Contemporary African American Fiction for Young Readers
Discover the best contemporary African American fiction books for young readers. Explore engaging stories, diverse characters, and powerful narratives that inspire and entertain.
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Starring Grace
by Mary Hoffman
A chapter bookk sequel to New York Times bestseller and finalist Kate Greenaway Medal, Amazing Grace and Boundless Grace. School’s out . . . and …
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Won't Know 'Til I Get There
by Walter Dean Myers
From the New York Times bestselling, National Book Award-nominated author of Monster and Fallen Angels When Steve’s parents decide to adopt a foster child, it …
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Charlie Pippin
by Candy Dawson Boyd
Spunky eleven-year-old Charlie hopes to understand her rigid father by finding out everything she can about the Vietnam War, the war that let him survive …
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Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World
by Mildred Pitts Walter
Ten-year-old Justin thinks housework is for women, until he's invited to his grandfather's ranch. There, along with fishing, riding, and going to the rodeo, Justin …
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Me, Mop, and the Moondance Kid
by Walter Dean Myers
An ALA Notable Children’s Book from the award-winning author of Monster in which “wit, sensitivity, and insight [are combined] to create this funny, fast-paced story …
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Yolonda's Genius
by Carol Fenner
Fifth grader Yolonda is determined to prove that her younger brother is not a slow learner but a true musical genius in this sweet and …
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The Secret of Gumbo Grove
by Eleanora Tate
Raisin Stackhouse doesn't mind doing odd jobs for old Miss Effie Pfluggins, but when Miss Effie talks her into cleaning up the old church cemetery, …
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Zeely
by Virginia Hamilton
Geeder's summer at her uncle's farm is made special because of her friendship with a very tall, composed woman who raises hogs and who closely …
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The House of Dies Drear
by Virginia Hamilton
A black family tries to unravel the secrets of their new home which was once a stop on the Underground Railroad.
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Striped Ice Cream!
by Joan M. Lexau
Becky knows her inner-city family is too poor even to buy her favorite ice cream for her birthday, but they seem to be going out …
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The Spray-paint Mystery
by Angela Shelf Medearis
When someone begins painting graffiti on walls throughout the town, Cameron Thompson, a detective's son, teams up with his best friend, Tarann, to figure out …
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Junebug
by Alice Mead
Reeve McLain, Jr.--Junebug--has a big dream that keeps him going. He dreams that someday he and his younger sister and mother will move from the …
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Circle of Gold
by Candy Dawson Boyd
Ten-year-old Mattie copes with the loss of her father and her mixed feelings towards her mother who is under pressure to support the family.
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Philip Hall Likes Me, I Reckon Maybe
by Bette Greene
Eleven-year-old Beth thinks that Philip Hall likes her, but their on-again, off-again relationship sometimes makes her wonder.
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Jackson Jones and the Puddle of Thorns
by Mary Quattlebaum
Nothing but a big mess of trouble and weeds.. That's what Jackson Jones thinks of the garden plot his mother gives him for his tenth …
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Seth and Samona
by Joanne Hyppolite
Two Haitian American children deal with the problems of friendship, family life, and growing up.
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Just My Luck
by Emily Moore
Ten-year-old Olivia, lonesome for her best friend who moved away, meets a funny-looking boy who joins in her obsessive quest for a dog.
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After Tupac & D Foster
by Jacqueline Woodson
A Newbery Honor Book Jacqueline Woodson is the 2018-2019 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature The day D Foster enters Neeka and her best friend’s …
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Small Steps
by Louis Sachar
Three years after being released from Camp Green Lake, Armpit is trying hard to keep his life on track, but when his old pal X-Ray …
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The Real Slam Dunk
by Charisse Richardson
Champions need skills on and off the court. Marcus Robinson is psyched! Tomorrow, his class is going on a field trip to a professional basketball …
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The Real Lucky Charm
by Charisse K. Richardson
Thinking that luck--rather than hard work--has helped her succeed on the court and at school, ten-year-old Mia Robinson panics and turns to her twin brother …
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The Toothpaste Millionaire
by Jean Merrill
Sixth-grader Rufus Mayflower doesn't set out to become a millionaire. He just wants to save on toothpaste. Betting he can make a gallon of his …
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The Skin I'm in
by Sharon Flake
Thirteen-year-old Maleeka, uncomfortable because her skin is extremely dark, meets a new teacher with a birthmark on her face and makes some discoveries about how …
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Keena Ford and the Second-Grade Mix-Up
by Melissa Thomson
Keena Ford chronicles her many mishaps as she begins second grade.
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Sallie Gal and the Wall-a-kee Man
by Shelia P. Moses
Sallie Gal admires cousin Wild Cat's hair ribbons that fly in the wind when she jumps Double Dutch. More than anything, Sallie Gal wants a …
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Mr. Chickee's Messy Mission
by Christopher Paul Curtis
Steven and his best friend Russell are back! When Russell's dog, Rodney Rodent, jumps into a mural to chase a demonic-looking gnome and disappears, the …
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The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Street
by Sharon Flake
/DIVI am a queen. I live in a castle, right across the street from the John Howard Housing Projects. Every day right after school I …
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Liberty Porter, First Daughter
by Julia DeVillers
On her first day at the White House, nine-year-old Liberty exuberantly explores her new home while making new friends and giving unique tours of her …
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Slam Dunk!
by Sharon Robinson
At Harlem's Langston Hughes Middle School, eleven-year-old Elijah "Jumper" Breeze and his friends compete against Nia and her girlfriends on the basketball court, in a …
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Home of the Brave
by Katherine Applegate
A deeply poetic and affecting novel about the contemporary immigrant experience.
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Vive La Paris
by Esme Raji Codell
Paris has come for piano lessons, not chopped-liver sandwiches or French lessons or free advice. But when old Mrs. Rosen gives her a little bit …
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The Road to Paris
by Nikki Grimes
Inconsolable at being separated from her older brother, eight-year-old Paris is apprehensive about her new foster family but just as she learns to trust them, …
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Donavan's Word Jar
by Monalisa DeGross
Donavan is fascinated by words. They seem to leap out at him from books, signs, even the back of cereal boxes. He savors each word …
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Lost in the Tunnel of Time
by Sharon M. Draper
Ziggy and his friends discover an old slave route under their school.
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The Marvelous Effect
by Troy CLE
Louis Proof is an ordinary kid. He loves listening to hip-hop, racing radio-controlled cars, and hanging out with his best friend, Brandon. Then a mysterious …
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Maniac Monkeys on Magnolia Street; When Mules Flew on Magnolia Street
by Angela Johnson
Contains two novels about ten-year-old Charlie who moves into a new neighborhood and makes new friends.