Hey everyone! How are you today?
The Black Lives Matter movement is worldwide and is a movement I 100% support. I wanted to write a whole post on this separately but felt like I wasn’t getting what I wanted to say across and felt like I was repeating myself over and over again saying the same thing. I have been educating myself, signing petitions and checking out as many resources as I can to better myself. It’s something I encourage everyone to do as well.
Also, what’s hesitated me from writing about this is seeing comments from people about how they come to people’s blogs and read posts to get away and helps as a distraction. Which I get, however, it still felt wrong for me not to mention and talk about as it’s a topic that people do need to be aware of.
I’ve definitely been trying to make sure I pick up more books by Black authors. I want to share all the books that are on my TBR as well as books I recommend.
TBR
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
The Black Flamingo is about a boy who is coming into terms with his identity. He’s a mixed-race gay teen at University, it’s a place where he feels like he can be himself as he becomes a drag artist called The Black Flamingo.
Michael’s story is told through verse. I feel like this is going to tug at my heart and be a powerful story.
Get a Life, Chloe Brown & Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
I’m always up for a rom-coms but with this I will also love that’s it’s handling other topics such as: chronic illness and second chances.
I have heard so many good reviews about both Get a Life, Chloe Brown & Take a Hint, Dani Brown which makes me so much more excited
The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas
I feel like I don’t need to give a description of The Hate You Give as I’m sure you know all about it by now. If there’s ever a time to read The Hate You Give, the time is now. I’m still shocked and kinda disappointed that I haven’t read it yet.
With The Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
This is another book that has been on my TBR for a while now. After reading The Poet X recently it’s definitely made me want to pick up more books by Elizabeth Acevedo. She’s got a great way of words and expressing emotions.
With the Fire on High is about a girl named Emoni who is a teen mom and has a passion for cooking. This is all about her senior year, her struggles, family and striving towards her dream.
A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney
A twist on Alice in Wonderland, yes please! Even though after reading the classic it’s not an all time favourite I still like the world and I’m always down for retellings or twists on a classic!
Black Enough: Stories about Being Young & Black in America by Ibi Zoboi
The contributing authors in this anthology are: Renee Watson, Varian Johnson, Leah Henderson, Lamar Giles, Kekla Magoon, Jason Reynolds, Brandy Colbert, Tochi Onyebuchi, Liara Tamani, Jay Coles, Rita Williams-Garcia, Tracey Baptiste, Dhonielle Clayton, Justina Ireland, Coe Booth, Nic Stone and Ibi Zoboi
I’ve just found the audiobook for this and immediately saved it. I’m looking forward to this.
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
All I know is that this is a YA historical fiction battling with the undead. Jane, our main character, is attending a school of combat where she’s being trained in weaponry to become an Attendant. A protector. Again, like I said, I don’t know too much about the book and I’m sure there’s a lot more to this book. Dread Nation just sounds so badass and empowering. I’m ready to learn about Jane who sounds like a fierce, headstrong and smart women.
It also has LGBTQIA+ in it as I have seen, from people who have read the book, saying that the main character is bi. It was explained that it wasn’t explicitly said but the character brought it up within conversations.
Recommendations
The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa
This adult enemy to lovers rom-com was so much fun to read! Carolina Santos, a wedding planner, was left at the altar. Carolina has left this in the past and not going let it affect her job. As an opportunity arises to help her business it sounds too good to be true…until she discovered she has to work with her ex-fiances brother Max, the one who convinced his brother not to marry her.
I appreciated the Brazilian culture. I loved all the talk about all the foods they eat and the family dynamics. It was fun, steamy and I was hooked.
Becoming by Michelle Obama
If you ever want to feel empowered listen to this. I don’t read many autobiographies, but I knew I just had to read this and so glad I did! It is so inspirational and the audiobook is a must! ALSO on Netflix there’s recently been added a documentary version of this focusing on Michelle Obama throughout her book tour and her discussing parts in her book as well as her showing where she grew up. It was so good to watch this after reading the book, a great addition.
Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu
A cute graphic novel around hockey, baking, university, vlogging and LGBTQIA+. I didn’t mind the art styles as I understand it wasn’t everyone’s favourite. I appreciated the colours and how it stands out. Also, just warning it may look cute and good for children it’s not. This is a Young Adult/New Adult graphic novel as it contains coarse language.
Rebel (Women Who Dare #1) by Beverly Jenkins
This historical romance is not as light as other historical romances (e.g. Tessa Dare) as it covers heavier topics but still just as good! Rebel is set after the Civil War in New Orleans. It covers topics about freeing the enslaved and how society is. The prejudice and violence is not shyed away from in this and the romance this book revolves around gives that hope you need.
I’ll definitely be checking out more Beverly Jenkins books.
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
The main character Maddie has SCID (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease) and it was interesting to read a character with SCID as it is something brand new to me. Obviously as someone who doesn’t have it or any background knowledge on it, I don’t know how well the representation is. She’s used to her routine and not being able to leave her house. That routine is disrupted when a family moves in next door. When Olly moves in.
It’s a YA contemporary and a fast read. I also recommended her other book The Sun is Also a Star.
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Xiomara Batista is a Dominican-American girl trying to find her voice in this world. She discovers slam poetry and realises she knows how she can finally express herself.
This is story is told through verse. I’m not one to normally read stories told through poetry but I think it’s well done. If you are able to find the audiobook for this I definitey recommend it as I’m told it is amazing! And narrated by Elizabeth Acevedo herself! Sadly, I couldn’t find it which is a bummer. The Poet X covers topics such as: religion, sexism, abuse, LGBTQIA+.
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison
This children’s nonfiction book is a nice way to learn about all the fearless women in black history.
I listened to the audiobook and each person is only focused on for a couple of minutes. It’s full of brief, quick, summaries of each women’s stories so it gives you a taste and wanting you to do more in-depth research. I know it did that for me.
#BlackLivesMatter
Until next time…
xx
Bella 