It's fitting that in Black History Month, so many black authors and characters are featured across the board of the recent ALA awards, including multiple awards for Jason Reynolds for Long Way Down, Renée Watson for Piecing Me Together and Derrick Barnes for Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut.

So we thought we'd celebrate Black History Month, not by looking back, but by looking forward, with some fantastic new books, written by or featuring black people. The ALA Awards are specifically for kids, but we never forget the grown-ups, so you will find adult books here too!

Freshwater
Akwaeke Emezi
Stunning novel about a Nigerian girl born "with one foot on the other side," with separate selves within her. After a difficult childhood, Ada goes to America where a trauma causes her separate selves to take control over her life. Adult, out now. (Orderable).





  President of the Whole Sixth Grade: Girl Code
Sherri Winston
Funny and entertaining, but also examines racial stereotypes. As part of a journalistic mentorship, the indomitable Brianna is asked to research a coding program and interview girls from an inner-city middle school. Now she's really out of her depth. Middle grade. Out in early March.



The Beauty that Remains







Tomi Adeyemi
An African background enhances this fantasy about race and power. Magic left the land of Orïsha when the king killed all the maji, including Zélie's mother. But now Zélie has the chance to bring magic back and challenge the monarch. First in a YA series, out in early March.



I Am Enough
Grace Byers
Poetic and beautifully illustrated. An inspiring picture book about loving who you are, respecting others, and being kind. A wonderful gift for any young girl. Coming out in early March.


An American Marriage
Tayari Jones
Oprah's latest pick is an absorbing and insightful story about a young couple whose bond is challenged when the husband is jailed for a crime he didn't commit. Adult, out now.





Junot Diaz, Illustrated by Leo Espinosa
Vividly illustrated picture book about the importance of connection and where you are from. Lola can't remember the island where she was born, which makes it hard for her to complete a school project. But other people's memories and her own imagination come to the rescue. Coming out in mid March.


Other fantastic recent releases centred on black or mixed race characters include: YA novel Sparrow by Sarah Moon, in which an introverted mixed race teenager struggles with her mental health; adult novel Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward, chosen by PBS and the New York Times as their first book club read; YA novel Calling My Name by Liara Tamani, in which an African American teen wrestles with faith, expectations and finding herself; YA Beasts Made of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi, in which a young boy is tortured by his ability to call out and destroy sin-beasts, and the amazing middle grade Coretta Scott-King nominee, The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore, in which a twelve-year-old boy tries to survive in a gang-dominated Harlem community after the death of his brother.

All titles mentioned are on our shelves now, unless otherwise stated. And don't forget, we are always happy to order for you!