Author:Jeanette Winter
Awards:N/A
Synopsis:Peg-Leg Joe is a former sailor who travels the South teaching a song to slaves. The lyrics of the song contain a hidden message with directions to safety with the Underground Railroad. The story follows the journey of one family as they follow the gourd, or Big Dipper, to freedom.
Grade:Pre-K - 2
Genre:Historical Fiction
Citation:Goodreads
Author: Rita Williams-Garcia
Awards:2018 NAACP Image Award for Young Adult and Middle Grade Literature
Synopsis:Clayton wants to be just like his Grandpa, Cool Papa, and play the blues with the Bluesmen. The dream is threatened when Cool Papa dies and Clayton's mother forbids him from playing his blues harp. Clayton runs away to try to find the Bluesmen and join them on the road, but discovers that the grieving process and family baggage are heavier than he thought.
Grade: 5-7
Genre:Historical Fiction
Citation:Goodreads, Scholastic Book Wizard
Author: Sherri Winston
Awards:N/A
Synopsis:In this first book of the Brianna Justice series, we are introduced to an ambitious African American girl. When she discovers that her idol, a famous TV chef, attended the same school and attributes her success to being the fifth grade president, Brianna decides that running for office may be the start of her own baking empire. While trying to emulate Miss Delicious, Brianna comes up against some very capable opponents and hilarious situations but doesn’t let that stop her as she learns about power and corruption.
Grade: 3-7
Genre:Fiction
Citation:Goodreads
Author:Ezra Jack Keats
Awards:Caldecott Medal
Synopsis:Peter wakes up to a world that
has turned white. He goes outside to
explore his urban, snow covered city with
adventures and discoveries along the way.
Collage-like illustrations that clearly show
what a young black boy's neighborhood
looks like after the first snowfall bring the reader into the story.
Grades:Pre-K -2
Genre:Fiction
Author:Mildred D. Taylor
Awards:N/A
Synopsis:This is the sequel to Taylor's classic Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Set in 1935 the saga of the Logan family continues in a small Mississippi town where the children learn to face extreme racism and prejudice as they watch an innocent friend become accused and convicted of a murder perpetrated by two young white men. They also see discover how their bi-racial cousin can cause trouble by trying to pass herself off as white. However they learn about the strength of pride and self-respect from their parents.
Grade:7-9
Genre:Historical Fiction
Citation:Scholastic Book Wizard, Goodreads
Author:Elizabeth Yates
Awards:Newberry Medal
Synopsis:Although this is not a true biography, Amos Fortune was a real African prince who, at age15, was captured and brought to New England and sold as a slave. He was taught English and many skills and trades as he was sold from owner to owner. After 45 years of hard work and savings,
Amos is given the chance to buy his freedom. He goes on to start his own business as a tanner. The book was written in 1951 and the speech reflects the vocabulary and views of that time, sometimes coming off as insensitive and racist to today's audience.
Grade:4-7
Genre:Historical Fiction
Citation:Goodreads
Author:Jacqueline Woodson
Awards:N/A
Synopsis:A simple story that introduces the topics
of segregation and racism. A young African
American girl named Clover wonders why there is a
fence that separates the 'white' side of town from
the 'black' side. One day a white girl about Clover's
age comes to sit on the fence and a sweet innocent
friendship grows. The watercolor painting
illustrations by E.B. Lewis are detailed and
beautiful.
Grade:1-3
Genre:Realistic Fiction
Citation:Scholastic Book Wizard, Goodreads
Author:Ezra Jack Keats
Awards:N/A
Synopsis:In this book Peter learns to cope with
feelings of jealousy as he sees all of his baby things
being turned pink and handed down to his new
baby sister. He decides that she won't get his
favorite chair and that he will take it with him when
he runs away. As Peter tries to sit in his chair for a
rest, he realizes that he is just too big for it, so his
baby sister might as well have it. A great story to
use to introduce and teach about sibling rivalry and
the feelings that come when a new baby arrives.
Grades:Pre-K -1
Genre:Fiction
Citation:Scholastic Book Wizard, Goodreads
AUTHOR: New York Times bestselling author, African American, born in 1957
AWARDS: Newberry Honor, Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, Coretta Scott King Award, National Book Award Finalist
SYNOPSIS: Eleven-year-old Delphine & younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern travel from Brooklyn, NY to Oakland, California in 1968 to meet their mother, Cecile, who abandoned them seven years ago. Cecile sends her three daughters to a day camp run by the Black Panthers. Unexpectedly, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern learn much about their family, their country, and themselves during one truly crazy summer.
GRADES: 3-5
GENRE: Historical Fiction
CITATION: One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia. (2010, January 26). Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6609764-one-crazy-summer
