Every summer I make it a point to have Shauni read from a list of books recommended by our local library or online recommendations. So much has been going on lately, in regards to race inequality and injustice, that this summer in particular, I felt that it was the perfect opportunity to fill her summer reading list with middle-school age books that specifically highlighted black authors and black content. I want her to use this historic time of civil unrest to take in a bit of black culture through literature, however, these books can and should be read any time of the year.
Together, we thumbed through tons of middle-school books (age 8-12) and chose those that she'd connect with and would enjoy reading. She has gotten a head start on her summer reading and has read a few already.
Now don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of great Middle-School age books out there that do not focus on black content and are not written by black authors. Shauni has read and loved many of them. However, books that focus on black themes, black characters and black culture are so important for black youth to have as part of their reading collection. It lets them see themselves represented throughout storylines, in illustrations and as main characters from the perspective of black culture.
This is why it is so important for me to add black books to Shauni's book collection. I want her to see herself in what she reads. I want her to immerse herself in stories that mirror her own and give her a sense of inclusivity and permission to dream.
You will definitely want to add some of Shauni’s (and my) favorites to your own child's collection of black literature.
Virginia HamiltonNow don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of great Middle-School age books out there that do not focus on black content and are not written by black authors. Shauni has read and loved many of them. However, books that focus on black themes, black characters and black culture are so important for black youth to have as part of their reading collection. It lets them see themselves represented throughout storylines, in illustrations and as main characters from the perspective of black culture.
This is why it is so important for me to add black books to Shauni's book collection. I want her to see herself in what she reads. I want her to immerse herself in stories that mirror her own and give her a sense of inclusivity and permission to dream.
You will definitely want to add some of Shauni’s (and my) favorites to your own child's collection of black literature.
- Time Pieces: The Book of Times (8-12)
Rita-Williams
- One Crazy Summer (8-12)
- P.S. Be Eleven (8-12)
- Gone Crazy in Alabama (8-12)
- Clayton Byrd Goes Underground (8-12)
Enigma Alberti
- Mary Browser and the Civil War Spy Ring (8-14)
Mildred Taylor
- Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry (11-up)
Jo Ann Allen Boyce; Debbie Levy
- This Promise of Change: One Girl's Story in the Fight for School Equality (10-12)
Sharon M. Draper
- Stella By Starlight (9-13)
- Blended (8-12)
Jacqueline Woodson
- Brown Girl Dreaming (10-up)
Lisa Moore Ramee
Lisa Moore Ramee
- A Good Kind of Trouble (8-12)
- Something to Say (8-12)
Christopher Paul Curtis
- The Mighty Miss Malone (9-12)
- Bud, Not Buddy (9-12)
- The Watsons Go To Birmingham
- Elijah Of Buxton (9-12)
- The Madman of Piney Woods (8-12)
- The Journey of Little Charllie (9-12)
Juliet T. Lamana
- Upside Down In The Middle Of Nowhere (9-12)
Shelia P. Moses
- The Sittin’ Up (10-up)
Jason Reynolds (Track Series)
- Ghost; Patina; Sunny; Lu (Track Series: 4 book) (10-up)
- Look Both Ways: A Tale Told In Ten Blocks (10-14)
- As Brave As You (10-up)
Nikki Grimes
- One Last Word (10-14yrs)
Kwame Alexander
- Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets (8-12)
Renee Watson
- The Mighty Miss Malone (9-12)
- Bud, Not Buddy (9-12)
- The Watsons Go To Birmingham
- Elijah Of Buxton (9-12)
- The Madman of Piney Woods (8-12)
- The Journey of Little Charllie (9-12)
Juliet T. Lamana
- Upside Down In The Middle Of Nowhere (9-12)
Shelia P. Moses
- The Sittin’ Up (10-up)
Jason Reynolds (Track Series)
- Ghost; Patina; Sunny; Lu (Track Series: 4 book) (10-up)
- Look Both Ways: A Tale Told In Ten Blocks (10-14)
- As Brave As You (10-up)
Nikki Grimes
- One Last Word (10-14yrs)
Kwame Alexander
- Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets (8-12)
Renee Watson
- Ways To Make Sunshine (7-10yrs)
- Some Places More Than Others (8-12)
- Some Places More Than Others (8-12)
- Piecing Me Together (12-17)
Ilyasah Shabazz with Renee Watson
Ilyasah Shabazz with Renee Watson
- Betty Before X (10-14)
Lesa Cline-Ransome
- Finding Langston (8-12)
Mariana J. Lockington
- For Black girls Like Me (9-11)
Alicia Williams
- Genesis Begin Again (9-13)
Karyn Parson
- How High the Moon (8-12)
Kristina Brooke Daniele
- Civil Rights Then and Now: A Timeline of the Fight for Equality in America
Brenda Woods
- Saint Louis Armstrong Beach (10-12)
- My Name Is Sally Little Song (8-12)
- The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA (10-12)
Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
- Two Naomis (8-12)
- Naomis Too (8-12)
Arlisha Norwood
- For Black girls Like Me (9-11)
Alicia Williams
- Genesis Begin Again (9-13)
Karyn Parson
- How High the Moon (8-12)
Kristina Brooke Daniele
- Civil Rights Then and Now: A Timeline of the Fight for Equality in America
Brenda Woods
- Saint Louis Armstrong Beach (10-12)
- My Name Is Sally Little Song (8-12)
- The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA (10-12)
Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
- Two Naomis (8-12)
- Naomis Too (8-12)
Arlisha Norwood
- Black Heros: 51 Inspiring People From Ancient Africa to Modern-Day USA (8-12)
Teresa E. Harris
- The Perfect Place
- Gabriela (American Doll 3-Book Series) (8-12)
Misty Copeland
- Life In Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina
Michaela DePrince
- Hope in a Ballet Shoe
Sherri Winston
- President of the Whole Sixth Grade
- The Sweetest Sound (8-12)
Jewell Parker Rhodes
-Sugar ((8-12)
Teresa E. Harris
- The Perfect Place
- Gabriela (American Doll 3-Book Series) (8-12)
Misty Copeland
- Life In Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina
Michaela DePrince
- Hope in a Ballet Shoe
Sherri Winston
- President of the Whole Sixth Grade
- The Sweetest Sound (8-12)
Jewell Parker Rhodes
-Sugar ((8-12)
This is a great list. I have to pick up a few for Madison even though she isn't a middle schooler, but she reads like one.
ReplyDeleteGrow her collection. Let them hang out in her bookcase until she's ready. It will be sooner than you think!
ReplyDelete