It’s worth noting that “history” here is rooted in realism, and that “history” here also means anything that has some connection to a historical event. In other words, there are historical novels set in the 1990s because that’s history. All of the books included are published from 2014 and forward. I encourage you to dig into the above-linked graphic for older titles. This roundup includes both fiction and nonfiction, as we’ve seen a few incredible YA nonfiction about Black history by Black authors hit shelves and we’ll be seeing more in the very near future (finally!).
#OwnVoices Black History YA Books
Savannah knows she’s privileged in her wealth. But she’s worried she’ll never do something important or powerful in her life. Her brother has moved to New York City and has a photography shop, and she’s bored by her long-time friend and neighbor Yolande. When the housekeeper’s daughter steps in to clean the Riddle’s home, Savannah forms a quick bond with her, and it’s through her she finds her way to a school on the other side of town that helps less-privileged girls gain a solid education. Here she volunteers, but more, it’s here she meets someone who introduces her to the concepts of radicalism, socialism, and anarchy. It’s 1919 and while the Great War is over, and the Spanish Influenza is waning, race riots are heating up. Savannah, now pushing herself outside her comfortable area in D.C., finds herself seeing and being too-close-for-comfort to experiences that put her life and future on the line. After one particularly close call, she expects to be reamed out by her mother and father. And it’s here when Savannah learns about the incredible young life her mother had and how, even though it doesn’t look like it, Savannah’s mother longed for — and found — a purpose and meaning to her life. This ultimately helps Savannah understand what it is she wants to do herself. Perhaps the thing that makes this most stand out, aside from how historically important the story is, is that Malcolm wasn’t perfect in his youth and it comes through in the story. But it’s done in a way that would be relatable to young readers especially — people who make an impact aren’t perfect but indeed, are human and make poor choices. Shabazz teamed up with YA author Tiffany D. Jackson for a second YA novel about Malcolm X which released this year called The Awakening of Malcolm X. It follows the experiences Malcolm had as a teenager in jail and how that helped shape his activism. It is a standalone, but would likely be read best after X.
