Books are a great tool to help kids gain insight into historical events. These middle grade books will teach kids about the important role African-Americans played in the founding and development of the United States. Use these books as teaching tools during Black History Month, and all year long.
This list includes nonfiction and fiction books. Both types of stories offer viewpoints that help readers gain perspective about historical events and experiences, as well as how they affect policies and attitudes of present day Americans.
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Nonfiction
Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the Selma Voting Rights March by Lynda Blackmon Lowery, as told to Elspeth Leacock and Susan Buckley, illustrated by PJ Loughran. This book is an appealing, conversation-style first person narrative by the youngest person to march all the way from Selma to Montgomery. Lowery describes her experience being jailed nine times (all before the age of 15) and beaten on Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama in a way that speaks directly to children and tells them they have a voice and can be history makers, too.
MORE: Civil Rights Picture Books for Kids
28 Days: Moments in Black History that Changed the World by Charles R. Smith, Jr., illustrated by Shane W. Evans. For each day in February, the book introduces readers to a different African-American who made an impact. Three Supreme Court decisions and a constitutional amendment are also included. Although the format of the book does not support in-depth biographies, the book is chock full of interesting and important information that will inspire kids to seek out further resources.
The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights by Steve Sheinkin is about a little known event in 1944 in which war and civil rights collided. 244 African-American soldiers refused to follow a command which they felt would have put them at unnecessary risk. For their stand, they were charged with mutiny. Sheinkin's book looks at the event, what led up to the mutiny and how differently the armed services treated its white and black soldiers. Fascinating.
Never Caught, the Story of Ona Judge: George and Martha Washington’s Courageous Slave Who Dared to Run Away (Young Readers Edition) by Erica Armstrong Dunbar and Kathleen Van Cleve. Dunbar and Van Cleve have written an extremely readable biography detailing what Ona Judge’s life would have been like, how the Washingtons viewed slavery, how they treated their slaves, and crucially, how they pursued Judge after she escaped. This book is an eye-opener for children whose views of Washington were formed around the cherry tree myth. Did you know Washington attempted to break his own fugitive law in order to capture Judge? Not exactly the picture of a fair and just leader. That said, even though the author’s sympathies clearly lie with Judge, the book does not demonize the president.
MORE: Biographies of African-American Women
Fiction
The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton. Celebrated children’s author, Virginia Hamilton, wrote this wonderful collection of Black American folktales. There are several categories of tales ranging from animal trickster legends, stories of the supernatural and tales of freedom. At the end of each short story, Hamilton includes her notes on the origin of the tale and its dialect.
Treasure Island by Jewell Parker Rhodes. For kids who want to learn history but in a contemporary setting, this is a delightful reworking of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure tale! After a mysterious captain at his mom's boarding house makes predictions that come true, Zane and his friends head to Manhattan to find treasure. On their skateboards, they follow clues on a map that take them to important historical sites. Their journey is filled with pirates, rival skateboards, riddles and danger! Ages 8 and up.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. Published in 1976, (and on my list of must read books from the 1970s) this is the story of how Cassie and her family are deeply affected by racism during the 1930s in rural Mississippi. The novel touches on the importance of land ownership for Black Americans.
MORE: African-American History Books for Kids
Will's Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes. Will and his father join the land rush in 1889. Wanting a chance to break free from sharecropping in Texas, Will and his father set out towards Oklahoma territory to claim their own piece of land. On their journey they meet Caesar, a Black soldier who fought in the Union army, who travels with them. Fans of frontier-themed books will appreciate the way the trio overcome the perils of travel as well as root for Will when he finds his inner strength at just the right moment.
The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine, is set during the 1958 Little Rock school closures. Marlee makes friends with Liz, the new girl, but when Liz suddenly leaves school Marlee discovers Liz was "passing." The two continue the friendship in secret while Marlee joins a group that works to reopen the schools. Marlee faces the typical social challenges of being 13 but also sees the ugliness of institutionalized racism and how frightening and dangerous it can be.
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis. In the 1860s Elijah becomes the first free child born to runaway slaves in a colony in Canada. His family sees him as "fragile", crying too easily or getting scared or hurt. The first part of the book is filled with humorous antics surrounding the community of Buxton. Later, Elijah makes the decision to travel to America to help a friend recover money that was stolen from him and the nature of freedom stares him straight in the eye.
The Way to Stay in Destiny by Augusta Scattergood. Just after the war, Theo lives with his uncle, a Vietnam vet, in a boarding house. While he tries to solve a local mystery involving a famous baseball player, Theo makes friends with the proprietor of the dancing school, who lets him play the piano.
MORE: Middle Grade Books by Black Authors
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia. It's 1968 when 11-year-old Delphine and her sisters travel from New York to Oakland to stay with the mother who abandoned them seven years earlier. Their mother enrolls them in a day care run by the Black Panthers. Williams-Garcia's writing is splendid, with interesting characters. It was a hard-to-put-down kind of book and an great story to show kids how politics infuses daily regular life.
The Harlem Charade by Natasha Harpley. Good deeds bring Jin and Alex together. When they meet the homeless Elvin, he tells his new friends about a mystery surrounding his grandfather, who was just attacked and is now in a coma. Rare paintings by a mysterious artist of the 1960s is at the heart of it all. Harpley has deftly woven past and present in this spirited tale in which the culture and vibrancy of Harlem are center stage.
MORE: Anti-Bias Middle Grade Books
Chains (series) by Laurie Halse Anderson. A compelling trilogy of slavery in the North. During the American Revolution a 13-year-old slave belonging to a ruthless Loyalist family, Isabel, yearns for freedom. She meets Curzon who encourages her to spy for the Rebels. The second book, Forge, is told from Curzon's, point of view. in the final book, Ashes, Curzon and Isabel seek to free Isabel's sister, Ruth, who is enslaved in the South.
Maria Gianferrari says
I LOVED both Chains & Forge! They have such great voice & heart. I've been dying for the 3rd installment, Ashes. When I went to a book-signing for Forge several years ago she mentioned that Ashes would alternate between Isabel's and Curzon's points of view. I have been waiting for this for so long, but I'm not sure when it will be released. I also liked Lions, Glory Be & One Crazy Summer.
And of course, Brown Girl Dreaming and anything else by Jacqueline Woodson. I like Locomotion, Hush and Feathers.
What about Bud, Not Buddy? Or
Erica MomandKiddo says
Great additions to the list!
Kimberly says
Trapped Between the Lash and the Gun - Arvella Whitmore. The book is about a boy who is about to join a gang and is 'transported' back to the time of slavery where he experiences what his ancestors endured and gives him time to think about what joining a gang would do to himself and his family who fought for freedom.
Erica says
Thank you for the recommendation!