In the United States, February is Black History Month. Black books and Black authors need to be supported throughout the year, but I thought I would make a list anyways highlighting some of my favorite books written by Black authors.

I’m not going to give full on descriptions. Instead, here is a goodreads list that I will continuously update with new favorites, and add the books on this list so you can get full descriptions. However, I will give the genre, age range, and possible trigger warnings for each title. For more trigger warnings, I suggest StoryGraph as a source.

• Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown

  • Young adult speculative fiction

  • TW: r*pe, sexual assault, racism

• The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

  • Young adult horror historical fiction

  • TW: sexism, death of a loved one

• Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

  • Young adult speculative fiction

  • TW: child abuse, sexual assault

• Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

  • Young adult historical fiction

  • TW: death of a loved one

• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

  • Young adult contemporary fiction

  • TW: police violence, racism, death of a loved one

• Jackpot by Nic Stone

  • Young adult contemporary fiction

• Dear Justyce by Nic Stone

  • and Dear Martin by the same author

  • Young adult contemporary fiction

  • TW: police brutality, racism

• This is My America by Kim Johnson

  • Young adult contemporary fiction

  • TW: racism, police violence

• Homie by Danez Smith

  • Poetry collection

  • TW: racism

• Finding Yvonne by Brandy Colbert

  • Young adult contemporary romance

• With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

  • Young adult contemporary

• Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

  • Young adult/new adult urban fantasy

  • TW: death of a loved one/grief

• The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

  • Adult literary historical fiction

  • TW: domestic violence, racism

• Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

  • Young adult contemporary

  • TW: transphobia, blackmail, homophobia

• You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

  • Young adult contemporary

  • TW: homophobia

• All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

  • Young adult/adult memoir manifesto

  • TW: sexual assault, in*est, racism, homophobia

• The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter

  • Adult epic fantasy

  • TW: war

• Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

  • Adult romance fiction

  • TW: racism, sexual assault

  • This does feature graphic sexual content, but it is consensual

• Children of Blood & Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

  • Young adult fantasy

  • TW: violence, death, genocide

• Hunger by Roxanne Gay

  • Memoir

  • TW: eating disorders, body talk, r*pe, racism, sexism, fatphobia

• The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

  • Adult historical fiction

  • TW: racism, slavery

• Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

  • Young adult story in verse

  • TW: racism, gang violence, death of a loved one

• Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

  • Young adult contemporary horror fiction

  • TW: emotional abuse, physical abuse, minor/adult relationship, r*pe, pedophilia, slut-shaming, stalking, abuse, trauma, confinement, gaslighting

• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

  • Memoir

  • TW: racism, r*pe

• The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

  • Adult historical fiction

  • TW: r*pe, in*est, child abuse, pedophilia

I could be here forever thinking of all my favorites, but these titles really speak out to me, even though it’s been quite some time since I’ve read some of these. If you have not read any of these titles, I suggest you doing so. I promise you that there is at least one book here you will enjoy. And be open about new experiences. I am not Black myself, but it is so important to educate yourself on life experiences you may never go through. Also, while fiction is great, it is important to do your own anti-racism work. Read books, listen to Black stories, and overall educate yourself. Also, many of these books focus on Black pain. Black joy is so important to read about, and there are so many titles that highlight black pain that I highly recommend you search for. I have only read a tiny portion of Black authors, and I strive to read more all the time, not just in Black History Month. Diverse stories are so important, and so please, read outside your comfort zone. You never know what you will find if you don’t try.