Check out these #OwnVoices young adult books during Black History Month — and every month!
Surviving the City by Tasha Spiller-Sumner
A story about womanhood, friendship, resilience, and the anguish of a missing loved one.
Between Sisters by Adwoa Badoe
A poignant and frank novel set in Ghana and told from the point of view of a disarmingly forthright teenage girl. To earn an education, Gloria moves to Kumasi with a distant relative and begins her new life filled with wonder, temptation, and betrayal. An inspiring coming-of-age tale of inner strength and tough life choices.
You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen
In this compelling and thought-provoking debut novel, after a terrorist attack rocks the country and stirs anti-Islamic sentiment, three Black Muslim girls create a space to shatter assumptions and share truths. Sabriya started a blog for comfort, but as its popularity grows, so does pushback and hatred. When one of the girls is threatened, they must decide whether to shut down the blog for their safety or take the risk and let their voices be heard.
We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds
Racial violence has the potential to ripple down through generations. After being uprooted to her grandmother’s house, Avery doesn’t expect the surprising friendships she makes. But her happiness is threatened as racial tensions rise in the small town, and she discovers it is intricately tied up in her family history.
Vinyl Moon by Mahogany L. Browne
A lovely sophomore novel about the power of words and representation. This stunning novel weaves together prose, poems, and vignettes to tell the story of Angel, a young woman whose past was shaped by domestic violence but whose love of language and music and the gift of community grant her the chance to find herself again.
The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson
Maddy Washington is an outcast, and the harassment only worsens when a sudden rainstorm reveals that Maddy is biracial. The high school holds its first (WTF) integrated prom to remedy the conflict. It is a prom that no one will forget, no matter how much they want to.
Akata Woman by Nnedi Okorafor
The third installment in the Nsibidi Scripts series. Sunny and her friends embark on a mission to find a precious object and return it to the spider deity Udide. However, defeating the guardians of Udide's ghazal will test Sunny's abilities, and victory will mean she’ll be changed forever.
One True Loves by Elise Bryant
A charming YA romantic comedy with Black love, self-discovery and, of course, a European cruise. Despite what her friend says, whirlwind romances don’t happen to girls like Lenore. There she meets Alex, with his smile and ten-year-plans, where she is driven with no direction. Can this chance meeting help her find what she didn’t know she was looking for?
Charming As A Verb by Ben Philippe
Henri “Halti” Haltiwanger seems to have it figured out. She’s charming, popular, and a dutiful first-generation Haitian son. When his neighbour uncovers his secret side hustle, she blackmails him into helping her change her image at school. Neither could have predicted their effect on the other.
The Field Guide To The North American Teenager by Ben Phillipe
A witty and hilarious contemporary YA novel. Norris Kaplan is a Black French Canadian, a label that he knows matters in his new Austin, Texas, school before he even starts labelling all his new classmates. Against his expectations, those labels become people, and he doesn’t realize how much they mean to him until he could lose them forever.
Sure I’ll Be Your Black Friend by Ben Philippe
A hilarious and raw description of what it is like to be “the black friend.” Ben chronicles the duality of his life, from his experiences as an immigrant kid to an adult during the Trump administration.
You Are More Than Magic by Minda Harts
An inspirational book for girls of colour: how to raise your voice and be heard, survive high school, college, and life after school, and do it without losing yourself.
And We Rise by Erica Martin
Martin’s debut poetry collection uses verse and white space to guide readers through the civil rights movement. From prominent events and figures to the lesser-known and equally crucial accounts and people involved in the movement, this book is informative and educational.
Facing the Sun by Janice Lynn Mather
A heartwarming tale set in the Caribbean of four friends dealing with change in their lives and community. Eve, Faith, KeeKee and Nia all have problems and all long for impossible freedom. When a hotel developer purchases their community’s most beloved beach, each girl must gain the courage to face the sun.
A Phoenix First Must Burn edited by Patrice Caldwell
From folktales to futuristic societies, 16 best-selling and award-winning authors explore the Black experience in this anthology. Riveting and compelling, it takes you on a journey with the narrative that centers on Black women and gender-nonconforming individuals.
