3 Young Adult Novels You Should Read This Black History Month

By
Dana G
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Amandla Stenberg and Lamar Johnson in the movie adaptation of "The Hate U Give"

Another Black History Month is upon us, and it’s a perfect opportunity to add some amazing new books to your reading list. If you’re a huge fan of young adult novels, here are a few books from prominent African-American authors you should consider reading in February.

The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas spent 50 weeks on The New York Times‘ young adult best-seller list, before being adapted into a hit movie of the same name. It follows a teenage girl trying to find her own voice after witnessing a shooting of her childhood best friend.

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Brown Girl Dreaming

If you’re in the mood for some poetry this month, make time for Jacqueline Woodson’s seminal book Brown Girl Dreaming, which details her coming of age in the ‘60s in South Carolina and New York.

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brown girl dreaming // Jacqueline Woodson 〰 I’m not a huge poetry gal, oddly enough, considering I fancied myself quite the poet back in middle school…So it was a blessing in disguise when this poetry memoir was assigned to me for my YA lit class. I’ve heard Woodson speak before and I was wowed by her spark, and this book is all I could’ve hoped for. Who are some of your favorites who write about race?? (or gender, or sexuality, or anything not white and straight and male lol.) 〰 “Angela Davis smiles, gap-toothed and beautiful, raises her first in the air says, Power to the people, looks out from the television ⠀ directly into my eyes. 〰 #browngirldreaming #jacquelinewoodson

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Everything, Everything

Jamaican-American author Nicola Yoon is one of the most prominent young adult writers in the world right now, and she became a household name thanks to this tale of a teen suffering from a rare syndrome that keeps her confined to her own home.

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