Rock Island Public Library

African American fiction

The following books concern African American issues and/or have African American main characters.  They are appropriate for teenage readers.

Chains by Laurie H. Anderson

The Pox Party (The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing v. 1) by M.T. Anderson

The Kingdom on the Waves (The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing v. 2) by M. T. Anderson

Kendra by Coe Booth

Tyrell by Coe Booth

Black Angels by Linda Brown

Mare's War by Tanita Davis

Copper Sun by Sharon Draper

Fire From the Rock by Sharon Draper

Forged By Fire by Sharon Draper

Just Another Hero by Sharon Draper

Begging for Change by Sharon Flake

America by E.R. Frank

The Liberation of Gabriel King by K. L. Going

Dark Sons by Nikki Grimes

Pemba's Song: A Ghost Story by Hegamin, Tonya

New Boy by Julian Houston

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson

Payback (Bluford High) by Paul Langan

Day of Tears by Julius Lester

Guardian by Julius Lester

Time's Memory by Julius Lester

The Contender by Robert Lipsyte

The Rock and the River by Magoon, Kekla

Unsigned Hype: A Novel by Booker Mattison

Twists and Turns by Janet McDonald

Shooting Star by Frederick McKissack

The Baptism by Shelia Moses

The Legend of Buddy Bush by Shelia Moses

47 by Walter Mosley

Amiri and Odette: A Love Story by Walter Dean Myers

Dope Sick by Walter Dean Myers

Game by Walter Dean Myers

Riot by Walter Dean Myers

Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers

What They Found by Walter Dean Myers

A Summer of Kings by Han Nolan

Someone To Love Me (Bluford High) by Anne Schraff

Flygirl by Sherri Smith

If I Grow Up by Todd Strasser

Black and White by Paul Volponi

Becoming Billie Holiday by Carole Weatherford

Life Is Fine by Allison Whittenberg

Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia

Like Sisters on the Homefront by Rita Williams-Garcia

After Tupac & D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson

Behind You by Jacqueline Woodson

Hush by Jacqueline Woodson

I Hadn't Meant To Tell You This by Jacqueline Woodson

When the Black Girl Sings by Bill Wright

Rosa Parks: My Story by Rosa Parks

Getting Away With Murder by Chris Crowe

Running Back to Ludie by Angela Johnson

Bad Boy: A Memoir by Walter Dean Myers

Marching For Freedom by Elizabeth Patridge

A Hope In the Unseen by Ron Suskind

The New York Public Library African American Desk Reference