Here are some chapter books and middle grade titles written by black authors of various cultures. This diverse list includes something of interest for every kind of reader!
NEWER TITLES (2010-2012)
“Anna Hibiscus” Series
Author: Atinuke
Publisher: Walker (2011)
Genre: CB
No. 1 Car Spotter
Author: Atinuke
Publisher: Walker (2010)
Genre: CB
8th Grade Super Zero
Author: Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic (2010)
Genre: MG
Dork Diaries 3 1/2, How to Dork Your Diary
Author: Rachel Renee Russell
Publisher: Aladdin (2011)
Genre: MG
How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won A Bubba-Sized Trophy
Author: Crystal Allen
Publisher: Balzer & Bray/HarperCollins (2011)
Genre: MG
Meet Cecile
Author: Denise Lewis Patrick
Illustrator: Christine Kornacki
Publisher: American Girl (2011)
Genre: MG
The Mighty Miss Malone
Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books/Random House (2012)
Genre: MG
My Holy Bible for African-American Children
Authors: Cheryl Hudson and Wade Hudson
Publisher: Zondervan (2010)
Genre: MG
One Crazy Summer
Author: Rita Williams-Garcia
Publisher: Amistad/HarperCollins (2010)
Genre: MG
Out of My Mind
Author: Sharon Draper
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (2012)
Genre: MG
What Mama Left Me
Author: Renee Watson
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA (2012)
Genre: MG
NOTABLE TITLES
Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel
Author: Nikki Grimes
Illustrator: R. Gregory Christie
Publisher: Putnam Juvenille (2009)
Genre: CB
Nikki & Deja
Author: Karen English
Illustrator: Laura Freeman
Publisher: Clarion (2007)
Genre: CB
Ruby Booker and the Boys: Brand New School, Brave New Ruby
Author: Derrick Barnes
Illustrator: Vanessa Brantley Newton
Publisher: Scholastic (2008)
Genre: CB
Sassy: Little Sister is Not My Name
Author: Sharon M. Draper
Publisher: Scholastic (2009)
Genre: CB
Blue Mountain Trouble
Author: Martin Mordecai
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine (2009)
Genre: MG
Celeste’s Harlem Renaissance
Author: Eleanora E. Tate
Publisher: Little, Brown (2007)
Genre: MG/Historical
Heaven
Author: Angela Johnson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (1998)
Genre: MG
The Rock and The River
Author: Kekla Magoon
Publisher: Aladdin (2009)
Genre: MG
Sacred Mountain: Everest
Author: Christine Taylor-Butler
Publisher: Lee & Low Books (2009)
Genre: MG/Non-Fiction
The Skin I’m In
Author: Sharon G. Flake
Publisher: Scholastic (1998)
Genre: MG
Some Friend
Author: Marie Bradby
Publisher: Atheneum (2003)
Genre: MG
I’m feeling really good about this list because I’ve heard of or read almost everything on it! Didn’t know I was so into MG books. I really like No. 1 Car Spotter.
Yes! Love that book.
I’m feeling good about this list, too. One Crazy Summer is one crazy good book. Rita is a wonderful novelist and a beautiful person. I wonder if our children are ready to come to terms with Katrina now. After years of writing for adults, Katrina sparked my first middle-grade novel, NINTH WARD, and the voice of a child was so strong. Thanks for all the issues you do tackle in your summer reading list.
laneshasays.com
Hi Jewell. Glad you like the list. You, too, Tanita. 🙂
So thrilled to discover Anna Hibiscus from this list! My daughter and I have flown through the books — I bought three of them in a week! I would love to know of some other gentle books (my daughter is a sensitive child) which are older than picture books but younger than middle grades?