I read a lot of books every year, usually somewhere between 50 and 100. I would usually just read what I felt like, and I didn’t consciously think about who the author was or who was represented in the stories I was reading. It wasn’t until the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests emerged all across the country that I realized how white-washed my reading had become. I forced myself to sit down and look at how many books I was reading each year written by a person of color (POC) and that had a POC main character. I was shocked and honestly angry with myself to find out that on average of the 100 books I read, only five were by POC authors. Without even meaning to, I had become racist in my reading habits, and after confronting that fact, I vowed to consciously diversify the books I chose to read. This has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and I’ve discovered so many amazing books that deserve just as much hype as many books by white authors. There are still so many great books out there by POC authors that I have yet to read, but I thought I’d start with the five that I’ve read so far and enjoyed immensely.
- “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas
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“What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?”
― Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give
This is possibly one of the most important and unforgettable books I’ve ever read, and I think everyone needs to read it. It’s one of those books that is somehow entertaining while exploring heavy and upsetting topics. “The Hate U Give” revolves around Starr Carter, who witnesses the fatal shooting of her unarmed childhood friend Khalil at the hands of a white police officer. Thomas unapologetically dives into topics about racism and the importance of political activism. This book was also turned into a movie starring Amandla Stenberg, that is also worth watching!
- “Felix Ever After” by Kacen Callender
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“I’m not flaunting anything. I’m just existing. This is me. I can’t hide myself. I can’t disappear. And even if I could, I don’t fucking want to. I have the same right to be here. I have the same right to exist.”
― Kacen Callender, Felix Ever After
I’m not exaggerating when I say “Felix Ever After” is my favorite book I’ve read this year. I seriously can not recommend it enough. The story revolves around Felix, a black trans boy in New York who shows up to school one day to see pictures of him before he transitions plastered to the walls. Felix hatches a plan for getting back at the person he suspects could have done something so cruel to him, but life doesn’t always go according to plan. Beyond that, “Felix Ever After” is a story about learning to love yourself in a world that so clearly hates the thought of certain people existing. This book made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me throw the book across the room in a rage. There were so many important conversations brought up in this book and I’m so excited to see it get turned into a tv series soon!
- “Get a Life, Chloe Brown” by Talia Hibbert
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“Bravery wasn’t an identity, so much as a choice.”
― Talia Hibbert, Get a Life, Chloe Brown
This book is the only adult romance included on this list, and it is steamy, like blushing and making sure no one is looking over your shoulder while you read it kind of steamy. It revolves around Chloe Brown, a chronically ill woman who writes a list of tasks that are supposed to help her live her life again like go camping and ride a motorcycle. Of course, her semi-enemy and tattooed handyman, Red, has a convenient motorcycle for Chloe to use, only if she’s willing to let him get to know her better. This book was a lot of fun, but also brought up important conversations of what it’s like to have a chronic illness and the importance of therapy after being in an abusive relationship.
- “You Should See Me In a Crown” by Leah Johnson
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“I never needed this race, or a hashtag, or the king to be a queen. I was born royalty. All I had to do was pick up my crown.”
― Leah Johnson, You Should See Me in a Crown
Liz Lighty is a black queer music nerd in search of enough money to afford going to college when she remembers her school’s scholarship given out to prom king and queen. She must compete to win the title while navigating her feelings for the new girl in town and being near her ex-best friend. This book was so much fun, and I loved seeing the main character go through a giant journey to find self-love. There were so many mature conversations brought up in this book about intersectionality, anxiety, homophobia, racism, but it also had an amazing balance of fluff moments that just made me feel all warm and snuggly on the inside. I can’t recommend this one enough!
- “A Song Below Water” by Bethany C. Morrow
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“I’m not a monster because I live in a world that gives me impossible choices.”
― Bethany C. Morrow, A Song Below Water
Can we just take a moment to appreciate how beautiful this cover is? Okay now that that is out of the way, A Song Below Water is about two best friends/sisters who grow up in a magical realism world where sirens are seen as being the most dangerous creature. Tavia must keep her siren identity a secret while Effie must figure out her own identity to stop being haunted by her past. This book is highly symbolic and brings up the idea of police brutality while also using your voice for change instead of remaining silent.
Obviously, these are just a couple of books by black authors that I enjoyed this year and there are so many others that I can’t wait to get to! I urge everyone to go out and find at least one book by a black author to read. Remember to also support Indie bookstores when you can like the Boulder Book Store especially now in the age of COVID-19