African-American Authors

Books by African-American authors give you a glimpse into the African-American experience.

Click on the title below to see if the book is in the library at this time.

Danticat, Edwidge. Behind the Mountains
	Though she and her mom and brother are fairly happy, things just aren't the same since Celiane's dad is forced to leave her mountain in Haiti to find work in Brooklyn. Suddenly, though, political turmoil in Haiti forces Celiane's family to join her father in cold, wintry New York. Celiane's diary describes the turmoil and confusion she feels at being so suddenly uprooted from everything familiar.
Draper, Sharon. Darkness Before Dawn
	Keisha, a high school senior still haunted by the death of her ex-boyfriend, is suddenly swept off her feet by the handsome track coach at her school. For once, here is someone who treats her like a woman, not a girl. However, instead of being the solution to her troubles, Jonathan might be adding to them...
Frank, E.R. Life is Funny
	Can't find a book that tells it like it is? Convinced that no book has characters you can relate to? This amazing collection of interconnected stories will introduce you to Gingerbread and his first real girlfriend; Eric, who is determined to care for his little brother and offer him a better life; and Sonia, who struggles to live the life of a good Muslim girl in New York. Life is Funny offers a glimpse into the real lives of teens today.
Levitin, Sonia. Dream Freedom
	Slavery still exists insome parts of the world, even in the year 2000. And Americans can do something about it. Based on real-life events, this book tells how a group of students in Colorado learns about atrocities in Sudan, and how they begin to make a difference by raising money to "redeem" slaves and educating others about this dire situation.
Mackey, Scott. Blood Runs Deep
	When 17-year old Cal Smith awakens to the pounding on his front door, he knows it can't be good news. He learns that his mother has just been accidentally killed at work in the Thunderbrook Rice Mill, and he is facing foster care. But an uncle comes to the rescue, and together he and Cal come to learn that his mother's death was no accident. Now their own lives are in danger as they realize that someone wants them to leave Thunderbrook-alive or dead.
Wolff, Virginia Euwer. True Believer
	Picking up where Make Lemonade left off, 15-year-old LaVaughn is determined to ignore boys, study hard and go to college. But when gorgeous Jody moves into her building, LaVaughn starts to fall in love despite herself. Sometimes Jody seems to like her back, but then other times, he's distant. Jody, it turns out, has some secrets he's not willing to share.
Woodson, Jacqueline. Hush
	Evie Thomas is not the person she used to be. After her father witnessed a crime, her whole family was forced to go into hiding as part of the Witness Protection Program. Everything had to be left behind, even the family dog. Now her whole life is a secret, and she can't even tell anyone her real name. Will she ever be able to reclaim her identity?
Woodson, Jacqueline. I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This
	Marie doesn't mean to tell Lena about how her father touches her, but now that she has told, can her friend do anything to help?