Desiree Thomas

These series give children the tools necessary to help them formulate their own opinions about social justice issues and find ways they can participate in the efforts to create a more just and perfect world.

These titles for middle and high school readers celebrate joy in the lives of Black teens and tweens. The characters in these stories laugh honestly, love fiercely, and exist wholly.

Readers need diverse rom-coms where the love story comes first, where tenderness can blossom, and where happy endings are possible. These recent and upcoming books showcase the joy in the lives of teens of color, not just the pain.

These fiction, poetry, and nonfiction titles will engage casual readers and hip-hop aficionados alike.

These recent titles, including picture books, middle grade, and young adult, showcase the complex beauty inherent in being black in America.

Seventeen titles made SLJ's list of the most distinguished young adult books published in 2019.