African American speculative fiction for kids
After Edi read my SLJ article, she suggested I compile a list of African American speculative fiction (sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal, time travel, alternate history, dystopia, horror, etc.) books for children. As usual, I enlisted the help of others, and below is the list Edi, Doret, Ari, and I compiled. If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment. I did not include speculative fiction titles that might appeal to teens—just those specifically published for young readers (MG/YA).
Speculative Fiction by US-based Authors of African Descent
1. Justice and Her Brothers by Virginia Hamilton (1978)
2. Dustland by Virginia Hamilton (1980)
3. The Gathering by Virginia Hamilton (1981)
4. Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush by Virginia Hamilton (1982)
5. The Magical Adventures of Pretty Pearl by Virginia Hamilton (1983)
6. Shadow of the Red Moon by Walter Dean Myers (1995)
7. Trapped between the Lash and the Gun by Arvella Whitmore (2001)
8. The Golden Hour by Maiya Williams (2004)
9. 47 by Walter Mosley (2005)
10. Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor (2005)
11. The Hour of the Cobra by Maiya Williams (2006)
12. The Hour of the Outlaw by Maiya Williams (2007)
13. The Marvelous Effect by Troy CLE (2007)
14. The Shadow Speaker by Nnedi Okorafor (2007)
15. Racing the Dark by Dawn Alaya Johnson (2007)
16. A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliott (2008)
17. Night Biters: A Tale of Urban Horror by AJ Harper (2008)
18. M+O 4EVR by Tonya Cherie Hegamin (2008)
19. Pemba’s Song: A Ghost Story by Marilyn Nelson and Tonya C. Hegamin (2009)
20. The Ancient Lands Warriors Quest by Jason McCammon (2009)
21. Asleep by Wendy Raven McNair (2009)
22. Dope Sick by Walter Dean Myers (2009)
23. Explorer-X Alpha by LM Preston (2009)
24. The Goblin King by Dawn Alaya Johnson (2009)
25. Olivion’s Favorites by Troy CLE (2009)
26. Were Wolves: the Mix Tape by AJ Harper (2009)
27. Awake by Wendy Raven McNair (2010)
28. The Clone Codes by Patricia McKissack et al. (2010)
29. Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves (2010)
30. Manifest by Artist Arthur (2010)
31. Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes (2010)
32. Shadow Walker by LA Banks (2010)
33. Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves (2011)
34. Cyborg by Patricia McKissack et al. (2011)
35. Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor (2011)
36. Mystify by Artist Arthur (2011)
37. Mutiny by Artist Arthur (2011)
38. Mayhem by Artist Arthur (2011)
39. Modelland by Tyra Banks (2011)
40. Living Violet: The Cambion Chronicles #1 by Jaime Reed (2011)
41. Breaking Free by Alicia McCalla (2012)
42. Ship of Souls by Zetta Elliott (2012)
43. The Chaos by Nalo Hopkinson* (2012; Canadian author, US press)
44. Burning Emerald: The Cambion Chronicles #2 by Jaime Reed (2012)
45. Mesmerize by Artist Arthur (2012)
46. The Diary of B.B. Bright by Alice Randall and Caroline Randall Williams (2012)
47. Fading Amber: The Cambion Chronicles #3 by Jaime Reed (2012)
48. The Clone Codes #3: the Visitor by Patricia C. McKissack, Fredrick McKissack, and Pat McKissack (2012)
49. The Book of Wonders by Jasmine Richards (2012; UK author, US press)
50. The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson (2013)
51. Orleans by Sherri L. Smith (2013)
52. Roots: Witchbound Book One by Kelbian Noel (2013; Canadian author)
53. Bending Time: The Adventures of Emery Jones, Boy Science Wonder by Charles & Elisheba Johnson (2013)
54. Vengeance Bound by Justina Ireland (2013)
55. The Offenders by Jerry Craft (2013)
56. The Deep by Zetta Elliott (2013)
57. Charis: Journey to Pandora’s Jar by Nicole Y. Walters (2013)
58. Cursed by Trakena Prevost (2013)
59. Amber and the Hidden City by Milton J. Davis (2013)
60. Game World by Christopher John Farley (2014)
61. Promise of Shadows by Justina Ireland (2014)
62. Love Is the Drug by Alaya Dawn Johnson (2014)
63. The Phoenix on Barkley Street by Zetta Elliott (2014)
64. The Lost Tribes by C. Taylor-Butler (2015)
65. The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste (2015)
66. The Mark of Noba by GL Tomas (2015)
67. Dayshaun’s Gift by Zetta Elliott (2015)
68. Black Beauty by Constance Burris (2015)
69. Coal: Book One of the Everleaf Series by Constance Burris (2015)
70. The Door at the Crossroads by Zetta Elliott (2016)
71. The Blazing Star by Imani Josey (2016)
72. The Ghosts in the Castle by Zetta Elliott (2017)
73. Willow Born by Shanna Miles (2017)
74. American Street by Ibi Zoboi (2017)
75. Mother of the Sea by Zetta Elliott (2017)
76. Akata Warrior by Nnedi Okorafor (2017)
77. The Phantom Unicorn by Zetta Elliott (2017)
78. Rise of the Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste (2017)
79. The Lost Tribes: Safe Harbor by C. Taylor-Butler (2017)
80. Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds (2017)
81. OMG…Is He Also a Witch? by Talia Aikens-Nunez (2017)
82. Reign of Outlaws by Kekla Magoon (2017)
83. Siege of Shadows by Sarah Raughley (2017)
84. Beasts Made out of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi (2017)
85. I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina (2017)
86. M.F.K. by Nilah Magruder (2017)
87. The Sky Throne by Chris Ledbetter (2017)
88. The End of Oz (Dorothy Must Die), Vol. 3 by Danielle Page (2017)
89. The Bene’s Daughter by Milton Davis (2017)
90. Jupiter Storm by Marti Dumas (2017)
91. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (2018)
92. Dread Nation by Justina Ireland (2018)
93. The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton (2018)
94. The Return by Zetta Elliott (2018)
95. Black Panther: the Young Prince by Ronald L. Smith (2018)
96. #Prettyboy Must Die by Kimberly Reid (2018)
97. Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes (2018)
98. Getting Home (Attack on Earth) by Stephanie Perry Moore (2018)
99. Scream Site by Justine Ireland (2018)
100. A Blade So Black by L. L. McKinney (2018)
101. Crown of Thunder by Tochi Onyebuchi (2018)
102. Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott (2018)
102. Legacy of Light (Effigies 3) by Sarah Raughley (2018)
104. Minecraft: The Crash by Tracey Baptiste (2018)
105. Star Wars: Lando’s Luck by Justina Ireland (2018)
106. Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callender (2018)
107. Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron (2019)
108. A Dream So Dark by LL McKinney (2019)
109. Pet by Awaeke Emezi (2019)
110. Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi (2019)
111. The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis (2019)
112. War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi (2019)
113. A River of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy (2019)
114. Daughters of Nri by Reni K. Amayo (2019)
115.The Everlasting Rose by Dhonielle Clayton (2019)
116. The Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar Giles (2019)
117. Trace by Pat Cummings (2019)
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko (2020)
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