BLACK HISTORY MONTH: My February Reading Picks
It's no secret that I love books. I will read anything from Pride and Prejudice to The Lord of the Rings. I'll read Historical Fiction and YA Sci-Fi. I like to think of myself as a pretty well-rounded reader. (Except for horror. I am a wimp.)
But a couple of year ago I came to the realization that I had read very few books written by authors who were not white. It wasn't intentional, but I decided it was time to intentionally change that. So, I've been making a concerted effort to seek out more work by authors of color. I've been given many great recommendations and my #tbrlist is now impossibly long, but not only has has this led to some truly great reads, it has also been wonderfully educational.
February is Black History Month in the US, so this month my reading recommendations are some of my favorite books I've read in the last year written by black authors. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas.
This hard-hitting story may be fictional, but it's also disturbingly reminiscent of real life current events. A must read.Starr Carter already lives with her feet in two different worlds - she lives in a poor neighborhood but attends a fancy prep school across town. But when she witnesses the fatal shooting of her unarmed childhood best friend by a police officer, Starr's world explodes as the event becomes a national headline and she must decide how to respond. This was one my top reads of 2018. You can read my full review here.
Why I'm No Longer Talking To White People About Race, by Reni Eddo-Lodge.
Inspired by a blog post gone viral, "Why I'm No Longer..." explores the challenges of addressing and countering institutional racism.While Eddo-Lodge is British and writing for a British audience, the content remains both relevant and important for American readers. It's been nearly a year since I read it, and I'm still mulling it over. I especially enjoyed the section on the white-washing of feminism, and the chapter on black British history, of which I knew next to nothing before reading this book.
Long Way Down, by Jason Reynolds.
Written in verse, this entire book recounts only one ride in an elevator. A quick, powerful read.Fifteen-year-old Will's older brother Shawn was shot and killed last night. Will knows the expectation: he will find Shawn's killer and end him. With his brother's gun in hand, Will leaves his apartment the next morning with the intention of doing just that. But when he steps into the elevator he is confronted with his past and is forced to contemplate the true cost of revenge.