The start of Black History Month alerted me to the number of unread books I currently have by POC authors (including the massively popular The Hate U Give.)

This month, to honor black writers and books with black main characters, I plan to read the following:

 

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

I’ve watched The Hate U Give go from runaway best seller to seminal YA text.

Everyone on the blogosphere loves this book.

The movie version came out in October.

And the follow-up novel On the Come Up comes out TODAY.

I better catch up.

 

Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles

I’ve been putting this book off since I checked it out in January.

However, I read in Jay Coles’ author bio that he based this book off his own experience.

His story trumps my discomfort.

 

Anger is a Gift by Mark Oshiro

I’M SLOWLY WORKING MY WAY THROUGH THE UNFINISHED BOOKS NEXT TO MY BED.

I will finish this book.

I WILL FINISH IT.

 

Another Country by James Baldwin

I’ve been carrying around Another Country as proof of my love for James Baldwin for YEARS.

Of course, I’ve never read it.

James Baldwin’s bibliography spans countless books, essays, and plays, and I call myself a fan after reading an excerpt of one of his essays in college.

Time for that to change.

 

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

Things I know about this book:

• Colson Whitehead worked at the New York Times with Still Processing podcasters Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris
• The Underground Railroad in this book is a literal railroad
• The book won a Pulitzer Prize

 

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

I feel like this book follows me wherever I go.

Bookstores display it all. The. Time.

Now I’m curious.

 

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Queer black heroine fights Civil War zombies.

Yes.

 

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

Fantasy New Orleans makes a nice change from endless descriptions of the Russian tundra.

Glad I checked Goodreads; trigger warnings abound.

 

Happy Black History Month…and happy reading!