For Black History Month, I have compiled a little list of my own of YA books by Black Authors I recommend.
When I started compiling this list a little earlier this month, I realized that there are so many little gems here and that I have SO MANY incredible books by Black authors on my TBR I’m looking forward to reading next, too. SO! Many! Exciting Books AHHH. Give me the time to read them all, please.
Anyway, here goes. I hope you’ll enjoy this little list and will find some books you love here!
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10 YA Books by Black Authors I enjoyed!
When the Stars Lead to You, Ronni Davis
This book was such an incredible surprise, I wish you ALL read it right now okay. It’s about first love, it’s about heartbreak, it’s about falling for someone with depression and it broke my heart and made me cry and it was beautiful, too. I love this book.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
With the Fire on High, Elizabeth Acevedo
I really really enjoyed With the Fire on High okay. It’s about a teen mother dealing with life and her daughter and she loves to cook and this book is like a hug, it’s beautiful and heartwarming and made my heart happy.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
The Beauty That Remains, Ashley Woodfolk
Oh this book broke me. I cried reading the first page. While it heavily deals with grief, it also is hopeful and beautiful and the characters are all so wonderful you’ll care for them so much.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
I Wanna Be Where You Are, Kristina Forest
I think Kristina Forest is one of my favorite contemporary authors. Her debut is, so far, my favorite from her. A road trip, a ballerina, an ex-best-friend and neighbor… it’s filled with fun and dreams and the kind of romance I adore.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Opposite of Always, Justin A. Reynolds
Boy falls in love with girl… girl dies. Then it starts all over again. The simple concept of this book is so unique, I loved it. Aside from the romance, it also has wonderful friendships and parents and this was such a great read.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
This is What it Feels Like, Rebecca Barrow
I love love love this contemporary SO. Much. It’s about ex-friends in a band, they were torn apart by life’s happenings and I just loved loved loved all of these characters so much. Please read this.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
By Any Means Necessary, Candice Montgomery
I love that this book is set in college! This is the story of Torrey, struggling with leaving his family and neighborhood behind and letting go of the past. I loved the friendships and the main character’s voice so much.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
A Song Below Water, Bethany C. Morrow
This book feels like magic a little bit and I felt transported by it all. It’s about a siren in a modern world, it’s about being silenced, it has such strong sister-like bonds and such a unique world, I really enjoyed it!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Cinderella is Dead, Kalynn Bayron
A Cinderella retelling with Black, Queer characters, yes yes yes. I loved this one and the new take on the Cinderella story we all know and I was so engrossed into the story from page one.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas
Ending this on a very classic note, but a must-read, if you ask me. It’s fantastic, it’s powerful, it’s punch-me-in-the-gut important and honestly, that’s all I should say.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Other lovely recommendations you can check out:
- The lovely team behind The Quiet Pond compiled both Black YA & Middle Grade Books in their recommendations list.
- Kate @ Your Tita Kate shares 6 of her favorite backlist books by Black Authors.
- Afoma @ Reading Middle Grade compiled an incredible list of 65 Best Black YA Books for your TBR.
You might also be interested in: 10 Backlist YA Books I Want to Read in 2021
📌 Pin 10 YA Books By Black Authors I Recommend on Pinterest!
Did you read any of these books? Do you want to?
What are some of your favorite books by Black Authors? I’d love to hear your recommendations!
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Such a great list! A Song Below Water is on my TBR for next month, I like books with sister-bonds so much 💕
Ahh thank you so much! <3 I hope you'll enjoy it :D
Great picks, Marie! And thank you so much for the shout out 🤗
Thank you so much! And of course, you write the best lists! 🥰
I love the Opposite of Always and I am currently reading Cinderella is Dead. Thanks for the great list!
Ah I hope you’ll love it! Thank you so, so much! 🙂
The only one I’ve read is THUG. It looks like I have some reading to do. These sound brilliant!
Ahh thank you! They all are SO great, I hope you’ll get a chance to read them 😀
Reynolds’ books are so wonderful! I love Forest, Barrow, and Acevedo too. I have not read that book from Woodfolk, but When You Were Everything blew me away
AH that’s so good to hear! I can’t wait to read When You Were Everything, it sounds SO good.
Thank you so much, Sam! <3
A Song Below Water was on my tbr for last year, but as is the standard with me, I never got around to reading it, but I’m still super excited by the concept and I love that the book is set in Portland aka one of my bucket list destinations.
Ah I hope you’ll get a chance to read it soon, Lois,I’d be so curious to hear your thoughts! 🙂
ooo yes!! i love with the fire on high ❤️ i’m currently listening to happily ever afters by elise bryant on audiobook, and it’s SUCH a cute YA contemporary. i think you’d love it~!
ahhhh that’s so good to hear! I need to read that one soon, it sounds SO good 😀
I enjoyed THUG and I am a fan of Angie Thomas. Haven’t read the other authors though so thanks for the reccomendations.
You’re welcome, I hope you’ll love these! 😀
I LOVE With the Fire on High and Opposite of Always 😀
YAY! These are so good! 😀
Thank you for the recommendation! I really loved Opposite of Always! 😀
Ah thank you so much for reading! I’m glad you liked that one as well 😀
You’re welcome! ☺️
Great list, Marie! I’ve read and adored Cinderella is Dead and have quite a few others on my TBR already. A Song Below Water is a more immediate need since it’s been on my bookshelf, staring, since it released lol
Thank you so much, Kal! I hope you’ll love these books 😀
LOVE Elizabeth Acevedo and Angie Thomas and Cinderella is Dead is very high on my tbr! Love these recs 😊
Ahhh thank you so much!! <3
I loved WTFOH and OOA! And the cover art 😍
The cover art is SO STUNNING 😍 😍
I really need to go and finish Cinderella is dead, but so far it has been incredible! I already knew most of the books on your list but you’ve hyped me for them now, lol!
Ahh yay I hope you’ll get a chance to read all of these 😀
All of these sound absolutely marvelous!! I’ve read and really enjoyed Cinderella is Dead and The Hate U Give and I’m SO excited to get to With the Fire on High 🥰🥰 It’s like you said – pls let me have enough time to read all these amazing books!! 😝
Ahh I can’t wait for you to read with the fire on high, it’s so, so good! I hope you’ll love it 😀
Great list, Marie! I have quite a few of these on my TBR and I can’t wait to read them. I’m happy to see With the Fire on High on your list! I loved that one so much. <3
I hope you’ll love all of these books! 😀
Marie coming through with all of these stunning recs!!! Even more excited to read these now. Love that you recommended ones that I actually hadn’t heard that much about.
Ah I keep saying that I’ll read With The Fire On High and I actually just need to. And also Opposite of Always. Mood reader brain haha.
Lots of love to you xoxoxo
Ahh thank you! I hope you’ll love all of these whenever you can read them <3