Library staff Brianna and Miranda gave recommendations for Black History Month on Instagram! Below is what they recommended. All titles can be found in our catalog, on Libby, or on Kanopy.
Slay by Brittney Morris
By day, Kira is just a student- well she is one of a handful of Black students at her predominately white high school. She gets good grades and even tutors other students, but she is asked to be the voice of all Black people everywhere. Kira has a secret- she is the creator and game developer of Slay. Slay is an online, turn-based combat style game celebrating Black culture across the diaspora. It is for Black players and is meant to be a safe space free from racist trolls. The game is successful in its mission until one day a boy is killed in the real world over conflicts from inside the game. With the global spotlight on Slay, Kira is worried her game got someone killed and that she is somehow responsible, and that her identity will be leaked. People are calling Slay racist and threatening legal action. Kira feels very alone in navigating all of this because no one knows that she is navigating it. But she does and is able to maintain her safe space for Black gamers.
One of the reasons Miranda loved Slay so much was because it touches on the reality of being Black in various spaces and wanting- really needing- safe spaces to celebrate identity and just be. Kira is stronger than any 17 should have to be and is also a real and flushed out character. She is much more and deeper than the strong Black girl archetype.
This is a YA book but can be read and enjoyed by adults and is recommended to gamers.
Such a Fun Age by Kylie Reid
This book features our main character, Emira, during her 25th year as she navigates life post-college and everything that entails. The stakes become higher, however, as a moment that catches Emira off guard goes viral, throwing everything into chaos.
Such a Fun Age is a perfect read for those who like contemporary fiction, especially when it confronts real world issues like privacy, agency, and how truth can be manipulated.
Murder and Magic Series by Nicole Glover
This series follows members of the Rhodes family at different points in history. The Rhodes family has a knack for solving mysteries in this historical fantasy series and they use their magic as well as regular detective methods to solve crimes. The first book in this companion series- The Conductors– follows Henrietta and Benji Rhodes who had been conductors on the Underground Railroad before settling in Philadelphia. The latest book- The Starseekers– follows one of their descendants almost a century later as she works for NASA, aiming for the moon. Miranda really enjoyed the magic system in this series! The restrictions on Black magic use mirrored actual historic restrictions on Black people at each point in history. Even though these books are set during times when it was canonically not great for Black people, Glover centers Black joy in these stories. Yes, it was difficult under Reconstruction era laws and Jim Crow laws but these characters were still able to live full, joyful lives.
Miranda cannot recommend this series highly enough. She flew through it in less than two weeks. If you like fantasy, mystery, historical fiction, or just good books, pick up this series!
The Violin Conspiracy by Brandon Slocumb
Raymond is a world-class violinist on the brink of becoming an international star. One of few black classical musicians, Ray has determination and passion driven at least in part by the priceless family heirloom that has been handed down for generations: his great, great grandfather’s Stradivarius. On the eve of his biggest competition to date, the violin goes missing, propelling Ray onto a path where he will confront his family’s history, the secrets of those closest to him, and his love for music. This book is an enthralling mystery that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat as Ray slowly ventures closer to the truth.
Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder by Valerie Burns
This book made Miranda’s list because she enjoyed reading it with her mom. She says it’s a great book to read with someone or your book club. Maddy Montgomery’s life implodes when her groom no- shows their livestreamed wedding. When she inherits a bakery- and massive English mastiff named Baby- from her great aunt Octavia, she leaps at the chance for a rebrand. Unfortunately, Maddy can barely boil water but with some help from Octavia’s friends she can make it work. That is, until the mayor is stabbed in the bakery with one of the shop’s knives! With Maddy as the prime suspect, she and her new friends must figure out who killed the mayor.
This book is perfect for cozy mystery lovers.
All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby
An ex-FBI agent, Titus moved back to his hometown in rural Virginia under classified motives. Running for Sherriff, no one is more surprised than Titus himself when he wins the election. Determined to be fair to all of his constituents, Titus is thrust into an intricate plot that involves a serial killer and generations of secrets that are buried deep within the roots of his hometown. Confronting issues of race, the challenges of ethical law enforcement, and the very dilemma of guilt vs innocence, this is a thriller that’s sure to keep you on your toes. Cosby’s narrative style is engaging, and Titus is a hero who, while flawed, still stands strong with conviction and idealism.
When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole
In Sydney’s Brooklyn neighborhood, gentrification is changing the landscape and residents are disappearing- literally up and vanishing. Sydney and her neighbor Theo decide to investigate and what they discover is insane. The twist at the end was crazy. This book is quintessential Black horror- very Jordan Peele-esque. The microaggressions were more sinister than real life, which elevated the scare factor.
If you enjoyed Get Out– or any Jordan Peele film, this book is for you.
A Black Women’s History of the United States by Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross
Discussing the United States from colonization to 2017, this book dives into history from a lens not often looked through. Highlighting important contributions from Black women that have gone untold, this book moves chronologically. Each chapter is a different era of American history, teaching the reader about women and their accomplishments while providing surrounding context for why they are so significant.
This is a great book for everyone interested in American history– especially the parts that aren’t taught in schools.
Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith
This graphic novel is really five interconnected short comics following four friends in the Bronx. These snapshots into their lives are told through the lens of wash day- when they get their hair done. Wash day can often be viewed as a chore, but these stories show the joy and community in it. These stories also touch on deep themes like mental health and relationships. The art style is also gorgeous.
Because this book contains mature themes, it is recommended for an older audience.
The Busing Background
This PBS documentary dives into the 1974 Boston Public Schools busing and integration. While most people probably think of integration in the South, this two-hour documentary goes in depth into the reasons why Boston was a hot bed of racial contention and how the city navigated integrating schools in one of the country’s largest metropolitan areas. Brianna appreciated this documentary for the time it took to break down each step that led to the events in 1974, including personal testimony from people involved.
This documentary should interest those looking to learn more about the niche areas of civil rights that history tends to shadow.