It’s that time of year again. Academic librarian and fellow blogger Edi Campbell predicts we’ll see a sharp drop in the number of PoC-authored books this year; Edi keeps a list of all titles by PoC authors here. This list only includes middle grade (MG) and young adult (YA) novels written by black authors and published in the US. I found only ONE black-authored YA title published in Canada in 2012, but I may have to reconsider both of my lists since Harlequin is apparently Canadian-owned and that means the Kimani-Tru titles are technically Canadian; you can find my Canadian list, such as it is, here.
If my math is correct, we’ve got just over 40 new titles (the Clubhouse Mysteries by Sharon Draper appear to be reprints). In 2011 we hit 45; you can find that list here. It’s my understanding that 3000 MG/YA titles are published in the US each year. If you spot any errors or omissions on this list, please leave a comment.
January (8):
Black Boy White School by Brian F. Walker (HarperTeen)
Mesmerize by Artist Arthur (Harlequin/Kimani Tru)
The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis (Wendy A. Lamb Books)
The Book of Wonders by Jasmine Richards (HarperCollins)
Best Shot in the West: the Adventures of Nat Loveby Patricia C. McKissack, Frederick L. McKissack, and Randy Duburke (Chronicle Books)
Marnyke: Keepin’ Her Man (Juicy Central) by Shay Jackson (Saddleback)
Nishell: Holding Back (Juicy Central) by Jada Jones (Saddleback)
Stars in the Shadows: The Negro League All-Star Game of 1934 by Charles R. Smith, Jr. (Atheneum)
February (7):
No Crystal Stairby Vaunda Michaux Nelson (Carolrhoda Lab)
The Clone Codes #3: the Visitor by Patricia C. McKissack, Fredrick McKissack, and Pat McKissack (Scholastic)
Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson (Nancy Paulsen Books)
DJ Rising by Love Maia (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
On the Flip Side: A Fab Life Novel #4 by Nikki Carter (K-Teen Dafina)
Ship of Souls by Zetta Elliott (AmazonEncore)
Bad Boy by Dream Jordan (St. Martin’s Griffin)
March (2):
Cali Boys: a Boyfriend Season Novelby Kelli London (K-Teen/Dafina)
The Space Mission Adventure (A Clubhouse Mystery)* by Sharon Draper, illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson (Aladdin) *REPRINT
April (4):
The Wiley Boys by Hill Harper (Harper & Wells Books for Young Readers)
All the Right Stuff by Walter Dean Myers (Amistad)
The Chaos by Nalo Hopkinson (Margaret K. McElderry Books)
Creeping with the Enemy: A Langdon Prep Novel #2 by Kimberly Reid (Dafina)
May (4):
37 Things I Love (In No Particular Order) by Kekla Magoon (Henry Holt)
Burning Emerald: The Cambion Chronicles #2 by Jaime Reed (K-Teen/Dafina)
Happy Families by Tanita Davis (Knopf Books for Young Readers)
Download Drama by Celeste O. Norfleet (Kimani Tru)
June (3):
Always Upbeat: Cheer Drama/All That: Baller Swag by Stephanie Perry Moore (Saddleback)
Lone Bean by Chudney Ross (Amistad)
Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess by Rachel Renee Russell (Aladdin)
July (4):
Keep Jumping: Cheer Drama/No Hating: Baller Swag by Stephanie Perry Moore (Saddleback)
The Backyard Animal Show (Clubhouse Mysteries)* by Sharon M. Draper, illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson (Aladdin) *REPRINT
Back to Me by Earl Sewell (Kimani Tru)
No Boyz Allowed by Ni-Ni Simone (Dafina Books)
August (7):
End Zone by Tiki & Ronde Barber (Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books)
A Certain October by Angela Johnson (Simon & Schuster)
Fire in the Streets by Kekla Magoon (Aladdin)
Yell Out: Cheer Drama/Do You: Baller Swag by Stephanie Perry Moore (Saddleback)
The Cruisers 3: a Star Is Born by Walter Dean Myers (Scholastic)
Charly’s Epic Fiascos by Kelli London (Dafina)
Denim Diaries #6: Lying to Live by Darrian Lee (Urban Books)
September (9):
Stars and Sparks on Stage (Clubhouse Mysteries)* by Sharon M. Draper, illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson (Aladdin) *REPRINT
Settle Down: Cheer Drama/Be Real: Baller Swag by Stephanie Perry Moore (Saddleback)
Kiki Doin’ It (Juicy Central) by Ayshia Monroe (Saddleback)
Marnyke: the Fake Date (Juicy Central) by Ayshia Monroe (Saddleback)
Tia: Diva (Juicy Central) by Ayshia Monroe (Saddleback)
Sherise: Stalked (Juicy Central) by Ayshia Monroe (Saddleback)
Nishell: Tempted (Juicy Central) by Ayshia Monroe (Saddleback)
The Diary of B.B. Bright by Alice Randall and Caroline Randall Williams (Turner)
Hollywood High by Ni-Ni Simone and Amir Abrams (Kensington)
October (3):
Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All by Rachel Renee Russell (Aladdin)
Pinned by Sharon Flake (Scholastic)
Time to Shine by Nikki Carter (Dafina)
November (1):
Crazy Love by Amir Abrams (Dafina)
December (1):
Fading Amber: The Cambion Chronicles #3 by Jaime Reed (K-Teen/Dafina)
Hi Zetta, I have enjoyed following your blog and find you are amazing with all that you manage to do. Our book club is also reading a book on the topic Black Boy White School. It is The Hustle by Doug Merlino and about one basketball team with five white and five black boys. The blacks are from the inner city and the whites from Lakeside Prep School which is one of the top in the USA. Doug goes back and interviews how the boys made out in life after graduation to see the ways that race, money, and opportunity shape our lives. I found it fascinating as my two step sons went to Lakeside about this time. This book is the 2012 Washington State Book Award For Biography/Memoir. His web site is http://www.dougmerlino.net and he lives in New York City. Wishing you a very Happy Christmas, Love and hugs, Ruth Mortimer Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2012 19:02:27 +0000 To: ruthemortimer@hotmail.com
Hi, Ruth! Well, I’m sick as a dog right now so maybe I’m doing too much…but the semester’s almost over. Your book club has really wonderful selections! I can imagine how rich your discussions are. Happy Holidays!
Are these all books that you recommend?
Hey, Debbie. I stopped reviewing books a few years ago–this is just my annual list to show how few black-authored books are published in the US each year. I know you had issues with the Nat Love graphic novel and I don’t endorse any book on this list—I couldn’t, really, since I’ve only read a few. Feel free to post a link to your review of Nat Love.
Thoughtful reading/reviewing–or analysis, really–takes a lot of time, knowledge or knowledge of reliable sources, and a critical eye.
My analysis of NAT LOVE is here:
http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2012/06/patricia-and-fredrick-mckissack-jrs.html
Thanks for this Zetta and check out my updated list here: http://www.anansesem.com/2012/08/2012-and-2011-english-language.html
Thanks, Summer! Have you connected with the folks at Hands Across the Sea? They should definitely know about these books since they donate to Caribbean schools and libraries.
[…] Zetta Elliott has beem working on completing her annual list of MG and YA books by African American authors. […]
[…] « 2012 African American MG & YA Novels […]
Thank you so much for all the work you are doing. Now to pick up some of these books to support the authors .
Hey, Karen! Hoping to see YOUR next novel on next year’s list…
Since it’s a book of short stories, my Die Trying, technically does not belong on the list, but it was published in November. I will be on you list next year with my newest novel, Being God, coming at the end of January. (I really wanted it this year, but I also want it to be great, so it’s in one last round of edits) While my first book was traditionally published, I am self-publishing his one, so don’t forget about me next year.
Hi, BA. Congrats on your two new books! This list is designed to show what traditional publishers are putting out, so I’m not including self-published titles. But Edi Campbell and I are trying to come up with a way to showcase self-pubbed authors—we’ll definitely keep you in mind.
thank you for this post. every christmas i get my 5 godchildren books – now i have a list to work from. this is an amazing resource. thank you again for all your work!
Hi, Latressa. I’m glad you found our list. We also have multicultural recommendations at the Birthday Party Pledge site: birthdaypartypledge.com
Happy Holidays!
Hi, Zetta, here are a few more for you from the CCBC logs:
“End Zone” by Tiki and Ronde Barber (S&S)
“Nikki and Deja: Wedding Drama” by Karen English (Clarion)
“Letters to Missy Violet” by Barbara Hathaway (Houghton Mifflin)
“Stars in the Shadows” by Charles R. Smith Jr (Atheneum)
Hi, KT! Thanks for these additional titles. Are Letters to Missy Violet and the Nikki/Deja book middle grade novels? I see they’re listed as 6 and up, which makes me think chapter book.
[…] you looked at the list of African American books published in 2012, you would have noticed a number of books published by Saddleback publishing. Late last year, I […]
There’s an interesting discussion underway on Laurie Halse Anderson’s FB page about Christine Taylor-Butler’s article in the Horn Book. I’m a childrens/middle/YA/adult/television/film writer who has recently done some very satisfying work for Saddleback. I linked to your website, and this page specifically, in that discussion. Keep up the good work!
Addendum. Article at Horn Book by Yolanda Hare. Comment at LHA’s FB page by Christine Taylor-Butler.
Thanks, Jeff! Here’s the link, in case others are interested. Vanessa Irvin Morris also has a conversation going on her FB account:
http://www.hbook.com/2013/01/choosing-books/horn-book-magazine/beyond-the-friends/
[…] I have not added titles from Saddleback Educational Publishing, a press devoted to hi-lo fiction for teens. You can find Saddelback authors on our 2011 and 2012 lists. […]