Young Adult Books to Read for Black History Month

This Black History Month and all year long, we're reading young adult books by Black authors and creators who are making history. From nonfiction to fantasy, you’ll meet characters who fight for justice, find themselves, grow, and change in this collection of incredible stories…

Social Justice:

Dear Martin

By Nic Stone

"Powerful, wrenching.” –JOHN GREEN, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Turtles All the Way Down

"Raw and gripping." –JASON REYNOLDS, New York Times bestselling coauthor of All American Boys

"A must-read!” –ANGIE THOMAS, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U...

Dear Justyce

By Nic Stone

The stunning sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller Dear Martin. Incarcerated teen Quan writes letters to Justyce about his experiences in the American juvenile justice system. Perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Angie Thomas.

In the highly anticipated sequel to her New York Times bestseller, Nic Stone delivers an unflinching look into the flawed pra...

Just Mercy (Movie Tie-In Edition, Adapted for Young Adults)

By Bryan Stevenson

Dive into the incredible true story of Bryan Stevenson’s fight to free the wrongly imprisoned. This powerful story is both timely and important. It shines a light on the flaws in the American justice system and challenges us to do better. Thought-provoking and moving, this nonfiction book will keep you glued to the page.

This Is My America

By Kim Johnson

"Incredible and searing." --Nic Stone, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin

The Hate U Give meets Just Mercy in this unflinching yet uplifting first novel that explores the racist injustices in the American justice system.

Every week, seventeen-year-old Tracy Beaumont writes letters to Innocence X, asking the organization to help her father, an innocent Black man on dea...

The Beautiful Struggle (Adapted for Young Adults)

By Ta-Nehisi Coates

Adapted from the adult memoir by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Water Dancer and Between the World and Me, this father-son story explores how boys become men, and quite specifically, how Ta-Nehisi Coates became Ta-Nehisi Coates.

As a child, Ta-Nehisi Coates was seen by his father, Paul, as too sensitive and lacking focus. Paul Coates was a Vietnam vet who'd been part of the Black Panthers and wa...

Chlorine Sky

By Mahogany L. Browne

A novel-in-verse about a young girl coming-of-age and stepping out of the shadow of her former best friend. Perfect for readers of Elizabeth Acevedo and Nikki Grimes.

"Mahogany L. Browne's debut YA ia an absolute masterpiece. It will leave you breathless." -Elizabeth Acevedo, New York Times bestselling author of The Poet X

She looks me hard in my eyes
& my knees lock into tree trunks
My ...

Color Me In

By Natasha Díaz

A powerful coming-of-age novel, pulled from personal experience, about the meaning of friendship, the joyful beginnings of romance, and the racism and religious intolerance that can both strain a family to the breaking point and strengthen its bonds.

Growing up in an affluent suburb of New York City, sixteen-year-old Nevaeh Levitz never thought much about her biracial roots. When her Black mom and Jewish dad split up, she relocates ...

When You Were Everything

By Ashley Woodfolk

On Sale 03.09.21

For fans of Nina LaCour's We Are Okay and Adam Silvera's History Is All You Left Me, this heartfelt and ultimately uplifting novel follows one sixteen-year-old girl's friend breakup through two concurrent timelines--ultimately proving that even endings can lead to new beginnings.

"Stunning." --Nic Stone, bestselling author of Dear Martin and Odd One Out

You can't rewr...

Who Put This Song On?

By Morgan Parker

On Sale 03.23.21

"Unflinchingly irreverent, laugh-out-loud funny, and heartbreakingly honest." —Elizabeth Acevedo, National Book Award winner and New York Times bestselling author of The Poet X

In the vein of powerful reads like The Hate U Give and The Poet X, comes poet Morgan Parker's pitch-perfect novel about a black teenage girl searching for her identity when the world around her views he...

The Gilded Ones

By Namina Forna

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTELLER!

“Namina Forna Could Be The Toni Morrison Of YA Fantasy.” –Refinery 29

“Fans of Children of Blood and Bone, Mulan, and the Dora Milaje from Black Panther are going to adore this one.” –BuzzFeed

"A dark feminist tale spun with blood and gold. Must read!" –Dhonie...

Pet

By Akwaeke Emezi

Now in paperback, the National Book Award finalist and genre-defying novel by award-winning author Akwaeke Emezi that explores themes of identity and justice. Pet is here to hunt a monster. Are you brave enough to look?

There are no monsters anymore, or so the children in the city of Lucille are taught. Jam and her best friend, Redemption, have grown up with this lesson all their life. But when Jam meets Pet, a creature made ...

A Universe of Wishes

Edited By Dhonielle Clayton

From We Need Diverse Books, the organization behind Flying Lessons & Other Stories, comes a young adult fantasy short story collection featuring some of the best own-voices children's authors, including New York Times bestselling authors Libba Bray (The Diviners), V. E. Schwab (A Darker Shade of Magic), Natalie C. Parker (Seafire), ...

Random Minis: Everything, Everything

By Nicola Yoon

The #1 New York Times bestseller Everything, Everything in a groundbreaking new mini format, perfect for on-the-go reading!

Risk everything . . . for love.

What if you couldn't touch anything in the outside world? Never breathe in the fresh air, feel the sun warm your face . . . or kiss the boy next door? In Everything, Everything, Maddy is a girl who's literally allergi...

Full Disclosure

By Camryn Garrett

"An unflinchingly honest, eye-opening, heartful story that's sure to keep readers talking." --Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give and On the Come Up

"Romantic, funny, hopeful, and unflinchingly real." --Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Simon Vs. The Homosapiens Agenda<...

Jackpot

By Nic Stone

From the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Dear Martin--which Angie Thomas, the bestselling author of The Hate U Give, called "a must read"--comes a pitch-perfect romance that examines class, privilege, and how a stroke of good luck can change an entire life.

Meet Rico: high school senior and afternoon-shift cashier at the Gas 'n' Go, who after school and...

The Sun Is Also a Star Movie Tie-in Edition

By Nicola Yoon

The #1 New York Times bestseller and National Book Award Finalist from the author of Everything, Everything is now a major motion picture starring Yara Shahidi and Charles Melton! This movie tie-in edition features key movie cover art and a photo insert.

Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl w...

Young Adult Books to Read for Black History Month

Social Justice:

Dear Martin

By Nic Stone

Dear Justyce

By Nic Stone

Just Mercy (Movie Tie-In Edition, Adapted for Young Adults)

By Bryan Stevenson

This Is My America

By Kim Johnson

Coming of Age:

The Beautiful Struggle (Adapted for Young Adults)

By Ta-Nehisi Coates

Chlorine Sky

By Mahogany L. Browne

Color Me In

By Natasha Díaz

When You Were Everything

By Ashley Woodfolk

On Sale 03.09.21

Who Put This Song On?

By Morgan Parker

On Sale 03.23.21

Fantasy:

The Gilded Ones

By Namina Forna

Pet

By Akwaeke Emezi

A Universe of Wishes

Edited By Dhonielle Clayton

Romance:

Random Minis: Everything, Everything

By Nicola Yoon

Full Disclosure

By Camryn Garrett

Jackpot

By Nic Stone

The Sun Is Also a Star Movie Tie-in Edition

By Nicola Yoon

Comments

Related Articles

Four Books You Need to Read after Seeing The Hate U Give Movie

Read an Excerpt of Black Canary: Breaking Silence by Alexandra Monir