African-American History Recommended Reads For Teens 2012

Beyonce: Crazy In Love by Daryl Easlea
She is a fantastically talented artist who first rose to fame as lead singer of Destiny’s Child, one of the most successful girl groups of all time. Through this story, readers will learn about key events in Beyonce’s life, including her marriage to hip-hop entrepreneur Jay-Z.

Elizabeth and Hazel: Two Women of Little Rock by David Margolick
For a half-century, their story has been crying out to be told to the world. It all began when these two teenaged girls stumbled into history, during the struggle to desegregate Little Rock’s Central High School.

Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style by Kate Betts
From the precedent of her race to the singularity of her style, she has been the object of immense fascination. Bold, confident and self-possessed, this first lady has transformed the way women see themselves, their roles, and their own style.

Extraordinary, Ordinary People by Condoleezza Rice
Her roots are deep in the heart of Dixie; but with the support and encouragement of her parents, she overcame racism, sexism, and her own personal doubts to rise to the Office of United States Secretary of State. The daughter of a teacher, Presbyterian minister, and college administrator, this is her memoir.

A Girl Named Mister by Nikki Grimes
Mary Rudine, nicknamed Mister, has attended church and sung in the choir for as long as she can remember. But then she meets Trey. His long lashes and smooth words make her question what she knows is right, and one mistake leaves her hiding a growing secret.

Josephine by Beverly Jenkins
Jojo has it all figured out. Just seventeen, she’s been to college, she has her own hairdressing shop and she refuses to be distracted from her goals. At least until handsome George Brooks begins to pursue her. She isn’t looking for romance, but she permits George to call on her.

Lil Wayne (An Unauthorized Biography) by Jake Brown
An in-depth study of the rap star / music mogul’s rise to fame, from childhood to becoming one of the most unstoppable, most pragmatic, most creative music personalities of the twenty-first century. AH B Lil

Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers
Fourteen-year-old Reese is in the second year of his sentence for stealing prescription pads and selling them to a neighborhood dealer. Told in first person, Reese tries to confront the limits of his ability to describe his feelings and struggles to maintain faith in himself. Will he make this journey over and over again, or will he overcome the obstacles? YA FIC Myers

Poster Child by Kemba Smith
The story chronicles how she went from college student to drug dealer’s girlfriend to domestic violence victim to federal prison. Kemba shares her story of how making poor choices blinded by love and devotion can have long term consequences.

Power & Beauty: A Love Story of Life on the Streets by Tip “T.I.” Harris
After the death of his mother, Paul “Power” Clay allows himself to be guided by Slim, a local businessman. From Chicago, to Miami to New York, Power makes the difficult transition from boy to man and, in doing so, begins to question if Slim and others have his best interests at heart.

Priceless Inspirations by Antonia Carter
Feeling unloved and unwelcomed, Toya fell into the arms of a 15-year-old rising musical star—Dwayne Michael Carter, known these days as the rapper ‘Lil Wayne’—and ended up pregnant at the tender age of 14. Using the words she recorded in the journals she kept as a teen—and the wisdom she has gained in the years since—Toya bares her own struggles, using them to offer young women real and heartfelt understanding and advice about sex, relationships, motherhood and growing up.

Promises To The Dead by Mary Downing Hahn
All Jesse Sherman seeks in the Maryland woods is a big turtle for his uncle Philemon’s dinner. Instead, he finds the slave boy Perry and his mother, Lydia—a young woman nearly ready to give birth. Lydia asks Jesse to see Perry safely to freedom, and when tragedy strikes, Jesse’s bound to make good on his word—even if it means risking both his and Perry’s lives.

The Rock and the River by Kekla Magoon
In 1968 Chicago, it’s not easy for thirteen-year-old Sam to be the son of known civil rights activist Roland Childs. Especially when his older brother, Stick, starts keeping to himself. Then, one day, Sam finds something under Stick’s bed that changes everything: literature about the Black Panthers. This moving, coming-of-age story gracefully and intimately encompasses the scope of the struggle between the civil rights and black power movements.

Put On Your Crown: Life-Changing Moments on the Path to Queendom by Queen Latifah
Known for her stardom and roles in feature films including: Set It Off, Taxi, and Bringing Down the House, the “queen” wants all young ladies to feel good about who they are. This title is sure to help teen girls build a strong sense of self-esteem.

Shaq Uncut: My Story by Shaquille O’Neal and Jackie MacMullan
This man is known by a number of names. Superman. Diesel. The Big Daddy. The Real Deal. The Big Shamrock. From growing up in difficult circumstances and getting cut from his high school basketball team, to his four NBA championships and recent retirement, here it is first hand, from Shaq.

Spies of Mississippi: The True Story of the Spy Network that Tried to Destroy The Civil Rights Movement by Rick Bowers
A compelling story that can be used to compare and contrast present day social issues, especially those that relate to voting rights. Readers will be inspired with the stories of the brave citizens who overcame the forces and ushered in a new era of hope and freedom.

Teenie by Christopher Grant
She’s a high school freshman who’s smart, naive, respectful and ambitious. Her dream is to be accepted into a prestigious study abroad program in Spain, so that she can see what life is like beyond the streets of Brooklyn. However, when the captain of the basketball team starts to pay attention to her, everything else in her life begins to be an uncomfortable challenge. Can Teenie get her act together in time to save her dreams?

Tutored by Allison Whittenberg
College-bound Wendy Anderson, 16, and GED-seeking Hakiam Powell, 17, worlds collide in an inner-city tutoring center, where they spend more time studying each other than U.S. history.

True You: A Journey to Finding and Loving Yourself by Janet Jackson
She emerged from the shadows of the famous Jackson family to become one of the most beloved, recognizable, and influential performers in the world. But at what cost? Janet reveals her very personal struggle with an issue so many of us face everyday: self-esteem.

Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliott
Genna is a fifteen-year-old girl who wants out of her tough Brooklyn neighborhood. She gets more than she bargained for when a wish gone awry transports her back in time. Facing the perilous realities of Civil War–era Brooklyn, Genna must use all her wits to survive. This is an inspiring tale about a fearless young woman’s fight to hold on to her individuality and her humanity in two different worlds.

You Are Not Alone by Jermaine Jackson
From early childhood through the Jackson Five years, from Michael’s phenomenal solo career to his tragic end, Jermaine reveals the Michael he knew. This memoir tells the story of what went into the shaping the man and the megastar.