Tag Archives: African-American

3 Great Middle Grade Realistic Picks

Posted on June 8, 2018 by

If you’re looking for some contemporary realistic fiction, here are three solid titles for a range of tastes from full-on adventure to more introspective. To Catch a Cheat by Varian Johnson. Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, 2016. The officially-ended Greene Gang … Continue reading →

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Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson

Posted on May 23, 2018 by

I was planning to do another triple review in the interests of catching up, but have fallen to the reality of headaches and patrons with long reference questions (that last a much more pleasant reason!).  So more contemporary teen girls … Continue reading →

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Teen Boys in Diverse Historical Fiction

Posted on May 20, 2018 by

I know there are really no boy books or girl books, just people books.  But nevertheless, when working on our presentation on diverse books for Spring Institute, my friend Nakenya and I realized that our teen historical reading had only … Continue reading →

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3 Don’t-Miss Picture Books

Posted on May 17, 2018 by

Crown: an Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James. Bolden from Agate Publishing, 2017. I’d seen this on the shelf, but was moved to check it out when listening to the Caldecott Contender episode of … Continue reading →

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A Sky Full of Stars by Linda Williams Jackson

Posted on May 8, 2018 by

I won an ARC of this book from Brandy at Random Musings of a Bibliophile last year, waited to read it until it was close to coming out… and am now behind on posting my review of it.  It is … Continue reading →

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A Properly Unhaunted Place by William Alexander

Posted on October 24, 2017 by

William Alexander’s latest book is short, spooky and delicious, with a strong core. A Properly Unhaunted Place by William Alexander. Illustrated by Kelly Murphy. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2017. Rosa Díaz is the daughter of the world’s best ghost appeasement … Continue reading →

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Dark Surroundings, Bright Spirits: 3 Novels

Posted on October 21, 2017 by

Here are three books for teens and middle grade students that take a hard look at the African-American experience through the eyes of strong young people Continue reading →

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The Hate U Give

Posted on August 17, 2017 by

This is the first book to be published directly because of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement, so of course I had to read it.  My only advice would be to please, don’t do as I do, and listen to this audiobook at … Continue reading →

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American Street

Posted on July 24, 2017 by

American Street by Ibi Zoboi. Balzer + Bray, 2017. Teenaged Fabiola was born in the US and raised in Haiti with her mother.  They’ve been working for years to move in with Fabiola’s aunt, Matant Jo, and her three daughters, … Continue reading →

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Clayton Byrd Goes Underground

Posted on July 10, 2017 by

I loved Rita Williams-Garcia’s Gaither Sister trilogy, so of course I wanted to try her latest book, too. Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia. Narrated by Adam Lazarre-White. Amistad, 2017. Young Clayton loves hanging out with grandfather, Cool Papa, … Continue reading →

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