Welcome back to the FYA Reading Challenge! This month’s prompt is to read a book written by a Black author. What better way to celebrate Black History Month?
If you’re looking for inspo, check out the Black authors tag. Here are a few suggestions to get you started!
Reading Challenge Recs
Obviously, I had to start with this month’s FYA Book Club selection, Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle! It also made my Best of 2022 list — or, rather, it WAS the list.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
x
Black Boy Joy
=
R. Eric Thomas’ Kings of B’More!
Akwaeke Emezi’s Pet will take your imagination on a ride — and your heart through ALL THE EMOTIONS.
Um, a Persuasion retelling at a seaside resort?!? Where the rhythm takes you should be right to Sarah Dass’ novel.
All the King Arthur legends are true — and Bree Matthews is caught in the middle of it in Tracy Deonn’s sensational Legendborn.
Last but certainly not least, Jason Reynolds’ The Boy in the Black Suit is definitely heavy, but it’s by Jason Reynolds so it’s also fantastic.
Which book(s) are you planning to read for this prompt? Let us know in the comments!
I read “Love Radio” and loved it. Now I’m reading Rust in the Root by Justina Ireland – 1930s alternate historical fiction with magic. Next up I am re-reading Legendborn to read book 2, Birthmarked and also Me (Moth) by Amber McBride, a novel in verse.
Oh yay, so glad you loved Love Radio! I somehow completely missed that Rust in the Root existed, so you’ll have to let us know how it is! (I’ve read Bloodmarked and I need more books from Tracy Deonn.)
Yes, I am curious to see how you like RUST IN THE ROOT, so please come back and tell us! I have the ARC and I got maybe 30% in and had to put it down. I really loved Ireland’s other series and I was so excited to read this, and while objectively I think the world and the magic system and characters are very interesting, I am finding myself feeling SO confused by the world’s alternate history and new slang for things that already exist, in a way that I wasn’t for her zombie-Civil War story. I couldn’t tell if it was me at that moment or the book itself, so I put it down and hopefully can revisit in the future.