Everyone deserves a chance to see themselves reflected in the stories they read. As the number of YA novels by Black authors increases, so too does the opportunity for Black teens to read about experiences relevant to them and their interests and their tastes.
This list is by no means exhaustive. It includes a wide range of genres, including graphic novel, realistic fiction, mystery, thriller and horror, romance, sci-fi/fantasy and even nonfiction.
Some authors are award-winning veterans, like Jason Reynolds and Ibi Aanu Zoboi., opens a new window Some are hot new voices, like Chanelle Desamours, opens a new window and Trisha Tobias, opens a new window. Scroll to the bottom of this blog for additional authors to explore.
Author: Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Genre: Thriller
Recent book: Where Sleeping Girls Lie
Author: Channelle Desamours
Genre: Thriller, supernatural
Recent book: Needy Little Things
Author: Shawneâe Gibbs
Genre: Graphic novel
Recent book: Ghost Roast
Author: Idris Goodwin
Genre: Realistic fiction, novels in verse
Recent book: King of the Neuro Verse
Author: Trisha Tobias
Genre: Horror
Recent book: Honeysuckle and Bone
Author: Khadijah VanBrakle
Genre: Realistic fiction
Recent book: My Perfect Family
Author: Elizabeth Acevedo
Genre: Poetry, nonfiction
Recent book: Inheritance
Author: Tomi Adeyemi
Genre: Fantasy
Recent book: Children of Virtue and Vengeance
Author: Dean Atta
Genre: Realistic fiction, novels in verse
Recent book: I Can't Even Think Straight
Author: Mahogany L. Browne
Genre: Realistic fiction
Recent book: A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe
Author: Elisa Bryant
Genre:Realistic fiction, romance
Recent book: Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling
Author: Brandy Colbert
Genre: Realistic fiction
Recent book: The Blackwoods
Author: Tiffany D. Jackson
Genre: Science fiction
Recent book: Storm
Author: Kim Johnson
Genre: Historical fiction, thriller
Recent book: The Color of a Lie
Author: Kekla Magoon
Genre: Realistic fiction
Recent book: Prom Babies
Author: L.L. McKinney
Genre: Historical fiction, romance
Recent book: Escaping Mr. Rochester
Author: Brittney Morris
Genre: Realistic fiction, mystery
Recent book: The Jump
Authors: Maika Moulite
Genre: Horror
Recent book: The Summer I Ate the Rich
Author: Jason Reynolds
Genre: Realistic fiction, romance
Recent book: Twenty-four Seconds From Now
Author: Ilyasah Shabazz
Genre: Historical fiction
Recent book: The Awakening of Malcolm X
Author: Nic Stone
Genre: Realistic fiction
Recent book: Dear Manny
Author: Mildred D. Taylor
Genre: Historical fiction
Recent book: All the Days Past, All the Days to Come
Author: Julian Winters
Genre: Realistic fiction, romance
Recent book: Prince of the Palisades
Author: Ibi Zoboi
Genre: Fantasy
Recent book: (S)kin
Additional authors:
- Kwame Alexander
- Rena Barron
- Roseanne A. Brown
- Kacen Callender
- Dhonielle Clayton
- Somaiya Daud
- Tanita S. Davis
- Tracy Deonn
- Akwaeke Emezi
- Sharon G. Flake
- Kristina Forest
- Namina Forna
- Lamar Giles
- Nikki Grimes
- Pamela N. Harris
- Candice Iloh
- Justina Ireland
- Alaya Dawn Johnson
- Angela Johnson
- Leah Johnson
- Candice Montgomery
- Bethany C. Morrow
- Ben Philippe
- Justin A. Reynolds
- Francina Simone
- Liara Tamani
- Angie Thomas
- Renée Watson
- Rita Williams-Garcia
- Ashley Woodfolk
- Jacqueline Woodson
- Nicola Yoon
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