BlackHistoryMonthSuggestedReads,MiddleSchool2017
Nonfiction(bycallnumber)
TheAfricanAmericans:ManyRiverstoCross.ByHenryLouisGates,Jr.
305.896GAT
ArecountingoftheexperienceofpeopleofAfricandescentoverthepastfivecenturiesin
NorthAmerica.
Juneteenth:FreedomDay.ByMurielMillerBranch
394.263BRA
Discussestheoriginandpresent-daycelebrationofJuneteenth,aholidaymarkingtheday
Texanslavesrealizedtheywerefree.
ThePeopleCouldFly:AmericanBlackFolktales.ByVirginiaHamilton
398.2HAM
RetoldAfro-Americanfolktalesofanimals,fantasy,thesupernatural,anddesireforfreedom,
bornofthesorrowoftheslaves,butpassedoninhope.
WakeupOurSouls:ACelebrationofBlackAmericanArtists.ByTonyaBolden
704.03BOL
ExploresthelivesandcreationsofaselectnumberofnotableAfrican-Americanmenand
womenwhohavecontributedtotheAmericanartscene.
Gee'sBend:TheArchitectureoftheQuilt.ContributionsbyWilliamArnettandothers
746.46GEE
ExaminesthequiltingcultureofGee'sBend,asmallAfrican-AmericancommunityinAlabama,
presentingphotosofmanyquiltsalongwithseveralessaysbyscholarsandGee'sBendquilt
artistsonsuchtopicsasthecommunity'squiltmakingaesthetic,theroleoffamilyintheart,
andthequiltmakingheritageoffivegenerationsofwomendescendedfromslaveDinahMiller.
NotesofaNativeSon.ByJamesBaldwin
814BAL
JamesBaldwinwasamongthemosteloquentwritersinmid-20th-centuryAmericatodealwith
black-whiterelations.Hisfirstpublishedessaysonthesubjectwereinitiallycollectedinthis
penetratingandimpassionedbook.FindingAmericaintolerable,Baldwinexiledhimselfin
Europefornearlytenyears.HetellsofthemeetingoftheAmericanblackwiththeAfrican;ofa
harrowingChristmassojourninaParisjailbecauseofafriend'sstolenbedsheet;andfinally,the
poignantandhauntingessayofthefirstvisitofablackpersontoaremoteSwissvillage,where
heistreatedasalivingwonderandneverbecomesmorethanastrangerinthevillage.
ThePortChicago50:Disaster,Mutiny,andtheFightforCivilRights.BySteveSheinkin
940.54SHE
Describesthefiftyblacksailorswhorefusedtoworkinunsafeandunfairconditionsafteran
explosioninPortChicagokilled320servicemen,andhowtheincidentinfluencedcivilrights.
CouragehasnoColor:TheTrueStoryoftheTripleNickles:America'sFirstBlackParatroopers.
ByTanyaLeeStone
940.54STO
ExaminestheroleofAfrican-AmericansinthemilitarythroughthehistoryoftheTripleNickles,
America'sfirstblackparatroopers,whofoughtagainstattacksperpetratedontheAmerican
WestbytheJapaneseduringWorldWarII.
Bloods:AnOralHistoryoftheVietnamWar.EditedbyWallaceTerry
959.704BLO
DescribestheexperiencesoftwentyAfrican-AmericansoldiersduringtheVietnamWar.
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BlackHistoryMonthSuggestedReads,MiddleSchool2017
Writings.ByW.E.B.DuBois
973DUB
Historian,sociologist,novelist,editor,andpoliticalactivist,WilliamEdwardBurghardtDuBois
wasthemostgiftedandinfluentialblackintellectualofhistime.ThisLibraryofAmericavolume
presentshisessentialwritings,coveringthefullspanofarestlesslifededicatedtothestruggle
forracialjustice.
TheAudacityofHope:ThoughtsonReclaimingtheAmericanDream.ByBarackObama.
973OBA
Then-SenatorBarakObamaaddressestwenty-firstcenturypoliticsintheUnitedStates,
commentingoneconomicinsecuritiesofcitizens,race,religion,terrorism,threatofa
pandemic,andotherrelatedissues.
ManyThousandGone:AfricanAmericansfromSlaverytoFreedom.ByVirginiaHamilton
973.7HAM
RecountsthejourneyofBlackslavestofreedomviatheundergroundrailroad,anextended
groupofpeoplewhohelpedfugitiveslavesinmanyways.
DaysofJubilee:TheEndofSlaveryintheUnitedStates.ByPatMcKissack
973.7MCK
Usesslavenarratives,letters,diaries,militaryorders,andotherdocumentstochroniclethe
variousstagesleadingtotheemancipationofslavesintheUnitedStates.
ChristmasintheBigHouse,ChristmasintheQuarters.ByPatMcKissack
975.03MCK
Describesthecustoms,recipes,poems,andsongsusedtocelebrateChristmasinthebig
plantationhousesandintheslavequartersjustbeforetheCivilWar.
FacesattheBottomoftheWell:ThePermanenceofRacism.ByDerrickA.Bell
FAC305.8BEL
Focusesonthethemeofracismasanintegral,permanent,andindestructiblecomponentof
Americansociety.
PromisesKept:RaisingBlackBoystoSucceedinSchoolandinLife.ByJoeBrewster
FAC371.829BRE
ProvidesguidanceforhelpingAfricanAmericanboysbecomesuccessfulinschool,athome,and
intheworld.
GraphicNovels(byauthor)
Incognegro.ByMatJohnson
741.5JOH
ZanePinchback,alight-skinnedAfrican-Americanintheearlytwentieth-century,istiredof
tryingtopassforwhiteinordertoreportonthelynchingsandpublicexecutionstakingplacein
theDeepSouth,butheoptstousethedeceptiononemoretimewhenhisbrotherisjailedin
Mississippionchargesofkillingawhitewoman.
March:BookOne.ByJohnLewis
741.5LEW
PresentsingraphicnovelformatthelifeofGeorgiacongressmanJohnLewis,focusingonhis
youthinruralAlabama,hismeetingwithMartinLutherKingJr.andthebirthoftheNashville
StudentMovement.
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BlackHistoryMonthSuggestedReads,MiddleSchool2017
March:BookTwo.ByJohnLewis
741.5LEW
ThecontinuinggraphicnovelaccountofsomepivotalmomentsintheCivilRightsMovement,
andnowCongressmanJohnLewis’roleinthem.Endswiththe1963bombingofaBirmingham,
AlabamaAfricanAmericanchurch.
March:BookThree.ByJohnLewis
741.5LEW
Thisvolumestartsin1963,whenJohnLewiswasachairmanoftheStudentNonviolent
CoordinatingCommittee.SNCCcontinuestoforcethenationtoconfrontitsownblatant
injustice.TheonlyhopeforlastingchangeistogivevoicetothemillionsofAmericanssilenced
byvotersuppression:"OneMan,OneVote."Fractureswithinthemovementaredeepening...
evenas25-year-oldJohnLewispreparestoriskeverythinginahistoricshowdownhighabove
theAlabamariver,inatowncalledSelma.
Bayou:VolumeOne.ByJeremyLove
741.5LOV
LeeWagstaff,thedaughterofasharecropperintheDepression-eratownofCharon,
Mississippi,setsoffintoadangerous,parallelworld,accompaniedbythekind,blues-singing
swampmonsterBayou,insearchofherfriendLilyWestmorelandwhohasbeenkidnappedby
theevilBog--acrimeforwhichLee'sfatherstandsaccused.
Monster:AGraphicNovel.ByGuyA.Sims
741.5MYE
Whileontrialasanaccomplicetoamurder,sixteen-year-oldSteveHarmonrecordshis
experiencesinprisonandinthecourtroomintheformofafilmscriptashetriestocometo
termswiththecoursehislifehastaken.
Poetry(byauthor)
MayaAngelou:Poems.ByMayaAngelou
811.54ANG
Bringstogetherpoemspreviouslypublishedin"JustGiveMeaCoolDrinkofWater'ForeI
Diiie,""OhPrayMyWingsAreGonnaFitMeWell,""AndStillIRise,"and"Shaker,WhyDon't
YouSing?"
TheGreatMigration:JourneytotheNorth.ByEloiseGreenfield
811.54GRE
DescribesthejourneyofAfricanAmericansfromtheirhomesintheSouthtoindustrialcitiesin
theNortharoundthetimeofWorldWarI,andincludespaintingsthatdepictthemigration.
TheDreamKeeperandOtherPoems.ByLangstonHughes
811.54HUG
Acollectionofsixty-sixpoemsforyoungreaders,selectedbytheauthor,includinglyrical
poems,songs,andblues,manyexploringtheblackexperience.
Neverforgotten.ByPatMcKissack
811.54MCK
Alyricalstory-in-versethatdetailstheexperiencesofanAfricanboywhowaskidnappedand
soldintoslavery.
AWreathforEmmettTill.ByMarilynNelson
811.54NEL
AnillustratedpoetrycollectioneulogizingEmmettTill,anAfricanAmericanmanwhowaskilled
inabrutal,raciallymotivatedlynchingin1955.
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BlackHistoryMonthSuggestedReads,MiddleSchool2017
HowIDiscoveredPoetry.ByMarilynNelson
811.54NEL
Theauthorreflectsonherchildhoodinthe1950sandherdevelopmentasanartistandyoung
womanthroughfiftypoemsthatconsidersuchinfluencesastheCivilRightsMovement,the
"RedScare"era,andthefeministmovement.
Biography,Autobiography(bysubjectperson)andBiographyCollections(byauthor)
TheGreatest:MuhammadAli.ByWalterDeanMyers
BALI
AnillustratedbiographyofboxinggreatMuhammadAlithataddresseshispolitics,hisfight
againstParkinson'sdisease,andboxing'sdangers.
TheVoiceThatChallengedaNation:MarianAndersonandtheStruggleforEqualRights.
ByRussellFreedman
BANDERSON
TellsthelifestoryofsingerMarianAnderson,describingherfamous1939LincolnMemorial
performanceandexplaininghowshehelpedendsegregationintheAmericanartsafterbeing
refusedtherighttoperformatWashington'sConstitutionHallbecauseofthecolorofherskin.
IKnowWhytheCagedBirdSings.ByMayaAngelou
BANGELOU
Autobiographycoveringthechildhoodofawomanwhohasbeenaprofessionaldancer,
actress,poet,journalist,andtelevisionproducer.
TheLongShadowofLittleRock:AMemoir.ByDaisyBates
BBATES
PresentsthememoirsofDaisyBates,CivilRightsactivist,newspaperwriter,andofficerinthe
N.A.A.C.P.whoplayedanintegralpartintheintegrationofnineAfricanAmericanstudentsinto
LittleRock'sCentralHighSchoolonSeptember25,1957.
WarriorsDon'tCry:TheSearingMemoiroftheBattletoIntegrateLittleRock'sCentralHigh.
ByMelbaBeals
BBEALS
BealschroniclesherharrowingjunioryearatCentralHighwheresheunderwentthe
segregationists'brutalorganizedcampaignofterrorismwhichincludedtelephonethreats,
vigilantestalkers,economicblackmailers,roguepolice,andmuchmore.
ThroughMyEyes.ByRubyBridges
BBRIDGES
RubyBridgesrecountsthestoryofherinvolvement,asasix-year-old,intheintegrationofher
schoolinNewOrleansin1960.
RalphJ.Bunche:FighterforPeace.ByJ.AlvinKugelmass
BBUNCHE
Outofpovertyanduglydiscrimination,RalphBunchestruggledforaneducationandby
perseveranceanddetermination,becameanoutstandinganthropologist,anexperton
colonization,adiplomatintheaffairsofmanandaNobelPeacePrizewinnerin1950.
BetweentheWorldandMe.ByTa-NehisiCoates
BCOATES
ForTa-NehisiCoates,historyhasalwaysbeenpersonal.Ateverystageofhislife,he'ssoughtin
hisexplorationsofhistoryanswerstothemysteriesthatsurroundedhim–mosturgently,why
he,andotherblackpeopleheknew,seemedtoliveinfear.Whatweretheyafraidof?Coates
takesreadersalongonhisjourneythroughAmerica'shistoryofraceanditscontemporary
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BlackHistoryMonthSuggestedReads,MiddleSchool2017
resonancesthroughaseriesofawakenings–momentswhenhediscoveredsomenewtruth
aboutourlong,tangledhistoryofrace,whetherthroughhismyth-bustingprofessorsatHoward
University,atriptoaCivilWarbattlefieldwitharoguehistorian,ajourneytoChicago'sSouth
Sidetovisitagingsurvivorsof20thcenturyAmerica's“longwaronblackpeople,”oravisitwith
themotherofabelovedfriendwhowasshotdownbythepolice.
ClaudetteColvin:TwiceTowardJustice.ByPhillipM.Hoose
BCOLVIN
Presentsanaccountoffifteen-year-oldClaudetteColvin,anAfrican-Americangirlwhorefused
togiveupherseattoawhitewomanonasegregatedbusinMontgomery,Alabama,nine
monthsbeforeRosaParks,andcoversherroleinacrucialcivilrightscase.
TakingFlight:FromWarOrphantoStarBallerina.ByMichaelaDePrince
BDEPRINCE
TheautobiographyofMichaelaDePrince,wholivedthefirstfewyearsofherlifeinwar-torn
SierraLeoneuntilbeingadoptedbyanAmericanfamily.Nowseventeen,sheisoneofthe
premiereballerinasintheUnitedStates.
FrederickDouglass.BySharmanAptRussell
BDOUGLAS
Abiographyofthemanwho,afterescapingslavery,becameanorator,writer,andleaderinthe
anti-slaverymovementoftheearlynineteenthcentury.
Savion!MyLifeinTap.BySavionGlover
BGLOVER
Examinesthelifeandcareeroftheyoungtapdancerwhospeakswithhisfeetandwho
choreographedtheTonyAward-winningBroadwayshow"BringindaNoise,BringindaFunk.".
Young,Black,andDetermined:ABiographyofLorraineHansberry.ByPatMcKissack
BHANSBERRY
AbiographyoftheAfrican-Americanplaywrightwhoreceivedgreatrecognitionforherworkat
anearlyage.
ABlackExplorerattheNorthPole.ByMatthewAlexanderHenson
BHENSON
HensonaccompaniedRobertF.PearyoneightArcticjourneysbetween1891and1909.Hisskill
ininterpretingthelanguageoftheNorthGreenlandEskimos,inbuildingboatsandrepairing
sledges,andindrivingdogteamswasessentialtotheultimatesuccessoftheadmiral.Yet
Hensonwasforthemostpartignored,evenbyPeary,afterthathistoricexpedition.Drawing
largelyonhisdiaries,Hensondescribesthesevoyages.
Speak,soYouCanSpeakAgain:TheLifeofZoraNealeHurston.ByLucyAnneHurston.
BHURSTON
ThisbookcoversHurston'searlylifeinEatonville,Florida,herstudentdaysatBarnardCollege,
herCaribbeantravels,herliteraryfameasthestaroftheHarlemRenaissancemovement,and
herdeathinobscurityinasmallFloridatown.
TheAutobiographyofMartinLutherKing,Jr.ByMartinLutherKing,Jr.
BKING
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BlackHistoryMonthSuggestedReads,MiddleSchool2017
Turning15ontheRoadtoFreedom:MyStoryofthe1965SelmaVotingRightsMarch.
ByLyndaBlackmonLowery
BLOWERY
Loweryrecountsherexperiencesastheyoungestmarcheronthe1965votingrightsmarch
fromSelmatoMontgomery,Alabama.
Maritcha:ANineteenth-CenturyAmericanGirl.ByTonyaBolden
BLYONS
PresentsthepersonalmemoirsofMaritchaRemondLyonswhowasborninnineteenth-century
NewYorkCityanddescribeshowsheandherfamilyescapedtoRhodeIslandduringthe1863
DraftriotsandhowsheovercameprejudicetobecomethefirstAfrican-Americanpersonto
graduatefromProvidenceHighSchool.
DiscoveringWesMoore.ByWesMoore
BMOORE
Theauthor,aRhodesscholarandcombatveteran,analyzesfactorsthatinfluencedhimaswell
asanothermanofthesamenameandfromthesameneighborhoodwhowasdrawnintoalife
ofdrugsandcrimeandendedupservinglifeinprison,focusingontheinfluenceofrelatives,
mentors,andsocialexpectationsthatcouldhaveledeitherofthemondifferentpaths.
BadBoy:AMemoir.ByWalterDeanMyers
BMYERS
AuthorWalterDeanMyersdescribeshischildhoodinHarleminthe1940sand1950s,
discussinghislovingstepmother,hisproblemsinschool,hisreasonsforleavinghome,andhis
beginningsasawriter.
DreamsfromMyFather:AStoryofRaceandInheritance.ByBarackObama
BOBAMA
BarackObamatellsthestoryofhislifeasthesonofablackAfricanfatherandawhiteAmerican
mother,searchingforaworkablemeaningtohislifeasanAfricanAmerican.
RosaParks:MyStory.ByRosaParks
BPARKS
RosaPark'slifestoryrevealsthedeliberatechoicesshemadethatearnedherthetitle"Mother
toaMovement.".
Don'tHoldMeBack:MyLifeandArt.ByWinfredRembert
BREMBERT
Throughwordsandpaintings,anartisttellsaboutgrowinguponacottonplantationin
Cuthbert,Georgia,servingtimeinprisonforhisactionsduringacivilrightsdemonstration,and
findingapurposeanddirectioninlife.
LittleX:GrowingupintheNationofIslam.BySonsyreaTate
BTATE
Autobiographyofferingawoman'sperspectiveonlifeintheNationofIslamexploringits
appeal,merits,andthecontradictionswhichmotivatedtheauthortoleavethegroup.
FightOn!:MaryChurchTerrell'sBattleforIntegration.ByDennisB.Fradin
BTERRELL
ProfilesthefirstblackWashington,D.C.BoardofEducationmember,whohelpedtofoundthe
NAACPandorganizedpicketsandboycottsthatledtothe1953SupremeCourtdecisionto
integrateD.C.arearestaurants.
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BlackHistoryMonthSuggestedReads,MiddleSchool2017
TheDitchdigger'sDaughters:ABlackFamily'sAstonishingSuccessStory.
ByYvonneS.Thornton
BTHORNTON
ThestoryoftheThorntonfamily,whichproducedtwodoctors,adentist,anattorney,anurse,
andacourtstenographer.DonaldThorntonworkedtwofull-timejobstosupporthisfamilyand
proddedandinspiredhissixdaughterstopursueeducationandsucceedasyoungmusicians
andintheirprofessions.
Leon'sstory.ByLeonTillage
BTILLAGE
ThesonofaNorthCarolinasharecropperrecallsthehardtimesfacedbyhisfamilyandother
AfricanAmericansinthefirsthalfofthetwentiethcenturyandthechangesthatthecivilrights
movementhelpedbringabout.
BrownGirlDreaming.ByJacquelineWoodson
BWOODSON
Theauthorsharesherchildhoodmemoriesandrevealsthefirstsparksthatignitedherwriting
careerinfree-versepoemsaboutgrowingupintheNorthandSouth.
MalcolmX:ByAnyMeansNecessary:ABiography.WalterDeanMyers
BX
ChroniclesthelifeofcontroversialmilitantleaderMalcolmX.
AbrahamLincolnandFrederickDouglass:TheStoryBehindanAmericanFriendship.
ByRussellFreedman
BCFRE
LooksatthelivesofFrederickDouglassandAbrahamLincoln,includingtheirfriendshipand
theireffectonEmancipationandtheCivilWar.
WomenofHope:AfricanAmericansWhoMadeaDifference.ByJoyceHansen
BCHAN
PresentsphotographsandbiographicalprofilesofthirteenAfrican-Americanwomennotable
fortheiraccomplishmentsinthefieldsofjournalism,politics,education,law,science,andthe
arts;arrangedchronologically,andincludinganadditionallistofnames.
LetitShine:StoriesofBlackWomenFreedomFighters.ByAndreaDavisPinkney
BCPIN
PresentsprofilesoftenAfrican-Americanwomenwhoseeffortsonbehalfofracialjusticeand
freedomhaveinfluencedthecourseofhistory.
HiddenFigures:TheAmericanDreamandtheUntoldStoryoftheBlackWomenMathematicians
WhoHelpedWintheSpaceRace.ByMargotLeeShetterly
BCSHE
BehindAmerica'ssuccessesinthespacerace,agroupofdedicatedfemalemathematicians
knownas'humancomputers'usedpencils,sliderulesandaddingmachinestocalculatethe
numbersthatwouldlaunchrocketsandastronautsintospace;theywouldhelpJohnGlenn
makehisfirstflightandlandNeilArmstrongonthemoon.Amongtheseproblem-solverswasa
groupofexceptionallytalentedAfricanAmericanwomenwhohadansweredUncleSam'splea
forhelpduringWorldWarII.DespiteJimCrowlawsandtheforcedsegregationthoselaws
meant,thesewomenmadeenduringcontributionstothenewworldofspaceexploration.
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BlackHistoryMonthSuggestedReads,MiddleSchool2017
Selma,Lord,Selma:GirlhoodMemoriesoftheCivil-RightsDays.BySheyannWebb
BCWEBB
TextandaccompanyingphotographspresentthestoryoftwoAfrican-Americangirlswhotell
theirmemoriesofthecivilrightsmarchesinSelma,Alabama,inwhichtheyparticipatedwhen
theywereeightandnineyearsold.
Fiction(byauthor)
Booked.ByKwameAlexander
NEWFICALEXANDER
Twelve-year-oldNicklovessoccerandhatesbooks,butsoonlearnsthepowerofwordsashe
wrestleswithproblemsathome,standsuptoabully,andtriestoimpressthegirlofhis
dreams.
TheCrossover.ByKwameAlexander
NEWFICALEXANDER
Fourteen-year-oldtwinbasketballstarsJoshandJordanwrestlewithhighsandlowsonandoff
thecourtastheirfatherignoreshisdeclininghealth.
Tyrell.ByCoeBooth
FICBOOTH
Fifteen-year-oldTyrell,whoislivinginaBronxhomelessshelterwithhisspaced-outmother
andhisyoungerbrother,triestoavoidtemptationsohedoesnotendupinjaillikehisfather.
Kindred.ByOctaviaE.Butler
PBFICBUTLER
AyoungAfrican-Americanwomanismysteriouslytransferredbackintimeleadingtoan
irresistiblecuriosityaboutherfamily'spast.
TheMadmanofPineyWoods.ByChristopherPaulCurtis.
NEWFICCURTIS
Eventhoughitisnow1901,thepeopleofBuxton,Canada,originallyasettlementofrunaway
slaves,andChatham,Canada,arestillhauntedbytwoeventsofhalfacenturybefore–the
AmericanCivilWarandtheIrishpotatofamine–andthelastingdamagethoseeventscausedto
thesurvivors.
CopperSun.BySharonM.Draper
FICDRAPER
Twofifteen-year-oldgirls–oneaslaveandtheotheranindenturedservant–escapetheir
CarolinaplantationandtrytomaketheirwaytoFortMoses,Florida,aSpanishcolonythat
givessanctuarytoslaves.
FirefromtheRock.BySharonM.Draper
FICDRAPER
SylviaPatterson'slifesuddenlychangeswiththeintegrationofLittleRock'sCentralHighin1957
whensheisselectedtobeoneofthefirstblackstudentstoattendthepreviouslyallwhite
school.
StellabyStarlight.BySharonM.Draper
PBFICDRAPER
WhenaburningcrosssetbytheKlancausespanicandfearin1932Bumblebee,NorthCarolina,
fifth-graderStellamustfaceprejudiceandfindthestrengthtodemandchangeinher
segregatedtown.
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BlackHistoryMonthSuggestedReads,MiddleSchool2017
TheGirlWhoFellfromtheSky:ANovel.ByHeidiW.Durrow
PBFICDURROW
Rachael,whosemotherisDanishandfatherisanAfrican-American,losesbothherparentsand
isforcedtomovetoanewcitytolivewithherstrictAfrican-Americangrandmother,butwhen
sheisimmersedintoanAfrican-Americancommunity,herphysicalappearancedrawsattention
andRachelstruggleswithherownuncertaintiesaboutheridentity.
TheSkinI'mIn.BySharonFlake
FICFLAKE
Thirteen-year-oldMaleeka,uncomfortablebecauseherskinisextremelydark,meetsanew
teacherwithabirthmarkonherfaceandmakessomediscoveriesabouthowtolovewhosheis
andwhatshelookslike.
TheAutobiographyofMissJanePittman.ByErnestJ.Gaines
FICGAINES
A110-year-oldAfricanAmericanwomanreminiscesaboutherlife,whichhasstretchedfrom
thedaysofslaverytotheAfricanAmericanmilitancyandcivilrightsmovementsofthe1960's.
FakeID.ByL.R.Giles
PBFICGILES
AnAfrican-AmericanteenintheWitnessProtectionProgrammovestoanewtownandfinds
himselftryingtosolveamurdermysterywhenhisfirstfriendisfounddead.
DarkSons.ByNikkiGrimes
FICGRIMES
AlternatingpoemscompareandcontrasttheconflictedfeelingsofIshmael,sonoftheBiblical
patriarchAbraham,andSam,ateenagerinNewYorkCity,astheytrytocometotermswith
beingabandonedbytheirfathersandwiththelovetheyfeelfortheiryoungerstepbrothers.
ADifferentKindofChristmas.ByAlexHaley
FICHALEY
AsophomoreatPrincetonin1855,southernerFletcherRandallmeetsagroupofQuaker
FriendsandeventuallybecomesinvolvedintheUndergroundRailroad.
IThoughtMySoulWouldRiseandFly:TheDiaryofPatsy,aFreedGirl.ByJoyceHansen
FICHANSEN
Twelve-year-oldPatsykeepsadiaryoftheripebutconfusingtimefollowingtheendoftheCivil
Warandthegrantingoffreedomtoformerslaves.Twelve-year-oldPatsykeepsadiaryofthe
excitingbutconfusingtimefollowingtheendoftheCivilWarandthegrantingoffreedomto
formerslaves.
TheGreatGreeneHeist.ByVarianJohnson
NEWFICJOHNSON
JacksonGreenehasareputationasapranksteratMaplewoodMiddleSchool,butafterthelast
disasterheistryingtogostraight–butwhenitlookslikeKeithSinclairmaystealtheelectionfor
schoolpresidentfromJackson'sformerbestfriendGabriela,heassemblesateamtomakesure
Keithdoesnotsucceed.
Guardian.ByJuliusLester
FICLESTER
Inaruralsoutherntownin1946,awhitemanandhissonwitnessthelynchingofaninnocent
blackman.Includeshistoricalnoteonlynching.
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BlackHistoryMonthSuggestedReads,MiddleSchool2017
CamoGirl.ByKeklaMagoon
NEWFICMAGOON
EllahasalwaysbeenfriendswithaboyknownasZ,despitehisreputationastheweirdkid,but
whenanewboy,Bailey,movestotownandbefriendsEllabecausetheyaretheonlytwo
AfricanAmericanstudentsintheclass,shemustchoosebetweenthepopularityBaileywill
bringtoherlifeandherlifelongfriendshipwithZ.
FireintheStreets.ByKeklaMagoon
NEWFICMAGOON
IntheaftermathofDr.King'sassassinationin1968,Chicagofourteen-year-oldMaxielongsto
jointheBlackPanthers,whetherornotherbrotherRaheem,ex-boyfriendSam,orherfriends
likeit,andissooncaughtupintheviolenceofanti-warandcivilrightsdemonstrations.
TheRockandtheRiver.ByKeklaMagoon
FICMAGOON
In1968Chicago,fourteen-year-oldSamChildsiscaughtinaconflictbetweenhisfather's
nonviolentapproachtoseekingcivilrightsforAfrican-Americansandhisolderbrother,whohas
joinedtheBlackPantherParty.
47.ByWalterMosley
FICMOSLEY
Number47,afourteen-year-oldslaveboygrowingupunderthewatchfuleyeofabrutalmaster
in1832,meetsthemysteriousTallJohn,whointroduceshimtoamagicalscienceandalso
teacheshimthemeaningoffreedom.
AlltheRightStuff.ByWalterDeanMyers
FICMYERS
Thesummerafterhisabsenteefatheriskilledinarandomshooting,Paulvolunteersata
Harlemsoupkitchenwherehelistenstolessonsabout"thesocialcontract"fromanelderly
AfricanAmericanman,andmentorsaseventeen-year-oldunwedmotherwhowantstomakeit
tocollegeonabasketballscholarship.
AutobiographyofmyDeadBrother.ByWalterDeanMyers
FICMYERS
JessepourshisheartandsoulintohissketchbooktomakesenseoflifeinhistroubledHarlem
neighborhoodandthelossofaclosefriend.
DopeSick.ByWalterDeanMyers
PBFICMYERS
SeeingnowayoutofhisdifficultlifeinHarlem,seventeen-year-oldJeremy"LilJ"Danceflees
intoahouseafteradrugdealgoesawryandmeetsastrangemanwhorevealsdifferentturning
pointsinLilJ'slifewhenhecouldhavemadebetterchoices.
Game.ByWalterDeanMyers
FICMYERS
DrewLawson,countingonbasketballtogethimintocollegeandoutofHarlem,strugglesto
keephiscoolwhenthecoachbringsintwowhiteplayersandputstheminpositionsthatclearly
threatenDrew'sgame.
Invasion!ByWalterDeanMyers
NEWFICMYERS
JosiahWedgewoodandMarcusPerrywerefriendsinVirginia,butnowthattheyareboth
involvedintheNormandyinvasion,thedifferencesintheirpositionsisuncomfortable,for
JosiahisawhiteinfantrymanandMarcusisablacktransportdriver,theonlyrolethe
segregatedarmywillallowhim.
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BlackHistoryMonthSuggestedReads,MiddleSchool2017
Lockdown.ByWalterDeanMyers
FICMYERS
TeenageReese,servingtimeatajuveniledetentionfacility,getsalessoninmakingitthrough
hardtimesfromanunlikelyfriendwithaharrowingpast.
Riot.ByWalterDeanMyers
FICMYERS
In1863,fifteen-year-oldClaire,thedaughterofanIrishmotherandanAfricanfather,facesugly
truthsandgreatdangerwhenIrishimmigrants,enragedbytheCivilWarandafederaldraft,
lashoutagainstAfrican-Americansandwealthy"swells"ofNewYorkCity.
NoCrystalStair:ADocumentaryNoveloftheLifeandWorkofLewisMichaux,HarlemBookseller.
ByVaundaMicheauxNelson.
NEWFICNELSON
TellsthestoryofLewisMichauxwhobuiltabookstoreinHarlemdespitewidespread
opposition.
AkataWitch.ByNnediOkorafor-Mbachu
NEWFICOKORAFOR
Twelve-year-oldSunnyNwazue,anAmerican-bornalbinochildofNigerianparents,moveswith
herfamilybacktoNigeria,whereshelearnsthatshehaslatentmagicalpowerswhichsheand
threesimilarlygiftedfriendsusetocatchaserialkiller.
AllAmericanBoys.ByJasonReynolds
NEWFICREYNOLDS
Whensixteen-year-oldRashadismistakenlyaccusedofstealing,classmateQuinnwitnesseshis
brutalbeatingatthehandsofapoliceofficerwhohappenstobetheolderbrotherofhisbest
friend.ToldthroughRashadandQuinn'salternatingviewpoints.
AsBraveasYou.ByJasonReynolds
NEWFICREYNOLDS
Whentwobrothersdecidetoprovehowbravetheyare,everythingbackfires–literally.
TheBoyintheBlackSuit.ByJasonReynolds
NEWFICREYNOLDS
Soonafterhismother'sdeath,MatttakesajobatafuneralhomeinhistoughBrooklyn
neighborhoodand,whileattendingandassistingwithfunerals,beginstoacceptherdeathand
hisresponsibilitiesasaman.
WhenIwasthegreatest.ByJasonReynolds
NEWFICREYNOLDS
AlilivesinBed-Stuy,aBrooklynneighborhoodknownforgunsanddrugs,butheandhissister,
Jazz,andtheirneighbors,NeedlesandNoodles,stayoutoftroubleuntiltheygotothewrong
party,whereonegetsbadlyhurtandanotherleaveswithatargetonhisback.
NinthWard.ByJewellParkerRhodes
FICRHODES
InNewOrleans'NinthWard,twelve-year-oldLanesha,whocanseespirits,andheradopted
grandmotherhavenochoicebuttostayandweatherthestormasHurricaneKatrinabears
downuponthem.
KeepingtheNightWatch.ByHopeAnitaSmith
FICSMITH
Athirteen-year-oldAfricanAmericanboychronicleswhathappenstohisfamilywhenhis
father,whotemporarilyleft,returnshomeandtheyallmustdealwiththeirfeelingsofanger,
hope,abandonment,andfear.
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BlackHistoryMonthSuggestedReads,MiddleSchool2017
Hoodoo.ByRonaldL.Smith
NEWFICSMITH
In1930sAlabama,twelve-year-oldHoodooHatcheristheonlymemberofhisfamilywho
seemsunabletopracticefolkmagic,butwhenamysteriousmancalledtheStrangerputsthe
entiretownatriskfromhisblackmagic,Hoodoomustlearntoconjuretodefeathim.
Flygirl.BySherriL.Smith
FICSMITH
DuringWorldWarII,alight-skinnedAfricanAmericangirl"passes"forwhiteinordertojointhe
WomenAirforceServicePilots.
TheLand.ByMildredD.Taylor
FICTAYLOR
Paul-Edward,thesonofapart-Indian,part-AfricanslavemotherandaWhiteplantationowner
father,findshimselfcaughtbetweenthetwoworldsofhisparentsashepursueshisdreamof
owninglandintheaftermathoftheCivilWar.
Jubilee.ByMargaretWalker
PBFICWALKER
JubileetellsthetruestoryofVyry,thechildofawhiteplantationownerandhisblackmistress.
VyrybearswitnesstotheSouth’santebellumopulenceandtoitsbrutality,itswartimeruin,and
thepromisesofReconstruction.Weavingherownfamily’soralhistorywiththirtyyearsof
research,MargaretWalker’snovelbringstheeverydayexperiencesofslavestolight.Jubilee
churnswiththehunger,thehymns,thestruggles,andtheverybreathofAmericanhistory.
ThisSideofHome.ByRenéeWatson
NEWFICWATSON
TwinsNikkiandMayaYoungeralwaysagreedonmostthings,butastheyheadintotheirsenior
yeartheyreactdifferentlytothegentrificationoftheirPortland,Oregon,neighborhoodandthe
new–white–familythatmovesinaftertheirbestfriendandhermotherareevicted.
WhatMommaleftme.ByRenéeWatson
PBFICWATSON
Afterthedeathoftheirmother,thirteen-year-oldSerenityEvansandheryoungerbrothergoto
livewiththeirgrandparents,whotrytokeepthemsafefrombadinfluencesandhelpthem
cometotermswithwhathashappenedtotheirfamily.
BecomingBillieHoliday.ByCaroleBostonWeatherford
FICWEATHERFORD
JazzvocalistBillieHolidaylooksbackonherearlyyearsinthisfictionalmemoirwritteninverse.
GoneCrazyinAlabama.ByRitaWilliams-Garcia
NEWFICWILLIAMS-GARCIA
Delphine,Vonetta,andFernareofftoAlabamatovisittheirgrandmother,BigMa,andher
mother,MaCharles.AcrossthewaylivesMaCharles'shalfsister,MissTrotter.Thetwohalf
sistershaven'tspokeninyears.AsDelphinehearsaboutherfamilyhistory,sheuncoversthe
surprisingtruththat'sbeenkeepingthesistersapart.Butwhentragedystrikes,Delphine
discoversthatthebondsoffamilyrundeeperthansheeverknewpossible.
AfterTupac&DFoster.ByJacquelineWoodson.
FICWOODSON
IntheNewYorkCityboroughofQueensin1996,threegirlsbondovertheirsharedloveof
TupacShakur'smusic,astogethertheytrytomakesenseoftheunpredictableworldinwhich
theylive.
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BlackHistoryMonthSuggestedReads,MiddleSchool2017
Feathers.ByJacquelineWoodson.
FICWOODSON
Whenanew,whitestudentnicknamed"TheJesusBoy"joinshersixthgradeclassinthewinter
of1971,Frannie'sgrowingfriendshipwithhimmakesherstarttoseesomethingsinanew
light.
FromtheNotebooksofMelaninSun.ByJacquelineWoodson.
PBFICWOODSON
Almost-fourteen-year-oldMelaninSun'scomfortable,quietlifeisshatteredwhenhismother
revealsshehasfalleninlovewithawoman.
Hush.ByJacquelineWoodson.
PBFICWOODSON
Twelve-year-oldToswiahfindsherlifechangedwhenherfamilyentersthewitnessprotection
program.
Everything,Everything.ByNicolaYoon
NEWFICYOON
Thestoryofateenagegirlwho'sliterallyallergictotheoutsideworld.Whenanewfamily
movesinnextdoor,shebeginsacomplicatedromancethatchallengeseverythingshe'sever
known.Thenarrativeunfoldsviavignettes,diaryentries,texts,charts,lists,illustrations,and
more.
TheSunisAlsoaStar.ByNicolaYoon
NEWFICYOON
Natashabelievesinscienceandfacts.Danielisagoodsonandstudent.Butwhenhesees
Natashaheforgetsallthatandbelievestheremaybeanextraordinaryromanceinstorefor
bothofthem.
ShortStories
ShortStories.ByLangstonHughes
SCHUG
Acollectionofforty-sevenstorieswrittenbytheauthorbetween1919and1963.
TheDark-Thirty:SouthernTalesoftheSupernatural.ByPatMcKissack
SCMCK
AcollectionofghoststorieswithAfrican-Americanthemes,designedtobetoldduringtheDark
Thirty–thehalfhourbeforesunset.
PorchLies:TalesofSlicksters,Tricksters,andOtherWilyCharacters.ByPatMcKissack
SCMCK
PresentsacollectionofnineoriginaltalesdrawnfromAfricanAmericanoraltraditionthat
blendshistoryandlegendwithslyhumor,creepyhorror,villainouscharacters,andwildfarce.
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