Best Books by Black Authors
15 Books by Black Authors That Will Have You Immersed in Every Page
As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.
Reading Black literature is elemental in understanding diverse narratives and experiences. It provides a rich conversance with some of the most impactful, world-changing cultures through tales and accounts of strength and fearlessness, as well as pain and vulnerability. There are many recent works by Black authors that deserve recognition, so scroll ahead to see some of the best ones for your next reading session!
1 The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
What it's about: Born in the South during the Antebellum era, Hiram Walker is a slave who possesses superhuman abilities, including a keen photographic memory and the power to transport people over long distances. He begins to use those skills to help others escape a life of subjugation while discovering more about his roots.
2 Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
What it's about: This nonlinear narrative traverses through the familial history of 16-year-old Melody and how she pulled together two families from different backgrounds.
3 Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi
What it's about: The sequel to Children of Blood and Bone, this tale reveals what happens when characters Zélie and Amari bring magic back to the land of Orïsha. Their supposed victory unleashes powerful forces that threaten Orïsha's monarchy and may bring about civil war.
4 How We Fight For Our Lives by Saeed Jones
What it's about: Through a series of vignettes, Saeed Jones's memoir explores his experience growing up as a gay Black man from the South and his journey toward embracing himself.
5 How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
What it's about: Historian Ibram X. Kendi delves into race relations and the belief that not being racist isn't enough to create a better society; we must actively become antiracists in order to make real change.
6 The Deep by Rivers Solomon With Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, and Jonathan Snipes
What it's about: Descendants of African slave women who were tossed overboard build an underwater world and use knowledge of their heritage to shape their future.
The Deep by Rivers Solomon with Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, and Jonathan Snipes (£8)
7 The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom
What it's about: This memoir takes readers on a journey through time as Sarah M. Broom opens up about her childhood in New Orleans, offering the historical context of her house and the state of Louisiana.
8 Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
What it's about: A white woman named Alix Chamberlain is sent into a spiral of events after her Black babysitter, Emira Tucker, is wrongly accused of kidnapping her child when the two go shopping together. Alix, who's used to getting what she wants, hopes to right the wrongs against Emira, but it isn't smooth sailing. Things are further complicated when someone from Alix's past shows up.
9 The World Doesn't Require You: Stories by Rion Amilcar Scott
What it's about: Diving into matters of religion, race, violence, and love, this part-realistic, part-fantasy story focuses on three unusual residents in the fictional town of Cross River, which was established by the leaders of the country's only successful slave revolt in the mid-1800s.
The World Doesn't Require You: Stories by Rion Amilcar Scott (£14)
10 On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
What it's about: Teenager Bri is determined to make it big as a rapper after the death of her father, a hip-hop legend. And her hope for success becomes a necessity when hard times fall on her and her mother.
11 American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson
What it's about: A brilliant young, Black FBI intelligence officer decides to shake things up after feeling undervalued and underestimated in the workplace.
12 Clean Getaway by Nic Stone
What it's about: Stone explores race relations and the history of segregation through this story about an 11-year-old Black boy who takes a road trip with his white grandmother.
13 The Source of Self-Regard by Toni Morrison
What it's about: In this collection of essays, speeches, and meditations, the late, legendary writer discusses how some of her best works came to fruition.
The Source of Self-Regard by Toni Morrison (£12 - £18)
14 Saving Savannah by Tonya Bolden
What it's about: A young Black girl named Savannah Riddle lives a wealthy Washington DC lifestyle in the early 1900s. But when she meets Lloyd, a young West Indian man, she becomes more aware of the world's social issues and is set on making positive change.
15 Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown
What it's about: The phrase "Black Girl Magic" takes on a literal meaning in this tale about author surrogate Echo Brown, a young wizard who hones her powers to help those around her.
