It is incredibly important, now more than ever, to be uplifting and celebrating black voices. Though I can not speak personally for the representation in these novels, as I am a white reader, I can confirm that all of these books were written by black authors. Each delivers a realistic and engaging perspective of issues affecting the black community which I thoroughly enjoyed reading and felt I learnt a great amount from. All book descriptions are taken from Goodreads, as I don’t want to do a disservice in miscommunicating the messages of any of these books.
The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas
tw: racism, police brutality, grief
‘Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.
Soon afterward, his death became a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.’
I would also recommend Thomas’ companion book ‘On the Come Up’, which is set in the same town about a year after the events of ‘The Hate U Give’ and follows Bri, who wants to become a famous rapper.
The Colour Purple, by Alice Walker
tw: sexual assault, racism, homophobia
‘Set in the deep American South between the wars, it is the tale of Celie, a young black girl born into poverty and segregation. Assaulted repeatedly by the man she calls 'father', she has two children taken away from her, is separated from her beloved sister Nettie and is trapped into an ugly marriage. But then she meets the glamorous Shug Avery, singer and magic-maker - a woman who has taken charge of her own destiny. Gradually, Celie discovers the power and joy of her own spirit, freeing her from her past and reuniting her with those she loves.’
The Sun is Also a Star, by Nicola Yoon
tw: racism, deportation
‘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 who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.
Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.’
Clap When You Land, by Elizabeth Acevedo
tw: racism, sexual assault, grief
‘Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people… In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal’s office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash. Separated by distance—and Papi’s secrets—the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered.’
I absolutely adore Elizabeth Acevedo, and also recommend her other two novels; ‘With the Fire on High’, which is about a teen mum trying to to further her education as a chef whilst also supporting her child, and ‘The Poet X’, which is about a girl who learns to combine her love of hip-hop and poetry.
Monday’s Not Coming, by Tiffany D. Jackson
tw: racism, sexual assault, domestic abuse
‘Monday Charles is missing, and only Claudia seems to notice. Claudia and Monday have always been inseparable—more sisters than friends. So when Monday doesn’t turn up for the first day of school, Claudia’s worried. When she doesn’t show for the second day, or second week, Claudia knows that something is wrong. Monday wouldn’t just leave her to endure tests and bullies alone. Not after last year’s rumors and not with her grades on the line. Now Claudia needs her best—and only—friend more than ever. But Monday’s mother refuses to give Claudia a straight answer, and Monday’s sister April is even less help. As Claudia digs deeper into her friend’s disappearance, she discovers that no one seems to remember the last time they saw Monday. How can a teenage girl just vanish without anyone noticing that she’s gone?’
‘Monday’s Not Coming’ was an intensely devastating read which, of all of the books on the list, personally has stuck with me the most. All in all, these books taught me so much and if you are looking to educate yourself on the Black Lives Matter movement I can not recommend them enough.