Teens in grades 9-12 can gain confidence and joy in seeing themselves and those around them represented in books. The following stories present African American teens as leading characters. Caregivers and educators can encourage reading books with racially diverse characters by offering these and other titles on class reading lists, in a shared reading space, and through conversations.
Carli and Rex have an immediate connection, an understanding that must mean first love, but family secrets, disappointments–and basketball, which holds center stage in both their lives–all create complications. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby or as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby.
A collection of short stories explore what it is like to be young and black, centering on the experiences of black teenagers and emphasizing that one person’s experiences, reality, and personal identity are different than someone else’s. You can also check out this title as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby, as eBook on OverDrive/Libby or as eAudio on Hoopla.
Tasia Quirk is a senior with great friends and a supportive family, and she even plays football as the only girl on her private high school’s team. A mystery surrounding her mother makes Tasia wonder about her identity, leading her on a journey to unravel the lies that have taken over her life.
When Winnie is crowned Summer Queen in the small town of Misty Haven, she has to balance her new responsibilities with her friendships, a new romance and her job at her granny’s diner. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby.
High school junior Del Rainey unwittingly joins a Purity Pledge class at church, hoping to get closer to his long-term crush, Kiera. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby, as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby, as eBook on Hoopla or as eAudio on Hoopla.
When an aspiring actress wrecks her big shot, she needs her grandmother’s help to salvage her career. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby or as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby.
High school juniors and best friends Courtney and Jupe, and new sophomore Rae, explore their sexuality and their budding attractions for one another. You can also check out this title as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby or as eBook on OverDrive/Libby.
When sixteen-year-old Bri, an aspiring rapper, pours her anger and frustration into her first song, she finds herself at the center of a controversy. You can also check out this title as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby, as eBook on OverDrive/Libby or as eAudio on Hoopla.
After falling for Kate, her unexpected death sends Jack back in time to the moment they first met, but he soon learns that his actions have consequences when someone else close to him dies. You can also check out this title as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby, as eBook on OverDrive/Libby or as eAudio on Hoopla.
A novel-in-verse about a boy who is wrongfully incarcerated. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby or as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby.
Sixteen-year-old Dove “Birdie” Randolph’s close bond with her parents is threatened by a family secret, and by hiding her relationship with Booker, who has been in juvenile detention. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby.
An honors student at Jefferson Academy, seventeen-year-old Keira enjoys developing and playing Slay, a secret, multiplayer online role-playing game celebrating black culture, until the two worlds collide. You can also check out this title as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby or as eBook on OverDrive/Libby.
Aspiring screenwriter Nate finds his conviction that happy endings do not exist tested when his childhood best friend and crush, Oliver James Hernández, moves back to town. You can also check out this title as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby or as eBook on OverDrive/Libby.
Twins Marvin and Tyler Johnson know that the police are often not on their side – they’ve seen it first hand, getting a gun drawn on them as bystanders to a police chase, and later at a house party, after a shooting breaks out. In the confusion, Marvin loses track of his brother. Later, his body is found, shot, and police attribute his death to gang violence. But that’s not the truth – a cop killed Tyler and a video exists proving it. Marvin and his family struggle to survive this trauma and the trauma of being Black in America. You can also check out this title as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby or as eBook on OverDrive/Libby.
17-year-old Morgan is a black teen triumphantly figuring out her identity when her conservative town deems depression as a lack of faith, and blackness as something to be politely ignored. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby.
Teen mother Emoni Santiago struggles with the challenges of finishing high school and her dream of working as a chef. You can also check out this title as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby, as eBook on OverDrive/Libby, as eAudio on Hoopla or as eBook on Hoopla.
A wallflower runs for prom queen in the hopes of winning her school’s scholarship and makes discoveries about her own identity and the value of true friendships. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby or as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby.
