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You Won’t Regret Checking Out Any of These 15 YA Books By Awesome Black Authors

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Reading is fun, but it’s even better when you make intentional efforts to read books by a diverse array of authors. As always, Black Young Adult novel authors have outdone themselves.

These are some great 2020 novels you can dig into.

15. Tochi Onyebuchi, Riot Baby

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From @tordotcompub Thanks to @cburch17 for these words on Tochi Onyebuchi’s (@treize64) Riot Baby. Visit @tridentbooks via their social media! 📚📚📚 #indiebookstore #bookshop #bookstagram #tochionyebuchi #riotbaby #riotbabybook #instabooks #tordotcompublishing #scifibooks

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Ella can see things from the future, but her brother ends up in jail despite his best efforts to protect her.

Though the novel discusses the past and future, it’s sent in Los Angeles in 1992.

14. Whitney D. Grandison, Love Hate Thing

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Happy 6 months to my debut A Love Hate Thing 🥳

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Set in ritzy Pacific Hills, Nandy and Tyson have wildly different lives.

This book puts them together and proves that enemies can learn to get along and grow to love one another.

13. Tonya Bolden, Saving Savannah

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Looking for a YA historical novel that will help you complete the Read Harder 2020 challenge? Pick up SAVING SAVANNAH by Tonya Bolden, about an upper class young Black woman who lives in Washington D.C. at the turn of the century. She feels suffocated by society's rules and expectations, until she meets a young man from the West Indies who expands her world view and inspires her to begin advocating for social justice. . . . #historicalfiction #savingsavannah #tonyabolden #ireadya #riotgrams

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In 1919, Savannah is a young lady who meets the suffragette and socialist movements.

This brings about challenges, but also a lot of positive change!

12. Celeste Harte, Conquest

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Look what finally came in! It's so amazing to hold me own work in my hands, go over the pages, realizing how real this is. I'm so grateful for everyone that has supported me in publishing this book, and I can't wait for you guys to see the sequel that's in the pipeworks now. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #dragonbones #conquest #dragons #fantasy #authors #writers #writersofinstagram #proudauthor #blackauthors #fire #lit

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Jashi Anyua is stuck between a possible arranged marriage and a choice to escape.

11. Alechia Dow, The Sound Of The Stars

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Look at these preorder goodies you can get…. eeee

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Creativity is now illegal in this sci-fi version of New York City, but Ellie Baker won’t let that stop her from

10. Patrice Caldwell, A Phoenix First Must Burn

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In my introduction to #APhoenixFirstMustBurn, my #BlackGirlMagic anthology, I ask the question “Where is my fantasy, my future? Why don’t Black people exist in speculative worlds?” It’s a question I’ve been asking since I was a little girl. In that time, a lot in publishing (& the world) has changed—just as a lot in publishing (& the world) has stayed the same. Lately, the question I most get asked is “how am I doing?” And the honest answer is that I’m fine. I grew up going to protests, hearing my dad and his friends talking about white supremacy and supporting Black owned businesses, for me this feels… normal. Which, isn’t okay because this isn’t normal. That said, there hasn’t been a time in this country when Black people weren’t taken advantage of or brutalized. Our very “origin story” in this nation is one of violence (as well as resistance and hope…not that they teach that in schools). What’s happening is that it’s reached a point where non-Black people can’t ignore it. I’ve been thinking a lot about the present—and also the future because I’m forever a dreamer. I want Black kids to know that they exist as more than a means to educate white people, I want Black creative to know our job isn’t to write Books About Race. Black art, in and of itself, is not only anti-racist but pro-Black—and it’s the pro-Blackness that I’m the most committed to and interested in. I’m so sick and tired of seeing non-Black people in my industry talking about how NOW they want to support Black creatives when like… how about you first support the Black authors & illustrators you publish. How about your truly invest in their career, how about you give them the chance to grow and thrive the same way you do our white counterparts. You don’t get praise for doing what you’re supposed to do. . . Sending so much love to my fellow Black people, please don’t suffer in silence, reach out to someone <3 And, thank you to @penguinclassroom for this #antiracist graphic I adore + to @wowiread for this excellent post + picture of my UK @hotkeybooksya paperback. . . . #yafantasy #blacklivesmatter #octaviabutler #authorsofinstagram #bookstagram #diversespines #bookish #bookpublishing

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What’s better than one story centering Black young women and girls?

Lots of stories by amazing women and nonbinary Black authors.

9. Kacen Callender, Felix Ever After 

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Finished copies of Felix Ever After!! 🥰😍

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Felix is looking for love while also navigating his identity as a transgender boy.

8. Dean Atta, The Black Flamingo

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Art by @jeezvanilla, design and lettering by @jstempellobell, photo by @sammutthomas

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Drag becomes a community of solace for a young multiracial gay teen.

7. Leah Johnson, You Should See Me In a Crown

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‪My heart is heavy today. I write books about black kids and black joy, but the world they live in—the world WE live in—is one in which black lives are constantly policed. At risk. Threatened. We can and should do better by them. By each other. So here’s my small contribution to the movement today: ‪I’m hosting a flash donation-based giveaway. ⁣ ⁣ If you like this post AND donate any amount to Minnesota Freedom Fund (@mnfreedomfund) or Reclaim the Block (@reclaimtheblock)—you must submit your donation receipt via the link in my bio—in the next 48 hours, I’ll be selecting three people who’ve given to receive signed copies of YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN‬.⁣ ⁣ ‪This fight takes all of us, all the time. Give what you can today, and step up always. Let’s go, y’all. ✊🏾‬

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This pure rom-com deals with Liz, who needs to become her school’s prom queen so she can get a scholarship after her original plan didn’t pan out.

6. Elizabeth Acevedo, Clap When You Land

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It turns out book clubs are loving the kid and I’ve got exciting news! I’ve partnered with @UrbanOutfitters to giveaway copies of With the Fire On High and my newest release, Clap When You Land! Head to @UrbanOutfittersHome for more information on how to enter #UOBookClub

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The brilliant Elizabeth Acevedo does it again, only this time she plays with two narratives set in the Dominican Republic and New York City.

5. Jason Reynolds, Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You 

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What would be a book birthday without all the independent book stores showing the ❤️. Thank you to all the stores posting about #StampedBook. Pick it up at your local bookstore! Repost from @napabookmine • Happy #NewReleaseTuesday! Today we want to share one of the of the books we're *most* excited about this spring: STAMPED: RACISM, ANTIRACISM, AND YOU by @jasonreynolds83. * Reynolds’ new book is a "remix" of @ibramxk's epic 2016 novel STAMPED FROM THE BEGINNING in which Kendi chronicles the entire story of anti-Black racist ideas and their staggering power over the course of American history. Kendi's book is incredibly important, but a bit intimidating in scope, which is why we find Reynolds' "remix" to be so relevant. * Written with young readers in mind, STAMPED: RACISM, ANTIRACISM, AND YOU sheds light on the racist ideas still affecting our culture today and provides tools on how to identify and deal with them to build a better future. We think this book should be essential reading for both young AND adult readers alike! Pick up your copy at any Bookmine location starting today. Happy Reading!

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If you’ve wondered what to do about racism in your life and community, this book will give you some tools you can use to confront it.

It’s perfect for teens and parents!

4. Sherri L. Smith, The Blossom and the Firefly 

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A surprise bouquet if blossoms for #theblossomandthefirefly! Aren’t they gorgeous together?

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Hana and Taro both face frightening circumstances in 1945, and then they meet.

3. Justina Ireland, Deathless Divide

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“See, the problem in this world ain’t sinners, or even the dead. It is men who will step on anyone who stands in the way of their pursuit of power.” – Justina Ireland ✧ Dread Nation by Justina Ireland was one of my favourite reads last year for so many reasons, so I’m very excited to jump into Deathless Divide and continue Jane’s story. . . . . . . . . #bookstagram #booknerdigans #booknerd #aussiereaders #instabooks #bibliophile #bookworm #youngadultbooks #yabooks #readersofinstagram #booklife #booklove #readmore #yalit #aussiereaders #justinaireland #dreadnation #deathlessdivide

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If you loved Dread Nation, you’ll love Ireland’s continued exploration of Jane’s journey.

2. Joel Christian Gill, Fights: One Boy’s Triumph Over Violence 

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Alternate cover of Fights (@onipress 1/21/2020) the apartment complex was central to my life growing up. It was terrible& incredible. Just like the Rob Bass song Joy&Pain. The icons show the progressions of my fights. #graphicnovels #comics #memior #process #survivor

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A young boy discusses the reasons behind why he fights and learns and grows along the way.

1. Zetta Elliott, Say Her Name

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Join us at 7pm tonight at @midtownscholar in Harrisburg! Excited to be talking about the power of poetry with @thejuliamallory

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The African American Policy Forum curated 49 works of poetry that discuss social injustices, police brutality, and the struggle for equality.

There are many more brilliant books where this came from. Are there any additional books you would recommend? Give them a shoutout!