The Bookish Mutant’s Books for Black History Month (2024 Edition)

Happy Tuesday, bibliophiles!

Apologies for the lack of a Book Review Tuesday this week; like with Sunday Songs, I’ve just had a busy few days, and I wasn’t able to put anything together in time, but I was creating this post in advance, so I figured today would be a good day to post it.

Here in the U.S., February is Black History Month! Since I’ve started making these recommendation lists back in 2021 (and focusing on reading more diversely in general), I’ve discovered so many incredible authors, and now that I’m reading YA and adult novels in almost equal measure, my scope has broadened so much more. (Note: I’m still frugal about my media space on WordPress, but this list, like last year’s, contains both YA and adult novels, even though the header image just says YA.) But as with every single year, it’s more crucial than ever to uplift Black voices—not just to amplify them and other marginalized groups in the fields of literature and publishing (especially when the industry sees diversity as nothing but a box to be checked off, more often than not), but especially since we’re living in a climate here in the states (and elsewhere) that is intent on erasing both our systemic racism (past and present) and silencing Black voices. And one of the most accessible ways to fight this poisonous rhetoric is to read—to open your eyes, to learn for yourself, and to share what you have learned with others. In a landscape where anything other than the white, cishet, abled majority wants to ban any voice that isn’t theirs, reading is an act of resistance.

For my lists from previous years, click below:

• 2023
• 2022
• 2021

Let’s begin, shall we?

THE BOOKISH MUTANT’S BOOKS FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH

FANTASY:

• Son of the Storm – Suyi Davies Okungbowa | Adult | High fantasy, LGBTQ+ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Flowers for the Sea – Zin E. Rocklyn | Adult | Novella, Horror | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
• Shadow Speaker (The Desert Magician’s Duology, #1) – Nnedi Okorafor | YA | Post-apocalyptic, Speculative fiction | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
• Forged by Blood – Ehigbor Okosun | YA | High fantasy, Romance | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
• That Self-Same Metal – Brittany N. Williams | YA | Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️
• The Monsters We Defy – Leslye Penelope | Adult | Historical fiction, paranormal | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SCIENCE FICTION:

• The Fifth Season – N.K. Jemisin | Adult | Dystopia, Sci-fi/Fantasy | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
• A Song of Salvation – Alechia Dow | YA | LGBTQ+, Romance | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
• Parable of the Sower – Octavia Butler | Adult | Dystopia | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Lagoon – Nnedi Okorafor | Adult | Speculative fiction | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Kindred – Octavia Butler | Adult | Historical fiction, Time travel | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

REALISTIC FICTION:

• Forever is Now – Mariama J. Lockington | YA | LGBTQ+, Romance | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Nothing Burns as Bright as You – Ashley Woodfolk | YA | LGBTQ+, Novels in verse | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
• Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling – Elise Bryant | YA | Romance | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
• And Other Mistakes – Erika Turner | YA | LGBTQ+, Romance | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
• Dear Haiti, Love Alaine – Maika and Maritza Moulite | YA | Romance | ⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Nobody’s Magic – Destiny O. Birdsong | Adult | Contemporary, Literary fiction | ⭐️⭐️⭐️

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK! Have you read any of these books, and if so, did you enjoy them? What are some of your favorite books by Black authors that you’ve read recently? Let me know in the comments!

Today’s song:

That’s it for this recommendation list! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!