If you’re looking for great black teen books, this list of the best books for teens is for you. Read about Birdie Randolph, Kezi, Liz Lightly, and more. Each has a unique story to tell, and they’ll inspire and move you. These books will help you learn more about African-American culture and history.
Birdie Randolph
“Birdie Randolph” is a book about a young black girl struggling to find her identity and find the love of her life. It explores the issues that black girls face today, some of them contemporary and some that are timeless.
If You Come Softly
If You Come Softly is a retelling of the classic story “Romeo and Juliet” that will engage readers of all ages. Although the plot isn’t particularly exciting, the story has some elements that will appeal to young and old alike. The story centers around two teenagers, Ellie, a Jewish girl, and Jeremiah, a Black boy. Both teenagers have to deal with prejudices and issues that are often associated with race.
Liz Lightly
Liz Lightly has always felt that she’s too black, poor, and awkward for the rest of her high school classmates. But she has a plan: she’s going to attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in a world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor. But what if she can’t get in? The book is an entertaining, empowering read about young people of color’s challenges.
Kezi’s story
Among the best black teen books of the year is Kezi’s story. A young African American girl, Kezi, was a YouTube star and activist who tragically died in a fire in her jailhouse after being arrested. Her sisters struggle with an idealized version of their sister’s memory and embark on a journey to pay tribute to her. The story also includes a coming-of-age tale about a boy whose younger sister went missing. He thinks she’s with her drug dealer boyfriend, but the police refuse to help him.
The Gilded Ones
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna is a fantasy novel that explores women’s power. It’s also a commentary on the ways in which a patriarchal society will go to extremes to keep women at bay. Though the story may shock some readers, it will also comfort them. It follows the teen girl, Deka, as she struggles to find her place in the world. It features gorgeous language and meticulous worldbuilding.
If You Die Before Me
If You Die Before Me is a story about the life and death of a young Indigenous Liberian girl named Togar Somah. It takes place in Liberia during the early twentieth century. As a runaway teen, Togar is on the run from government militias and forced to work on the Congo plantations – a land that was colonized by African Americans. The novel then leaps back in time to 1827, when Yasmine Wright’s children flee her Virginia plantation to join her family in Liberia. The American Colonization Society promises them freedom.