerous territory.
When I Was The Greatest (paperback)
by Jason Reynolds • Atheneum (August 18, 2015) • 2 Months on List
#19
Months on List: 1
This anthology contains a collection of poems, prose, and art showcasing the diverse and limitless ways individuals commonly resist.
Take The Mic: Fictional Stories Of Everyday Resistance
by Bethany C. Morrow • Arthur A. Levine Books (October 1, 2019) • 1 Months on List
#20
Months on List: 19
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) • 19 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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