Black middle-grade books are a rarity. Trust me, in sourcing the books for this book list, it was hard to find recommendations. Thankfully, this is changing slowly as more Black authors come on the scene. This is by no means an exhaustive list but simply one filled with books I’ve read and loved. The list also doesn’t include a lot of fantasy titles, but there are a few great Black fantasy books. I’ve grouped these by interests, genres, formats, and themes to make it easier to find a book for your needs and tastes.
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60+ Black Middle-Grade Books (Middle-Grade Books By Black Authors)
Here are some of the best Black middle grade books by Black authors:
Realistic Fiction by Black Authors
If you’re on the hunt for realistic fiction titles by Black authors, you’ll like these options.
Between Two Brothers
Published: January 23, 2024
Brothers Seth and Isaiah (aka Ice Pic) love each other and live on a farm where Ice does most of the farm work. He loves photography and wants to be a veterinarian. His brother, Seth, runs track and has won a scholarship to college, so Ice feels pressure to make their last year at home together memorable. But when a tragic accident results in brain damage for Seth, Ice turns all his focus to helping him recover despite a bleak prognosis. This is a truly heartrending, fast-paced story about a Christian family in crisis (inspired by the author’s experience). There’s lots of great dialogue, warm male relationships, and plenty of information about recovering from a brain injury. While it could have been shorter, I think this is great for sensitive kids (especially boys) who are looking for more male representation, farm kid representation, or small community stories with a cute romance side plot. Ages 10+
Not an Easy Win
Published: February 28, 2023
Lawrence has had the odds stacked against him for so long. He and his mom and little sister went from living in Charlotte, NC to finally moving in with his grandma while his father is incarcerated. To make matters worse, Lawrence keeps getting picked on at school and getting into fights which results in his getting expelled. While he’s home, he starts going to the town’s rec center where he learns to play chess. But a boy there keeps trying to get Lawrence to fight. Can he find a way to secure a win for once? This was a very immersive story that just shone with authenticity. Not an Easy Win is a heartwarming, realistic, and satisfying book about poverty, having an incarcerated parent, and finding belonging in chess. Ages 9+
When Life Gives You Mangoes
Published: October 20, 2020
When Life Gives You Mangoes is set in a small island village, Sycamore Hill. Clara can’t remember anything that happened in the last year, and readers can immediately tell that everyone around her is concerned about this and about her in general. She spends most of her time with her best friend Gaynah, playing games sometimes with the other island children. We learn that she used to surf, but she’s now terrified of the water and won’t even dip her toes in. But then, a new girl, Rudy, comes to their small village, where no one ever visits. As she tries to befriend Clara, a few secrets are revealed. This is a riveting debut middle-grade novel set on a small Caribbean island about grief and community. Ages 9+
The Many Fortunes of Maya
Published: January 24, 2023
This book is all about Maya who enjoys playing soccer, but especially so because it makes her sports-obsessed dad happy. She’s convinced herself that to be a great soccer player and be picked by a junior league, she needs to stop focusing on the other thing she loves (but won’t admit to loving as much): playing her flute. But when her parents tell her they’re separating and her friendship with her bestie starts to evolve with the addition of a third friend, Maya begins to feel really lost, and it’s tough to figure out what she wants. Thankfully, she has a trusty wheel of fortunes she made from fortune cookie fortunes she’s collected over time. But can they help Maya find her way? The Many Fortunes of Maya is a sweet, realistic, and heartwarming book about facing your fears and listening to your inner voice. This is a great addition to stories about families experiencing parental separation, kids trying to find their passions, and separating one’s goals from external validation. Ages 9+
Shark Teeth
Published: January 16, 2024
Winston’s newest novel is about Sharkita, whose alcoholic mom is on her last chance to mother Kita, Lamar, and Lily. Kita is anxious a lot about whether her mother’s well-being streak will end and when they’ll be shipped off again to foster homes, separated from each other. After having been teased for years about her hyperdontia, the arrival of a new assistant school principal brings light into Kita’s life until her mother goes off the rails again. This felt like Lasagna Means I Love You but more intense at times, with plenty going on for Kita, including a crush, baton twirling, writing poetry, and dealing with anxiety and panic attacks. It does have a slower start, and I only got into it about 30% of the way, but when I did was invested. A superb new release about sibling bonds, mother wounds, body image issues, and breaking generational trauma, this is Winston’s best work yet. Ages 10+
Figure It Out Henri Weldon
Published: January 17, 2023
Henrietta Weldon feels out of place in her family. Her brother is always off doing his own thing, and her sister, Kat, seems to always be frustrated with her inability to figure certain things out on her own or keep their room clean. Henri’s mom is studying for her Ph.D., and she and her dad want Henri to do well at school, especially now that they’re mainstreaming her out of her special school to public school. Henri has dyscalculia and struggles with processing math problems. As she settles into her new school, she befriends a group of foster kids whom her sister can’t stand. Then she decides to join the soccer team (which her parents are super uncomfortable with — studies are the priority) and she’s writing a poem to submit to the school’s magazine. On top of all her commitments, she has to keep her room clean (to prevent Kat from killing her) and keep her grades up since they don’t have the funds to send her back to a special school. Can Henri figure it out? This is a super slice-of-life book featuring a highly relatable protagonist with dyscalculia. Ages 9+
Romantic Black Middle Grade Books
With more middle schoolers looking for tween romances, these Black middle grade books with a romantic subplot are great options!
Pizza My Heart
Published: January 4, 2022
Pizza My Heart follows young Maya Reynolds whose parents are moving from Brooklyn, New York to a small town in Pennsylvania to expand their soul pizza business, Soul Slice. Having grown up in Brooklyn, Maya is devastated to have to leave her best friend and life behind for the move. In the new town, she gets off on the wrong foot with her first pizza delivery customer, who ends up being the son of her parents’ new interior decorator. Add a love for art, a new art exhibition she wants to join but may be unable to, new friends, and a potential new crush — Maya’s life quickly gets interesting. This is a slice-of-life story that was written for tweens! It’s a cute, relatable middle grade book about moving to a new city, nurturing a love for art, being creative in the kitchen, and finding new friends and community. Ages 10+
Sincerely Sicily
Published: January 3, 2023
Sincerely Sicily features young Panamian-American Sicily who’s dealing with a major social upheaval: she’s changing schools. After planning to coordinate first-day-of-school outfits and looking up each other’s schedules, she won’t be attending the same middle school as her best friends (the group calls themselves the Tether Squad). At the new school, Sicily, fortunately, reconnects with an old friend and decides to do her first school project on the culture of the Panamanian people. But her classmates protest the fact that she — a Black girl–can’t possibly be Latin American. Sicily is rattled. Add to that a new crush that threatens to ruin her new friendship and an Abuela who thinks her braids are “ghetto” and it’s looking like a tough year for Sicily. Thankfully, she’s also rediscovering her love for writing just in time. This is a sweet, triumphant debut middle grade novel about being Afro-Panamanian, finding pride in your roots, and discovering the joy of writing. Ages 9+
The Braid Girls
Published: June 13, 2023
Maggie’s summer is off to a rocky start when her parents announce that she has a half-sister—a daughter her father never knew about until now. Callie’s presence throws off soft-spoken Maggie’s dynamic with her outspoken best friend Daija, even more when Callie joins their hair-braiding business. This is a sweet, relatable middle grade book about sisterhood, entrepreneurship, and finding your voice. Ages 9+
Mystery Books by Black Authors
If mystery is your genre, check out these favorite mysteries by Black authors. Some are full-on mysteries, while others have a mystery subplot.
The Harlem Charade
Published: January 31, 2017
This is such a heartwarming, intriguing mystery! When the discovery of a painting thought to be lost coincides with the attempted murder of a man in Harlem, three kids are drawn together in sleuthing adventures. Jin, Alex and Elvin are completely different from each other and yet form a sweet friendship as they work to piece together the puzzle in this story. I especially loved how racially diverse the cast is, the emphasis on the power of art and the strong sense of community fostered in this novel. The narration is equally fantastic and this story kept me glued until the very end! Very memorable characters and setting. Ages 9+
The Cookie Crumbles
Published: June 11, 2024
This series opener has been pegged a mix of Great British Bake Off and Knives Out and is told from the perspectives of two childhood besties, Laila and Lucy, who must solve a mystery when one of the judges collapses after eating Laila’s creation. I’ve only sampled this summer release, but it sounds so good, and I’ve enjoyed Badua’s writing in the past. Ages 9+
Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key
Published: October 10, 2023
Monty Carver is a precocious 10-year-old who’s dying to get more freedom from his parents. He has one best friend, Alex, and a new guy Jerome, who’s Alex’s friend but whom Monty doesn’t particularly like. When Monty presumptuously uses the metal detector his parents planned to surprise him with and breaks it in the process, they tell him that he has to work odd jobs for people in their apartment building/neighborhood to earn the money to repay them. Just before he broke the metal detector, Monty and his friend found a golden key and he becomes embroiled in learning more about it. Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key is an upbeat, community-oriented mystery for fans of Giles’s Take Back the Block and Johnson’s The Parker Inheritance, starring a younger, charming protagonist with a striking resemblance to Barack Obama.
From the Desk of Zoe Washington
Published: January 14, 2020
Twelve-year-old Zoe Washington’s summer is off to a rough start. She’s not speaking to one of her best friends, for one. Her other best friend is away at summer camp and the third one has moved away. But things get more complicated when she finds a letter in the mail from her incarcerated birth father. The only problem is that he’s in jail for something “very bad” and Zoe has never met or spoken to him before. As she starts to write to Marcus, Zoe realizes that things might not be so black and white — not with her friend Trevor, and certainly not with Marcus. While she learns more about Marcus, she also spends part of her summer interning at a pastry shop. This is a moving, true-to-life middle-grade novel that highlights just how potent perseverance can be — even when you’re just 12.
Black Middle Grade Books About Race
These middle grade books explore racism and racial injustice.
Blended
Published: October 30, 2018
Isabella is mixed race, figuring out her identity, and is now also caught between both parents as she alternates between her divorced parents’ houses. This is a great story with many important themes — being biracial, coping with parental divorce and remarriage, being black in America, classical music, family — and I would recommend this book to anyone interested in those themes. Heads up that this book features a racially-motivated shooting. Also, please pass on the audio — the narration is pretty subpar.
Partly Cloudy
Published: September 7, 2021
Things are looking partly cloudy for Madalyn Thomas and her family. After being out of work for the last 7 months, her dad has found work in another state and her mom’s schedule as a social worker has become more packed from taking on overtime. Madalyn’s parents send her to live with her Great Uncle Papa Lobo during the week to allow her to attend school in a different district because of security issues at her former school. But as the only Black girl in class, Madalyn faces a new set of challenges at this new school. Partly Cloudy is an insightful middle grade story about family, community, and handling microaggressions in middle school.
The Probability of Everything
Published: June 27, 2023
Kemi Carter is a scientific facts aficionado who lives with her parents and her little sister, Lola. They’ve recently moved to a better neighborhood but don’t feel particularly welcome. The story opens with readers learning that an asteroid is predicted to hit Earth in four days. To prepare for the end of the world as she knows it, Kemi prepares a time capsule to preserve her most important memories and mementos about her family — including her dad who is the center of her world. The Probability of Everything is a deeply poignant middle grade book about grief, racism, and finding the way forward after tragedy.
Clean Getaway
Published: January 7, 2020
William “Scoob” Lamar is hoping to make a clean getaway with his white G-ma. Especially because his dad is mad at him after an unpleasant school incident and subsequent suspension. At first he’s happy to be spending time with this G-ma, but soon, he realizes that this isn’t quite the trip he expected. As Scoob and G-ma travel through the US South, G-ma lets him into family history: his grandfather’s life, G-ma’s misdeeds and what life was like when Black people needed the Green Book to move through the US. This is a fast-paced, clever story full of twists and a sense of adventure.
Fast Pitch
Published: August 31, 2021
Fast Pitch is a companion title to Nic Stone’s Clean Getaway, which I really enjoyed! It stars Scoob’s crush Shenice, an U12 softball team captain whose concentration is shot when she stumbles upon a decades-long family mystery. Shenice and her team are preparing to win the Fastpitch World Series, when she discovers that a crime her great-grand father was accused of — which cost him his reputation and place in the Negro leagues — may have actually been a set-up all along. And now, Shenice is the only one who can clear his name. This is a fast-paced, poignant sports mystery about family, racism, and community.
Treasure Island: Runaway Gold
Published: October 3, 2023
Zane and his mom are struggling to make ends meet after his father’s death. His mom rents out rooms in their home to boarders, one of whom is an old, eccentric woman, Captain Maddie, who keeps talking about treasure and pirates. Before Maddie dies after an attack by a group of skateboarders, she asks Zane to be her First Mate and find the treasure. Armed with his skateboard, his two best friends, Kiko and Jack, and his dog Hip-hop, Zane goes on an adventure in Manhattan, learning a lot about Black history, slavery, and trust in the process. I liked many things about this book, from the skateboarding/seafaring parallels to the friendships, the adventure, and the fact that there are illustrations every few chapters. I also learned a lot about Black history in New York. Kids who enjoy any of these elements will love this one. I’d hand it to older middle schoolers because there are several moderately violent scenes.
Graphic Novels by Black Authors
If you like graphic novels, you’ll love these graphic novels by Black authors.
Blue Stars: Mission 1 (The Vice Principal Problem)
Published: March 5, 2024
This is an entertaining graphic novel about cousins Maya and Riley (Black and Muscogee), who end up living with their grandmother when Maya’s parents are deployed and Riley’s parents move back in with her grandmother. The two girls get off to a rough start, exacerbated by their personality differences. Maya is reserved, studious, and science-focused, while Riley is outgoing, friendly, and artsy. At school, the girls quickly realize that their vice principal is suspicious, slashing arts, robotics, and any budgets possible in favor of increasing the number of detention classrooms. With their grandmother’s advice about using their voices firm in their mind, the girls hatch a plan to expose VP Balderdash’s schemes. I loved many things about this series starter, including the natural, subtle way both girls share their heritage and the way they find home and community with their grandmother. This is also super short (under 200 pages), and the superhero and planning scenes feel like something out of a Spy Kids movie.
New Kid
Published: February 5, 2019
Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds—and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself? This middle grade graphic novel is an excellent choice for tween readers who love graphic novels, the arts, and books about male friendship.
Art Club
Published: February 6, 2024
Dale loves drawing comics and playing video games, but everyone in his life seems to think the arts are a waste of his time. To show them the value of art, Dale decides to start an afterschool arts club, but with funding issues, the club is at risk of being closed by school authorities. Can Dale make things work? This new graphic novel is a buoyant celebration of the arts and the community it can foster.
Curlfriends: New in Town
Published: October 10, 2023
Charlie is the new kid for the umpteenth time, but this time, things will be different. Her dad is no longer in the military, and this is a more permanent home, so she feels more pressure to find and impress some new friends. When she meets a cool group of Black girls with varying interests, she decides to hide her “babyish” style and hobbies to befriend them. But she soon learns that with true friends, you can be your whole self. This is the cute first book in a new graphic novel series about Black hair, girlfriends, fashion, and adjusting to change.
Swim Team
Published: May 17, 2022
After she and her dad move from Brooklyn to Florida, Bree is excited for her first day in middle school. But also, she’s super anxious about whether she’ll make friends and fit in. Thankfully, she makes a new friend in the housing complex where they live. Unfortunately, when Bree goes to choose her math club elective, it’s fully booked. As a math lover who can’t swim, she’s crushed to hear that the only elective left is swim 101. At first, Bree avoids getting in the water, but after a near-drowning in her housing complex, an elderly neighbor (who used to be part of her swim team) decides to coach Bree. Bree gets so good that she joins her swim team, but can the team get past the drama and win? This is a highly engaging graphic novel about swimming, Black history (and why many Blacks don’t swim), and friendship.
Coming-of-Age Stories by Black Authors
If you like coming-of-age stories, you’ll love these books!
Ready Set Dough
Published: October 17, 2023
Ambitious sixth grader Zoe Sparks loves to write and enjoys brainstorming ideas for her journalism class. There’s only one problem: Her at-home computer is so unreliable that it just stops working one day. Fortunately, her school is organizing a cookie dough fundraiser, and guess what the top seller prize is? A WordPro laptop — and orange (her favorite color) at that! Zoe is determined to outsell everyone, especially her nemesis Amaya. But soon, her ambition begins to impact her balance and her friendship with her BFF Felix. I adored the voice in this one and finished it in one day. Good for ages 9+ and also UNDER 200 pages!
Out of My Mind
Published: March 4, 2010
Melody has cerebral palsy so she can’t walk or talk, but no one knows that she has a photographic memory. Kids at her school underestimate her, but Melody refuses to be defined by cerebral palsy. And she’s determined to let everyone know it – somehow. This classic got a surprise sequel 10 years after its release and many kids lost their minds over it.
Genesis Begins Again
Published: January 15, 2019
Thirteen-year-old Genesis grapples with intense self-hate worsened by her father’s verbal abuse and her grandmother’s backward ideologies about skin color. Readers first meet Genesis when she brings her “friends” home for the first time. In an embarrassing turn of events, they arrive to meet all her belongings in the street. The landlord has put Genesis’s family out because her gambling, alcoholic father defaulted on the rent again. Things seem to look up for their family when they move into a posh neighborhood. Genesis makes new friends, joins the school choir, and even gets a helpful math tutor. Yet, her self-hate follows her. This is a remarkable middle-grade debut with a strong message about colorism, self-love, and the power of music.
Be Real, Macy Weaver
Published: July 12, 2022
Macy Weaver has trouble keeping friendships, and as readers quickly discover, most of this is her fault. Whenever she meets someone she likes and wants to be accepted by, she starts to copy them — their style, preferences, and even mannerisms — and sometimes pretends to be someone she isn’t to impress them. This usually puts off her new friends. Unfortunately, when her family moves from South Carolina to Maryland, Macy continues this behavior. At school, Macy weaves a tale of her mom being a fashion photographer and is roped into keeping up appearances to impress Brynn, a girl at her school. But Brynn already has a best friend, Grace, who is unconvinced by Macy’s antics, and wants to get to the bottom of things. How long before Macy is forced to come clean? This is an engaging, realistic, and creative middle grade novel about identity, fashion, and friendships.
Patina
Published: August 29, 2017
After Patina’s dad dies and her mom loses both legs to diabetes, she and her sister move in with her uncle and his wife Emily. The girls call Emily “Momly.” The move means that Patina has to go to a posh new private school, leaving behind her best friend, Cotton. Her one bright spot is running track with her friends. Patina suppresses most of her grief for her dad and mother and focuses on looking after her sister, even if Emily is fully capable. Things start to change at school when her teacher assigns her to a group project with three other girls. Also, at track practice, she’s forced to rely on her team when they begin practicing the relay baton hand-over. This is a moving, inspiring story of a fierce girl with a big heart and fast legs. If you enjoyed the first book in the Track series or you like middle-grade books about sports, you’ll ADORE Patina.
Remember Us
Published: October 10, 2023
The year before Sage is in the seventh grade, her neighborhood experiences so many wildfires that the media calls it The Matchbox. She’s also experiencing social changes. Because she spends most of her time with her guy friends playing basketball, she gets bullied by other kids who expect her to stick to gender norms. When she and her mother finally move to a new neighborhood, she finds new friends but also contends with missing and losing some of her old friends. Woodson’s writing is poetic and this book is a gorgeous snapshot of a time in her life, an ode to a neighborhood and its people, and an exploration into the mind of a young girl. However, as much as I enjoyed it, I doubt that many kids will feel the same connection. Still, it could be a great classroom read aloud, and the beautiful cover might draw some readers in. Heads up for the death of a friend and a dog.
Friendship Stories by Black Authors
These stories examine the complexities of friendship.
So Done
Published: August 14, 2018
So Done follows two friends, Metai and Jamila living in a low-income Housing Project. Although inseparable from childhood, things change when Jamila returns from a summer in the suburbs. Both girls have secrets, and Mila appears to be different after her time in the suburbs, throwing herself into dance auditions for their new afterschool program. I LOVED this book. Metai and Mila’s voices are so distinct throughout the story that I could see them easily in my mind’s eye. I also enjoyed how big a role the entire Pirates Cove neighborhood plays in this book. The dynamic between the girls and their friends is so reminiscent of that turbulent age between middle school and high school. More importantly, this book tackles the struggles experienced even in adult friendships, the importance of stepping up to pursue your goals, and the need to speak up even when you’re afraid.
Turning Point
Published: September 15, 2020
In Turning Point, we reunite with the Pirates Cove gang (minus a few) — mostly Mila, Mo, Sheeda, and Tai. This book focuses on Monique (Mo) and Rasheeda (Sheeda)’s friendship and how it changes over a summer when both girls are drawn into different pursuits. Mo is off at a ballet intensive with Mila, while Sheeda is stuck at church (with her church “friends”), feeling like she has no life. At the ballet intensive, Mo comes face to face with her competitive attitude, which is fueled by feelings of not “fitting in” with the mostly white, skinny ballet dancers. On the other hand, Sheeda is desperate for something new. Unfortunately, she falls into a risky situation with Mo’s brother, whom she happens to have a crush on. I adored this book. It’s a compulsively readable upper middle-grade book (more mature than the average but not quite YA) that explores a horde of important themes.
Young Black Middle Grade Books for Elementary Schoolers
The stories in this section are perfect for readers ages 7-10.
Ways to Make Sunshine
Published: April 28, 2020
Ryan Hart and her family are moving to a new (old) house because her dad lost his post office job and his new job doesn’t pay as much. Still, there are small joys. She doesn’t have to change schools and is still close enough to one of her best friends. With the new house and selling one of their cars, her parents can better deal with their financial struggles. Throughout this slice-of-life book, Ryan learns how to believe in herself, enjoy public speaking, be a bigger person, and love who she is. Renee Watson’s Ways to Make Sunshine is an absolutely delightful early middle-grade book with a memorable protagonist.
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero
Published: August 18, 2020
Isaiah’s father has died, leaving behind Isaiah, his mom, and his younger sister, Charlie. Isaiah’s mom is so depressed she’s lost her job — and started drinking too many bottles of wine. Isaiah realizes that they need money if they’ll ever move out of the motel where they’ve had to live since being unable to pay for their home. Thankfully, Isaiah has his father’s books of poems (even if his own words won’t come anymore), his best friend Sneaky, who sells candy at school (and lets Isaiah be his business partner), and the kind people who look out for him once they realize he’s in need. In the end, will Isaiah be the hero of his story? This is a moving, realistic portrayal of the poverty and housing insecurity that can impact a family after the death of a parent.
Link + Hud: Heroes by a Hair
Published: March 7, 2023
Brothers Lincoln and Hudson Dupré are constantly pretending to be on one adventure or another–and destroying their home in the process. Until their parents get an experienced babysitter who wrangles both boys using unconventional methods–much to their dismay. Their plot to get rid of her yields unexpected results. This hilarious graphic novel-prose hybrid shows the brothers’ imaginations in panels and the real story as plain text with illustrations.
Ruby Finley vs. the Interstellar Invasion
Published: September 27, 2022
Ruby is an 11-year-old future entomologist who loves studying insects and playing video games with her neighborhood friends. When she sees a strange bug in her bedroom and shares a picture of it on social media, suspicious agents appear at her door to re-capture the now missing insect. Soon, all the metal in her neighborhood begins to disappear as Ruby and her friends realize there’s more to the strange bug. This was a lot of fun and will appeal to fans of STEM stories and books about robots.
Just Right Jillian
Published: February 1, 2022
Jillian is a shy fifth grader put to the test when her teacher suggests she join the Mind Bender quiz competition. Her class is also learning about chick development and incubating a few too! As Jillian works to improve her mindset and use her voice, she also has to deal with the grief of losing her grandmother, her mom’s lupus flares, and helping out a friend dealing with his own family challenges. Will Jillian get it right? Just Right Jillian is a sweet young middle grade debut that elementary and middle schoolers alike will love.
Maya and the Robot
Published: July 13, 2021
This book centers on a young Black girl, Maya, who’s entering the fifth grade. She’s disappointed when she’s placed in a different class than her two best friends, Jada and MJ. Quickly, it seems like they’re forming a new friend group and barely spending time with her, especially since they don’t even have the same lunch period. But things begin to look up when Maya finds a broken-down robot in the neighborhood store where she helps out. After setting the robot up to work, Maya suddenly has a new best friend, but how long will this last? And what happens when the robot, Ralph, malfunctions? This is an engaging, illustrated middle-grade book with strong STEM connections about the struggles of forming and maintaining friendships. Readers should know that a racially motivated shooting happens in this book.
Verse Novels by Black Authors
These novels in verse by Black authors are perfect for kids who like poetry and the verse format.
Before the Ever After
Published: September 1, 2020
ZJ’s dad is a popular American footballer. He has an awesome crew of male friends who feel like family. Life seems pretty good until his dad comes home early from a game with an awful headache. The headache is joined by disturbing symptoms like forgetfulness, aggression, spacing out, and general confusion. The book is set in 1999-2000, when there was just a growing awareness of CTE. ZJ’s mom is worried because she knows a few other football friends of his dad who have had the same symptoms. As ZJ tries to get through each day, not knowing whether it’ll be a good day for his dad or a bad one, he finds comfort in family, comfort, and community. This is a brilliant, true-to-life portrayal of a child coping with his famous father’s deterioration due to CTE.
Garvey’s Choice
Published: October 4, 2016
Garvey’s father has always wanted Garvey to be athletic, but Garvey is interested in astronomy, science fiction, reading—anything but sports. Feeling like a failure, he comforts himself with food. Garvey is kind, funny, smart, a loyal friend, and he is also overweight, teased by bullies, and lonely. When his only friend encourages him to join the school chorus, Garvey’s life changes. The chorus finds a new soloist in Garvey, and through chorus, Garvey finds a way to accept himself, and a way to finally reach his distant father—by speaking the language of music instead of the language of sports.
When Winter Robeson Came
Published: January 11, 2022
When Winter Robeson came to visit his cousin, Eden in the summer of 1965, he had another agenda. Winter is a 13-year-old boy visiting Los Angeles from Mississippi. Unbeknownst to Eden and her family, Winter isn’t just there to see Disneyland — he’s looking for his father J.T. Robeson who came to LA 12 years ago and never returned. Eventually, he gets Eden to help him on his search. Not long after, the Watts Riot erupts. When Winter Robeson Came is a rich, immersive middle grade verse novel about family, LA in 1965, and the mystery of a missing parent.
Rain Rising
Published: September 27, 2022
13-year-old Rain is dealing with several issues. First, her best friend has been acting like a frenemy lately. Then, she’s just so sad all the time and can’t stop feeling negative about her body — thinking she’s ugly and too big. Her single source of solace is her family. When the thoughts become too tough to handle, her mother and brother Xander, especially, bring light to her day, even without knowing her challenges. But when Xander gets beaten up in a racially motivated attack during a potential college visit, Rain feels the walls closing in on her. Can she and her family find their way back to normalcy? This is a powerful debut middle grade verse novel about mental health, body image, family, and healing.
Middle Grade Sports Books by Black Authors
Here are some great sports books by Black authors.
Ghost
Published: August 30, 2016
This book is about Castle Crenshaw (aka Ghost), who has PTSD from a dad who tried to fire a gun at him as a child. When he meets Coach and the rest of the team, he can finally harness his talent as a sprinter and stop running away from his problems. I love how powerful these kids’ stories are (in the Track series) and that they’re super short — this one is only 185 pages long.
Squad Goals
Published: April 6, 2021
Magic Pointdexter is her family’s “ugly duckling.” Her father is an ex-NBA player, her sister a famous cheerleader, and her late grandmother was also a ceiling-shattering cheerleader. Magic is awkward, chubbier than your typical cheerleader, and loves sweets more than anything else. But she’s decided: she’s going to cheer camp to try her hand out at becoming a Honeybee. Her best friend and child star Capricorn is coming with her (mostly for moral support — Cappie is an athletic, talented dancer). But once they arrive at camp and get sorted into teams by ability, Magic and Cappie’s friendship starts to show cracks. This is a feel-good summer camp story perfect for fans of friendship stories, summer camp tales, and coming-of-age books.
The Crossover
Published: March 18, 2014
This is an utterly moving verse novel about brothers, basketball, and family. It flies by so quickly and has such an engaging writing style.
Dough Boys
Published: August 27, 2019
In Dough Boys, we reunite with the kids of Pirates Cove, this time through the eyes of Rollie and Simp. The boys work as lookout boys for Coach Tez’s crew of drug dealers, but both feel differently about the gig. Rollie is getting more interested in music and his love for drumming and is less enthusiastic about working for a drug lord. Simp, on the other hand, is working to rise in rank. He’s especially interested because he loves playing for Tez’s basketball team and hopes to play for the NBA in the future. Unfortunately, basketball is now connected with drug dealing. The disconnect between the boys’ desires eventually begins to wear on their friendship. It doesn’t help that Tai, who Simp kinda likes, is more into Rollie than him. Or that the new kid, Chris, is becoming closer friends with Rollie, to Simp’s dismay. But when the opportunity to audition for a popular band comes Rollie’s way, he’s forced to evaluate his current place in life. This is an emotion-charged middle-grade novel about two boys navigating their changing friendship while caught up with a local drug ring.
Middle Grade Books Starring Black Girls
Here are some awesome Black middle grade books starring girls.
Some Places More Than Others
Published: September 3, 2019
Eleven-year-old Amara lives in Oregon with her parents. Her dad works for Nike, which scores her literally everything from their collection as soon as it drops. Her mom designs clothes for her boutique store — and she’s expecting a second child after multiple miscarriages. But Amara’s nervous about welcoming a new baby. She’s also dying to visit Harlem, New York, where her dad is from. Unfortunately, neither of her parents are particularly thrilled about her desire. Amara’s desire to go is heightened when she discovers that her father hasn’t spoken to his father since the day she was born — and her grandmother died. But when a school assignment requires that she share family relics, stories, and basically where she comes from, her parents allow her to visit with her dad. I ADORED THIS BOOK. I shamelessly confess to tearing up many times in the second half and yearning to know my own family’s history as Amara learned hers.
Keeping It Real
Published: October 19, 2021
Keeping It Real follows Marigold Johnson, daughter of the media moguls who own Flexx Unlimited. Marigold’s friend and crush, Justice, hates their private school, where both kids are part of the token number of Black kids. Marigold, on the other hand, tries to conform to white expectations and fit in with the kids, and both she and Justice quarrel about this regularly. When Justice gets into Flexx Unlimited’s fashion program for teens, Marigold wants to get in as well to avoid summer boredom and spend time with Justice — despite warnings from both parents that she may not fit in with the other kids who are from lower-income families. But when her parents get her into the program, one girl in particular, Kara, can’t seem to stand Marigold. Add that to the tension between Marigold and Justice, and Mari’s summer internship seems more stressful than inspiring. This is a riveting upper middle grade book about family, privilege, and conformity in the Black community.
What Momma Left Me
Published: January 8, 2019
Serenity and her brother, Danny, have to move in with their grandparents after her mother’s death. Their father is nowhere to be found, and the kids have to deal with their grief while adjusting to a new lifestyle — new school, new friends, new routines — with their mother’s parents. Their grandfather is a preacher, and both grandparents are ardent churchgoers. The story is told from Serenity’s point of view as she tries to make sense of life through her poetry in English class. In the course of the story, as Serenity goes to grief counseling, we learn how their mother died, what’s up with their father, and how that affects both kids’ lives. We also see both children deal with negative peer pressure and regain the strength to choose better paths than their parents did. What Momma Left Me is a hard-to-put-down debut upper middle-grade novel packed with several crucial themes but never bogged down by them.
For Black Girls Like Me
Published: July 30, 2019
Makeda June Kirkland is eleven years old, adopted, and black. Her parents and big sister are white, and even though she loves her family very much, Makeda often feels left out. When Makeda’s family moves from Maryland to New Mexico, she leaves behind her best friend, Lena― the only other adopted black girl she knows― for a new life. In New Mexico, everything is different. At home, Makeda’s sister is too cool to hang out with her anymore and at school, she can’t seem to find one real friend. Through it all, Makeda can’t help but wonder: What would it feel like to grow up with a family that looks like me? Through singing, dreaming, and writing secret messages back and forth with Lena, Makeda might just carve a small place for herself in the world. This is a great book about transracial adoption and music.
President of the Whole Fifth Grade
Published: October 5, 2010
Everyone knows that Briana Justice wants to be a famous baker, but when she finds out that her role model and alumnus of her school was president of the fifth grade, Briana is convinced that that’s the path for her too. Unfortunately, a devious new student also has her eyes on the presidential office. Will Briana be tempted to play dirty just to win or will she do the right thing? I love this series and the high drama and mystery of Briana’s road to presidency (or not?). It’s perfect for kids who love dramatic frenemy stories with substance.
A Soft Place to Land
Published: September 14, 2021
Joy Taylor and her family have moved into an apartment complex because her dad lost his job and their mortgage is too expensive to keep on one income. Now Joy has to share a room with her little sister and hear her parents fight every day about the work her dad chooses (or chooses not to do). Her only respite is the nice kids in the building and the hideout they introduce Joy to. One of the kids befriends Joy, and they even start a dog-walking business together. But when Joy finds a sad message on the hideout wall, she’s determined to find the person in need, but her good intentions cause more harm than good. A Soft Place to Land is a sweet, heartfelt story about finding friendship and community and handling financial difficulties as a family.
Fantastic Stories Starring Black Boys
These excellent stories feature Black boys.
Tight
Published: September 4, 2018
Bryan loves comics and hanging out with his mom — and even his big sister sometimes — with no drama. His dad has a temper and has been in jail for some misdemeanors. Now, though, he’s on parole, and it seems like things may be looking up. But when a new boy his age, Mike, worms his way into Bryan’s family, it appears Bryan may have a new friend. However, Mike is a bit of a daredevil and gets Bryan into skipping school and riding on top of trains. Mike is also jealous when Bryan befriends other people and tries to egg him into starting fights. Mike’s idea of manhood is not being “soft,” being ready to fight whenever. Still, it appears no one else can see anything wrong about Mike. Should Bryan keep his friendship? Should he absorb Mike’s idea of masculinity? This is a true-to-life representation of the lives of some boys.
Simon B Rhymin’
Published: March 2, 2021
Simon B Rhymin’ is the story of 11-year-old Simon Barnes (aka Notorious D.O.G.), a shy kid who loves to rap. His best friend Maria (aka Ri-Ri) is a talkative Latina who often has to stand up to Simon’s bullies. His other best friend, C.J. is mostly chill, but also supportive of Simon. Simon’s parents also support his rapping, but he still doesn’t feel confident about rapping in front of strangers. Simon is content to stay in the shadows until he meets his fifth grade teacher, Mr. James who wears funky bow ties and tennis shoes — and also RAPS. Mr. James gives the class an oral presentation project and tells them to speak on an issue (any issue) close to their heart. Moved by Sunny a vivacious, homeless man in his neighborhood, Simon decides to look into homelessness and learn more about the people — beyond the “homeless” descriptor. But can he even present… orally? This is a refreshing middle grade book with a shy, talented rapping protagonist.
Playing the Cards You’re Dealt
Published: October 5, 2021
Ant isn’t your average 10-year-old. He loves a good game of spades, and he and his best friend are planning to revamp their reputation after losing badly at the last spades tournament. But things are changing in Ant’s life. His dad is acting weird, asking him to hide things from his mom. There’s a new girl in class who Ant may like and who plays spades better than many boys he knows. When his best friend is grounded, Ant teams up with Shirley, hoping to impress his father and finally be tough like Joplin men should be. But instead, he learns what it really means to be a man—and it’s not about never crying. There’s SO MUCH going on in this story, but the author does a stunning job of keeping all the threads in place. I was very surprised by all the protagonist has to manage at his age and the fact that it all remains believable. The story is told by Ant’s ancestor, lending a touch of magic realism. There are also many details about playing a game of spades and I loved, loved the audiobook narrator.
The Swag Is in the Socks
Published: November 2, 2021
The Swag Is in the Socks stars young Xavier Moon whose parents are both incarcerated. Xavier is not the steal-the-spotlight kind of guy. He’s often in his room playing video games or watching stuff happen from his bedroom window. He also has a stutter that he’s working on — and he has braces. The one thing Xavier really wants is to be a part of is the Scepter League, the elite after-school club that only accepts confident, exemplary tween boys. His father, great uncle, and grandfather are all alumni. But when Xavier doesn’t get in, he’s determined to prove to the club leaders that he can be a League boy. Fortunately, the cool socks that his great uncle Frankie Bell keeps sending him seem to be winning him popularity votes. This is a sweet portrayal of a boy finding his voice and growing his confidence with some help from his community.
Take Back the Block
Published: January 26, 2021
Wes is your average sixth grader, except his style is fly. He may not win awards for being the best at math, but he will win the Best Dressed award. He also has a great crew of friends with whom he has lived in Kensington Oaks all his life. His parents believe in getting involved with social activism and are always dragging Wes to one protest after another. After initial major resistance to neighborhood activism, Wes is forced to dive in when developers threaten to tear down his neighborhood. The attempt at gentrification begins to divide the community as some members elect to sell their properties while others flat-out refuse. Up close and personal with the effects of gentrification, Wes and his friends are moved to use their voices. This is an insightful, inspiring, and hearty middle-grade book about community, friendship, and speaking up.
Control Freaks
Published: June 13, 2023
Benjamin Banneker STEM Academy is the top middle school in Denver. Let’s just say the kids are . . . competitive. When Principal Yee announces the start of an epic Team Competition for the school, Frederick Douglass Zezzmer knows that trophy’s got his name on it. That’ll show his sports-obsessed Dad that he’s worthy, right? The only problem is, it’s a TEAM competition … and Doug isn’t so great working in a team environment (except with his best friend Huey, of course). What unfolds is a hilarious, STEAM-filled story with a dash of family drama and budding friendships. Perfect for kids ages 9+
Historical Middle Grade Fiction by Black Authors
These books feature a historical element or are set entirely in the past.
The Parker Inheritance
Published: March 27, 2018
When Candice finds a letter in an old attic in Lambert, South Carolina, she isn’t sure she should read it. It’s addressed to her grandmother, who left the town in shame. But the letter describes a young woman. An injustice that happened decades ago. A mystery enfolding its writer. And the fortune that awaits the person who solves the puzzle.So with the help of Brandon, the quiet boy across the street, she begins to decipher the clues. The challenge will lead them deep into Lambert’s history, full of ugly deeds, forgotten heroes, and one great love; and deeper into their own families, with their own unspoken secrets. Can they find the fortune and fulfill the letter’s promise before the answers slip into the past yet again? Readers should know that the main character comes out as gay.
One Crazy Summer
Published: January 26, 2010
Eleven-year-old Delphine is like a mother to her two younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern. She’s had to be, ever since their mother, Cecile, left them seven years ago for a radical new life in California. But when the sisters arrive from Brooklyn to spend the summer with their mother, Cecile is nothing like they imagined. While the girls hope to go to Disneyland and meet Tinker Bell, their mother sends them to a day camp run by the Black Panthers. Unexpectedly, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern learn much about their family, their country, and themselves during one truly crazy summer.
Black Middle Grade Fantasy Books
Here are some great sci-fi & fantasy books.
Last Gate of the Emperor
Published: May 4, 2021
Yared Heywat lives in Addis Prime, a rundown reimagined Ethiopian city. Yared is a frequent competitor in an augmented reality game set in the city, sometimes ditching school — much to Uncle Moti’s chagrin. But just when he seems to be getting the upper hand, the game rules change and Yared has to sign in using his real name. Halfway through the game Yared is suddenly being pursued by real-life law enforcement simply for being Yared. Forced to join forces with his rival, a girl called the Ibis, Yared and his pet bionic lioness have to get to the bottom of the attack and in the process learn some shocking information about Yared’s identity. Last gate of the Emperor is a propulsive sci-fi adventure set in an Afrofuturistic city, perfect for fans of The Black Panther‘s Wakanda.
The Secret Library
Published: May 7, 2024
This new fantasy title features 11-year-old Dally, who’s yearning for an escape after her grandfather’s death when she discovers a library where each book is a portal to a specific time period. As Dally travels through time, she learns some family secrets that suddenly make the past equally as tedious as her present. I’ve just started this one and Dally’s voice leaps off the page from the start. I’m excited to see where it goes.
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There you have them: 60+ of the best Black middle-grade books. I hope you’ve found a couple to add to your TBR. I focused on finding fun, but insightful contemporary picks and all the books on this list are personal favorites.
More Book Lists by Black Authors
Have you read any of these great Black middle-grade books? If you like this list, you’ll enjoy this list of Asian middle-grade books.
Carol says
I loved Stella by Starlight!
Marie says
Ahh what a lovely list of recommendations, thank you for sharing! I don’t read middle grade books just yet, but definitely keeping this list close-by for future reference 🙂
–A Court of Books– says
I’m super interested in those since I’m an English teacher in middle grade in France. Can you advise one of those that would be accessible for a foreigner?
Afoma Umesi says
Hi! By accessible, you mean easily understood? The Harlem Charade is really good. Genesis Begins Again is also easy to grasp. I also liked Patina (the entire Track series) a lot. It’s quite short too. Hope that helps 🙂
–A Court of Books– says
Yes I do 🙂 my students only have 2 or 3 years of learning English and they are not familiar with a lot of vocabulary! I’ll definitely check those two thanks for the advice 😘
Afoma Umesi says
Yes, those two are great. Have you also considered chapter books? They’re smaller and have simpler vocab.
https://readingmiddlegrade.com/chapter-books/
If you’re just looking for middle-grade though, then that’s fine 🙂
–A Court of Books– says
Thanks for the link I’ll definitely check it out 🙂
Jillion Weisberg says
I love your blog. What a wonderful resource for books by lots of types of authors. You will probably like the book You Bring The Distance Near
Afoma Umesi says
Hi Jillion! Thank you so much! Yes, I’ve heard of that book by Mitali Perkins — it’s on my list!! Thanks for the rec 🙂
Carol says
The only one I’ve read is Stella by Starlight….. I’d love to read the Jason Reynolds next! Thanks for the resource!
Afoma Umesi says
Oh you have a lot to catch up on!! 😂 I realized I hadn’t read a good number of these as well, gotta read read read! I liked GHOST but I LOVED PATINA! And you don’t have to read them necessarily in order as well. I hope to read LU and SUNNY eventually. Thank you for always supporting me, Carol ❤️
Carol says
Thanks for your personal Recs! I’ll add those titles to my TBR!
Erin says
Thank you so much for sharing this list, Afoma! I found it in a Google search looking for middle grade books for a “Celebrate Black Stories” at the public library where I work in Ohio. I love resources like these that help celebrating Black History Month be as much about understanding the present and inspiring hope for the future as it is about honoring the past.
Afoma Umesi says
Hi Erin! That’s wonderful! Thank you for letting me know how you found this list. I’m really glad you like it and that it will be of use to you. Thank you for reading! 🙂
Carol says
Every time you publish this I notice I’ve read a few more! Most recently, you’ve introduced me to Renee Watson! And I did finish the Ghost series! Loved Isaiah Dunn, too!
Afoma Umesi says
Oh yay!! I hope you enjoyed the series. I recently read Isaiah Dunn and loved it!
Katy K. @alibrarymama says
I have read 24 of these books – but clearly I have a lot to go!
Susan says
Another fabulous list! My youngest is adopted and bi-racial and I’m always looking for books to hand her that feature people who look like her. I’m also always interested in books for both of us about transracial adoption, mixed kids in white families and communities, mixed identities, etc. My daughter doesn’t love, love, love reading like I do, but I do think she enjoys it more when books reflect her own experience. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is thanks for this awesome, relevant list. I’ve read a number of these, but there are also new-to-me titles on this list that I’m for sure going to check out.
I especially loved FROM THE DESK OF ZOE WASHINGTON and am looking forward to Marks’ newest. It sounds like another excellent read.
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Rebecca says
Thank you so much for this list! I’m putting together a display (I’m a middle school librarian) for Black History Month and this list was tremendously helpful. 🙂
Afoma Umesi says
You’re welcome, Rebecca! Glad it helps 🙂
Tracy Abell says
This is an excellent list and while I’ve read many of these, you put a bunch more on my radar. Maybe I missed seeing them, but Karen Strong has two books out: JUST SOUTH OF HOME and EDEN’S EVERDARK.
KCP says
Such a great list. Purchasing library books and looking to fill some gaps.