Freewater

Amina Luqman-Dawson

A Newbery Medal winner, this historical middle-grade novel tells a story of courage in slavery-era America. When young Homer and his sister Ada escape from Southerland Plantation, they must leave their beloved mother behind. Soon they find Freewater, a hidden community of escaped slaves and freeborn children. Here, Homer almost forgets his painful past. But when an outside threat looms over Freewater, Homer faces a choice: return to Southerland to free his mother or risk the newfound freedom he’s only just begun to embrace.

The Crossover

Kwame Alexander

Basketball and poetry collide in Kwame Alexander's award-winning verse novel, The Crossover. Like their former pro basketball star father, twin brothers Josh and Jordan are on the road to athletic achievement. But when a terrible event rocks their family, the brothers realize there’s more to life than petty competition. Because of the book’s engaging style, even the most reluctant readers will be eager to follow along.

Never Caught, the Story of Ona Judge

Erica Armstrong Dunbar

This historical account covers the story of Ona Judge, an enslaved woman who planned a daring escape from George Washington’s estate after the American Revolution. When he was elected president, Washington left Mount Vernon, bringing his slaves, including Ona, with him to Philadelphia. It’s there that Ona fled north in search of freedom. Never Caught details Washington’s various—and unsuccessful—attempts to find Ona and the clever ways she evaded his search.

The Stars Beneath Our Feet

David Barclay Moore

After the tragic loss of his brother, twelve-year-old Lolly Rachpaul struggles with his grief and the challenges of growing up in a tough neighborhood. Just when it feels like his world is falling apart, Lolly discovers an unexpected source of comfort: Lego bricks. As he builds intricate Lego cities at his community center, Lolly begins to see the potential for beauty and hope in his own life. Middle grade readers will appreciate this moving story about resilience, imagination, and the healing power of art.

Swim Team

Johnnie Christmas

Unable to enroll in her favorite math elective, Bree is forced to take Swim 101. The problem? Bree can’t swim. With the help of her elderly neighbor, Etta, a former swim team captain, Bree learns to love the water and joins the school’s swim team. But will her newfound skills be enough to lead them to the state championship? Middle-grade readers will love this moving graphic novel about courage and determination.

New Kid

Jerry Craft

A Newbery Medal winner, New Kid is a children’s graphic novel about finding one’s identity in a challenging world. Seventh grader Jordan Banks dreams of being a cartoonist. But instead of art school, his parents send him to a prestigious private academy where Jordan learns he is one of the few students of color. As he tries to separate his new school culture from his home life in Washington Heights, Jordan starts to feel like he doesn’t fit in anywhere. It’s only with the help of friends, family, and art that Jordan learns to stay true to himself.

The Probability of Everything

Sarah Everett

Fascinated with math, eleven-year-old Kemi Carter views life through the lens of probability. So when she learns that an asteroid named Amplus-68 has an 84.7% chance of striking earth in four days, she’s devastated. Kemi decides to create a time capsule to preserve her family’s memories, but with time running out, she must grapple with the profound challenge of saying goodbye.

Ghost

Jason Reynolds

Castle “Ghost” Cranshaw wants to be the best sprinter on his middle-school track team, but his troubling past haunts him. Despite the heavy subject matter, including mentions of domestic violence, young readers will race through Ghost, and your students will find themselves relating to the diverse characters that make up the novel’s central cast.

Copper Sun

Sharon M. Draper

Set against the backdrop of the transatlantic slave trade, this historical novel follows the journey of Amari, an African girl forced into a life of unimaginable hardship. As she navigates the brutal realities of plantation life in the American South, Amari forms an unlikely alliance with Polly, a white indentured servant. Together, they embark on a perilous quest for freedom against all odds. Draper’s masterful storytelling weaves together themes of resilience, friendship, and the enduring human spirit.

Ghost Boys

Jewell Parker Rhodes

After twelve-year-old Jerome is killed by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real weapon, his ghost observes the fallout that occurs within his family and community. In the afterlife, Jerome meets another spirit who shared a similar fate, a boy named Emmett Till. With Emmett as his guide, Jerome realizes how historical racism led to the events that ended his life. Perfect for middle-grade readers, Ghost Boys weaves past and current events together into an unforgettable story about what it means to be Black in America.

Clean Getaway

Nic Stone

Without his dad’s permission, eleven-year-old William “Scoob” Lamar and his grandmother “G’ma” embark on an impromptu road trip across the American South. For Scoob, it’s an escape from his dad’s strict rules. For G’ma, it’s a chance to finish a trip she and “G’pop” attempted in the 1960s. As they travel to key civil rights landmarks, G’ma reveals more about her past, including the hardships she and G’pop faced as an interracial couple. But when G’ma starts behaving strangely, Scoob suspects there’s more to this trip than he originally believed. Part history lesson, part family mystery, this fast-paced story makes an excellent addition to any middle-grade reading list.

Genesis Begins Again

Alicia D. Williams

Perfect for middle-grade readers, Genesis Begins Again tells the story of one girl’s endeavor to overcome colorism and an abusive family to finally learn to love herself. Thirteen-year-old Genesis blames herself for her problems. Her father has a gambling addiction, causing the family to be continually evicted from their home. Her mother looks down on her dark skin, saying Genesis isn’t “light enough.” Genesis is determined to fix her family, even if it means harming herself in the process. But when Genesis starts to find things she actually likes about herself, she discovers that changing her own attitude is the first step in changing that of others.

The Black Queen

Jumata Emill

Nova Albright, set to become the first Black homecoming queen at Lovett High, is found murdered in a historic slave cemetery she was restoring. Tinsley McArthur, who believed the crown was hers, is the prime suspect in the eyes of Duchess Simmons, Nova's best friend. Duchess is determined to prove Tinsley’s guilt, especially since she believes Tinsley's privilege will let her escape justice. As Duchess gets closer to uncovering the truth, she finds herself entangled in a dangerous game where love might be the very thing that leads to betrayal.

We Deserve Monuments

Jas Hammonds

Avery’s senior year takes an unexpected turn when she and her mother leave DC to live with her estranged grandmother, Mama Letty, in Georgia. While tensions flare in her family, Avery forms friendships with Simone, her new neighbor, and Jade, the daughter of a notable family whose mother was murdered. As Avery's friendships deepen, she soon discovers the town's dark, racist history is tied to her own family. With Mama Letty's health fading, Avery faces a tough choice: pursue the painful truth or protect her fragile new relationships in Bardell.

Love Is a Revolution

Renée Watson

After attending her cousin’s open mic night, Nala Robertson falls for the MC, Tye Brown. But unlike Nala, who would rather keep to herself, Tye is an activist with an interest in helping his community. To win him over, Nala begins telling little lies about herself but quickly realizes she can’t pretend to be somebody else. As they follow Nala’s character growth, students will appreciate the book’s message on the importance of self-confidence.

Pride: A Pride and Prejudice Remix

Ibi Zoboi

This modern reimagining of Pride and Prejudice blends a story of first love with social commentary on class, identity, and gentrification. When the wealthy Darcy family moves across the street, Zuri Benitez fears change is coming to her working-class Brooklyn neighborhood. Even as her sisters fawn over the Darcy brothers, Zuri dislikes them, especially the arrogant Darius. But as the summer progresses and Zuri gets to know Darius, she realizes she may have judged him too soon.

Ace of Spades

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Winner of the 2022 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Ace of Spades is a thrilling novel packed with suspense and social commentary. The only Black students at their elite private school, Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo are excited when they’re chosen to be prefects. But soon, a mysterious figure named Aces shares devastating secrets about their lives through anonymous texts. With their futures in jeopardy, Devon and Chiamaka must try to uncover Aces’s identity before things take a violent turn.

Clap When You Land

Elizabeth Acevedo

Told through verse, Clap When You Land weaves a powerful story about grief and forgiveness. In the Dominican Republic, Camino Rios heads to the airport to pick up her father, only to find chaos. In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal’s office and learns her father died in a plane crash. In the wake of the accident, a series of events leads both girls to uncover their father’s secrets and, in turn, each other.

Black Girl Unlimited: The Remarkable Story of a Teenage Wizard

Echo Brown

In this book, author Echo Brown employs magical realism to tell an allegorical story based on her experiences living on the East Side of Cleveland. Echo believes there is magic amid the tragedy in her neighborhood. It’s only when she transfers to the rich school on the West Side that new portals begin to open. As she travels between her two worlds, Echo sets out to heal from the veil of pain that surrounds her and others. Sexual violence, child abuse, racism, and drug abuse make Black Girl Unlimited better suited for mature readers.

Pet

Akwaeke Emezi

Winner of the Stonewall Book Award, Pet is a genre-defying novel that deftly tackles themes of identity and justice. There are no monsters in the utopian city of Lucille. Jam, a transgender girl, and her friend Redemption have grown up with that lesson. But when Jam meets a ghastly creature named Pet, she must reconsider what she's been taught. Pet has come to hunt a true monster—and something grim lurks in Redemption's house. Jam must fight not only to protect her friend, but also to find the answer to the question: How do you save the world from monsters if everyone denies they exist?

Libertie: A Novel

Kaitlyn Greenidge

In Reconstruction-era Brooklyn, Libertie Sampson, a free-born Black woman, seems destined to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a physician. But Libertie yearns to choose another path. After accepting a proposal from a young man from Haiti, Libertie moves to the island in hopes that she will be treated as an equal in society. However, Libertie finds that even in her new home, she lacks the freedom she desires. This historical novel addresses issues such as colorism, racism, and sexism with lyrical prose and unforgettable characters.

The Black Kids

Christina Hammonds Reed

It’s April 1992, and Ashley Bennett and her friends are counting down the days to high school graduation. But everything changes when four LAPD officers are acquitted after beating a Black man named Rodney King. As a child of Black professionals and one of the few Black kids among her upper-class peers, Ashley soon finds herself having to confront what it means to be Black outside of her immediate circle. Strong language, violence, and sexuality make this book more suitable for older readers.

Grown

Tiffany D. Jackson

Seventeen-year-old Enchanted Jones finds her life transformed after top R&B artist Korey Fields takes notice of her during an audition. But soon, she realizes that underneath his charm, Korey hides a disturbing and possessive side. One day, Enchanted wakes up to find her hands covered in blood, Korey dead, and no memory of the night before. Accused of murder, Enchanted fights to prove her innocence and expose Korey’s true nature to the public. With depictions of sexual assault, self-harm, domestic abuse, and opioid addiction, Grown is better suited for mature readers.

How Long ‘til Black Future Month?

N. K. Jemisin

If your high school students are interested in the Afrofuturism genre, this anthology is for them. In this Alex Award-winning book, science fiction and fantasy author N. K. Jemisin presents 22 short stories that examine modern culture with a speculative eye. From stories of utopian societies and parallel universes to tales of ghosts and dragons, students will love exploring themes of resistance, empathy, and redemption.

This Is My America

Kim Johnson

Every week, teenager Tracy writes to Innocence X, asking the organization to help free her father, an innocent Black man, from death row. With only 267 days left, Tracy is worried. Then, her family suffers another shock when her older brother Jamal, a promising track star, is accused of killing Angela, a local white girl. Jamal flees, afraid of ending up like his father. Tracy is determined to prove the innocence of both her father and brother, but her search for the truth reveals dark secrets within their Texas town. Because of strong language and depictions of drug use, this book is better suited for older readers.

SLAY

Brittney Morris

Unknown to her friends, seventeen-year-old Kiera Johnson is the developer behind the online role-playing card game, SLAY. Inspired by Black Panther, SLAY was created as a safe space for Black gamers to play together. But after a teenager is murdered by another player in the real world over an in-game dispute, the media labels Kiera’s video game community as exclusionary and racist. Told from multiple perspectives, this gripping story for young adult readers follows Kiera’s fight to protect the game she loves, even if that means losing everything.

The Field Guide to the North American Teenager

Ben Philippe

When Norris, a Black French Canadian, moves to Texas, he finds his world turned upside down. At his American high school, the cynical teenager keeps to himself, passing the time by journaling about the students he meets: the Cheerleaders, the Jocks, the Loners, and so on. But against all odds, those labels soon become actual people to Norris. As he learns the harm of making snap judgments of others, Norris realizes it might be time to stop hiding behind his snarky opinions and welcome others into his life.

Angel of Greenwood

Randi Pink

Known as “Black Wall Street,” the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is home to two very different teenagers. A follower of W. E. B. Du Bois, Isaiah, the town troublemaker, believes Black people should stand up and claim their place as equals. Angel, the goody-goody church girl, supports Booker T. Washington’s views, believing Black people should rise without conflict. Strangers at first, the two grow closer while working the same after-school job. But on May 31, 1921, everything changes when a vicious white mob destroys Greenwood, killing hundreds and displacing thousands. Told in alternating perspectives, Angel of Greenwood sheds new light on a nearly forgotten piece of American history.

Concrete Rose

Angie Thomas

A prequel to the bestselling The Hate U Give, this powerful novel explores the story of Maverick Carter, the father of the former book’s protagonist, Starr. With his dad in prison, seventeen-year-old Maverick takes care of his family the only way he knows how: dealing for the King Lords. Things seem under control until Mav learns he’s a father. With a son to raise, Mav resolves to finish school and set his life straight, but between his new responsibilities and old loyalties to his gang, Mav must make tough choices if he is to become the man he wants to be.

Homegoing

Yaa Gyasi

The first chapter of Yaa Gyasi’s debut novel starts in eighteenth-century Africa and follows the lives of two half-sisters, one sent to America as a slave and the other raised free in Africa. Each chapter alternates between the sisters’ families and follows a new generation for over 200 years. When critics talk about books that change lives, they’re talking about books like Homegoing.

Sing, Unburied, Sing

Jesmyn Ward

Sing, Unburied, Sing will haunt readers long after they’ve finished the book. In Jesmyn Ward’s award-winning novel, set in the heart of Mississippi, young Jojo and his family embark on a road trip to pick up his father from prison. Family legacies, violence, and the brutalities of racism seem to define his family—until he meets a literal ghost at the prison who has something very important to teach Jojo. Rich with lyricism, this southern Gothic ghost story will captivate your students.

Call Us What We Carry: Poems

Amanda Gorman

No classroom poetry collection is complete without this book by Amanda Gorman, an author, activist, and former National Youth Poet Laureate. In this collection, she explores themes of history, identity, language, memory, and erasure through masterfully crafted poems, including “The Hill We Climb,” the famous piece she delivered at the inauguration of President Joe Biden on January 20, 2021.

The Nickel Boys

Colson Whitehead

Winner of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, The Nickel Boys dramatizes the true story of a notorious reform school that operated for 111 years. In 1960s Tallahassee, Elwood Curtis, a Black student, finds himself unfairly sentenced to a juvenile reformatory called the Nickel Academy. There, he meets Turner, a cynical teenager who believes the only way to survive the dehumanizing school and its corrupt administration is to stay out of trouble. But as conditions worsen, Elwood and Turner hatch a plan to escape, not knowing that their actions will have irreparable consequences decades later.

How Beautiful We Were

Imbolo Mbue

Told through multiple perspectives, How Beautiful We Were follows the generations-long struggle between Kosawa, an African village, and Pexton, an American oil company. Pexton promised the villagers prosperity, but instead, the company’s operations have left the land polluted and infertile. With children getting sick—some even dying—and reparations ignored, the community decides to take matters into its own hands, no matter the cost. Although this story is fictional, it touches on real-world issues, such as environmental destruction and neocolonialism, that impact many West African nations.

The Vanishing Half

Brit Bennett

Stella and Desiree Vignes, identical twin sisters, grew up in a small, southern black community where light skin is prized. But as teenagers, their paths diverge: Desiree returns to her hometown with a dark-skinned daughter, while Stella secretly passes as white, leaving her past behind. Spanning decades and generations, this multilayered narrative explores themes of identity, race, and familial bonds. Depictions of domestic abuse, racism, and sexual assault make this book better suited for older readers.