1. “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas: Follow Starr Carter, a young black girl who witnesses the fatal shooting of her unarmed friend by a police officer and finds herself torn between the two worlds she inhabits.

2. “Brown Girl Dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson: This memoir in verse tells the story of the author’s childhood as an African American growing up in the 1960s and 1970s in South Carolina and New York.

3. “Children of Blood and Bone” by Tomi Adeyemi: Join Zélie Adebola as she embarks on a dangerous quest to restore magic to her oppressed people and overthrow a ruthless monarchy.

4. “The Crossover” by Kwame Alexander: This novel in verse follows twin basketball player brothers Josh and Jordan as they navigate family, friendship, and the love of the game.

5. “One Crazy Summer” by Rita Williams-Garcia: Set in the 1960s, three sisters travel to Oakland, California, to spend a summer with their estranged mother and get involved in the Black Panther movement.

6. “Ghost” by Jason Reynolds: Meet Castle, aka Ghost, a boy with a troubled past who discovers his talent for running and joins a track team, finding solace and purpose in the sport.

7. “Dear Martin” by Nic Stone: Justyce McAllister is a high-achieving black teen who starts writing letters to Martin Luther King Jr. to explore the complexities of race and injustice in his own life.

8. “Bud, Not Buddy” by Christopher Paul Curtis: In the midst of the Great Depression, Bud sets off on a journey to find his father and faces numerous challenges and adventures along the way.

9. “The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963” by Christopher Paul Curtis: The Watson family travels from Michigan to Alabama during a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, experiencing both humor and tragedy.

10. “Shadowshaper” by Daniel José Older: Enter the world of Sierra Santiago, a young Afro-Latina artist who discovers the power of ancestral spirits and fights against supernatural forces threatening her community.

These books not only provide diverse representation and important perspectives, but they also tell captivating stories that will engage young readers and open up discussions on important topics such as identity, race, and social justice.