Afro YA Holiday Gift Guide: Black Fantasy Edition

by | Dec 11, 2024 | Book Review, Identity, LGBTQIA+, Music, Poetry, Popular Culture, Reading, Representation, The Afro YA

Afro YA Holiday Gift Guide

Black Fantasy Edition

It’s officially the holiday season, and books are some of the most fun gifts to give. When I was a teen in the 00s, there weren’t a lot of sci-fi, fantasy, or horror books that featured protagonists my age. Now, there are plenty to choose from. To celebrate this plethora of Black YA speculative fiction, here is a list of fantasy books that I feel are worth introducing to a young reader.

 

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

A contemporary retelling of Arthurian legends, this book tells the story of sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews. After her mother dies in an accident, Bree attends the residental program of her mother’s alma mater, UNC–Chapel Hill. When Bree witnesses a magical attack the first night on campus, a buried memory reveals that a mage calling themselves a “Merlin” was at the hospital where her mother died. In order to find the truth behind her mother’s death, Bree must infiltrate the secret society of knights and mages known as the “Legendborn.” A story of generational trauma and grief with a Black Southern gothic twist, Legendborn is a powerful coming-of-age tale. It is also the first in a series known as the Legendborn cycle, with the second book being titled Bloodmarked and the upcoming third book titled Oathbound.

 

The Nightmareverse Series by L. L. McKinney

This urban fantasy series is a modern retelling of Alice In Wonderland set in Atlanta, Georgia. Its Black bi heroine, Alice Kingston, is a complex and relatable protagonist who you will root for, and the supporting cast is fun as well. There is also rich lore and worldbuilding that bridges reality and fantasy in a compelling way. With influences that range from the aforementioned Alice in Wonderland to the Japanese anime series Sailor Moon, this book series is a fun and poignant tale of overcoming grief and embracing your own power. Read my review of book 1, book 2, and book 3.

 

 

We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride

Tackling clinical depression through poetry, myth, and folklore, this novel in verse is a powerful and lyrical read. It stars Whimsy, a Black hoodoo conjurer girl with clinical depression who also loves fairy tales. Many years ago, she was touched by Sorrow when her brother Cole disappeared in a magic forest, and she vowed never to enter it again. One day, Whimsy meets Faerry, a Black fae boy who shares struggles and fears similar to Whimsy’s. As the two of them get to know each other, they discover that the forest and Sorrow that haunt them both must be faced head-on. Read my review.

 

 

That Self-Same Metal by Brittany N. Williams

Sixteen-year-old Joan Sands is a gifted craftswoman who creates and upkeeps the stage blades for William Shakespeare’s acting company, The King’s Men. Joan’s skill with her blades comes from a magical ability to control metal—an ability gifted by her Head Orisha, Ogun. Because her whole family is Orisha-blessed, the Sands family have always kept tabs on the Fae presence in London. Usually that doesn’t involve much except noting the faint glow around a Fae’s body as they try to blend in with London society, but lately, there has been an uptick in brutal Fae attacks. After Joan wounds a powerful Fae and saves the son of a cruel lord, she is drawn into political intrigue in the human and Fae worlds. Filled with swashbuckling, dark fairy encounters, and our heroine flirting with men and women, this book is a rollicking great time.

 

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

Tavia Phillips is a siren who must hide her powers in order to keep herself alive. Her best friend, Effie, is struggling with a painful past and strange happenings in the present. While they are trying to navigate their junior year of high school, a siren murder trial shakes Portland, Oregon, to the core. In the aftermath, Tavia and Effie must come together and come to terms with themselves. Read my 2020 review.

 

 

 

Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis

Katrell doesn’t mind talking to the dead; she just wishes it made more money. Clients pay her to talk to their deceased loved ones, but it isn’t enough to support her unemployed mother and Mom’s deadbeat boyfriend-of-the-week. But magic doesn’t come for free, and soon dark forces are closing in on Katrell. The further she goes, the more she risks the lives of not only herself, but those she loves. Katrell faces a choice: resign herself to poverty or confront the darkness before it’s too late.

 

 

 

The Afro YA promotes black young adult authors and YA books with black characters, especially those that influence Pennington, an aspiring YA author who believes that black YA readers need diverse books, creators, and stories so that they don’t have to search for their experiences like she did.

Latonya Pennington is a poet and freelance pop culture critic. Their freelance work can also be found at PRIDE, Wear Your Voice magazine, and Black Sci-fi. As a poet, they have been published in Fiyah Lit magazine, Scribes of Nyota, and Argot magazine among others.

“Between the Lines” Is a Triumphant Follow Up to Bronx Masquerade

by | Aug 8, 2024 | Book Review, Identity, Racism, Reading, Representation, The Afro YA

"Between the Lines" Is a Triumphant Follow Up to Bronx Masquerade

Originally published in 2002, Bronx Masquerade is a book that begins with a Black boy named Wesley Boone. After he reads a poem for his English class, his classmates decide to read their poems aloud, too. For eighteen students, this turns into weekly poetry readings that result in them reexamining their preconceived notions about each other.

Twenty years ago, I had the monumental pleasure of reading Nikki Grimes’s novel in verse Bronx Masquerade for the first time. As a Black-Asian teen who was starting out as a poet and feeling out of place, this book was extremely validating and comforting to me. After learning that Nikki Grimes released a 2019 sequel to the book called Between the Lines, I felt I owed it to my teen self to read and review it.

As with Bronx Masquerade, this book’s main setting is a high school English class belonging to the teacher Mr. Ward. Taking place one year after the events of Bronx Masquerade, this book revolves around nine eleventh-grade students from different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. One is a mixed-race Black girl who is a foster kid, while another is a Chinese girl learning to find her voice despite not knowing her parents’ language. The students write poetry and participate in the weekly Open Mic poetry readings that lead up to a boys-versus-girls poetry slam at the end of the semester, becoming closer as they learn more about each other.

One notable difference between this book and Bronx Masquerade is its point-of-view character, Darrian Lopez. Unlike the first book’s protagonist, Wesley Boone, Darrian has no prior knowledge of poetry when he signs up for Mr. Ward’s class. In fact, he aims to be a newspaper reporter. However, Darrian is advised to sign up for Mr. Ward’s English class by the librarian, Mr. Winston, who states that poetry will “teach him the power of words.” This results in a character arc that is mostly satisfying as Darrian learns to write poetry. The only issue is that we never get to see the yearbook article Darrian writes about the semester-ending poetry slam. It would’ve been a better way to conclude the book.

Another remarkable feature of this book is that the characterization of the students is tighter. Because the book focuses on only nine students in the leadup to their boys-versus-girls poetry slam, the reader gets a sneak peek of each student’s personal life before the other characters do. In addition, we see certain students getting to know each other outside the classroom, such as Darrian and Marcel and Angela and Kyle. 

As a result, the poetry that makes up the crux of the character development shines a little brighter, too. Each character shares one to three poems that put their feelings, experiences, and passions on display. Some highlights include Jenesis Whyte’s “Foster Kid,” Marcel Dixon’s “Sweep,” “Private Pain” by Darrian Lopez, and “Anxiety” by Angela Marie Bailey. These poems tackle various topics, ranging from racist drug sweeps to grief to personal insecurities. One line I enjoyed was from Jenesis’ poem: “Mostly, I march through my days / footsteps falling on deaf ears / even when I stomp.”

One final facet of this book that I enjoyed as a fan of Bronx Masquerade was seeing certain characters from that book return in this one, especially Tyrone Bittings and Wesley Boone. Not only does it show what they’ve been up to since the first book, but it lets them apply and pass on what they learned in Mr. Ward’s class to a new set of students.

All in all, Between the Lines is a triumphant follow up to Bronx Masquerade. While you don’t need to have read Bronx Masquerade to enjoy this book, it definitely enhances the experience if you have. With stronger characterization, heartfelt prose, and passionate poetry, Between the Lines takes the power of poetry to greater heights. 

The Afro YA promotes black young adult authors and YA books with black characters, especially those that influence Pennington, an aspiring YA author who believes that black YA readers need diverse books, creators, and stories so that they don’t have to search for their experiences like she did.

Latonya Pennington is a poet and freelance pop culture critic. Their freelance work can also be found at PRIDE, Wear Your Voice magazine, and Black Sci-fi. As a poet, they have been published in Fiyah Lit magazine, Scribes of Nyota, and Argot magazine among others.

“Forever Is Now” Is a Strong, Delicate, and Lyrical Reclamation

by | Jun 24, 2024 | Book Review, Identity, Racism, Reading, Representation, The Afro YA

"Forever Is Now" Is a Strong, Delicate, and Lyrical Reclamation

In Mariama J.Lockington’s novel-in-verse Forever Is Now, Sadie is a Black bisexual teenage girl with anxiety whose world shatters after two life-changing events.

Not only does her girlfriend deliver bad news, but the two of them also witness an incident of police brutality on a nearby lake. As a result, Sadie’s dormant agoraphobia comes out in full force. While taking the steps to heal and manage her mental health, Sadie gradually rebuilds a safe place inside herself while finding the strength to use her voice.

One of the best things about this book is how it handles so many sensitive topics, including police brutality, mental health, social justice, transracial adoption, biphobia, and internalized anti-Blackness. This is mainly done through the book’s impressive cast of characters: Sadie; her young brother, Charlie; Sadie’s parents; Sadie’s love interest, Jackson; Sadie’s ex, Aria; Sadie’s best friend, Evan; and Sadie’s therapist, Dr. Candace. Of these characters, the most notable in addition to Sadie herself are Evan (a nonbinary Latinx activist), Jackson (a Black boy adopted by white parents), and Dr. Candace (a Black therapist). While all of the secondary characters inform Sadie’s growth throughout the book, it is these three who bring out the best and sometimes the worst in Sadie. Evan, for example, is empathetic toward Sadie’s mental health needs but initially tries to encourage Sadie to only date girls. Likewise, Jackson is able to bond with Sadie due to his own mental health struggles, but his internalized anti-Blackness initially clashes with Sadie’s racial pride and her own activism. Eventually, Evan and Jackson grow alongside Sadie to stand by her side. Dr. Candace’s online and in-person sessions with Sadie meanwhile provide an insightful and realistic perspective on Sadie’s mental health journey.

Enhancing Sadie’s character arc and the voice of the secondary characters is the book’s frankly gorgeous poetic verse and prose. Some of the most notable verses provide a glimpse into Sadie’s mental health struggles, such as the lines, “When I panic, I stop being a girl / I become a thread unraveling / from some dark and blanketed expanse of time.” These lines discuss Sadie’s panic attacks, but not all the verses are about pain. Some are also resilient and triumphant, such as the lines, “I let the cool air hit my face, the sunshine / on my skin through the window like an old friend. / I remember that loneliness / is a part of my bloodline / as much as love, and fight, and song is.” Sadie’s poetic voice eventually reaches a beautiful climactic peak near the end of the book, and it is a great demonstration of her personal growth.

While the book is mostly written in verse, there is some prose on occasion. The most notable use of prose is when Sadie live-streams (“lives”) on Ruckus, an app that is like the activist version of Tik-Tok. At first, she uses the lives to discuss her mental health, but she soon shifts to using lives to reclaim her joy and activism. I especially liked how Sadie used her lives to discuss her personal influences, including writers like Emily Dickinson, Audre Lorde, and Octavia Butler.

The book has few flaws. I did want to know what happened in the aftermath of the its open-mic event, but I’m okay with not knowing. After all, Sadie didn’t set out to save the world—only to use her voice to inspire who she can.

Some readers might find Sadie’s mental health journey too messy, but that’s the point. Healing isn’t linear, and Sadie isn’t perfect, but she is a wonderful and beautiful survivor in all her complexity. Forever Is Now is a strong, delicate lyrical triumph that shows you can reclaim your peace and help others do the same.

The Afro YA promotes black young adult authors and YA books with black characters, especially those that influence Pennington, an aspiring YA author who believes that black YA readers need diverse books, creators, and stories so that they don’t have to search for their experiences like she did.

Latonya Pennington is a poet and freelance pop culture critic. Their freelance work can also be found at PRIDE, Wear Your Voice magazine, and Black Sci-fi. As a poet, they have been published in Fiyah Lit magazine, Scribes of Nyota, and Argot magazine among others.

“A Phoenix First Must Burn” Has Fiery Passion and Imagination

by | Mar 25, 2024 | Book Review, Identity, Racism, Reading, Representation, The Afro YA

"A Phoenix First Must Burn" Has Fiery Passion and Imagination

“In order to rise from its own ashes, a phoenix must first burn.”

This quote from Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Talents is what inspires the title for this young adult sci-fi fantasy short fiction anthology edited by Patrice Caldwell. In the stories of A Phoenix First Must Burn, Black authors such as L. L. McKinney and Karen Strong weave fantastical tales of Black girls and gender nonconforming folks.

One of the first things that I came to appreciate about this anthology is how varied the stories are in terms of genre and setting. One story, “Gilded” by Elizabeth Acevedo, is set in the Americas in 1522 and features an enslaved Black woman who has the ability to bend metal. According to the editor’s note at the end of the book, this story is Acevedo’s interpretation of the first major slave revolt. 

Another story, Karen Strong’s “The Witch’s Skin,” is inspired by the Gullah/Geechee myth of the Boo Hag, an evil haint that steals a victim’s life breath. The editor’s note states that the setting is influenced by the Georgia Sea Islands, specifically Sapelo Island, where nearly all are descendants of enslaved West Africans.

The stories included in this anthology also showcase a variety of subgenres and subject matter. One of my favorite stories was Danny Lore’s “Tender-Headed,” an urban fantasy story about hair-braiding and memories. I was pleasantly surprised to learn via the editor’s note that it was a spin on the Greek myth of Athena and Arachne. Another story, “Letting the Right One In” by Patrice Caldwell, features a teenage Black queer girl who loves vampires in more ways than one.

Some of these stories might be a pleasant surprise even for readers who don’t usually enjoy the genre they are written in. One example of this is Rebecca Roanhorse’s “Wherein Abigail Fields Recalls Her First Death and, Subsequently, Her Best Life.” This turned out to be a Western story featuring a Black cowgirl who returns from death to enact vengeance in an unexpected way. As stated in the editor’s note, the story was inspired by the legend of Stagecoach Mary and the real-life all-Black settlement of Blackdom Township in Roswell, New Mexico.

As with all anthologies, I didn’t like every story, and chances are other readers won’t either. Even with some of the stories I liked, I wished there had been more of the stories to read. Some felt like they could have been longer, a novella or even a full-length novel. Nonetheless, all of them are still worth reading.

This anthology is filled with fiery passion and imagination. A Phoenix First Must Burn is the perfect book to introduce a teen reader to sci-fi fantasy, because most of the authors have other work to read afterward. It is also a great book for adults to appreciate Octavia Butler’s enduring legacy regardless of how much sci-fi fantasy they like.

 

The Afro YA promotes black young adult authors and YA books with black characters, especially those that influence Pennington, an aspiring YA author who believes that black YA readers need diverse books, creators, and stories so that they don’t have to search for their experiences like she did.

Latonya Pennington is a poet and freelance pop culture critic. Their freelance work can also be found at PRIDE, Wear Your Voice magazine, and Black Sci-fi. As a poet, they have been published in Fiyah Lit magazine, Scribes of Nyota, and Argot magazine among others.

My 2024 Black YA TBR

by | Feb 22, 2024 | Book Review, Identity, LGBTQIA+, Music, Poetry, Popular Culture, Reading, Representation, The Afro YA

My 2024 Black YA TBR

Welcome to yet another year at my Black young adult book column, The Afro YA!

I’m excited to read newer and older young adult books by Black authors in various genres. From SFF to contemporary to novels in verse, here are some of the books on my 2024 Black young adult book TBR.

 

A Phoenix Must First Burn coverA Phoenix Must First Burn, edited by Patrice Caldwell

Inspired by the legendary sci-fi author Octavia Butler, this 2020 anthology consists of sixteen stories that explore the Black experience through sci-fi and fantasy and women and gender nonconforming protagonists. 

I’ve had this book on my Kindle for a hot minute and I’ve finally started to read it. As of right now, I’ve read two stories, one about a Black girl confronting aliens in space and the other about a Black metal-bending witch slave.  Expect a full review in March, but I’m enjoying what I’ve read so far. 

 

 

Escaping Mr Rochester coverEscaping Mr. Rochester by L. L. McKinney

A 2024 YA reimagining of Charlotte Bronte’s classic novel that asks: what if the real villain of Jane Eyre was actually Mr. Rochester? In this queer romance, Jane Eyre and Bertha Mason—Mr. Rochester’s wife, whom he’s imprisoned within the house for years—must save each other from the horrifying machinations of Mr. Rochester.

Jane Eyre was a comfort read during my teen years. As I grew older, the problematic aspect of Mr. Rochester locking up his first wife, the mentally ill Creole woman Bertha Mason, tainted my fondness for this book. I’m hoping that L.L. Mckinney’s retelling will give Bertha and Jane a better story.

 

Forever Is Now coverForever Is Now by Mariama J. Lockington 

This novel in verse tells the story of Sadie, who develops agoraphobia after witnessing an incident of police brutality. Retreating inside her home, she gradually embarks on a path of healing as her friend Evan keeps her up to date on the protests in their city. In order to find the strength to use her voice, Sadie must learn to rebuild a safe place inside herself.

If you’re a longtime reader of this column, then you know that I love novels in verse and that Black young adult books about mental health are dear to me. Not only is this book’s cover gorgeous, but the subject matter is timely. I’m looking forward to seeing how they are explored through poetry.

 

 

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Published in 2021, this is a thriller about two Nigerian-American students at an elite school dealing with an anonymous bully. When they are both selected to be senior class prefects, someone who goes by “Aces” uses anonymous text messages to reveal secrets about the two of them that could ruin their futures. As the stakes become higher and more dangerous, the two must do everything they can to stop Aces for good.

This book is a little outside of my comfort zone, because I don’t think I’ve ever read a YA thriller before. However, after reading a sample, I was intrigued to see how things would turn out for both characters. 

 

Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett

Full Disclosure is the author’s debut YA novel about a girl born HIV+, and how her previous attitude of acceptance toward her status shifts when she becomes sexually interested in someone for the first time.

It’s not often that I come across a sex-positive YA novel about an HIV+ Black girl. It’s also not often that I come across a Black YA novel written by someone who was a teen at the time of writing. I’m looking forward to seeing how the author’s voice shines and how this book tackles subjects considered taboo to discuss. 

 

 

Pet by Akwaeke EmeziPet by Akwaeke Emezi

There are no monsters anymore—or so the children in the city of Lucille are taught. Jam and her best friend, Redemption, have grown up with this lesson all their life. But when Jam meets Pet, a creature made of horns and colors and claws, who emerges from one of her mother’s paintings and a drop of Jam’s blood, she must reconsider what she’s been told. Jam must fight not only to protect her best friend but also to uncover the truth and find the answer to the question, How do you save the world from monsters if no one will admit they exist?

I bought this 2019 book on sale some time ago because I was touched by Emezi’s surreal, fantastical, and dark adult book Freshwater. This book piqued my interest for its Black trans girl protagonist and for the author’s dazzling and haunting imagination. 

The Afro YA promotes black young adult authors and YA books with black characters, especially those that influence Pennington, an aspiring YA author who believes that black YA readers need diverse books, creators, and stories so that they don’t have to search for their experiences like she did.

Latonya Pennington is a poet and freelance pop culture critic. Their freelance work can also be found at PRIDE, Wear Your Voice magazine, and Black Sci-fi. As a poet, they have been published in Fiyah Lit magazine, Scribes of Nyota, and Argot magazine among others.

Top photo by Tima Miroshnichenko

The 2023 Black YA Holiday Gift Guide

by | Dec 12, 2023 | Book Review, Identity, LGBTQIA+, Music, Poetry, Popular Culture, Reading, Representation, The Afro YA

The 2023 Black YA Holiday Gift Guide

It’s officially the holiday season, and books are some of the most fun gifts to give. If you’ve got a reluctant or big reader in your life, here are my recommendations for Black YA books to gift.

 

Miles Morales Suspended by Jason Reynolds

Set weeks after the events of Jason Reynolds’s book Miles Morales: Spider-Man, Miles Morales: Suspended features Miles Morales in a heap of trouble. Not only has he landed in-school suspension, but his Spidey-Sense keeps noticing termites acting strangely, eating pages and words that belong to Black and Brown writers. In order to save their words, he must figure out the source of the termites before it’s too late. This book is unique in that it combines prose, poetry, and illustrations to tell a powerful story about superheroes and book censorship.

(full review)

 

Cool. Awkward. Black. edited by Karen Strong

Edited by Karen Strong, Cool. Awkward. Black. is an anthology of short stories mostly written by Black young adult authors such as Julian Winters, Tracy Deonn, and Ibi Zoboi, to name a few. Through stories starring Black characters, the anthology aims to celebrate various facets of Blackness and nerdiness so that a new generation of “Blerds” (that is, Black nerds) can take pride in themselves.

(full review)

 

 

If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann

The summer before her fall semester at college, Winnie is happily spending her time at Misty Haven, working at her grandmother’s restaurant, Goldeen’s, and spending time with her ungirlfriend, Kara. When she is unexpectedly crowned Summer Queen at Misty Haven’s traditional matchmaking event, she is forced out of her comfort zone by the spotlight, obligations, and the heart-on-your-sleeves honesty of the Summer King. Now, Winnie must confront her fears in order to become the best version of herself.

(full review)

 

The Nightmare-Verse Trilogy by L. L. McKinney

This urban fantasy series is a modern retelling of Alice In Wonderland set in Atlanta, GA. Its Black bi heroine, Alice Kingston, is a complex and relatable protagonist that you will root for and the supporting cast is fun as well. There is also rich lore and worldbuidling that bridges reality and fantasy in a compelling way.

(full reviews of book 1, book 2, and book 3)

 

 

We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride

Tackling clinical depression through poetry, myth, and folklore, this novel in verse is a powerful and lyrical read. It stars Whimsy, a Black hoodoo conjurer girl with clinical depression who also loves fairy tales. Many years ago, she was touched by Sorrow when her brother Cole disappeared in a magic forest, and she vowed never to enter it again.

One day, Whimsy meets Faerry, a Black fae boy who shares struggles and fears similar to Whimsy’s. As the two of them get to know each other, they discover that the forest and Sorrow that haunt them both must be faced head-on.

(full review)

The Afro YA promotes black young adult authors and YA books with black characters, especially those that influence Pennington, an aspiring YA author who believes that black YA readers need diverse books, creators, and stories so that they don’t have to search for their experiences like she did.

Latonya Pennington is a poet and freelance pop culture critic. Their freelance work can also be found at PRIDE, Wear Your Voice magazine, and Black Sci-fi. As a poet, they have been published in Fiyah Lit magazine, Scribes of Nyota, and Argot magazine among others.

Top photo by EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA via Pexels