edited by Ibi Zoboi

This 2019 anthology of young adult short stories is a wonderful offering of modern Black voices. Featuring 16 excellent Black authors such as Nic Stone and Jason Reynolds, my favorite part of reading this was the diversity of stories told. There isn't just one way to be young and Black in this country, and so the short story anthology format is perfect for compiling glimpses into some of these different and varied experiences. Black teens can be wealthy or poor, queer or straight, American-born or immigrant, or any other of the multitude of identities that young people experience. Blackness isn't a monolith — a diverse collection of young adult literature can't just depict blackness in stories about social injustices or inner city struggles. Yes, we need those stories. But we also need to include the ordinary ups and downs of being a Black teenager.

See the Jones Library Antiracism Book List for recommended titles for all ages