This October 5 – 11 is Banned Books Week, an initiative started in 1982 by the American Library Association to support our freedom to read and create awareness around books that are being challenged and banned around the country.
Suggested Reading
While news about attacks on free speech is dominating the headlines these days, it’s more important than ever to shine a light on great works of Black literature that some are actively trying to keep out of our schools and libraries.
In honor of Banned Books Week 2025, here are just a few of the books by Black authors banned during the 2023-2024 school year that you need to read.
“Dark Sons” by Nikki Grimes
Bestselling author Nikki Grimes’ “Dark Sons” is a beautiful novel written in free verse which tells the story of two young men from different times and places in history who are struggling with their faith after being betrayed by their fathers.
“Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry” by Joya Goffney
“Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry” centers around a young woman who lives by the list she makes. But when one of her deeply personal lists gets posted on Instagram anonymously for the whole school to see, she is devastated and finds herself facing her greatest fears to make sure the rest of her personal thoughts don’t go public.
“Go Tell It On The Mountain” by James Baldwin
James Baldwin’s “Go Tell it on the Mountain” tells the story of a fourteen-year-old boy finding his identity as the stepson of a Pentecostal minister. The book was banned twice in New York and Virginia in cases accusing it of being “rife with profanity and explicit sex.”
“When I Was The Greatest” by Jayson Reynolds
In “When I Was The Greatest,” we’re introduced to Ali, a young boy who does his best to stay out of the trouble going on around him in his neighborhood, that is, until he, his best friend and his best friend’s brother find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“Tyler Johnson Was Here” by Jay Coles
“Tyler Johnson Was Here” tells the story of Marvin, a teen whose life is turned upside down after a shooting happens at a party he attends with his twin brother, Tyler. Things get even worse when Tyler goes missing and is eventually found dead. When a leaked video reveals that Tyler was shot and killed by police, Marvin is left questioning everything he thought he knew about justice.
“Dear Martin” by Nic Stone
Nic Stone’s “Dear Martin” is a New York Times bestseller with a plot that could be ripped from the headlines. But that doesn’t stop conservatives from targeting it with book bans. The story follows a promising young Black student who finds himself in the middle of a media firestorm when he is arrested and assaulted by white police officers while he is trying to help his girlfriend who was been drinking.
“Allegedly” by Tiffany D. Jackson
Tiffany D. Jackson’s “Allegedly” tells the story of Mary, a young girl who is convicted of murdering a white baby. But there is more to the story. When she is pregnant and faced with the threat of the state taking her baby, she is counting on her mother, whom she has grown to distrust, to help her set the record straight.
“Love Is The Drug” by Alaya Dawn Johnson
“Love Is The Drug” is a thrilling dystopian novel that introduces us to Emily, a student at an Ivy League university who mysteriously wakes up in the hospital after meeting a Homeland Security agent at a party. When a deadly virus forces the country to quarantine, Emily finds herself in danger when she eventually realizes that information she has could trigger a major government scandal.
“Monday’s Not Coming” by Tiffany D. Jackson
“Monday’s Not Coming” is a gripping YA novel from Tiffany D. Jackson. After spending the summer in Georgia with her grandmother, Claudia is worried when she comes back to school and her friend Monday isn’t there. When weeks go by and she can’t get a straight answer from Monday’s family, Claudia decides to go on her own search for the truth and is surprised by what she finds out.
“Legendborn” by Tracy Deonn
“Legendborn” is a YA fantasy novel from author Tracy Deonn. Bree, the 16-year-old main character, is looking for a fresh start after her mother is killed. She lands at a program for gifted high school students at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, but after witnessing an accident on her first night on campus, Bree soon learns that her mother’s death was more than an accident.
“Legendborn” was the winner of the Coretta Scott King – John Steptoe New Talent Author Award.
“Bitter” by Akwaeke Emezi
From “Pet” author Akwaeke Emezi comes “Bitter,” a story about Bitter, a young artist trying to find her place in the world as her community is overwhelmed by social unrest. While she wants to use her talents to make a difference, she’s forced to weigh the consequences and the impact it could have on her future.
“Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe
“Things Fall Apart” focuses on the reality of life in Nigeria during the turn of the twentieth century and the impact of colonization by the British. Since publication, the book has sold 20 million copies sold has been translated into 57 languages, Former President Barack Obama called it “a true classic of world literature.” But in 2012, it was added to the list of books challenged by Texas schools because of the way it depicts the consequences of colonialism.
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