Book List #BlackGirlMagic & #BlackBoyJoy YA Reads

Book List: #BlackGirlMagic & #BlackBoyJoy YA Reads

There are many YA books about slavery, segregation, racism, and the Black struggle. These books are great to read, especially during Black History Month.

However, Black teens deserve sappy coming-of-age books, happy-go-lucky romances, exploration of Black culture, and just plain fun reads. So, if you’re looking for a way to celebrate #BlackGirlMagic and #BlackBoyJoy, check out this list of amazing books.

A note: These Amazon links all point to Amazon Smile, Amazon’s charity affiliate program. If you haven’t set up Amazon Smile, I encourage you to point it to an organization like Youthlink MN, a nonprofit organization that works with homeless Twin Cities youth to provide everything from basic needs to employment assistance to health resources.

Charming as A Verb by Ben Philippe - https://smile.amazon.com/Charming-as-Verb-Ben-Philippe/dp/0062824147/

Henri “Halti” Haltiwanger is charming as hell. He’s also a star debate student and popular at his prestigious prep academy in New York City, with big dreams of attending Columbia University. His intense and socially awkward neighbor Corinne Troy seems to be the only one immune to his charms. Corinne devises a scheme to blackmail Halti into helping her change her image at school, and their mutual hustle transforms into something neither of them expects.

The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon - https://smile.amazon.com/Sun-Also-Star-Nicola-Yoon/dp/0553496719/

Two teens–Daniel, the son of Korean shopkeepers, and Natasha, whose family is here illegally from Jamaica–cross paths in New York City on an eventful day in their lives–Daniel is on his way to an interview with a Yale alum, Natasha is meeting with a lawyer to try and prevent her family’s deportation to Jamaica–and fall in love.

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander - https://smile.amazon.com/Crossover-Kwame-Alexander/dp/0544935209/

Josh’s life has always revolved around two things: basketball and being a twin. Things get hard though when his twin finds a girlfriend and his father’s health takes a turn for the worst.

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson - https://smile.amazon.com/You-Should-See-Me-Crown/dp/133850326X/

Liz Lighty has always done her best to avoid the spotlight in her small, wealthy, and prom-obsessed midwestern high school. Instead she has concentrated on her grades and her musical ability in the hopes that it will win her a scholarship to elite Pennington College and their famous orchestra where she plans to study medicine–but when that scholarship falls through she is forced to turn to her school’s scholarship for prom king and queen, which leads her into the gauntlet of social media and discoveries about her own identity.

The Great Greene Heist by Varian Johnson - https://smile.amazon.com/Great-Greene-Heist-Jackson/dp/0545525535/

Jackson Greene has a specific set of skills… He has a bad reputation as the prank king of Maplewood Middle school, but he’s been trying to be good. He really has. When Gabriela, his old friend, fears that Keith is trying to steal the student council election from her, Jackson decides to put his skills to good use.

Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann - https://smile.amazon.com/Lets-Talk-About-Love-Claire/dp/1250294509/

In this young adult novel, Alice, afraid of explaining her asexuality, has given up on finding love until love finds her. Alice’s last girlfriend, Margo, ended things when Alice confessed she’s asexual. Now Alice is sure she’s done with dating… and then she meets Takumi.

Jackpot by Nic Stone - https://smile.amazon.com/Jackpot-Nic-Stone/dp/1984829653/

Meet Rico: high school senior and afternoon-shift cashier at the Gas ‘n’ Go, who after school and work races home to take care of her younger brother. Every. Single. Day. When Rico sells a jackpot-winning lotto ticket, she thinks maybe her luck will finally change, but only if she–with some assistance from her popular and wildly rich classmate Zan–can find the ticket holder who hasn’t claimed the prize. But what happens when have and have-nots collide? Will this investigative duo unite… or divide?

Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant - https://smile.amazon.com/Happily-Ever-Afters-Elise-Bryant/dp/0062982834/

Tessa is accepted into a prestigious creative writing program only to find her words have dried up. Her best friend’s solution? Tessa needs to get inspired by a real-life love story of her own. Now she’s checking items off a list of romance novel-inspired steps to happily ever after, but as she gets closer to her perfect Prince Charming, she gets further away from herself.

Opposite of Always by Justin Reynolds - https://smile.amazon.com/Opposite-Always-Justin-Reynolds/dp/0062748386/

When Jack and Kate meet at a party, bonding until sunrise over their mutual love of Froot Loops and their favorite flicks, Jack knows he’s falling - hard. Soon she’s meeting his best friends, Jillian and Franny, and Kate wins them over as easily as she did Jack. But this love story is … complicated. It is an almost happily ever after. because Kate dies. And their story should end there. Yet Kate’s death sends Jack back to the beginning, the moment they first meet, and Kate’s there again. If Jack has a chance to prevent Kate’s death, he’ll take it. even if that means believing in time travel. However, Jack will learn that his actions are not without consequences.

Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles - https://smile.amazon.com/Not-Pure-Simple-Lamar-Giles/dp/0062349201/

Kiera has been Del’s dream girl since kindergarten and now in their junior year, she is finally single. Del is ready to do what it takes to “get the girl” even if that means joining his church’s purity pledge and making some mistakes along the way.

Love is a Revolution by Renee Watson - https://smile.amazon.com/Love-Revolution-Renee-Watson/dp/1547600608/

All Nala wants from the summer before her senior year is to find a new hairstyle, spend time with her cousin/sister/friend and teen activist Imani, and fall in love. When Nala accompanies Imani to an activism event, she meets the dreamy and socially aware Tye, and falls for him hard. In order to impress him, she tells a few tiny white lies that spiral out of her control. As she falls even deeper for Tye, she comes to terms with how the person she wants to be is different from the persona she’s created.

The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert - https://smile.amazon.com/Voting-Booth-Brandy-Colbert/dp/1368053297/

Marva Sheridan has always been driven to make a difference in the world, and what better way than to vote in her first election? Duke Crenshaw is so done with this election; he just wants to get voting over with so he can prepare for his band’s first paying gig tonight. Only problem? Duke can’t vote. When Marva sees Duke turned away from their polling place, she takes it upon herself to make sure his vote is counted. And that’s how their whirlwind day begins. Soon it’s clear that there is more to their connection than a shared mission for democracy.

Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks by Jason Reynolds - https://smile.amazon.com/Look-Both-Ways-Tale-Blocks/dp/1481438298/

In this collection of ten short stories, we hear about the after-school life of a student at Latimar Middle School. The stories explore such common middle school themes as best friendship, first love, family struggles, sexual identity, and bullying.

Smash It! by Francina Simone - https://smile.amazon.com/Smash-Francina-Simone/dp/1335146504/

Liv is sick and tired of being “wack AF.” So, what better time than now to make a “F*** it!” list to help her get out of her comfort zone and start living her life? Sure, said list got her to audition for the school musical and make some new friends, but NOW she has feelings for three different guys! Apparently, a lot can happen when your answer to every question is, “What’s the worst that can happen?”

Now That I’ve Found You by Kristina Forest - https://smile.amazon.com/Now-That-Ive-Found-You/dp/1250295025/

Evie Jones is Hollywood’s next big star at just 18 years old — until she’s blacklisted by a close friend. To save her career, Evie plans to make a public appearance with America’s most beloved actress: her grandma Gigi, aka the Evelyn Conaway. But a huge problem arises: Days before the appearance, Gigi disappears. Evie enlists the help of a cute musician named Milo Williams, and together they venture across New York City in search of Gigi, meeting adventure and romance along the way.

The Summer of Everything by Julian Winters - https://smile.amazon.com/Summer-Everything-Julian-Winters/dp/1945053917/

An avid comic book geek, Wes excels at two things: slacking off and pining after his best friend, Nico. Then his dream job at Once Upon a Page, the local indie bookstore, is threatened when a coffeeshop franchise wants to buy the property. To top it off, his family won’t stop pestering him about picking a college major. When all three problems converge, Wes must face with the one thing he’s been avoiding - adulthood.

Roman + Jewel by Dana Davis - https://smile.amazon.com/Roman-Jewel-Dana-L-Davis/dp/1335070621/

There is a new Broadway production based on the tragedy Romeo and Juliet and Jerzie, a true Broadway fan, wants the lead part more than anything! She knows she can play Jewel and when she meets Zeppelin, who plays Roman, she knows she won’t have to fake love. But just like their star crossed namesakes Jerzie and Zeppelin aren’t going to find love that easy.

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon - https://smile.amazon.com/Everything-Nicola-Yoon/dp/0553496670/

What if you couldn’t touch anything in the outside world? Never breathe in the fresh air, feel the sun warm your face… or kiss the boy next door? Maddy is a girl who’s literally allergic to the outside world, and Olly is the boy who moves in next door… and becomes the greatest risk she’s ever taken.

Swing by Kwame Alexander - https://smile.amazon.com/Swing-Kwame-Alexander/dp/0310761948/

When America is not so beautiful, or right, or just, it can be hard to know what to do. Best friends Walt and Noah decide to use their voices to grow more good in the world, but first they’ve got to find cool. Walt is convinced junior year is their year, and he has a plan to help them woo the girls of their dreams and become amazing athletes. Never mind that he and Noah failed to make the high school baseball team yet again, and Noah’s love interest since third grade, Sam, has him firmly in the friend zone.

When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk - https://smile.amazon.com/When-Were-Everything-Ashley-Woodfolk/dp/1524715913/

Cleo and Layla used to be best friends. Now they’re not. Cleo wants to forget Layla exists, but it’s not as easy as she thinks, considering she’s assigned to be Layla’s tutor. But what happens when Cleo’s past comes back to haunt them both? Woodfolk pens a poignant and relatable story about friendships growing apart

All The Things We Never Knew by Liara Tamani - https://smile.amazon.com/All-Things-We-Never-Knew/dp/0062656910/

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.

Early Departures by Justin A. Reynolds - https://smile.amazon.com/Early-Departures-Justin-Reynolds/dp/0062748408/

Q doesn’t know that he died…and that he’s about to die again. He doesn’t know that his former best friend, Jamal, tried to save him, or that the reason Jamal is his former BFF is that Jamal blames Q for the death of his parents. But Jamal wants a second chance with Q, and this is it! However, the technology allows Q to come back only for a few weeks before dying permanently. How is Jamal supposed to fix things with Q when he can’t tell him the truth?

By Any Means Necessary by Candice Montgomery - https://smile.amazon.com/Any-Means-Necessary-Candice-Montgomery/dp/1624147992/

On the day Torrey officially becomes a college freshman, he gets a call that might force him to drop out before he’s even made it through orientation: the bee farm his beloved uncle Miles left him after his tragic death is being foreclosed on. Torrey would love nothing more than to leave behind the family and neighborhood that’s bleeding him dry. But he still feels compelled to care for the project of his uncle’s heart. As the farm heads for auction, Torrey precariously balances choosing a major and texting Gabriel–the first boy he ever kissed–with the fight to stop his uncle’s legacy from being demolished.