Looking for an in-class novel to read this February or some timely independent reading recommendations for your students? Our collection of background-building resources for Black History Month novels will help students better understand the real history behind these fictional tales.

• Elementary Black History Month books and novels
• Middle school Black History Month books and novels
• High school Black History Month books and novels

[Elementary Black History Month books and novels](id-elementary)

Introduce your elementary students to captivating characters during Black History Month with novels like:

1. “Bud, Not Buddy” by Christopher Paul Curtis

In Curtis’ historical fiction novel, an orphaned Black boy named Bud searches for his long-lost father, using the clues his mother left behind. Students can build background knowledge on the author and setting by exploring resources like:

• A video biography on Newberry Award-winning author Christopher Curtis.
• An article about how a New Orleans public school district overturned a century-old ban on jazz music and dancing.
• Musicians: Louis Armstrong, famous jazz trumpeter and bandleader

2. “Clean Getaway” by Nic Stone

In Stone’s novel, Scoob goes on a road trip with his grandmother across the American South, where they must deal with the realities of her past during the Civil Rights era. Students can learn more about life for Black people in the South during this time by exploring resources like:

• A video biography about author Nic Stone.
• An article about what a Green Book was and how it helped Black people travel in the South.
• An article about how Emmett Till’s mother testified in her son’s murder trial and sparked a national call for civil rights.

3. “The Crossover” by Kwame Alexander

In Alexander’s novel in verse, “The Crossover,” basketball-loving twin brothers Josh and JB must navigate the challenges of growing up and living in the shadow of their father’s legacy. Students can explore the themes of this novel using resources like:

• A video about Kwame Alexander and the success of “The Crossover.”
• An article about two Somali-American teens who used basketball as a way to express their identities.
• An article about Massachusetts twins who led the fight against hair discrimination in their town.

4. “Hidden Figures” (Young Reader Edition) by Margot Shetterly

“Hidden Figures” tells the true story of three Black women mathematicians at NASA who helped put Americans in space and land on the moon. Students can learn more about these remarkable STEM leaders by exploring articles on topics like:

• A history of the “hidden figures” and their work at NASA in the 1940s and 1950s.
• A biography of one of the stars of the story, Katherine Johnson.
• How the “hidden figures” received Congressional Gold Medals for their work in 2019, over 50 years after the Space Race.

5. “The Mighty Miss Malone” by Christopher Paul Curtis

In Curtis’ historical fiction novel, Deza Malone must navigate the Great Depression in Indiana while her family looks for her father, who left home to find work. Students can learn more about the Black experience in the 1930s by reading articles on topics like:

• The experience of Black enrollees in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Great Depression.
• How the Chitlin’ Circuit in the Jim Crow South hosted performances of talented Black performers.
• What the Savoy Ballroom was in 1930s Harlem and how it inspired a love of music and dance in people who visited.

6. “New Kid” by Jerry Craft

In Craft’s graphic novel, a middle school student must learn how to deal with being the only Black student in his class at a new, prestigious private school. Students can consider what it means to be the “new kid in school” with resources like:

• A video reading of Clint Smith’s “Ode to the Only Black Kid in the Class.”
• An interview with Jerry Craft about the novel.
• An article examining the history and contributions of Black artists from the 18th century through today.

7. “One Crazy Summer” by Rita Williams-Garcia

In Williams-Garcia’s historical fiction novel, three sisters travel to Oakland, California, in the summer of 1968 to reconnect with their mother and become involved with the Black Panther party along the way. Students can build background knowledge on civil rights organizations by exploring articles on topics like:

• The history and importance of the Black Panther Party.
• A biography of Malcolm X.
• A biography of civil rights leader Stokely Carmichael.

8. “Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America” by Sharon Robinson

In this biography, Jackie Robinson’s daughter tells the story of how her father broke the color barrier in baseball and ultimately changed American culture and society. Help students learn more about Robinson’s legacy with resources like:

• A video about Negro League Baseball.
• A shorter biography of Jackie Robinson’s accomplishments in sports.
• An essay explaining why sports history is so important in America.

9. “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry” by Mildred Taylor

In Taylor’s historical fiction novel, Cassie Logan must figure out how to navigate growing up as a young Black girl in the American South in the 1930s. Help students discover what life was like in the South during the Great Depression with resources like:

• A first-person account from a Black Southerner on how sharecropping kept his family in poverty.
• A video that covers Black history during the Great Depression.
• A current events article about how a Black mom’s Touchy Topics Tuesday conversations bring light to difficult subjects.

10. “The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963” by Christopher Paul Curtis

In “The Watsons Go to Birmingham,” Kenny Watson and his family travel from Michigan to Alabama during the Civil Rights Movement and experience the racial tensions brewing across the country. Students can build background knowledge on the significance of Birmingham in the Civil Rights Movement with resources like:

• An article about the Supreme Court ruling in the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case that ended school segregation in the United States.
• A video about young civil rights advocates in Birmingham.
• A photo collection from the 1963 Birmingham Campaign protest led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

[Middle school Black History Month books and novels](id-middle)

Invite middle school students to explore the Black experience of the past and present with novel and book selections like:

11. “All American Boys” by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

In Reynolds and Kiely’s novel, two teenage boys—one Black and one white—have to grapple with issues like police brutality and privilege. Students can learn more about the author and themes of the novel with resources like:

• Watch a video biography about author Jason Reynolds.
• Read an article about the impact the Trayvon Martin shooting had on the resurgence of the civil rights movement.
• Learn more about Bloody Sunday, part of the march from Selma to Montgomery in the 1960s.

12. “Becoming” (Adapted for Young Readers) by Michelle Obama

In this memoir, former First Lady Michelle Obama reflects on her life as a Black woman in the public eye and how she’s juggled the responsibilities of politics, motherhood, and a career. Students can learn even more about Obama with resources like:

• A profile about her time as the First Lady of the United States.
• An article on Michelle Obama’s views on educational success.
• An article about first ladies who have published memoirs of their experiences with politics.

13. “Before the Ever After” by Jacqueline Woodson

In “Before the Ever After,” ZJ must navigate changes in his family dynamic when his former football player father struggles with memory loss from repeated head injuries. Students can learn more about the author and the dangers of head injuries in sports with resources like:

• A video biography of author Jacqueline Woodson.
• An article about how Jacqueline Woodson became a national ambassador for young people’s literature.
• An article exploring how the brain disease CTE affects almost all pro football players.

14. “Blended” by Sharon M. Draper

In Draper’s novel, a biracial girl must learn to live with her parents’ divorce and establish her identity. Students can explore the complexities of the novel’s themes by reading articles on topics like:

• What it’s like to grow up multiracial in different parts of the United States.
• What racial profiling is and why knowing the definition matters.
• What a social identity is and what it can look like.

15. “Brown Girl Dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson

Woodson’s memoir in verse tells her story of growing up Black in the 1960s and 1970s. Help students better understand this time period in American history with articles on topics like:

• Organizations of the civil rights movement.
• Jim Crow laws and the Great Migration.
• How Jacqueline Woodson brought inclusion to her role as the educator-in-residence at the Kennedy Center.

16. “Class Act” by Jerry Craft

In Craft’s graphic novel, Drew must figure out how to fit in and pursue his passion for art while navigating issues of race, identity, and friendship. Students can explore how race can affect their school experience with articles on topics like:

• What school segregation looks like in the U.S. today.
• How implicit racial bias often begins as early as preschool.
• How schools are working to improve racial equity.

17. “Dear Martin” by Nic Stone

Stone’s novel follows Justyce McAllister, a Black teenager who turns to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to learn about how to deal with racial injustice in his life. Students can build background knowledge on Dr. King’s legacy with resources like:

• Fast facts about civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.
• The text of Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.”
• An article on how King’s granddaughter is following in his activist roots.

18. “Miles Morales: Spider-Man” by Jason Reynolds

In Reynolds’ new take on Marvel’s “Spider-Man,” Miles Morales must protect his Harlem neighborhood from a tech-based criminal group that wants to take over. Help students understand why this reimagined story works with articles on topics like:

• How author Jason Reynolds became a National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
• Why representation in media like superhero movies matters.
• How to plan a protest for a cause that matters to you.

19. “Monster” by Walter Dean Myers

In “Monster,” teenager Steve Harmon is on trial for murder. He must navigate the legal system and spend time in jail while learning about his self-identity. Students can learn more about what it’s like for juveniles in the criminal justice system with resources like:

• A video biography about author Walter Dean Myers.
• A TedTalk about criminal justice reform.
• A news article about how courts overturned rapper Meek Mill’s conviction after a decade-long probation.

20. “Solo” by Kwame Alexander

In Alexander’s novel in verse, teenager Blade Morrison is impacted by his famous father’s addiction and antics in the public sphere. Students can explore the significance of art and music in Black culture with articles on topics like:

• A Black family of 17 who play music for the public in downtown Chicago.
• How fabric-makers in Ghana created designs to commemorate the coronavirus pandemic.
• The history of Ghana and its culture.

[High school Black History Month books and novels](id-hs)

Introduce high school students to some well-known and lesser-known Black writers, poets, and playwrights with novel and book selections like:

21. “Beloved” by Toni Morrison

“Beloved” looks at the psychological effects of slavery and making personal decisions to try to give your family a better life. Students can build background knowledge on the novel and its themes with resources like: 

• A video biography of author Toni Morrison.
• An excerpt from Harriet Jacobs’ narrative on slavery.
• An article on how Black Americans protected fugitives from enslavement.

22. “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah

In Noah’s memoir, he discusses growing up multi-racial in apartheid South Africa. Students can learn more about the politics of South Africa and the complexities of race with articles on topics like:

• The Loving v. Virginia court case that made interracial marriage legal.
• The construct of race.
• A biography of South African leader Nelson Mandela.

23. “Children of Blood and Bone” by Tomi Adeyemi

In Adeyemi’s novel, a young woman must go on a quest to restore magic to her kingdom and her family. Students can build background knowledge on the themes of the novel with articles on topics like:

• How Afrofuturism is gaining popularity in fantasy fiction.
• The history of African religions and beliefs.
• Stories of African goddesses and heroes.

24. “Double Dutch” by Sharon M. Draper

In “Double Dutch” Delia is a jump rope champion but struggles with illiteracy and tries to hide her secret from her classmates. Help students learn more about the topics discussed in the novel with articles that explore:

• How the first all-Black climbing team scaled Mount Everest.
• The ways lying can affect your brain.
• How tornadoes form and why they’re so unpredictable.

25. “Fences” by August Wilson

In Wilson’s famous play, working-class Black man Troy Maxson must deal with the limitations of racism while protecting his family. Help students better understand the topics in the novel with resources like:

• A biography on playwright August Wilson.
• An opinion article about why Black culture still strives amid racism.
• A news article about how racist housing policies can create uncomfortable living conditions.

26. “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas

In Thomas’ novel, Starr Carter has to confront racial injustice and police brutality by standing up and using her voice. Students can learn more about the themes of the novel with resources like:

• A video about how Black pride is a form of self-love.
• A video biography of author Angie Thomas.
• An article about how a movie adaptation of the novel reflects views of the Black Lives Matter movement.

27. “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou

Angelou’s memoir shares details of her childhood growing up amid abuse and racism in the segregated South. Students can learn more about the author and her experiences with resources like:

• A video biography about author Maya Angelou.
• An article about The Great Migration of Black Americans from the South.
• A news article about how Maya Angelou became the first Black woman to appear on a U.S. quarter.

28. “If Beale Street Could Talk” by James Baldwin

In Baldwin’s novel, a young woman finds out she’s pregnant, and she and her family must prove the child’s father is innocent of a crime he didn’t commit. Students can learn more about the author and life during the civil rights movement with resources like:

• A biography on author James Baldwin.
• A video about  Baldwin’s worldviews.
• A history explainer of the 1960s.

29. “Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina” by Misty Copeland

Copeland’s memoir tells her story of becoming the first Black female principal ballerina at the American Ballet Theatre. Students can learn more about her trailblazing experience with more articles about her ballet career, like: 

• Why Copeland’s American Ballet Theatre role is so groundbreaking.
• How Copeland felt about her role in the “Nutcracker” film.
• How Copeland broke a color barrier in ballet and film.

30. “The Nickel Boys” by Colson Whitehead

In “The Nickel Boys,” Elwood Cutis endures abuse and racism at his Florida reform school and must decide how to look toward a brighter future. Students can learn more about the themes in the novel by exploring resources like:

• A video biography of author Colson Whitehead.
• An article about how the history of Dozier School for Boys inspired the novel's setting.
• A news article about how one man creates educational opportunities like scholarships and mentorship programs for Black youth.

Explore more stories with Newsela ELA

While these novels are great introductions for Black History Month, there are plenty of others for your students to enjoy year-round. 

Newsela ELA’s Novel and Book Studies collection can help your students build background knowledge on tough-to-teach topics, practice in-context literacy skills, and explore diverse perspectives when reading a whole-class novel or exploring books for fun.

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