It’s Tuesday, meaning it’s time for a Read to Resist post, this month featuring Black History Month! For my list this month, I’m going to focus on own voices authors. Specifically, these books also discuss issues surrounding the Black community. While they may not be the central focus of the books, the discussion is still there.
The YA world is still criticized for not being diverse, as is the publishing world. Last year, reports showed that authors of color only make up 7% of children’s book publishing. 7%! That’s a minuscule number that desperately needs changing.
These books all made a splash in the YA world, and there’s hope that diversity and inclusion is on the rise. The numbers show that it is. Supporting these authors and other authors of color will help to keep these numbers increasing. Show publishers that we need to support these stories.
Black History Month Book Recs
Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson
This book recently won the Newbery Medal; I just got it from the library! It’s one of my February books for the Read Harder challenge. It follows the story of Jade, who gets the chance to attend a mostly white, private school, as she struggles to fit in.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Angie Thomas made a huge splash with this book, and her latest just came out last week! I picked up On the Come Up last week, but haven’t gotten a chance to read it yet. The Hate U Give follows the story of Starr Carter (see my playlist here!), a girl struggling to find her voice after watching one of her friends get murdered by the police.
Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
This is Tiffany D. Jackson’s second book, and she’s a powerful voice for the YA community. Claudia seems to be the only who notices that Monday has disappeared. However, no one remembers when they last saw her, either. Jackson aptly explores what happens to black girls that fall through the cracks of the system.
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
Okay, okay, I haven’t actually read this one yet, but I just downloaded the audiobook! Yay! I’m sure it’s amazing. Specifically told in a verse format, Reynolds examines one moment in a boy’s life. Whether or not he’s going to kill the man who murdered his brother.
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
I read this book last year. Since then, it’s definitely stayed in the back of my mind. Justyce goes to an elite private school, but that doesn’t stop the cop from pulling him over. Now, Justyce struggles with how to react, so he writes letters to Martin Luther King, Jr. Perfect addition for Black History Month!