Fiction 2008
Joseph by Shelia P. Moses
Chess Rumble by G. Neri; illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson
Snow falling in spring by Moying Li; Square Fish Press
Death of Jayson Porter by Jaime Adoff
Hot Girl by Dream Jordan
Dark Dude by Oscar Hijuelos
Beacon Hill High by Monique & Sherri McGee McCovey
Chameleon by Charles R. Smith
Kendra by Coe Booth
She said, she said by Celeste O Norfleet and Jennifer Norfleet
That’s what’s up by Paula Chase
Courtin Jayd by L. Divine
He forgot to say goodbye by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Rogelia’s house of magic by Jamie Martinez Wood
First Daughter: White House Rules by Mitali Perkins
Esperanza: A latina story by Sandra Lopez
Roots and wings by Many Ly
Good Enough by Paula Yoo
Gamma Glamma by Kim Flores
My life as a rhombus by Varian Johnson
After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson
Mexican White Boy by Matt de la Pena
Fat hoochie prom queen by Nico Medina
The Whole Sky Full of Stars by Rene Saldana
The Brothers Torres by Coert Vorhees
Hotlanta by Denene Millner and Mitzi Miller
Sunrise over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers
Rolling Wit the punches by Jarold Imes
That’s What’s Up by Paula Chase Hyman
Life is Fine by Allison Whittenberg
Touching Snow by M. Sindy Felin
Conception Kalisha Buckhanon
Chasing the Jaguar by Michele Dominguez Greene
My father, the angel of death by Ray Villareal
A matter of attitude by Hayden
Game by Walter Dean Myers
Lady J by L. Divine (Drama High Series)
When the Black Girl Sings by Bil Wright
Beneath my mother’s feet by Amjed Qamar
Marvelous World by Troy Cle
Zahrah the windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu
Pitch Black by by Youme Landowne / Anthony Horton
George Washington Carver by Tonya Bolden
Fire from the Rock by Sharon Draper
Climbing the stairs by Venkatraman Padma
Fly Girl Sherri L. Smith
A la carte by Tanita Davis
A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliott
If I was your girl by Ni Ni Simone
The Kayla Chronicles by Sherri Winston
Trouble in My Way by Michelle Stimpson
Joseph Shelia P. Moses
Guardian Julius Lester
Pemba’s Song: A Ghost Story Marilyn Nelson and Tonya C. Hegamin
The Surrender Tree Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle
2009 BOOKS
Everything Asian by Sung Woo
The world is mine by Lyah B. Leflore
Perfect Shot Debbie Rigaud
Child of dandelions Shenaaz Nanji
Bobby vs. Girls (accidentally) by Lisa Yee
L.A. Summer by Sheryl-Mallory Johnson
Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins
Lip Gloss Chronicles: vol 1 The Ultimate Test by Shelia Goss
Does my head look big in this? by Randa Abdel-Fattah
Bayou vol #1 by Jeremy Love
Mare’s War by Tanita Davis
I Love Yous Are For White People by Lac Su
Wanting Mor by Rukhsana Khan
Surf Mules G. Neri
Keep it Movin’ L. Divine
Shine Coconut Moon by Neesha Meminger
Marcelo in the Real World Francisco Stork
Just Another Hero Sharon Draper
Asleep by Wendy Raven McNair
Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon
What Goes Around (Hotlanta) by Denene Miller Mitzi Miller
Chasing Romeo (Kimani Tru) by A.J. Byrd
Flipping the Script (Del Rio Bay) by Paula Chase
Skunk Girl by Sheba Karim
Little Sister is not my name! Sharon Draper
Jumped Rita Williams Garcia
Way We Roll Beta Gamma Pi Stephanie Perry Moore
Amiri & Odette: A Love Story Walter Dean Myers, illustrated by Javaka Steptoe
Dope stick Walter Dean Myers
Reaching Out Francisco Jimenez
Next Semester by Cecil Cross; Kimani Tru
Cotton Quilts 
Thank you fir including my book Walk with Us on your list. I will be touring this Fall and would love to read in Indianapolis – if young readers there would be interested. The book just won an Indie Book Award, for multicultural non-fiction, and we got a great review at Multicultural Review (June), so I’m psyched. And I’m honored now to find myself on your list. I shared the book with a class of 7th graders in Albany last week, readers of color. Unlike adult audiences, who offer statments, they asked real questions. It was a cool wind in my face, a breathtaking view. Elizabeth
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Thanks for contacting me!
Edi
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[…] Helping kids find the right book… July 2, 2008, 12:16 am Filed under: YA Lit | Tags: African American Fiction, YA Literature I found a blog, by “Edi, an African American school librarian in Indianapolis hoping to improve the literacy of students of color”. Her homepage is interesting, as it examines black issues in literature, essays, movies, etc., but I’m excited about the booklists she created–very helpful for those of us who haven’t read many multicultural, teen-appropriate books, but would still like to be able to recommend some. She’s made lists for 2007 and 2008. […]
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Hello Edi,
Thank you for what you are doing to improve literacy amongst African American students. My name is Sonia Hayes and I too, share that same passion. I found my first novel, “Ms. Thang” (2006) on your website. I also like to invite you to take a look at “Urban Goddess” (2007) and “Eye Candy” (2008). They comprise my teen series, the ATL Girlz. I write to empower teens to make positive choices in their lives. If ever I can be of service to you in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please keep doing what you are doing. It matters!
Warmest regards,
Sonia Hayes
410.710.2700
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Hello and thanks for letting me know about the other titles. I’ll be back in the States in a couple of weeks and I will definitely add your books to my reading list. Keep in touch, let me know what other projects you’re working on! We have to keep fighting the good fight!
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Thank you for the sound critique. Me and my neighbor were just setting up to do some research about this. I am very glad to see such great info being shared freely out there.
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