Teen Afrofuturism & African Inspired Fantasy

Afrofuturism is a subgenre of sci-fi rooted in African cultures, myth, folklore, and the Black experience. The term is often broadened to include similarly inspired fantasy, which we have also included in this list.

Updated February 3, 2026
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Okoye to the people
Zoboi, Ibi Aanu
Paper Book
Ibi Zoboi, a National Book Award Finalist and New York Times best-selling author, joins Marvel Universe storytelling with this heartfelt novel that takes Okoye to America for the very first time. Before she became a multifaceted warrior and the confident leader of the Dora...
Bitter
Emezi, Akwaeke
Paper Book
From National Book Award finalist Akwaeke Emezi comes a companion novel to the critically acclaimed PET that explores both the importance and cost of social revolution--and how youth lead the way. After a childhood in foster care, Bitter is thrilled to have been chosen to attend...
Redemptor
Ifueko, Jordan
Paper Book
"Immersive and gorgeously written" (Buzzfeed), Jordan Ifueko's Redemptor is the highly anticipated sequel to Raybearer, the instant New York Times bestselling fantasy sensation that set the world on fire. For the first time, an Empress Redemptor...
Shuri : a Black Panther novel
Stone, Nic
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling author Nic Stone comes an all-new upper middle grade series based on one of the Marvel Universe's break-out characters--Shuri, from Black Panther!An original, upper-middle-grade series starring the break-out character from the Black Panther comics and films: T...
The gilded ones
Forna, Namina
Paper Book
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY TEEN VOGUE   "A dark feminist tale spun with blood and gold. Must read!" -Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times bestselling author...
Raybearer
Ifueko, Jordan
Paper Book
Fans of Sabaa Tahir and Tomi Adeyemi won't want to miss Raybearer, an instant New York Times bestselling fantasy from breakout YA sensation Jordan Ifueko! Named one of the best books of the year by People magazine, Buzzfeed, New York Public...

Staff Pick & 2024 High School Nutmeg Nominee

Rebel sisters
Onyebuchi, Tochi
Paper Book
In the epic, action-packed sequel to the "brilliant" (Booklist, starred review) novel War Girls, the battles are over, but the fight for justice has just begun. It's been five years since the Biafran War ended. Ify is now nineteen and living where she's always...
Tristan Strong punches a hole in the sky
Mbalia, Kwame
Paper Book
Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents Kwame Mbalia's epic fantasy, a middle grade American Gods set in a richly-imagined world populated with African American folk heroes and West African gods. *"Mbalia expertly weaves a meaningful portrayal of family and community...
Ikenga
Okorafor, Nnedi
Paper Book
Nnedi Okorafor's acclaimed first novel for middle grade readers introduces a boy who can access super powers with the help of the magical Ikenga. Nnamdi's father was a good chief of police, perhaps the best Kalaria had ever had. He was determined to root out the criminals that...
A river of royal blood
Joy, Amanda
Paper Book
An enthralling debut perfect for fans of Children of Blood and Bone set in an ancient North African-inspired fantasy world where two sisters must fight to the death to win the crown. Sixteen-year-old Eva is a princess, born with the magick of blood and marrow--a dark and...
Children of virtue and vengeance
Adeyemi, Tomi
Paper Book
Discover the groundbreaking series that became a global sensation―over 2 million books sold! An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller * A GOOD MORNING AMERICA Book Club Pick "Adeyemi has sparked magic once again." --The New York Times
War girls
Onyebuchi, Tochi
Paper Book
Two sisters are torn apart by war and must fight their way back to each other in a futuristic, Black Panther-inspired Nigeria. The year is 2172. Climate change and nuclear disasters have rendered much of earth unlivable. Only the lucky ones have escaped to space colonies in the...
Kingdom of souls
Barron, Rena
Paper Book
A girl with no gifts must bargain for the power to fight her own mother's dark schemes--even if the price is her life. Crackling with dark magic, unspeakable betrayal, and daring twists you won't see coming, this explosive YA fantasy debut is a can't-miss, high-stakes
Pet
Emezi, Akwaeke
Paper Book
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST * STONEWALL BOOK AWARD WINNER * ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE'S 100 BEST YA BOOKS OF ALL TIME NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR by The New York Times * Time * Buzzfeed * NPR * New York Public Library * Publishers Weekly * School...
Black Panther : the young prince
Smith, Ronald L.
Paper Book
Black Panther. Ruler of Wakanda. Avenger. This is his destiny. But right now, he's simply T'Challa - the young prince. Life is comfortable for twelve-year-old T'Challa in his home of Wakanda, an isolated, technologically advanced African nation. When he's not learning how to rule a kingdom from his...
Black Panther & the crew : we are the streets
Coates, Ta-Nehisi
Paper Book
Black Panther, Storm, Luke Cage, Misty Knight and Manifold band together to take on a dangerous wave of street-level threats in a new series by co-writers Ta-Nehisi Coates (New York Times best-selling author of Between the World and Me and Marvel's Black Panther) and Yona Harvey (Black Panther:...
Kindred : a graphic novel adaptation
Duffy, Damian
Paper Book
Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller Octavia E. Butler's bestselling literary science-fiction masterpiece, Kindred, now in graphic novel format. More than 35 years after its release, Kindred continues to draw in new readers with its deep exploration of the violence and...
Black Panther. Book 1A nation under our feet
Coates, Ta-Nehisi
Paper Book
A new era begins for the Black Panther! MacArthur Genius and National Book Award-winning writer Ta-Nehisi Coates (Between the World and Me) takes the helm, confronting T'Challa with a dramatic upheaval in Wakanda that will make leading the African nation tougher than ever before. When a superhuman...
Black Panther : the complete collection. Volume 1
Priest, Christopher J.
Paper Book
Black Panther reinvented as a sharp and witty political satire? Believe it! T'Challa is the man with the plan, as Christopher Priest puts the emphasis on the Wakandan king's reputation as the ultimate statesman, as seen through the eyes of the U.S. government's Everett K. Ross. As the Panther...

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