Celebrate Black History Month With These YA Books

Lushly imagined and deeply affecting, I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me is an unputdownable thriller set in the cutthroat world of Parisian ballet. Debut author Jamison Shea has crafted a decadent dark fantasy perfect for fans of Black Swan.

Steeped in West African mythology, Children of Blood and Bone is riddled with the kind of tangible stakes you can’t look away from. Populated by dynamic characters, propulsive in plot and inventive in magic, this is the kind of book that asks a lot of important questions alongside a breakneck narrative.

A timely and necessary YA novel that wrestles with themes of systemic racism and racial bias in the modern South, Wander in the Dark also maintains all the hallmarks of a page-turning thriller.

A high-stakes heist with a dynamic cast, Thieves Gambit packs layers of intrigue with a slow-burn romance, a globetrotting adventure and mind-bending puzzles. This is a certified page-turner that’s got so many unputdownable qualities.

Travel back to Chicago in 1910 with this swoony read that looks back on an often-overlooked period of African American history. With four determined and passionate young Black women taking charge of their lives (and hearts), The Davenports is inspired by the real-life story of C.R. Patterson and his family. Meet Olivia, Helen, Amy-Rose, and Ruby as their intertwined love lives take center stage in this delightful debut. 

What happens when ex-best friends sign up for the same outdoor survival course? Romance, of course. Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute is a fresh, clever, rom-com about igniting a spark with the person who’s been in front of you all along. Talia Hibbert crosses over into the YA space with this swoony adventure that will make you laugh out loud as Bradley and Celine muddle through their rocky past and terrain.  

Southern Black Girl Magic meets Arthurian Legend in this unputdownable contemporary fantasy from newcomer Tracy Deonn. Rife with edge-of-your-seat suspense, lush world-building and intricate plot details, Legendborn also adeptly weaves in important commentary on the history of racism in the American South and the effects of that trauma and grief today. Simply put: This book is not to be missed. Plus, the stunning sequel, Bloodmarked, is already out and adds to this world in spectacular ways that will leave your head spinning!

Snowstorms in Atlanta are rare, but not as rare as the masterful storytelling prowess of authors Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon. This enchanting novel featuring six interconnected stories of young Black love is sure to warm readers’ hearts as they stay cozy this winter. 

Get ready to sleep with your lights on because Tiffany D. Jackson has returned with another horror novel that will make shivers rip down readers’ spines. Tackling America’s history and legacy of racism through a Georgian high school’s first integrated prom, The Weight of Blood will chill anyone reading Maddy’s story and as they learn about the bullying video that starts it all.

Whether you were an adult, a child or just a thought, the 1991 beating of Rodney King by the LAPD was undoubtedly one of the earliest displays of racial injustice to be televised since the civil rights movement. With honesty and heart, this indelible coming-of-age story explores issues of race, class and violence as seen through the eyes of a teenage girl within a city on fire. Christina Hammonds Reed’s debut novel The Black Kids is perfect for fans of The Hate U Give and Dear Martin

For fans of The Black Kids, We Deserve Monuments is an astounding YA debut about intergenerational trauma, first love, and how far the past can bury the truth. With a riveting mystery that will leave you breathless to the very end, Jas Hammonds will transport you to this small southern town and all its stark truths.

What happens when a girl who hates all things romance catches the eye of a self-professed love expert? They fall in love, of course. Fans of Nicola Yoon will swoon over this charming debut about what happens when you let first love take hold.

Perfect for fans of One of Us Is Lying, Nick Brooks’s Promise Boys will keep readers on the edge of their seats. When three students at Urban Promise Prep School are accused of murdering their principal, they must clear their names. Maintaining their innocence, they band together to try to track down the real killer before they’re arrested. Ominous, captivating, and exhilarating, this book will leave readers contemplating its story long after they’ve finished it. If you’re looking for an excellent audiobook to listen to, this one comes with a full cast, bringing the story to life and straight to your ears.  

An Ethiopian inspired Jane Eyre retelling, Within These Wicked Walls is simultaneously horrifying and romantic with a dash of witchcraft. When Andromeda, an exorcist hired to cleanse households of the Evil Eye, is thrown out by her mentor before earning her license, she must find a well-connected individual to vouch for her abilities. Eccentric Magnus Rochester becomes that individual, and she takes the job despite his demands. Action-packed and creepy, Within These Wicked Walls is a must-read for anyone wanting a spooky, swoony read.  

From the author of Cinderella Is Dead comes a contemporary fantasy about Briseis, a girl able to take tiny seeds and grow them into plants with rich blooms. When Bri inherits her aunt’s dilapidated estate, she hopes that being surrounded by plants and flowers, she’ll be able to learn to control her gift. Once there, though, she finds that the inheritance is much more sinister than she ever expected. Enchanting and mysterious, This Poison Heart brings elements of Greek mythology into this modern tale and will captivate readers.