African-American Fiction for Teens
Young Adult Books about Black Culture Past and Present
From Coretta Scott King Award Winners to lesser known titles, this is a guide to some of the best in African American Teen Fiction.
Fiction choices that deal with the culture and experiences of African Americans abound in today's book market. From the horrors of slavery to the Civil Rights Movement, literature is available that educates and inspires.
"When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does,” declares Meg Ryan's character in You've Got Mail. Though trite in her word choice, the greater merit of the maxim shows itself when one considers the influx of young adult literature that grapples with the issue of diversity. In the genre of African American literature, what books are sensitive, yet accurate, and enjoyable?
Copper Sun by Sharon M. Draper ISBN 0689821816
Copper Sun(Antheneum Books for Young Readers, 2006)is the story of 15-year-old Amari of the Ashanti tribe in Africa and her journey from soon to be married village girl to human cargo in the harsh journey of the Middle Passage. For teens who equate Africa with starving children and genocide the description of her life on the continent will be both enlightening and refreshing. Cooper Sun is for mature readers as it grapples with the issues of rape and illegitimate children.
School Library Journal notes, "This action-packed, multifaceted, character-rich story describes the shocking realities of the slave trade and plantation life while portraying the perseverance, resourcefulness, and triumph of the human spirit. As readers embrace Amari ... they will better understand the impact of human exploitation and suffering throughout history. In addition, they will gain a deeper knowledge of slavery, indentured servitude, and 18th-century sanctuaries for runaway slaves." (Lawson, 2006)
A Coretta Scott King Award winner Copper Sun is a necessary read for young adults and a must recommend for educators, teachers and parents.
The Dream Keeper and Other Poems By Langston Hughes Illustrated by Brian Pickney(Knopf,1994) ISBN 067984421X
Langston Hughes is considered by many to be the patriarch of African American Poetry and for good reason. Introduce teen readers to his work with this group of works originally published in 1932. Popular poems “Poem: I loved my friend”, "Dream Variation,” and "The Negro Speaks of Rivers” are included in addition to 56 other poems selected by Hughes for young adults.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor ISBN 0140384510
The Newberry-award winner Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Puffin,1997) is a modern African American classic. It is an amazing tale of a black family filled with hope and courage against a backdrop of the South in the hieght of the sharecropping era. 9 year-old Cassie Logan shares the triumphs and sorrows of her hard-working family and the racism they encounter as one of the few landowners, black or white. No character is a cold equation and both races make poor choices. Peer-pressure and humiliation from peers are both disscussed, yet the book soars above the preachiness of other titles.
Books that explore the culture and condition of the African American experience are available at all local libraries and bookstores. Popular writers include, Ann Rinaldi, Walter Dean Myers and Virginia Hamilton and Angela Johnson. A journey into diversity found in black teen literature is rewarding for any who venture to do so.
