My grown behind loves a good YA novel. These kids today just don’t know how good they have it. With the variety of young adult novels available today, there is no excuse for young people not to pick up a book! That made me sound old huh? Lol, well me and my reading homegirls love ya novels and I wanted to share a few of my favorites written by Black women. 

If you have any recommendations, make sure you let me know in the comments. I love adding books to my to-read list. 

Just a friendly reminder, I am an Amazon and Bookshop Affiliate, so if you decided to use the links below to purchase the books, I do get a commission. The price of the books does not increase for you. ❤️

Blackout

by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon

This is a collection of short stories written by some of today’s best Black female authors. The stories are about new love, old love, rekindled love during a blackout in New York City. It’s a great short and engaging read.

Dear Haiti, Love Alaine

by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite

 Alaine is a Haitian American from Miami. When she gets suspended from school, her parents ship her off to her family in Haiti.

As part of her suspension, Alaine has to work at her aunt’s nonprofit to complete a school project,

While in Haiti, Alaine learns a lot about herself and family secrets that were never meant to be uncovered.

Written by the Moulite sisters, this book keeps the reader entertained through their amazing storytelling. 

The Revolution of Birdie Randolph

by Brandy Colbert

Dove “Birdie” Randolph tries to be the perfect daughter who follows all the rules. Until she meets a boy and realizes sometimes the rules are worth breaking. 

And her aunt comes into town and they begin to form a bond that her parents can’t begin to understand. 

This book takes place in Chicago, and the mention of Portillos made my stomach growl. IYKYK!

I love how perfectly imperfect Birdie’s character is. The Revolution of Birdie Randolph is a coming-of-age novel that you want to read. 

You Should See Me in a Crown

by Leah Johnson 

 You Should See Me in a Crown is another book about a Black girl in the midwest. Liz Lighty is ready to go off to college but high school and its drama are ruining her plans. 

After a scholarship opportunity falls through, she has to run for prom queen to get the financial aid she needs. While running for prom queen, Liz gets to know a cool new girl that is just as weird as her. 

Some YA novels can be a little dark and You Should See Me in a Crown definitely is not! There are a lot of sweet moments in this book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. 

Slay

by Brittney Morris

Slay is a YA novel about a Black game developer (Kiera) who wants to create a safe space for Black gamers from around the world. So she develops a virtual reality game called SLAY.

⁣Kiera is a senior in high school who is struggling to manage her duties as a developer, her complicated relationship with her boyfriend Malcolm, and the big decision of college.⁣

⁣I loved that this book featured a Black female gamer because I know they are underrepresented in the gamer community. 

Ace of Spades

by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Devon and Chiamaka attend the prestigious Niveus Private Academy. These talented seniors expect their last year of high school to go as planned, but when they start receiving texts, exposing their darkest secrets, they realize that their senior year is nothing like they expected. The author, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is a fan of Gossip Girl and she does a great job of using her love to create this YA thriller.

Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre

by Brandy Colbert

Black Birds in the Sky is a nonfiction novel about the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. Colbert does an excellent job telling the story of this horrific event and its aftermath. 

The reader learns what caused a White mob to destroy a flourishing Black town and murder hundreds of innocent Black people. This is one of those books that you don’t want to call good because of its content, but it is written well. I finished it within hours of starting.

I like reading YA nonfiction because of how concise the books are. They tend to be an easier read and you can always pick up another book to learn more.

Chlorine Sky

by Mahogany L. Browne 

Teenage friendships can be extremely fragile. Skyy’s relationship with her former best friend is no different. This verse novel documents the realization that her longest friendship is over.

Losing friends at this age is hard and Skyy doesn’t take it easy. But she begins to learn who she is through her voice, hobbies, and new friendships. 

Am I missing something? What book should I add to this list? Let me know in the comments!