YA Books for Juneteenth: Celebrate Black Stories with Underlined

This Juneteenth and all year long, we’re celebrating Black stories. From nonfiction to fantasy, you’ll meet characters who fight for justice, find themselves, fall in love, and change the world in this collection of young adult novels.

Celebrate Black Stories

Bright Red Fruit

By Safia Elhillo

An unflinching, honest novel in verse about a teenager’s journey into the slam poetry scene and the dangerous new relationship that could threaten all her dreams. From the award-winning poet and author of Home Is Not a Country.

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Celebrate Black Thrillers

The Color of a Lie

By Kim Johnson

Coming 06.03.25

In 1955, a Black family passes for white and moves to a “Whites Only” town in the suburbs. Caught between two worlds, a teen boy puts his family at risk as he uncovers racist secrets about his suburb. A new social justice thriller from the acclaimed author of This Is My America!

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Celebrate Black Love

You Bet Your Heart

By Danielle Parker

A riveting, swoon-worthy teen romance debut centered on two high achievers fighting for the title of high school valedictorian and falling in love along the way, from author Danielle Parker.

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Celebrate Black Fantasy

Blood at the Root

By LaDarrion Williams

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A teenager on the run from his past finds the family he never knew existed and the community he never knew he needed at an HBCU for the young, Black, and magical. Enroll in this fresh fantasy debut unlike anything you’ve seen before.

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Celebrate Real Life Black Stories

The Sum of Us (Adapted for Young Readers)

By Heather McGhee

The New York Times bestseller, adapted for a new generation of young readers, leaders, thinkers, and activists. A groundbreaking call to action that examines how racism affects and harms all of us and how we need to face it head-on, together.