400 Essential Books by Black Writers

100 Essential Adult Fiction Books by Black Writers

Explore 100 essential novels and short story collections by African American and Black diaspora writers. Arranged alphabetically by title rather than ranked, this collection honors the breadth of modern and classic Black storytelling.

Adult Fiction Adult Nonfiction Children & YA Fiction Children & YA Nonfiction
  1. All the Sinners Bleed

    All the Sinners Bleed

    by S. A. Cosby
    All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby
  2. An American Marriage: A Novel

    An American Marriage: A Novel

    by Tayari Jones
    An American Marriage: A Novel by Tayari Jones
  3. Americanah

    Americanah

    by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
    Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  4. Another Brooklyn: A Novel

    Another Brooklyn: A Novel

    by Jacqueline Woodson
    Another Brooklyn: A Novel by Jacqueline Woodson
  5. Anybody’s Daughter

    Anybody’s Daughter

    by Pamela Samuels Young
    Anybody’s Daughter by Pamela Samuels Young
  6. The Awkward Black Man

    The Awkward Black Man

    by Walter Mosley
    The Awkward Black Man by Walter Mosley
  7. Behold the Dreamers: A Novel

    Behold the Dreamers: A Novel

    by Imbolo Mbue
    Behold the Dreamers: A Novel by Imbolo Mbue
  8. Black Candle Women

    Black Candle Women

    by Diane Marie Brown
    Black Candle Women by Diane Marie Brown
  9. The Book of Harlan

    The Book of Harlan

    by Bernice L. McFadden
    The Book of Harlan by Bernice L. McFadden
  10. A Brief History Of Seven Killings: A Novel

    A Brief History Of Seven Killings: A Novel

    by Marlon James
    A Brief History Of Seven Killings: A Novel by Marlon James
  11. Brother, I’m Dying

    Brother, I’m Dying

    by Edwidge Danticat
    Brother, I’m Dying by Edwidge Danticat
  12. Burn Down Master’s House

    Burn Down Master’s House

    by Clay Cane
    Burn Down Master’s House by Clay Cane
  13. Chain Gang All Stars

    Chain Gang All Stars

    by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
    Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
  14. The Changeling: A Novel

    The Changeling: A Novel

    by Victor Lavalle
    The Changeling: A Novel by Victor Lavalle
  15. Colored Television

    Colored Television

    by Danzy Senna
    Colored Television by Danzy Senna
  16. Deacon King Kong

    Deacon King Kong

    by James McBride
    Deacon King Kong by James McBride
  17. Death of the Author

    Death of the Author

    by Nnedi Okorafor
    Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor
  18. A Deeper Love Inside

    A Deeper Love Inside

    by Sister Souljah
    A Deeper Love Inside by Sister Souljah
  19. Didn’t Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta

    Didn’t Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta

    by James Hannaham
    Didn’t Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta by James Hannaham
  20. Dominion: A Novel

    Dominion: A Novel

    by Addie E. Citchens
    Dominion: A Novel by Addie E. Citchens
  21. Douglass’ Women: A Novel

    Douglass’ Women: A Novel

    by Jewell Parker Rhodes
    Douglass’ Women: A Novel by Jewell Parker Rhodes
  22. Dream Count

    Dream Count

    by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
    Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  23. Easier Said Than Done

    Easier Said Than Done

    by Nikki Woods
    Easier Said Than Done by Nikki Woods
  24. Erasure

    Erasure

    by Percival Everett
    Erasure by Percival Everett
  25. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev

    The Final Revival of Opal & Nev

    by Dawnie Walton
    The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton
  26. The Fishermen: A Novel

    The Fishermen: A Novel

    by Chigozie Obioma
    The Fishermen: A Novel by Chigozie Obioma
  27. Freshwater Road

    Freshwater Road

    by Denise Nicholas
    Freshwater Road by Denise Nicholas
  28. Friday Black

    Friday Black

    by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
    Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
  29. Gangsta

    Gangsta

    by K’wan
    Gangsta by K’wan
  30. Ghost Summer: Stories

    Ghost Summer: Stories

    by Tananarive Due
    Ghost Summer: Stories by Tananarive Due
  31. Glorious

    Glorious

    by Bernice L. McFadden
    Glorious by Bernice L. McFadden
  32. God Help the Child: A Novel

    God Help the Child: A Novel

    by Toni Morrison
    God Help the Child: A Novel by Toni Morrison
  33. The Good Lord Bird

    The Good Lord Bird

    by James McBride
    The Good Lord Bird by James McBride
  34. Gray Dawn: An Easy Rawlins Mystery

    Gray Dawn: An Easy Rawlins Mystery

    by Walter Mosley
    Gray Dawn: An Easy Rawlins Mystery by Walter Mosley
  35. Grown Women

    Grown Women

    by Sarai Johnson
    Grown Women by Sarai Johnson
  36. Happy Land

    Happy Land

    by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
    Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
  37. Harlem Rhapsody

    Harlem Rhapsody

    by Victoria Christopher Murray
    Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray
  38. Harlem Shuffle

    Harlem Shuffle

    by Colson Whitehead
    Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
  39. Heads of the Colored People (paperback): Stories

    Heads of the Colored People (paperback): Stories

    by Nafissa Thompson-Spires
    Heads of the Colored People (paperback): Stories by Nafissa Thompson-Spires
  40. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

    The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

    by James McBride
    The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
  41. Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick

    Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick

    by Zora Neale Hurston and M. Genevieve West
    Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick by Zora Neale Hurston and M. Genevieve West
  42. Homegoing: A Novel

    Homegoing: A Novel

    by Yaa Gyasi
    Homegoing: A Novel by Yaa Gyasi
  43. The House of Eve

    The House of Eve

    by Sadeqa Johnson
    The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson
  44. James: A Novel

    James: A Novel

    by Percival Everett
    James: A Novel by Percival Everett
  45. Keeper of Lost Children

    Keeper of Lost Children

    by Sadeqa Johnson
    Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson
  46. Kin: A Novel

    Kin: A Novel

    by Tayari Jones
    Kin: A Novel by Tayari Jones
  47. A Kind of Freedom: A Novel

    A Kind of Freedom: A Novel

    by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton
    A Kind of Freedom: A Novel by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton
  48. King of Ashes

    King of Ashes

    by S. A. Cosby
    King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby
  49. The Known World

    The Known World

    by Edward P. Jones
    The Known World by Edward P. Jones
  50. Let Us Descend

    Let Us Descend

    by Jesmyn Ward
    Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward
  51. A Lie of Reinvention: Correcting Manning Marable’s Malcolm X

    A Lie of Reinvention: Correcting Manning Marable’s Malcolm X

    by Jared Ball and Todd Steven Burroughs
    A Lie of Reinvention: Correcting Manning Marable’s Malcolm X by Jared Ball and Todd Steven Burroughs
  52. A Love Song for Ricki Wilde

    A Love Song for Ricki Wilde

    by Tia Williams
    A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams
  53. The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois

    The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois

    by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers
    The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers
  54. Loving Day: A Novel

    Loving Day: A Novel

    by Mat Johnson
    Loving Day: A Novel by Mat Johnson
  55. A Lucky Man: Stories

    A Lucky Man: Stories

    by Jamel Brinkley
    A Lucky Man: Stories by Jamel Brinkley
  56. Mama’s Boy

    Mama’s Boy

    by ReShonda Tate
    Mama’s Boy by ReShonda Tate
  57. Neighbors and Other Stories

    Neighbors and Other Stories

    by Diane Oliver
    Neighbors and Other Stories by Diane Oliver
  58. New Daughters of Africa: An International Anthology of Writing by Women of African Descent

    New Daughters of Africa: An International Anthology of Writing by Women of African Descent

    by Margaret Busby
    New Daughters of Africa: An International Anthology of Writing by Women of African Descent by Margaret Busby
  59. The Nickel Boys: A Novel

    The Nickel Boys: A Novel

    by Colson Whitehead
    The Nickel Boys: A Novel by Colson Whitehead
  60. Nightcrawling

    Nightcrawling

    by Leila Mottley
    Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley
  61. Orange Mint And Honey: A Novel

    Orange Mint And Honey: A Novel

    by Carleen Brice
    Orange Mint And Honey: A Novel by Carleen Brice
  62. The Personal Librarian

    The Personal Librarian

    by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
    The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
  63. Provenance: A Novel

    Provenance: A Novel

    by Donna Drew Sawyer
    Provenance: A Novel by Donna Drew Sawyer
  64. The Queen of Sugar Hill: A Novel of Hattie McDaniel

    The Queen of Sugar Hill: A Novel of Hattie McDaniel

    by ReShonda Tate
    The Queen of Sugar Hill: A Novel of Hattie McDaniel by ReShonda Tate
  65. Recitatif

    Recitatif

    by Toni Morrison
    Recitatif by Toni Morrison
  66. Red at the Bone

    Red at the Bone

    by Jacqueline Woodson
    Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
  67. The Reformatory

    The Reformatory

    by Tananarive Due
    The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
  68. The Reverend’ss Wife (Reverend Curtis Black #9)

    The Reverend’ss Wife (Reverend Curtis Black #9)

    by Kimberla Lawson Roby
    The Reverend’ss Wife (Reverend Curtis Black #9) by Kimberla Lawson Roby
  69. Ring Shout

    Ring Shout

    by P. Djèlí Clark
    Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
  70. Rogue Justice: A Thriller

    Rogue Justice: A Thriller

    by Stacey Abrams aka Selena Montgomery
    Rogue Justice: A Thriller by Stacey Abrams aka Selena Montgomery
  71. Ruby

    Ruby

    by Cynthia Bond
    Ruby by Cynthia Bond
  72. Sag Harbor

    Sag Harbor

    by Colson Whitehead
    Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead
  73. Salvage the Bones

    Salvage the Bones

    by Jesmyn Ward
    Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
  74. The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

    The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

    by Deesha Philyaw
    The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
  75. The Sellout

    The Sellout

    by Paul Beatty
    The Sellout by Paul Beatty
  76. Sing, Unburied, Sing

    Sing, Unburied, Sing

    by Jesmyn Ward
    Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
  77. Sky Full of Elephants

    Sky Full of Elephants

    by Cebo Campbell
    Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell
  78. Stand Your Ground: A Novel

    Stand Your Ground: A Novel

    by Victoria Christopher Murray
    Stand Your Ground: A Novel by Victoria Christopher Murray
  79. The Star Side of Bird Hill

    The Star Side of Bird Hill

    by Naomi Jackson
    The Star Side of Bird Hill by Naomi Jackson
  80. Stay with Me: A novel

    Stay with Me: A novel

    by Ayobami Adebayo
    Stay with Me: A novel by Ayobami Adebayo
  81. Stories from the Tenants Downstairs

    Stories from the Tenants Downstairs

    by Sidik Fofana
    Stories from the Tenants Downstairs by Sidik Fofana
  82. Sugar: A Novel

    Sugar: A Novel

    by Bernice L. McFadden
    Sugar: A Novel by Bernice L. McFadden
  83. The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat

    The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat

    by Edward Kelsey Moore
    The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat by Edward Kelsey Moore
  84. The Sweetness of Water

    The Sweetness of Water

    by Nathan Harris
    The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris
  85. Swift River

    Swift River

    by Essie Chambers
    Swift River by Essie Chambers
  86. Symphony of Secrets

    Symphony of Secrets

    by Brendan Slocumb
    Symphony of Secrets by Brendan Slocumb
  87. Take My Hand

    Take My Hand

    by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
    Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
  88. Temple Folk

    Temple Folk

    by Aaliyah Bilal
    Temple Folk by Aaliyah Bilal
  89. Til The Well Runs Dry

    Til The Well Runs Dry

    by Lauren Francis-Sharma
    Til The Well Runs Dry by Lauren Francis-Sharma
  90. The Turner House

    The Turner House

    by Angela Flournoy
    The Turner House by Angela Flournoy
  91. The Twelve Tribes of Hattie

    The Twelve Tribes of Hattie

    by Ayana Mathis
    The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis
  92. The Underground Railroad: A Novel

    The Underground Railroad: A Novel

    by Colson Whitehead
    The Underground Railroad: A Novel by Colson Whitehead
  93. An Untamed State

    An Untamed State

    by Roxane Gay
    An Untamed State by Roxane Gay
  94. The Vanishing Half

    The Vanishing Half

    by Brit Bennett
    The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
  95. The Water Dancer

    The Water Dancer

    by Ta-Nehisi Coates
    The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
  96. Welcome to Braggsville: A Novel

    Welcome to Braggsville: A Novel

    by T. Geronimo Johnson
    Welcome to Braggsville: A Novel by T. Geronimo Johnson
  97. What A Woman’s Gotta Do

    What A Woman’s Gotta Do

    by Evelyn Coleman
    What A Woman’s Gotta Do by Evelyn Coleman
  98. When We Were Birds

    When We Were Birds

    by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo
    When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo
  99. The Wilderness

    The Wilderness

    by Angela Flournoy
    The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy
  100. Yellow Wife

    Yellow Wife

    by Sadeqa Johnson
    Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

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