Black History Month

February is Black History Month, a time dedicated to honoring the history, achievements, and contributions of Black people. Enjoy these recently published fiction and nonfiction titles featuring Black achievement, history, biographies, Black authors and characters.

Updated February 5, 2026
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The Black history book
Blyden, Nemata Amelia
Paper Book
Learn about the most important milestones in Black history in The Black History Book. Part of the fascinating Big Ideas series, this book tackles tricky topics and themes in a simple and easy to follow format. Learn about Black History in this overview guide to the subject,...
Harlem Rhapsody
Murray, Victoria Christopher.
Ebook
Named a Best Book of the Year by NPR! "A gripping narrative, don't miss this historical fiction about the woman who kicked off the Harlem Renaissance."--People Magazine "A page turner and history lesson at once, Harlem Rhapsody reminds us that our...
Jubilee : recipes from two centuries of African American cooking
Tipton-Martin, Toni
Paper Book
"A celebration of African American cuisine right now, in all of its abundance and variety."-Tejal Rao, The New York Times JAMES BEARD AWARD WINNER . IACP AWARD WINNER . IACP BOOK OF THE YEAR TONI TIPTON-MARTIN NAMED THE 2021 JULIA CHILD AWARD RECIPIENT AND...
The swans of Harlem : five Black ballerinas, a legacy of sisterhood, and their reclamation of a groundbreaking history
Valby, Karen
Ebook
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...
Losing Sight
Richardson, Tati
Paper Book
What if a mysterious pair of glasses helped you to see life--and love--clearly? Sports reporter Tanika "Nikki" Ryan is at the top of her game until she isn't. Squinting at the teleprompter and flubbing lines, she loses her coveted Thursday Night football spot to a younger, less...
Black diamond kings
Smith, Charles R., Jr.
Ebook
"Each spread is a celebration of the skill and power displayed on the field...but the book takes care to balance that joy with an acknowledgement of the larger societal context in which the men played and the discrimination they faced." -Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books...
Black-owned : the revolutionary life of the Black bookstore
Adams, Char
Paper Book
**L.A. Times Book Prize Finalist** **An Indies Choice Book Awards Shortlister** **A November LibraryReads Pick** Longtime NBC News reporter Char Adams writes a deeply compelling and rigorously reported history of Black political movements told through the lens of Black...
Ida B. Wells : journalist, advocate & crusader for justice
Dunbar, Erica Armstrong
Ebook
Meet journalist and activist Ida B. Wells in this second vibrant middle grade biography in the Rise. Risk. Remember. Incredible Stories series spotlighting Black women who left their mark on history from acclaimed and New York Times bestselling author Erica Armstrong Dunbar and Candace...
The kiss countdown
Easton, Etta
Paper Book
A struggling event planner and a sinfully hot astronaut must decide if their fake relationship is worth a shot at happily-ever-after, in this starry debut. Risk-averse event planner Amerie Price is jobless, newly single, and about to lose her apartment. With no choice but to...
I'm that girl : living the power of my dreams
Chiles, Jordan
Paper Book
An Instant New York Times Bestseller With a Foreword by Simone Biles The sensational two-time Olympian Jordan Chiles's heartfelt, inspiring memoir chronicling her unlikely path to the podium--including the unprecedented challenges, the joy of winning, the crushing pain of defeat,...
The afterlife of Malcolm X : an outcast turned icon's enduring impact on America
Whitaker, Mark
Ebook
A New York Public Library and Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2025 Published to coincide with the hundredth anniversary of his birth, the first major study of Malcolm X's influence in the sixty years since his assassination, exploring his enduring impact on culture,...
Mae Jemison
Williams, Lesley
Ebook
Before the ships : the birth of Black excellence
Oso, Maisha
Paper Book
Before the Ships is a powerful and poetic celebration of the early roots of Black history. The great achievements and accomplishments across Africa prior to the Transatlantic slave trade are told through melodious text and evocative illustrations, that culminate into the strength and...
Sisters in arms : a novel of the daring Black women who served during World War II
Alderson, Kaia
Paper Book
"Sisters in Arms is heartwarming but fierce, a novel brimming with camaraderie and fire, starring women you'd love to make your friends. Prickly, musical Grace and bubbly, privileged Eliza may not make the most natural allies, but it's fight or die when they're thrown together in...
Praisesong for the kitchen ghosts : stories and recipes from five generations of Black country cooks
Wilkinson, Crystal
Paper Book
NATIONAL BESTSELLER * A lyrical culinary journey that explores the hidden legacy of Black Appalachians, through powerful storytelling alongside nearly forty comforting recipes, from the former poet laureate of Kentucky."With Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts...
The sable cloak
Grant, Gail Milissa
Paper Book
In this atmospheric novel set in the Jim Crow South, a powerful Black family fights to protect their empire--an "unforgettable must-read" for readers of Tayari Jones (Victoria Christopher Murray, New York Times bestselling author). Jordan Sable, a prosperous...
The American queen : a novel
Miller, Vanessa
Paper Book
A WOMAN EVOLVE BOOK CLUB PICK | A NORTH CAROLINA READS PICK | A Christy Award WINNER | A 2024 American Fiction Award WINNER | A 2025 Audie Awards WINNER | Best Historical Fiction of 2024 (She Reads) | FEATURED IN GMA, WASHINGTON POST, AND ESSENCE | There is only one known queen who truly ruled a...
Seven days in June : a novel
Williams, Tia
Paper Book
One of TIME's 50 Best Romances to Read Right Now   "Sumptuous writing" - Sarah Jessica Parker Two writers get a second chance at love in this romantic, sexy-as-hell New York Times bestselling novel.
Sparks fly
Jamal, Zakiya N.
Paper Book
When Stella Renee Johnson's roommate invites her to a sex club party but bails at the last minute, Stella decides to use the opportunity to finally cash in her V-card. But just when things are heating up between Stella and a sexy stranger, they realize they don't have protection and Stella, taking...
Tempest
Ibura, K.
Paper Book
In this lyrical and epic contemporary novel with magical fantasy elements, a girl must learn to master her powers over the wind before a sinister secret organization finds her. Perfect for fans of Legendborn,  A Song Below Water, and Vespertine. After Veronique's...
The love lyric
Forest, Kristina
Paper Book
An R&B singer and a corporate executive find love that hits the right notes in this USA Today bestselling romance by Kristina Forest. Iris Greene used to be a woman with a plan. But all of that changed after she met the love of her life at twenty-five, got pregnant and...
The dark maestro : a novel
Slocumb, Brendan
Ebook
His cello made him famous. His father made him a target. "In this perfectly crafted thriller, Slocumb acts as the master conductor, bringing together a twisty plot and gorgeously wrought characters." --The Boston Globe Curtis Wilson is a cello prodigy,...
The devil three times : a novel
Fayne, Rickey
Paper Book
Finalist for the PEN Open Book Award Shortlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize Finalist for the Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction "A debut of enormous ambition" spanning eight generations of a Black family in...
Can't get enough
Ryan, Kennedy
Paper Book
"Can't Get Enough balances brutal emotion, whip-smart humor, and delicious spice. Moving, romantic, and thrumming with life, this is Ryan's best work yet." ―Talia Hibbert Hendrix Barry lives a fabulous life. She has phenomenal friends,...
Split the sky
Arnold, Marie
Paper Book
A Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book! In this haunting story about family, legacy, and sacrifice, a young Black girl living in a Texas sundown town must find the courage to stand up for what's right even when it means facing impossible choices--perfect for fans of...
Once Upon a Time in Dollywood
Jordan, Ashley
Paper Book
Eve Ambroise may be a rising star playwright, but her personal life is falling part. Desperate for a fresh start, she breaks up with her fiance, cuts off her parents, and heads to the Tennessee mountains. But keeping up the lie that she's just on a writing retreat becomes near impossible when faced...
Family feast!
Weatherford, Carole Boston
Paper Book
From the award-winning author and illustrator of Standing in the Need of Prayer comes a joyous picture book about an intergenerational Black family cooking a delicious feast and appreciating their quality time together. Aunts, uncles, cousins, all pitch in. ...
The game is afoot
Bryant, Elise
Paper Book
ONE OF THE WASHINGTON POST'S 10 BEST MYSTERY NOVELS OF 2025 A clever and hilarious new mystery about a mother who thinks she has to do it all--even solve a murder--from the author of It's Elementary After rage quitting her job, Mavis finally has time to...

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