Celebrate Black History Month - for Teens!

Updated January 26, 2026
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Genesis begins again
Williams, Alicia, 1970- author.
Paper Book
A Newbery Honor Book Winner of the Correta Scott King - John Steptoe for New Talent Author Award A Morris Award Finalist An NPR Favorite Book of 2019 A School Library Journal Best Middle Grade Book of 2019 A Kirkus Reviews...
The hate u give
Thomas, Angie
Paper Book
8 starred reviews · Goodreads Choice Awards Best of the Best · William C. Morris Award Winner · National Book Award Longlist · Printz Honor Book · Coretta Scott King Honor Book · #1 New York Times Bestseller! "Absolutely riveting!" --Jason Reynolds ...
Black was the ink
Coles, Michelle
Paper Book
Through the help of a ghostly ancestor, sixteen-year-old Malcolm is sent on a journey through Reconstruction-era America to find his place in modern-day Black progress. Malcolm Williams hasn't been okay for a while. He's angry and despondent and feels like nothing good ever happens...
Fire from the rock
Draper, Sharon M. (Sharon Mills)
Paper Book
Set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement, a young woman finds herself at the center of a firestorm. "This historical fiction novel is a must-have. It keeps the reader engaged with vivid depictions of a time that most young people can only imagine."--Voice of Youth...
More uncelebrated narratives from black history
Gill, Joel Christian, artist
Paper Book
Like all legends, people fade away, but not before leaving an incredible legacy. Strange Fruit, Volume II: More Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History is a collection of stories from early African American history that represent the oddity of success in the face of great...
Victory. Stand! raising my fist for justice
Smith, Tommie, 1944- author.
Paper Book
On October 16, 1968, during the medal ceremony at the Mexico City Olympics, Tommie Smith, the gold medal winner in the 200-meter sprint, and John Carlos, the bronze medal winner, stood on the podium in black socks and raised their black-gloved fists to protest racial injustice inflicted upon...
Inheritance a visual poem
Acevedo, Elizabeth
Paper Book
They tell me to "fix" my hair. And by fix, they mean straighten, they mean whiten; but how do you fix this shipwrecked history of hair? In her most famous spoken-word poem, author of the Pura Belpré-winning novel-in-verse The Poet X Elizabeth Acevedo embraces all the...
And we rise the Civil Rights Movement in poems
Martin, Erica (Halcyenda Erica)
Paper Book
*"A powerful, necessary book." SLJ, starred review A powerful, impactful, eye-opening journey that explores through the Civil Rights Movement in 1950s-1960s America in spare and evocative verse, with historical photos interspersed throughout. In stunning verse...
Overground railroad the Green book and the roots of black travel in America
Taylor, Candacy A.
Paper Book
Overground Railroad chronicles the history of the Green Book, which was published from 1936 to 1966 and was the "Black travel guide to America." For years, it was dangerous for African Americans to travel in the United States. Because of segregation, Black travelers couldn't eat,...
The Davenports
Marquis, Krystal
Paper Book
*Instant New York Times Bestseller* The Davenports delivers a totally escapist, swoon-worthy romance while offering a glimpse into a period of African American history often overlooked. "The perfect read for fans of escapist historical fiction." --NBC's TODAY...
Black history matters
Walker, Robin, 1967- author.
Paper Book
An important and hard-hitting chronicle of Black history, written by a celebrated Black historian. Winner of the 2020 School & Library Association prize for readers aged 13-16 and the 2020 ALCS Educational Writers' Award. ** Fully revised and updated for the new paperback edition....
The Black American experience
Nardo, Don, 1947- author.
Paper Book
Black Americans do not fit neatly into one box. They live in rural communities and urban cityscapes. Many identify as Democrats, but others lean Republican. Many Black Americans are descended from slaves, but others have immigrant backgrounds. The Black American Experience examines stories of coming...
Black history for every day of the year
Olusoga, David
Did you know that Aretha Franklin was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? Or that the first accounts of a Black samurai in Japan date back almost 500 years ago? Written by historian and broadcaster David Olusoga and his siblings, professor Yinka Olusoga and artist...
The swans of Harlem five Black ballerinas, a legacy of sisterhood, and their reclamation of a groundbreaking history
Valby, Karen
Paper Book
Meet five amazing Black ballerinas from The Dance Theater of Harlem, including some of the founding members. They broke barriers and made history in the world of classical dance, at a time when racism shut out Black dancers from major dance companies. A young adult adaptation of...
The great misfortune of Stella Sedgwick
Isabelle, S.
Paper Book
Bridgerton meets The Davenports in this wildly entertaining standalone romance, following a young Black woman trying to balance her independence with her future in 1860s London's high society. "Stella Sedgwick will steal your heart while tickling your funny...
Poemhood: our black revival history, folklore & the black experience: a young adult poetry anthology
McBride, Amber
Paper Book
"A rich, thoughtful anthology exploring centuries of Black poetry." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "This deep and complex assemblage of Black poetry culminates in a joyful, painful, and emotionally rich experience." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) "An eclectic mix of Black...
Kin rooted in hope
Weatherford, Carole Boston
Paper Book
A Coretta Scott King Honor Book A Boston Globe-Horn Book Poetry Award Winner An "imaginative and moving" (The Horn Book, starred review) portrait of a Black family tree shaped by enslavement and freedom, rendered in searing poems by ALSC Children's...

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