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General Recommendations
SJPL Picks: YA Fiction for Black History Month 2023
By:
sjpl_teenhq
San José Public Library
Staff-created list
February marks Black History Month, and during this month we take the time to specially celebrate achievements of the African diaspora, and highlight Black history as an integral part of U.S. history. Each year Black History Month has a theme, and in 2023 the theme is Black Resistance; a theme to reflect on Black resilience and action in the face of oppression and injustice, as well as the transformative power of resistance to foment change. Each of the books on this list will speak to Black Resistance in some way, and serve as a path to reflection on Black History while amplifying the voices of Black authors. From mixed genres, check out the titles on this list and honor Black History all year long. Selected and curated by SJPL Librarians.
By:
sjpl_teenhq
San José Public Library
25 items
25 items
by Pink, Randi
Book - 2022
Magical Realism. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Ruth Fitz is surrounded by activism. Her mother is a senator who frequently appears on CNN as a power...Show more
Magical Realism. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Ruth Fitz is surrounded by activism. Her mother is a senator who frequently appears on CNN as a powerful Black voice fighting for legislative social change within the Black community. Her father, a professor of African American history, is a walking encyclopedia, spouting off random dates and events. And her beloved older sister, Virginia, is a natural activist, steadily gaining notoriety within the community and on social media. Ruth, on the other hand, would rather sit quietly reading or writing in her journal.
When her family is rocked by tragedy, Ruth stops writing. As life goes on, Ruth’s mother is presented with a political opportunity she can’t refuse. Just as Senator Fitz is more absent, Ruth begins receiving parchment letters with a seal reading WE ARE THE SCRIBES, sent by Harriet Jacobs, the author of the autobiography and 1861 American classic, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl.
Is Ruth dreaming? How has she been chosen as a “scribe” when she can barely put a sentence together? In a narrative that blends present with past, Randi Pink explores two extraordinary characters who channel their hopelessness and find their voices to make history." -- Goodreads.com.
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Magical Realism. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Ruth Fitz is surrounded by activism. Her mother is a senator who frequently appears on CNN as a power...Show more
Magical Realism. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Ruth Fitz is surrounded by activism. Her mother is a senator who frequently appears on CNN as a powerful Black voice fighting for legislative social change within the Black community. Her father, a professor of African American history, is a walking encyclopedia, spouting off random dates and events. And her beloved older sister, Virginia, is a natural activist, steadily gaining notoriety within the community and on social media. Ruth, on the other hand, would rather sit quietly reading or writing in her journal.
When her family is rocked by tragedy, Ruth stops writing. As life goes on, Ruth’s mother is presented with a political opportunity she can’t refuse. Just as Senator Fitz is more absent, Ruth begins receiving parchment letters with a seal reading WE ARE THE SCRIBES, sent by Harriet Jacobs, the author of the autobiography and 1861 American classic, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl.
Is Ruth dreaming? How has she been chosen as a “scribe” when she can barely put a sentence together? In a narrative that blends present with past, Randi Pink explores two extraordinary characters who channel their hopelessness and find their voices to make history." -- Goodreads.com.
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Book - 2022
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "For Savannah, getting into Wooddale University means more than getting into an Ivy League instituti...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "For Savannah, getting into Wooddale University means more than getting into an Ivy League institution; Wooddale represents a pinnacle of achievement in Savannah’s life, something worthy of her mother’s sacrifices. Transitioning to the majority-white university becomes a primary source of conflict for Savannah, however; it is here, in this institution of higher learning, that she learns what it is to be truly othered and isolated. Savannah comes to terms with wearing her Blackness like a beacon, and at first, she tries desperately to acclimate to the world of blatant racism and casual microaggressions. When an act of vandalism occurs on campus, Savannah is forced into the role of activist, and she has to learn to navigate the world of both friendship and antagonism. " -- Booklist.
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Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "For Savannah, getting into Wooddale University means more than getting into an Ivy League instituti...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "For Savannah, getting into Wooddale University means more than getting into an Ivy League institution; Wooddale represents a pinnacle of achievement in Savannah’s life, something worthy of her mother’s sacrifices. Transitioning to the majority-white university becomes a primary source of conflict for Savannah, however; it is here, in this institution of higher learning, that she learns what it is to be truly othered and isolated. Savannah comes to terms with wearing her Blackness like a beacon, and at first, she tries desperately to acclimate to the world of blatant racism and casual microaggressions. When an act of vandalism occurs on campus, Savannah is forced into the role of activist, and she has to learn to navigate the world of both friendship and antagonism. " -- Booklist.
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Book - 2022
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Ayo’s mother is the heart of the Black civil rights movement in Harlem. Since Ayo was a small child...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Ayo’s mother is the heart of the Black civil rights movement in Harlem. Since Ayo was a small child, she was raised to take over her mother’s nonprofit organization, See Us. Ayo is well versed in the subtle and not-so-subtle nuances of racism in her neighborhood, and her mother has armed her with enough information to fight racism and injustice as a youth leader for See Us. Ayo loves her mother, but she doesn’t necessarily want to follow in her footsteps. Ayo’s world gets turned upside down, however, when her mother gets shot, and Ayo must find a way to work through her rage and grief to become the daughter her mother always wanted her to be. " -- Booklist.
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Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Ayo’s mother is the heart of the Black civil rights movement in Harlem. Since Ayo was a small child...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Ayo’s mother is the heart of the Black civil rights movement in Harlem. Since Ayo was a small child, she was raised to take over her mother’s nonprofit organization, See Us. Ayo is well versed in the subtle and not-so-subtle nuances of racism in her neighborhood, and her mother has armed her with enough information to fight racism and injustice as a youth leader for See Us. Ayo loves her mother, but she doesn’t necessarily want to follow in her footsteps. Ayo’s world gets turned upside down, however, when her mother gets shot, and Ayo must find a way to work through her rage and grief to become the daughter her mother always wanted her to be. " -- Booklist.
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Book - 2022
Fantasy. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "After a childhood in foster care, Bitter is thrilled to have been chosen to attend Eucalyptus, a special scho...Show more
Fantasy. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "After a childhood in foster care, Bitter is thrilled to have been chosen to attend Eucalyptus, a special school where she can focus on her painting surrounded by other creative teens. But outside this haven, the streets are filled with protests against the deep injustices that grip the city of Lucille. Bitter's instinct is to stay safe within the walls of Eucalyptus but her friends aren't willing to settle for a world that's so far away from what they deserve." -- Novelist.
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Fantasy. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "After a childhood in foster care, Bitter is thrilled to have been chosen to attend Eucalyptus, a special scho...Show more
Fantasy. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "After a childhood in foster care, Bitter is thrilled to have been chosen to attend Eucalyptus, a special school where she can focus on her painting surrounded by other creative teens. But outside this haven, the streets are filled with protests against the deep injustices that grip the city of Lucille. Bitter's instinct is to stay safe within the walls of Eucalyptus but her friends aren't willing to settle for a world that's so far away from what they deserve." -- Novelist.
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Book - 2021
Realistic fiction, Sports fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Two high school cheerleaders face the ultimate test when an act of solidarity spurs...Show more
Realistic fiction, Sports fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Two high school cheerleaders face the ultimate test when an act of solidarity spurs chaos. With a rocky start to senior year, lifelong friends Eleanor and Chanel have a lot on their mind. Eleanor is still in physical therapy months after a serious concussion from a failed cheer attempt. Chanel's putting tremendous pressure on herself to get into the best colleges and starts making questionable decisions. But they have each other's backs just as always.
Eleanor's new relationship with star quarterback Three may be causing a rift between the best friends. When the cheer squad decides to take a knee at the season's first football game, what seemed like a positive show of solidarity suddenly becomes the reason for a larger fallout between the girls.
Grappling with the weight of the school's actions as well as their own problems, can the girls rely on the friendship they've always shared?
A bittersweet, sometime humorous, but always compelling look at issues of friendship, privilege, sports, and race." -- Goodreads.com.
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Realistic fiction, Sports fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Two high school cheerleaders face the ultimate test when an act of solidarity spurs...Show more
Realistic fiction, Sports fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Two high school cheerleaders face the ultimate test when an act of solidarity spurs chaos. With a rocky start to senior year, lifelong friends Eleanor and Chanel have a lot on their mind. Eleanor is still in physical therapy months after a serious concussion from a failed cheer attempt. Chanel's putting tremendous pressure on herself to get into the best colleges and starts making questionable decisions. But they have each other's backs just as always.
Eleanor's new relationship with star quarterback Three may be causing a rift between the best friends. When the cheer squad decides to take a knee at the season's first football game, what seemed like a positive show of solidarity suddenly becomes the reason for a larger fallout between the girls.
Grappling with the weight of the school's actions as well as their own problems, can the girls rely on the friendship they've always shared?
A bittersweet, sometime humorous, but always compelling look at issues of friendship, privilege, sports, and race." -- Goodreads.com.
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in some locations
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Book - 2021
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. " It’s senior year for co-captains Rus and Marion, and they are banking on Division I football schol...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. " It’s senior year for co-captains Rus and Marion, and they are banking on Division I football scholarships to get out of their tiny Louisiana town of Monroe. Their school might not be as rich as nearby and largely white Westmond, but talented Rus and Marion have a real shot of being scouted—that is, until the good ol’ boys on Westmond’s team use racial slurs and start a fight on the field. But it’s Marion who gets charged with assault and barred from playing, and when Rus tries to take a stand, he faces harsh consequences. There’s a lot on the line for Rus—the expectations of his family and team; college; and the real peril of putting himself, a Black teen, in the crosshairs of a trigger-happy white cop—but seeing Marion brought so low is too much to bear. While deftly exploring Rus’ evolving feelings about protesting, Buford takes the criminal-justice system sharply to task, demonstrating how easily it bows for people trying to uphold white supremacy at the expense of the livelihoods (and sometimes lives) of Black people. Still, she ends on a hopeful note, emphasizing the power of collective action to make real change." -- Booklist.
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Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. " It’s senior year for co-captains Rus and Marion, and they are banking on Division I football schol...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. " It’s senior year for co-captains Rus and Marion, and they are banking on Division I football scholarships to get out of their tiny Louisiana town of Monroe. Their school might not be as rich as nearby and largely white Westmond, but talented Rus and Marion have a real shot of being scouted—that is, until the good ol’ boys on Westmond’s team use racial slurs and start a fight on the field. But it’s Marion who gets charged with assault and barred from playing, and when Rus tries to take a stand, he faces harsh consequences. There’s a lot on the line for Rus—the expectations of his family and team; college; and the real peril of putting himself, a Black teen, in the crosshairs of a trigger-happy white cop—but seeing Marion brought so low is too much to bear. While deftly exploring Rus’ evolving feelings about protesting, Buford takes the criminal-justice system sharply to task, demonstrating how easily it bows for people trying to uphold white supremacy at the expense of the livelihoods (and sometimes lives) of Black people. Still, she ends on a hopeful note, emphasizing the power of collective action to make real change." -- Booklist.
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Book - 2021
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook. "High schoolers Lena James and Campbell Carlson are not what most people would consider best friends. Lena is Afric...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook. "High schoolers Lena James and Campbell Carlson are not what most people would consider best friends. Lena is African American and a bit rough around the edges. Campbell is white and finding her place at a new school. They unexpectedly befriend each other when a racist incident occurs at their high school football game and results in a riot in the commercial district of town. Lena is pining to reach her unreliable boyfriend, aspiring rapper Black, who is just not that reciprocal about their relationship. Campbell simply wants to go home after working the concession stand on the orders of her dad, who owns the hardware store in town. Their newfound friendship is tested by the riot's effect on the store and the connection Black's friends have with it. " -- School Library Journal.
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Realistic fiction. Also in eBook. "High schoolers Lena James and Campbell Carlson are not what most people would consider best friends. Lena is Afric...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook. "High schoolers Lena James and Campbell Carlson are not what most people would consider best friends. Lena is African American and a bit rough around the edges. Campbell is white and finding her place at a new school. They unexpectedly befriend each other when a racist incident occurs at their high school football game and results in a riot in the commercial district of town. Lena is pining to reach her unreliable boyfriend, aspiring rapper Black, who is just not that reciprocal about their relationship. Campbell simply wants to go home after working the concession stand on the orders of her dad, who owns the hardware store in town. Their newfound friendship is tested by the riot's effect on the store and the connection Black's friends have with it. " -- School Library Journal.
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Book - 2020
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Aspiring rapper Bri records "On the Come Up" to protest the racial profiling and assault ...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Aspiring rapper Bri records "On the Come Up" to protest the racial profiling and assault she endured at the hands of white security guards at her high school. The song goes viral, and Bri seizes the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of her late father and lift her family out of poverty, but her loved ones worry, especially when some listeners paint her as an angry black girl inciting violence. Tension mounts as Bri's mother loses her job, Bri's relationship with her beloved aunt and musical mentor splinters, and a new manager dangles the prospect of fame and wealth—at a price." -- School Library Journal.
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Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Aspiring rapper Bri records "On the Come Up" to protest the racial profiling and assault ...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Aspiring rapper Bri records "On the Come Up" to protest the racial profiling and assault she endured at the hands of white security guards at her high school. The song goes viral, and Bri seizes the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of her late father and lift her family out of poverty, but her loved ones worry, especially when some listeners paint her as an angry black girl inciting violence. Tension mounts as Bri's mother loses her job, Bri's relationship with her beloved aunt and musical mentor splinters, and a new manager dangles the prospect of fame and wealth—at a price." -- School Library Journal.
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Available
in some locations
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Book - 2020
Novels-in-verse, Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "A single punch leads to a fight between Amal and his friends—all Black—and a group...Show more
Novels-in-verse, Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "A single punch leads to a fight between Amal and his friends—all Black—and a group of white boys from a gentrifying part of his neighborhood. Amal is found guilty of assault while his friends are given plea deals. All are sent to prison, while the white boys involved are not charged at all. In prison, Amal gets a stark education on how unjust the justice system is as he witnesses guards abusing their power, administrators carelessly ignoring the welfare of the imprisoned as if their lives are disposable, and the avenues of “rehabilitation” proving to be decrepit and empty. Only Amal’s painting and poetry allow him to withstand the torture of physical beatings and solitary confinement. Zoboi worked with prison reform activist Yusef Salaam to create Amal’s story in verse. Yusef himself was a victim of wrongful incarceration when he and four other young men were convicted of a crime they did not commit. His experiences lend a visceral gravitas to Zoboi’s pen, and together they capture Amal’s emotional struggles as he grasps for hope despite his circumstances." -- Booklist.
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Novels-in-verse, Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "A single punch leads to a fight between Amal and his friends—all Black—and a group...Show more
Novels-in-verse, Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "A single punch leads to a fight between Amal and his friends—all Black—and a group of white boys from a gentrifying part of his neighborhood. Amal is found guilty of assault while his friends are given plea deals. All are sent to prison, while the white boys involved are not charged at all. In prison, Amal gets a stark education on how unjust the justice system is as he witnesses guards abusing their power, administrators carelessly ignoring the welfare of the imprisoned as if their lives are disposable, and the avenues of “rehabilitation” proving to be decrepit and empty. Only Amal’s painting and poetry allow him to withstand the torture of physical beatings and solitary confinement. Zoboi worked with prison reform activist Yusef Salaam to create Amal’s story in verse. Yusef himself was a victim of wrongful incarceration when he and four other young men were convicted of a crime they did not commit. His experiences lend a visceral gravitas to Zoboi’s pen, and together they capture Amal’s emotional struggles as he grasps for hope despite his circumstances." -- Booklist.
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in some locations
Place hold
Book - 2020
Coming-of-age stories, Historical fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Unfolding in the six days following the 1992 acquittal of the police office...Show more
Coming-of-age stories, Historical fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Unfolding in the six days following the 1992 acquittal of the police officers who beat Rodney King, Reed’s poetic, layered, and seamlessly intersectional debut depicts the coming-to-consciousness of sheltered Ashley Bennett, one of the few Black students at a wealthy, largely white Los Angeles high school. Though Ashley encounters racism, she’s mostly concerned with fitting in with her white childhood friends; her college-dropout sister, Jo, meanwhile, spray paints Communist slogans on the scarred city. Ashley becomes aware of her own racism after accidentally starting a rumor that LaShawn, a Black basketball player on scholarship, may have looted his new sneakers. Getting to know LaShawn is just part of an education that includes a scary brush with the police, as well as long untold family stories about Black Wall Street and intergenerational depression. " -- Publisher's Weekly.
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Coming-of-age stories, Historical fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Unfolding in the six days following the 1992 acquittal of the police office...Show more
Coming-of-age stories, Historical fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Unfolding in the six days following the 1992 acquittal of the police officers who beat Rodney King, Reed’s poetic, layered, and seamlessly intersectional debut depicts the coming-to-consciousness of sheltered Ashley Bennett, one of the few Black students at a wealthy, largely white Los Angeles high school. Though Ashley encounters racism, she’s mostly concerned with fitting in with her white childhood friends; her college-dropout sister, Jo, meanwhile, spray paints Communist slogans on the scarred city. Ashley becomes aware of her own racism after accidentally starting a rumor that LaShawn, a Black basketball player on scholarship, may have looted his new sneakers. Getting to know LaShawn is just part of an education that includes a scary brush with the police, as well as long untold family stories about Black Wall Street and intergenerational depression. " -- Publisher's Weekly.
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Book - 2020
Historical fiction, Biographical fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "In Charlestown Prison, Malcolm Little struggles with the weight of his past....Show more
Historical fiction, Biographical fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "In Charlestown Prison, Malcolm Little struggles with the weight of his past. Plagued by nightmares, Malcolm drifts through days unsure of his future. Slowly, he befriends other prisoners and writes to his family. He reads all the books in the prison library, joins the debate team and the Nation of Islam. Malcolm grapples with race, politics, religion, and justice in the 1940s. And as his time in jail comes to an end, he begins to awaken -- emerging from prison more than just Malcolm Little: Now, he is Malcolm X.
Here is an intimate look at Malcolm X's young adult years. While this book chronologically follows X: A Novel, it can be read as a stand-alone historical novel that invites larger discussions on black power, prison reform, and civil rights." -- Goodreads.com.
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Historical fiction, Biographical fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "In Charlestown Prison, Malcolm Little struggles with the weight of his past....Show more
Historical fiction, Biographical fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "In Charlestown Prison, Malcolm Little struggles with the weight of his past. Plagued by nightmares, Malcolm drifts through days unsure of his future. Slowly, he befriends other prisoners and writes to his family. He reads all the books in the prison library, joins the debate team and the Nation of Islam. Malcolm grapples with race, politics, religion, and justice in the 1940s. And as his time in jail comes to an end, he begins to awaken -- emerging from prison more than just Malcolm Little: Now, he is Malcolm X.
Here is an intimate look at Malcolm X's young adult years. While this book chronologically follows X: A Novel, it can be read as a stand-alone historical novel that invites larger discussions on black power, prison reform, and civil rights." -- Goodreads.com.
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by Johnson, Kim
Book - 2020
Mysteries, Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Tracey Beaumont has always believed in her father, even after he was convicted and sente...Show more
Mysteries, Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Tracey Beaumont has always believed in her father, even after he was convicted and sentenced to death. She keeps her faith by regularly writing letters to Innocence X, which advocates for the wrongfully imprisoned. When her world is rocked once more by accusations against her brother, she does more than write. With a thirst for justice, she follows clues that unravel the hidden history of her town. But time is not on her side. With her brother on the run, the police manhunt is growing more fervent. Meanwhile, Tracey's investigations have caught the attention of long-hidden white supremacist organizations that will do anything to see her fail. Uniting a well-paced mystery with lessons about history and activism, Kim Johnson has penned a tale that manages to teach and thrill. Not only does it illuminate how prejudice can lie dormant and operate in the darkness, but it also shows how a community can rally to heal and support young people dealing with legacies of hate. This strong debut will strike home with socially conscious readers." -- Booklist.
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Mysteries, Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Tracey Beaumont has always believed in her father, even after he was convicted and sente...Show more
Mysteries, Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Tracey Beaumont has always believed in her father, even after he was convicted and sentenced to death. She keeps her faith by regularly writing letters to Innocence X, which advocates for the wrongfully imprisoned. When her world is rocked once more by accusations against her brother, she does more than write. With a thirst for justice, she follows clues that unravel the hidden history of her town. But time is not on her side. With her brother on the run, the police manhunt is growing more fervent. Meanwhile, Tracey's investigations have caught the attention of long-hidden white supremacist organizations that will do anything to see her fail. Uniting a well-paced mystery with lessons about history and activism, Kim Johnson has penned a tale that manages to teach and thrill. Not only does it illuminate how prejudice can lie dormant and operate in the darkness, but it also shows how a community can rally to heal and support young people dealing with legacies of hate. This strong debut will strike home with socially conscious readers." -- Booklist.
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Place hold
Book - 2020
Historical fiction. Also in eBook. "The story of an African-American girl becoming a woman on her own terms against the backdrop of widespread social...Show more
Historical fiction. Also in eBook. "The story of an African-American girl becoming a woman on her own terms against the backdrop of widespread social change in the early 1900s America. As a daughter of an upper class African American family in Washington D.C., Savannah is lucky. Feeling suffocated by the structure of society, Savannah meets a working-class girl named Nell who introduces her to the suffragette and socialist movements, inspiring her to fight for change." -- Novelist.
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Historical fiction. Also in eBook. "The story of an African-American girl becoming a woman on her own terms against the backdrop of widespread social...Show more
Historical fiction. Also in eBook. "The story of an African-American girl becoming a woman on her own terms against the backdrop of widespread social change in the early 1900s America. As a daughter of an upper class African American family in Washington D.C., Savannah is lucky. Feeling suffocated by the structure of society, Savannah meets a working-class girl named Nell who introduces her to the suffragette and socialist movements, inspiring her to fight for change." -- Novelist.
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in some locations
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Book - 2020
Historical fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Cassie Logan, first met in Song of the Trees and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, is a young woman no...Show more
Historical fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Cassie Logan, first met in Song of the Trees and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, is a young woman now, searching for her place in the world, a journey that takes her from Toledo to California, to law school in Boston, and, ultimately, in the 60s, home to Mississippi
to participate in voter registration. She is witness to the now-historic events of the century: the Great Migration north, the rise of the civil rights movement, preceded and precipitated by the racist society of America, and the often violent confrontations that brought about change." -- Goodreads.com.
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Historical fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Cassie Logan, first met in Song of the Trees and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, is a young woman no...Show more
Historical fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Cassie Logan, first met in Song of the Trees and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, is a young woman now, searching for her place in the world, a journey that takes her from Toledo to California, to law school in Boston, and, ultimately, in the 60s, home to Mississippi
to participate in voter registration. She is witness to the now-historic events of the century: the Great Migration north, the rise of the civil rights movement, preceded and precipitated by the racist society of America, and the often violent confrontations that brought about change." -- Goodreads.com.
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Place hold
Book - 2019
Realistic fiction. "Black, gay 18-year-old Torrence "Torrey" Aloysius McKenzie becomes a freshman at San Francisco State University when hi...Show more
Realistic fiction. "Black, gay 18-year-old Torrence "Torrey" Aloysius McKenzie becomes a freshman at San Francisco State University when his Uncle Miles passes away unexpectedly. The bank is foreclosing on the apiary Uncle Miles leaves him. He is unable to focus on his classes and renewed relationship with restless junior-high school crush Gabriel London Silva. He deals with some thorns in his fight to save the apiary—his homophobic grandfather Theo wants nothing to do with it, nor with him, and unscrupulous real-estate businessman Richard Mathew stalks and pressures Torrey to sell the apiary for gentrification purposes. Torrey has to make a decision to leave his traumatic past behind or move on with his life. His actions threaten his mental health and his relationship with Gabe. Readers will be unable to put this fast-paced and witty novel down. Montgomery covers topics such as homophobia in the Black community, family dynamics, opioid addiction, gentrification, and community organizing. Readers will find refreshing Torrey's relationships with Black women, especially Aunt Lisa and CAKE (Clarke, Auburn, Kennedy, and Emery), and his knowledge of beekeeping and honey harvesting. The images of CAKE as Black STEM women and community activists present diverse images of Black women, and the usage of social media and technology will resonate with young people. VERDICT Readers will fall in love with this honest novel, which will instruct them to employ self-care and live their best lives. " -- School Library Journal.
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Realistic fiction. "Black, gay 18-year-old Torrence "Torrey" Aloysius McKenzie becomes a freshman at San Francisco State University when hi...Show more
Realistic fiction. "Black, gay 18-year-old Torrence "Torrey" Aloysius McKenzie becomes a freshman at San Francisco State University when his Uncle Miles passes away unexpectedly. The bank is foreclosing on the apiary Uncle Miles leaves him. He is unable to focus on his classes and renewed relationship with restless junior-high school crush Gabriel London Silva. He deals with some thorns in his fight to save the apiary—his homophobic grandfather Theo wants nothing to do with it, nor with him, and unscrupulous real-estate businessman Richard Mathew stalks and pressures Torrey to sell the apiary for gentrification purposes. Torrey has to make a decision to leave his traumatic past behind or move on with his life. His actions threaten his mental health and his relationship with Gabe. Readers will be unable to put this fast-paced and witty novel down. Montgomery covers topics such as homophobia in the Black community, family dynamics, opioid addiction, gentrification, and community organizing. Readers will find refreshing Torrey's relationships with Black women, especially Aunt Lisa and CAKE (Clarke, Auburn, Kennedy, and Emery), and his knowledge of beekeeping and honey harvesting. The images of CAKE as Black STEM women and community activists present diverse images of Black women, and the usage of social media and technology will resonate with young people. VERDICT Readers will fall in love with this honest novel, which will instruct them to employ self-care and live their best lives. " -- School Library Journal.
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Available
in some locations
Place hold
Book - 2019
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Magoon’s latest novel houses an unapologetic, poignant narrative that forces readers to come face-t...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Magoon’s latest novel houses an unapologetic, poignant narrative that forces readers to come face-to-face with the harsh realities of racial violence and racial profiling in America. Shae is a 13-year-old Black girl who leaves school one day and never makes it home. Rather, she is shot and killed by a police officer for doing nothing more than wearing headphones and simply existing, her body left lying in the street for hours. Her senseless death rocks her community and affects the lives of many around her. Following Shae’s murder, unrest mounts in her community, and protesters bearing the message that Black Lives Matter clash with white-supremacist demonstrators. This tragic, timely story unfurls in vignettes told from various perspectives of those closest to Shae and her death, including an officer on the scene, Shae’s friends, and her sister. Each voice tells of the personal impact wrought by Shae’s death, while giving readers a gut-wrenching, viscerally true portrait of the light, hope, and promise that are snuffed out whenever another young Black life is taken by police violence. A powerful story of community bonds, injustice, and finding the strength to fight for what is right, this is less an echo of our times than a clarion call for action." -- Booklist.
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Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Magoon’s latest novel houses an unapologetic, poignant narrative that forces readers to come face-t...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Magoon’s latest novel houses an unapologetic, poignant narrative that forces readers to come face-to-face with the harsh realities of racial violence and racial profiling in America. Shae is a 13-year-old Black girl who leaves school one day and never makes it home. Rather, she is shot and killed by a police officer for doing nothing more than wearing headphones and simply existing, her body left lying in the street for hours. Her senseless death rocks her community and affects the lives of many around her. Following Shae’s murder, unrest mounts in her community, and protesters bearing the message that Black Lives Matter clash with white-supremacist demonstrators. This tragic, timely story unfurls in vignettes told from various perspectives of those closest to Shae and her death, including an officer on the scene, Shae’s friends, and her sister. Each voice tells of the personal impact wrought by Shae’s death, while giving readers a gut-wrenching, viscerally true portrait of the light, hope, and promise that are snuffed out whenever another young Black life is taken by police violence. A powerful story of community bonds, injustice, and finding the strength to fight for what is right, this is less an echo of our times than a clarion call for action." -- Booklist.
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by Coles, Jay
Book - 2018
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook. "Narrated by 17-year-old Marvin Johnson, this novel gives readers a glimpse into the life and the tragic death of h...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook. "Narrated by 17-year-old Marvin Johnson, this novel gives readers a glimpse into the life and the tragic death of his identical twin Tyler. Their family is headed by a single mother separated from her husband due to incarceration. It's senior year and for the first time, the twins are growing apart. Tyler now prefers his friends over all else, forsaking academics and his curfew. Marvin, on the other hand, is questioning the change and feeling an imbalance in the relationship. Gang violence erupts in a party both twins attend and Tyler ends up dead from an unprovoked altercation with a police officer. Marvin, who was being scouted by MIT for a college scholarship, begins a downward spiral that could only end with the clearing of his deceased brother's name as a wrongdoer. Social media, as in real life, plays a vital part in the advocacy for victims' rights at the hands of police, as well as for the efforts needed to organize public protests and vigils in memory of Tyler. Tensions arise in the community between proponents of the Black Lives Matter movement and those who push for "All Lives Matter" in response. " -- School Library Journal.
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Realistic fiction. Also in eBook. "Narrated by 17-year-old Marvin Johnson, this novel gives readers a glimpse into the life and the tragic death of h...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook. "Narrated by 17-year-old Marvin Johnson, this novel gives readers a glimpse into the life and the tragic death of his identical twin Tyler. Their family is headed by a single mother separated from her husband due to incarceration. It's senior year and for the first time, the twins are growing apart. Tyler now prefers his friends over all else, forsaking academics and his curfew. Marvin, on the other hand, is questioning the change and feeling an imbalance in the relationship. Gang violence erupts in a party both twins attend and Tyler ends up dead from an unprovoked altercation with a police officer. Marvin, who was being scouted by MIT for a college scholarship, begins a downward spiral that could only end with the clearing of his deceased brother's name as a wrongdoer. Social media, as in real life, plays a vital part in the advocacy for victims' rights at the hands of police, as well as for the efforts needed to organize public protests and vigils in memory of Tyler. Tensions arise in the community between proponents of the Black Lives Matter movement and those who push for "All Lives Matter" in response. " -- School Library Journal.
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by Medina, Tony
Book - 2017
Comics and Graphic Novels. "The ghost of fifteen-year-old Alfonso Jones travels in a New York subway car full of the living and the dead, watching hi...Show more
Comics and Graphic Novels. "The ghost of fifteen-year-old Alfonso Jones travels in a New York subway car full of the living and the dead, watching his family and friends fight for justice after he is killed by an off-duty police officer while buying a suit in a Midtown department store." -- Novelist.
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Comics and Graphic Novels. "The ghost of fifteen-year-old Alfonso Jones travels in a New York subway car full of the living and the dead, watching hi...Show more
Comics and Graphic Novels. "The ghost of fifteen-year-old Alfonso Jones travels in a New York subway car full of the living and the dead, watching his family and friends fight for justice after he is killed by an off-duty police officer while buying a suit in a Midtown department store." -- Novelist.
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Book - 2017
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "For two years, Jade has been a scholarship student at a predominantly white private high school whe...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "For two years, Jade has been a scholarship student at a predominantly white private high school where she is one of few African-American students—the only one from her "bad" neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. Jade's mom struggles to make ends meet. At school, Jade has many opportunities, steppingstones to move beyond her neighborhood someday, maybe even travel the world. But sometimes these opportunities and her white guidance counselor make Jade feel like a charity case. Junior year brings yet another opportunity that leaves Jade feeling judged and pitied: the Woman to Woman mentorship program, which promises a full college scholarship to mentees. Jade's mentor, Maxine, is both well-intentioned and also black, but she's from a wealthy family. Jade chafes against the way Maxine treats her as though she needs to be saved. Through Jade's insightful and fresh narration, Watson presents a powerful story that challenges stereotypes about girls with "coal skin and hula-hoop hips" who must contend with the realities of racial profiling and police brutality. Jade's passion for collage and photography help her to find her voice and advocate not only for herself, but for her community." -- Kirkus.
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Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "For two years, Jade has been a scholarship student at a predominantly white private high school whe...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "For two years, Jade has been a scholarship student at a predominantly white private high school where she is one of few African-American students—the only one from her "bad" neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. Jade's mom struggles to make ends meet. At school, Jade has many opportunities, steppingstones to move beyond her neighborhood someday, maybe even travel the world. But sometimes these opportunities and her white guidance counselor make Jade feel like a charity case. Junior year brings yet another opportunity that leaves Jade feeling judged and pitied: the Woman to Woman mentorship program, which promises a full college scholarship to mentees. Jade's mentor, Maxine, is both well-intentioned and also black, but she's from a wealthy family. Jade chafes against the way Maxine treats her as though she needs to be saved. Through Jade's insightful and fresh narration, Watson presents a powerful story that challenges stereotypes about girls with "coal skin and hula-hoop hips" who must contend with the realities of racial profiling and police brutality. Jade's passion for collage and photography help her to find her voice and advocate not only for herself, but for her community." -- Kirkus.
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Book - 2017
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. 'Sixteen-year-old Starr lives in two very different worlds: one is her home in a poor black urban neighbo...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. 'Sixteen-year-old Starr lives in two very different worlds: one is her home in a poor black urban neighborhood; the other is the tony suburban prep school she attends and the white boy she dates there. Her bifurcated life changes dramatically when she is the only witness to the unprovoked police shooting of her unarmed friend Khalil and is challenged to speak out—though with trepidation—about the injustices being done in the event’s wake. As the case becomes national news, violence erupts in her neighborhood, and Starr finds herself and her family caught in the middle. Difficulties are exacerbated by their encounters with the local drug lord for whom Khalil was dealing to earn money for his impoverished family. If there is to be hope for change, Starr comes to realize, it must be through the exercise of her voice, even if it puts her and her family in harm’s way." -- Booklist.
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Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. 'Sixteen-year-old Starr lives in two very different worlds: one is her home in a poor black urban neighbo...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. 'Sixteen-year-old Starr lives in two very different worlds: one is her home in a poor black urban neighborhood; the other is the tony suburban prep school she attends and the white boy she dates there. Her bifurcated life changes dramatically when she is the only witness to the unprovoked police shooting of her unarmed friend Khalil and is challenged to speak out—though with trepidation—about the injustices being done in the event’s wake. As the case becomes national news, violence erupts in her neighborhood, and Starr finds herself and her family caught in the middle. Difficulties are exacerbated by their encounters with the local drug lord for whom Khalil was dealing to earn money for his impoverished family. If there is to be hope for change, Starr comes to realize, it must be through the exercise of her voice, even if it puts her and her family in harm’s way." -- Booklist.
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Book - 2017
Historical fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Freedom. Mariah has barely dared to dream of it her entire life. When General Sherman’s march thro...Show more
Historical fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Freedom. Mariah has barely dared to dream of it her entire life. When General Sherman’s march through Georgia during the Civil War passes the plantation where she is enslaved, her life changes instantly. Joining the march for protection, Mariah heads into the unknown, wondering if she can ever feel safe, if she will ever be able to put the brutalities of slavery behind her.
On the march Mariah meets a young man named Caleb, and a new dream takes root—one of a future with a home of her own and a true love by her side. But hope often comes at a cost. As the treacherous march continues toward the churning waters of Ebenezer Creek, Mariah sees that the harsh realities of her and her peoples’ lives will always haunt them." -- Goodreads.com.
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Historical fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Freedom. Mariah has barely dared to dream of it her entire life. When General Sherman’s march thro...Show more
Historical fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Freedom. Mariah has barely dared to dream of it her entire life. When General Sherman’s march through Georgia during the Civil War passes the plantation where she is enslaved, her life changes instantly. Joining the march for protection, Mariah heads into the unknown, wondering if she can ever feel safe, if she will ever be able to put the brutalities of slavery behind her.
On the march Mariah meets a young man named Caleb, and a new dream takes root—one of a future with a home of her own and a true love by her side. But hope often comes at a cost. As the treacherous march continues toward the churning waters of Ebenezer Creek, Mariah sees that the harsh realities of her and her peoples’ lives will always haunt them." -- Goodreads.com.
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Book - 2015
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Two teenage boys, one black (Rashad) and one white (Quinn), are inextricably linked when Quinn witn...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Two teenage boys, one black (Rashad) and one white (Quinn), are inextricably linked when Quinn witnesses Rashad being savagely beaten with little or no provocation by a policeman who has served as Quinn’s de facto big brother since his father was killed in Afghanistan—and whose younger brother is one of Quinn’s best friends. Can Quinn simply walk away from this apparent atrocity and pretend he hasn’t seen what he has seen? And what of Rashad? Hospitalized with internal bleeding, all he wants is to be left alone so he can focus on his art. The challenge for both boys becomes more intense when the case becomes a cause célèbre dividing first their school and then the entire community. The basketball team becomes a microcosm of split loyalties and angry disputes that come to a head when a protest march powerfully demonstrates the importance of action in the face of injustice. " -- Booklist.
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Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Two teenage boys, one black (Rashad) and one white (Quinn), are inextricably linked when Quinn witn...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "Two teenage boys, one black (Rashad) and one white (Quinn), are inextricably linked when Quinn witnesses Rashad being savagely beaten with little or no provocation by a policeman who has served as Quinn’s de facto big brother since his father was killed in Afghanistan—and whose younger brother is one of Quinn’s best friends. Can Quinn simply walk away from this apparent atrocity and pretend he hasn’t seen what he has seen? And what of Rashad? Hospitalized with internal bleeding, all he wants is to be left alone so he can focus on his art. The challenge for both boys becomes more intense when the case becomes a cause célèbre dividing first their school and then the entire community. The basketball team becomes a microcosm of split loyalties and angry disputes that come to a head when a protest march powerfully demonstrates the importance of action in the face of injustice. " -- Booklist.
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Book - 2015
Coming-of-age stories. Also in eBook. "Identical twins Maya and Nikki and their best friend, Essence, have lived in Portland, Oregon, in a traditiona...Show more
Coming-of-age stories. Also in eBook. "Identical twins Maya and Nikki and their best friend, Essence, have lived in Portland, Oregon, in a traditionally African American neighborhood all their lives. At the end of their junior year at Richmond High School, Essence moves away when her alcoholic mother’s landlord sells their home as gentrification begins to change the neighborhood. Maya, the more serious and sensitive of the twins, narrates both the events and her outrage when Nikki becomes best friends with the girl in the white family who buys Essence’s former home. Then, when school resumes, Richmond’s new principal seems bent on proving the school’s “inclusiveness” by disrespecting its black students’ traditions. Writing with the artfulness and insights of African American teen-lit pioneers...Watson shows Maya exploring concerns rarely made this accessible: the difficulties in mounting a student protest; the nuisance of unconscious racial bias perceived in white allies; the emotional chaos within as a cross-race romance develops for Maya despite her desire to ignore it. Authentic teen characterizations mean that questions and challenges aren’t always answered and that Maya herself discovers the limits of her own awareness. " -- Booklist.
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Coming-of-age stories. Also in eBook. "Identical twins Maya and Nikki and their best friend, Essence, have lived in Portland, Oregon, in a traditiona...Show more
Coming-of-age stories. Also in eBook. "Identical twins Maya and Nikki and their best friend, Essence, have lived in Portland, Oregon, in a traditionally African American neighborhood all their lives. At the end of their junior year at Richmond High School, Essence moves away when her alcoholic mother’s landlord sells their home as gentrification begins to change the neighborhood. Maya, the more serious and sensitive of the twins, narrates both the events and her outrage when Nikki becomes best friends with the girl in the white family who buys Essence’s former home. Then, when school resumes, Richmond’s new principal seems bent on proving the school’s “inclusiveness” by disrespecting its black students’ traditions. Writing with the artfulness and insights of African American teen-lit pioneers...Watson shows Maya exploring concerns rarely made this accessible: the difficulties in mounting a student protest; the nuisance of unconscious racial bias perceived in white allies; the emotional chaos within as a cross-race romance develops for Maya despite her desire to ignore it. Authentic teen characterizations mean that questions and challenges aren’t always answered and that Maya herself discovers the limits of her own awareness. " -- Booklist.
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Book - 2013
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "A star high school quarterback bets he can get the attention of a girl who claims not to be interes...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "A star high school quarterback bets he can get the attention of a girl who claims not to be interested by leading a protest for a cause she champions. Omar "T-Diddy" Smalls has the swagger that comes with his exalted status. The fact that he has moved to Charleston, S.C., from Brooklyn adds to his aura, and he attracts the attention of every desirable girl at school--except for Claudia Clarke, who calls him "immature, shallow [and a] fraud." Omar never runs away from a challenge, and he bets his friends that Claudia will become his next conquest. Socially conscious, Claudia is more interested in protesting budget cuts that will wipe out the arts, the library and other school activities--excluding sports--than in Omar. Omar uses his considerable charisma and stories from his activist uncle to lead a successful protest and bring the impending cuts much-needed attention. Through working together, Omar develops genuine feelings for Claudia, and she finds herself drawn to him." -- Kirkus.
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Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "A star high school quarterback bets he can get the attention of a girl who claims not to be interes...Show more
Realistic fiction. Also in eBook and eAudiobook. "A star high school quarterback bets he can get the attention of a girl who claims not to be interested by leading a protest for a cause she champions. Omar "T-Diddy" Smalls has the swagger that comes with his exalted status. The fact that he has moved to Charleston, S.C., from Brooklyn adds to his aura, and he attracts the attention of every desirable girl at school--except for Claudia Clarke, who calls him "immature, shallow [and a] fraud." Omar never runs away from a challenge, and he bets his friends that Claudia will become his next conquest. Socially conscious, Claudia is more interested in protesting budget cuts that will wipe out the arts, the library and other school activities--excluding sports--than in Omar. Omar uses his considerable charisma and stories from his activist uncle to lead a successful protest and bring the impending cuts much-needed attention. Through working together, Omar develops genuine feelings for Claudia, and she finds herself drawn to him." -- Kirkus.
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A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller
Book - 2012
Historical fiction. Also in eBook. "Told by a banker that he should sell fried chicken rather than books, since "Negroes don't read", Lewis...Show more
Historical fiction. Also in eBook. "Told by a banker that he should sell fried chicken rather than books, since "Negroes don't read", Lewis Michaux defies the odds to build Harlem's National Memorial African Bookstore, an intellectual center and gathering place from 1939 to 1975." - Novelist.
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Historical fiction. Also in eBook. "Told by a banker that he should sell fried chicken rather than books, since "Negroes don't read", Lewis...Show more
Historical fiction. Also in eBook. "Told by a banker that he should sell fried chicken rather than books, since "Negroes don't read", Lewis Michaux defies the odds to build Harlem's National Memorial African Bookstore, an intellectual center and gathering place from 1939 to 1975." - Novelist.
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