Black History Month for Teens

A selection of books for teens by Black Canadian authors.

Updated January 29, 2024
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Blood like magic
Sambury, Liselle
"High stakes, big heart, and lots of Black Girl Magic...unputdownable." --Aiden Thomas, New York Timesbestselling author of Cemetery Boys A rich, dark urban fantasy debut following a teen witch who is given a horrifying task: sacrificing her first love to save...
Blood scion
Falaye, Deborah
"Equal parts soaring fantasy, heart-pounding action, and bloody social commentary, Blood Scion is a triumph of a book." --Roseanne A. Brown, New York Times bestselling author of A Song of Wraiths and Ruin  This is what they deserve. They wanted me to be a monster....
The bones of ruin
Raughley, Sarah
An African tightrope walker who can't die gets embroiled in a secret society's deadly gladiatorial tournament in this "bloodily spectacular" (Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights) historical fantasy set in an alternate 1880s London, perfect for...
Boys and girls screaming
Carter, Kern
When Ever's father passes away suddenly, she is devastated. Not long after that, her mom has a stroke and Ever's anguish becomes almost too much for her to handle. That's when she gets the idea to form a group she calls Boys and Girls Screaming. Along with her brother, Jericho, and her best...
Bruised
Boteju, Tanya
"A searing portrait of self-discovery; soulful and captivating." --Kirkus Reviews Whip It meets We Are Okay in this vibrant coming-of-age story about a teen girl navigating first love, identity, and grief as she immerses herself in the colorful, brutal,...
Charming as a verb
Philippe, Ben
From the award-winning author of The Field Guide to the North American Teenager comes a whip-smart and layered romantic comedy. Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Jenny Han.  Henri "Halti" Haltiwanger can charm just about anyone. He is a star debater and popular...
Facing the sun
Mather, Janice Lynn
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants meets The Education of Margot Sanchez in this Caribbean-set story about four friends who experience unexpected changes in their lives during the summer when a hotel developer purchases their community's beloved beach. Change...
Funny gyal : my fight against homophobia in Jamaica
Jackson, Angeline
Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ+ Young Adult -- 2022 Finalist "Instead of remaining silent, she chose to speak out ... That's the power of one person." -- Barack Obama The inspiring story of Angeline Jackson, who stood up to Jamaica's...
The hoop and the harm
Pedican, Jawara
Udoka Clendon is a first-year university student and a product of basketball systems that have produced professional players. He's been pushed relentlessly by the obsessive mentorship of his older brother, which has been tolerated by his hard-working single mother. For years his brother...
Hurricane summer
Bromfield, Asha
"This is an excellent examination of the ways wealth, gender, and color can shape and at times create mental and emotional fractures. Verdict: A great title for public and high school libraries looking for books that offer a ­nuanced look at patriarchy, wealth, and gender dynamics." --...
Learning to breathe
Mather, Janice Lynn
A 2019 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection Amelia Bloomer List's 2019 Top Ten Recommended Feminist Books for Young Readers A Governor General's Literary Award Finalist A Junior Library Guild Selection A Sheila A. Egoff Children...
Like home
Onomé, Louisa
A poignant and incandescent debut that explores the bonds of community and what it really means to change Chinelo--or Nelo, as her best friend, Kate, calls her--is all about her neighbourhood, Ginger East. She loves its chill vibe, its ride-or-die sense of community and the memories she...
Shades of Black
Anthony, Carlos.
Romero, a Guyanese Canadian, is a sensitive kid who is just starting to attend an inner-city-style school with a large racialized population. Romero falls in with a friendly crew but finds himself in trouble when a shot is fired in the school cafeteria--and he gets stuck with the gun....
Twice as perfect
Onomé, Louisa
Netflix's Never Have I Ever meets Crazy Rich Asians with a Nigerian twist in this brilliant young-adult novel about being caught in between worlds The only things worth doing are those that will lead to success. For seventeen-year-old Adanna Nkwachi, life is all about duty: to...
Until we break
Dawkins, Matthew
Dance like everyone's watching. Because they are. As the only Black student at her ballet academy, Naomi Morgan knows her feelings of isolation and artistic sacrifice are the price she has to pay in order to win the Youth American Grand Prix, the country's most...

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