Book lovers have a lot to get excited about in August, as the month brings new titles in just about every genre. If you need a break from the news, you can sink your teeth into a dystopian novel, get lost in a creative book of poetry or flip through adorable photographs of young Black dancers. And for the word nerds out there, there’s even a book of Black crosswords! These are the books we can’t wait to get into in August 2024.
“She Who Knows” by Nnedi Okorafor (August 20)
“She Who Knows” is the first novel in a sci-fi trilogy infused with African culture and spirituality. The coming of age story centers around a young girl. Everything changes when she leaves her family behind for a whole new world.
“Before the Ships: The Birth of Black Excellence” by Maisha Oso and Candice Bradley (August 6)
“Before the Ships” is a stunning picture book that takes young readers back to a time before the Transatlantic slave trade. Geared towards kids ages 4-8, the book inspires with stories of Black royalty and warriors who are an example of all that we’ve accomplished.
“In a League of Her Own: A Novel” by Kaia Alderson (August 6)
Author Kaia Alderson loves to write about the most amazing little-known stories in history. That’s exactly what inspired “In a League of Her Own,” a novel based on the life of Effa Manley, a Black business woman who goes on to become the only woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
“Bad Witches” by H.B. Akumiah (August 20)
Brooklyn-based Ghanian-American author H.B. Akumiah’s debut novel “Bad Witches” is being described as “Charmed” meets “Sex and the City.” The story follows three young women who meet in the club on their mutual twenty-second birthday. But during their girls night out, the three learn they are witches and have to come together to save the Witch Sphere when a crisis strikes.
“On a Move” by Mike Africa Jr. (August 6)
In “On a Move: Philadelphia’s Notorious Bombing and a Native Son’s Lifelong Battle for Justice,” Mike Africa Jr. writes about his experience growing up in MOVE, a Philly-based Black civil liberties group that police bombed in 1985.
Along with pictures of his family and other members of the movement, Africa Jr. writes candidly about his experience being born to two political prisoners and his tireless efforts to seek justice for them.
“Daydreamer” by Rob Cameron (August 6)
“Daydreamer” is a beautiful debut novel for young readers ages 10 and up. The story centers around an 11-year-old boy who deals with the challenges of being isolated and bullied by escaping into a magical fantasy world of dragons and trolls. But when the two worlds collide, he’s forced to use his creativity to save them both.
“AfriCali: Recipes From My Jikoni” by Kiano Moju (August 13)
Born to a Kenyan mother and a Nigerian father and raised in California, Kiano Moju has lots of culinary influences. In her debut cookbook “AfriCali.” Moju uses recipes like Lentil Nuggets and Coconut and Cardamom Mandazi to marry the African flavors of her upbringing and the fresh produce of her California home.
“The Empire Wars” by Akana Phenix (August 6)
“The Empire Wars” is described as “a fast-paced dystopian tale with a bit of magic and a lot of action.” The story follows a girl trying to save her family in a world that has been taken over by a tyrannical empire.
“The Rich People Have Gone Away” by Regina Porter (August 6)
Set in 2020 Brooklyn, “The Rich People Have Gone Away” tells the story of a young couple who leave the city in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. But when the man’s pregnant wife disappears after an argument, the husband becomes a prime suspect in her disappearance.
“Not What She Seems” by Yasmin Angoe (August 1)
“Not What She Seems” follows Jacinda, a woman returning to the small South Carolina town she left at age 22 after a family tragedy. But being home forces her to face demons she thought she left behind and a new danger that threatens her life and her family’s safety.
“Black Crossword: 100 Mini Puzzles Celebrating the African Diaspora” by Juliana Pache (August 20)
If you like crossword puzzles (and who doesn’t?) this book is for you. Based on the popular website blackcrossword.com, “Black Crossword” is a book of more than 100 puzzles covering the history, literature and culture of the African diaspora.
“Every Where Alien” by Brad Walrond (August 13)
“Every Where Alien” is described as a “dazzling afro-futuristic, afro-surrealist journey through New York City’s underground art movements.” Through poetry and black and white illustrations, Brad Walrond looks at the impact Black and queer underground art movements of the 1990s and early 2000s have had on our culture.
“Kingdom of Dust” by Lisa Stringfellow (August 20)
“Kingdom of Dust” is a beautiful West African – inspired fantasy about a young girl who sets out on her own to save her kingdom and its people from a dangerous threat.
“The Unicorn Woman” by Gayl Jones (August 20)
Set in the early 1950s, “The Unicorn Woman,” tells the story of a Black American soldier and his search for religion, purpose and love in a Jim Crow South after World War II.
“Brown Girls Do Ballet: Celebrating Diverse Girls Taking Center Stage” by TaKiyah Wallace-McMillan and JaNay Brown Wood (August 27)
From the creators of the popular Instagram account of the same name, “Brown Girls Do Ballet” is a beautifully inspirational children’s picture book featuring stunning photographs of young dancers of color. Talk about cuteness overload!
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