Below, I have assembled a collection of books for middle grade readers that feature Black protagonists. In the United States, Black experiences, identities, and perspectives are frequently underrepresented. Seeking out literature that centers Black characters is one way that we can work to ensure that young readers have access to such stories. The books listed below are categorized according to genre.
*You may find that some books are listed under more than one category. This is because those books fit into more than one genre.
**Please note that I have not read all of these books. I encourage you to do your own research to find the book/s right for you and your family and to use this resource merely as a guide.
Image Description: A silhouette of a middle grade reader with short-cropped hair leaning against the trunk of a tree with a book in hand. A yellow-orange sun sinks behind a grassy horizon.
Credit: Aaron Burden / Unsplash via Webador
General Fiction
- The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon
- Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson
- From the Desk of Zoe Washington (series) by Janae Marks
- Blended by Sharon M. Draper
- The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods
- As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds
- The Kaya Girl by Mamle Wolo
- A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramee
- Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams
- Fast Pitch By Nic Stone
- Ways to Make Sunshine (series) by Renee Watson
- The Usual Suspects by Marice Broaddus
- What Lane? by Torrey Maldonado
- The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore
- Hurricane Child by Kacen Callender
- Planet Middle School by Nikki Grimes
- Mango Delight (series) by Fracaswell Hyman
- President of the Whole Fifth Grade (series) by Sherri Winston
- Garvey's Choice by Nikki Grimes
- The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
- Ghost by Jason Reynolds
- New Kid by Jerry Craft
- So Done by Paula Chase
- The Amazing Life of Azaleah Lane by Nikki Shannon Smith
- Jaden Toussaint the Greatest (series) by Marti Dumas
- Jada Jones Rock Star by Kelly Starling Lyons
- Sadiq and the Desert Star by Siman Nuurali
- Lola Jones (series) by Jonathan Eig
- You're Amazing, Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke
- Shai & Emmie Star in Dancy Pants! by Quvenzhane Wallis
- Squishy Taylor and the Bonus Sisters by Ailsa Wild
- Isaiah Dunn is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
- For Black Girls Like Me by Mariama J. Lockington
- Booked by Kwame Alexander
- It's the End of the World and I'm in My Bathing Suit by Justin A. Reynolds
- Patina by Jason Reynolds
- Two Naomis by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich and Audrey Vernick
- 8th Grade Super Zero Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
- Clean Getaway by Nic Stone
- Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia
- Katerina Ballerina by Tiler Peck and Kyle Harris
- Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes
- The Startup Squad by Brian Weisfeld and Nicole C. Kear
- Brothers by Crystal Allen
- Not an Easy Win by Chrystal D. Giles
- When Life Gives You Mangoes by Kereen Getten
- The Many Fortunes of Maya by Nicole D. Collier
- Shark Teeth by Sherri Winston
- Figure It Out Henri Weldon by Tanita S. Davis
- Partly Cloudy by Tanita S. Davis
- The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett
- Treasure Island: Runaway Gold by Jewell Parker Rhodes
General Fiction (continued)
- Ready Set Dough by Kelly J. Baptist
- Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
- Be Realm Macy Weaver by Lakita Wilson
- Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson
- Turning Point by Paula Chase
- Ways to Make Sunshine by Renee Watson
- Just Right Jillian by Nicole D. Collier
- Maya and the Robot by Eve Ewing
- Squad Goals by Erika J. Kendrick
- Dough Boys by Paula Chase
- Some Places More Than Others by Renee Watson
- Keeping It Real by Paula Chase
- What Momma Left Me by Renee Watson
- For Black Girls Like Me by Mariama J. Lockington
- A Soft Place to Land by Janae Marks
- Tight by Torrey Maldonado
- Simon B Rhymin' by Dwayne Reed
- Playing the Cards You're Dealt by Varian Johnson
- The Swag Is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
- Take Back the Block by Chrystal D. Giles
- Control Freaks by J.E. Thomas
- The Magnificent Mya Tibbs (series) by Crystal Allen
- Serena Says by Tanita S. Davis
- Something to Say by Lisa Moore Ramee
Sci-Fi/Fantasy
- The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
- Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar Giles
- Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
- Mia Mayhem Is a Superhero! by Kara West
- Zoey and Sassafras (series) by Asia Citro
- Polly Diamond and the Super Stunning Spectacular School Fair by Alice Kulpers
- Sanity & Tallulah by Molly Brooks
- Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
- The Royal Guide to Monster Slaying by Kelley Armstrong
- Twintuition Double Vision by Tia and Tamera Mowry
- Ruby Finley Vs. the Interstellar Invasion by K. Tempest Bradford
- The Last Gate of the Emperor by Kwame Mbalia and Prince Joel Makonnen
- The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon
- Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott
- The Magic in Changing Your Stars by Leah Henderson
Historical Fiction
- The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
- Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
- Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes
- Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renee Watson
- Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
- How Hight the Moon by Karyn Parsons
- Like Vanessa by Tami Charles
- My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich by Ibi Zoboi
- The Gaither Sisters (series) by Rita Williams-Garcia
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
- How High the Moon by Karyn Parsons
- The Magic in Changing Your Stars by Leah Henderson
Nonfiction/Memoir
- Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
- STAT: Standing Tall and Talented (series) by Amar'e Stoudemire
Paranormal/Supernatural
- Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
- Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol (series) by Victor Rivas
Poetry/Verse
- Planet Middle School by Nikki Grimes
- Garvey's Choice by Nikki Grimes
- Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
- When Winter Robeson Came by Brenda Woods
- Rain Rising by Cortne Comrie
Romance
- Pizza My Heart by Rhiannon Richardson
- Sincerely Sicily by Tamika Burgess
- The Braid Girls by Sherri Winston
Anthologies
- Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds
- Black Boy Joy edited by Kwame Mbalia
Graphic Novels
- Sanity & Tallulah by Molly Brooks
- Miles Morales Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds
- Blue Stars (series) by Kekla Magoon, Cynthia Leitich Smith
- New Kid by Jerry Craft
- Art Club by Rashad Doucet
- Curlfriends (series) by Sharee Miller
- Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas
- Link & Hud (series) by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey
- Jake the Fake Keeps it Real by Craig Robinson, Adam Mansbach
- Jayla Jumps In by Joy Jones
Mystery/Thriller/Horror
- The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
- The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert
- The Harlem Charade by Natasha Harpley
- King and Kayla and the Case of the Lost Tooth by Dori Hillestad Butler
- The Great Shelby Holmes by Elizabeth Eulberg
- Jada Sly, Artist & Spy by Sherri Winston
- To Catch a Cheat by Varian Johnson
- Eddie Red Undercover (series) by Marcia Wells
- The Cookie Crumbles by Tacy Badua and Alechia Dow
- Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key by Tracy Occomy Crowder
- From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
Sources
- Reading Middle Grade: https://readingmiddlegrade.com/black-middle-grade-books/
- What Do We Do All Day: https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/middle-grade-books-with-black-protagonists/
- Book Riot: https://bookriot.com/middle-grade-books-by-black-authors/
- Imagination Soup: https://imaginationsoup.net/chapter-books-black-main-characters/
- Book Riot: https://bookriot.com/black-middle-grade-authors/
- Literacious: https://www.literacious.com/2020/11/18/30-more-chapter-middle-grade-books-featuring-black-protagonists/
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