PTW Pick - Black History Month Reading List
Photo by Suad Kamardeen on Unsplash
Written by: Angelica Little
Happy Black History Month! Long before Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week––which became Balck History Month in 1976––writers have used literature to document Black history, social politics, explore fantasy lands, affirm, and guide. We’re sharing a list of new releases and must-reads that are worth expanding your to-be-read list.
Children & Young Adult
Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland
The sequel to the New York Times Bestselling Dread Nation continues Jane McKeene’s journey across a nation divided by slavery, fighting the undead and her own inner demons.
King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender
James and his friend, Sandy, are in search of an unforgettable utopia down by the bayou and among the dragonflies. Along the way, James must come to terms with his identity and his brother’s death.
A Girl Like Me by Angela Johnson
A book encouraging young black girls to celebrate their individuality and follow their dreams no matter what society says.
Cool Cuts by Mechal Renee Roe
From locs to fades to afros and everything in between, young black boys can celebrate their natural hair and its diversity in a collection of illustrations promoting positive affirmations and self-esteem.
Frankie Sparks and the Lucky Charm by Megan Frazer Blakemore
In the fourth book from this series, third-grader Frankie is challenged to use her STEM skills in order to trap a leprechaun that’s gotten loose in her house.
Nonfiction
Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall (available 2/25)
Drawn from personal experiences with hunger, violence, hypersexualization and commentary on pop culture, politics, and more, Kendall challenges white, mainstream feminism--who it benefits and who it ignores.
Different Strokes: Serena, Venus and the Unfinished Black Tennis Revolution by Cecil Harris
Chronicling the success of the Williams sisters and other prominent players of color, Harris exposes the underrepresentation of people of color in the sport. Even with their unforgettable achievements, we’re still reminded that there is still very little equality in the game.
The Last Negroes at Harvard by Kent Garret and Jeanne Ellsworth
Part memoir, part reunion, and chronicles of the intersection of education and the civil rights movement, Garret and Ellsworth scribe the untold story of his classmates, men who would challenge the identities forced upon them upon their acceptance into the ivy league school.
Under Fire: Reporting Live from the Front Lines of the Trump White House by April Ryan
The veteran White House reporter shares the confusion and chaos that erupts from the papers to the briefing room and engulfs a nation daily.
Meals, Music and Muses: Recipes from my African American Kitchen by Alexander Smalls and Veronica Chambers (available 2/25)
An ode to his southern heritage, the famous chef and opera singer weaves food and music to examine how a region was shaped, complete with several of his recipes.
Fiction
The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa
Business forces a wedding planner to collaborate with her ex-fiance’s best man--the person behind her ruined wedding. Within a few short weeks, the duo realizes hatred isn’t the only emotion shared between them.
Real Life by Brandon Taylor
A debut novel surrounding Wallace, a black and queer student attending a Midwestern university, who keeps a wary distance from his circle of friends until an encounter with a seemingly white and straight classmate shatters the walls he built and exposes the animosity and desire within the community.
The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare
A debut novel about a young woman trapped in servitude whose series of misfortune breeds the desire to fight for her dreams and forge her future.
Trouble is What I Do by Walter Mosely (available 2/25)
Another installment to the Leonid McGill series, the detective must protect his client and family from a deadly ghost from his past while delivering a letter to a wealthy heiress, which reveals her Black lineage before her father massacres those who know the family secret.
Black Sunday by Tola Rotimi Abraham
In this debut, two inseparable twins become estranged when their immediate family is shattered and dispersed. Over twenty years the two struggle to trace their meandering paths back to one another and rekindle their connection.