Political upheaval, mass layoffs, violence — for teens trying to understand a complicated world, the right book can offer clarity, comfort, and escape. And books can also give students who might be feeling lost or confused a space to consider the world they’re inheriting and their place in it.
On the education desk, we pay close attention to young adult books that can help Black students see themselves reflected and see into the lived experiences of their peers. Books that tackle grief, reproductive rights, social justice, and identity might be just what the young people in your life need. These books don’t have to have all the answers, but they can certainly start a conversation.
“Truth Is”
by Hannah V. Sawyerr
“Truth Is” by Hannah V. Sawyerr follows 17-year-old poet Truth Bangura, who, after discovering she is pregnant by her ex-boyfriend, decides to get an abortion. But when she delivers a poem about it onstage, the response from her friends and family compels her to reckon with her choice.
The book was written as a resource for readers to learn about abortion and reproductive rights, Sawyerr says. In writing the novel-in-verse, the author interviewed medical professionals and visited her local Planned Parenthood clinic to learn more about the process of getting an abortion.
Sawyerr says her book is “a very safe and a very reliable way to learn about these things.”
“The Leaving Room”
by Amber McBride
“The Leaving Room” takes place in a liminal space between life and death where young people go after they die. The caretakers of the space, called Keepers, are charged with guiding souls to the afterlife. When two Keepers named Melodee and Gospel fall in love, they try to find a way to escape the Leaving Room.
Amber McBride, author of the book, says that the novel-in-verse can teach young people about grief after death. She wrote in the book after the University of Virginia mass shooting in 2022, and thought of a book that explored themes of love, death, and grief.
“We don’t talk about death with young people,” McBride says. Bringing death out of the shadows, she says, “opens up conversations so we can have more honest discussions. Children do pass. How do we bring that conversation to the table, so that friends who experience it, or kids who are going through it, feel like they can talk about it like it’s not taboo?”
“All the Noise at Once”
By DeAndra Davis
In “All the Noise at Once,” a Black teen with autism tries to figure out what really happened when his brother was wrongly arrested.
This book explores themes of police violence, ableism, and social justice, while giving readers a strong narrative to follow and a main character to root for.
“Needy Little Things”
by Channelle Desamours
“Needy Little Things” is about a young Black girl who has the power to hear what people need. But when her friend goes missing after she fulfills a need for her, she decides to use her gift for money. This choice may help her find her friend. Instead, it could put her in danger.
Written by Chanelle Desamours, this book is great at helping readers understand the unique dangers Black girls face across the country. When Black girls go missing, it is far less likely to be reported in the media than their white female peers, adding to the heightened risk of them never returning.
