AFRICAN AMERICAN FICTION
The following titles are found in the J
Fiction area.
Barnes, J. PROMISE ME THE MOON (1997) Annie dreams of being an astronaut, but faces challenges with her parents, school and a changing relationship with her best friend.
Belton, S. FROM MISS IDA’S PORCH (1993) In the evening the residents of Church Street gather on Miss Ida's porch to share about events in the past significant to them as Black people.
Binch, C.
STARRING GRACE (2000) Grace and her
friends have all sorts of adventures during their summer vacation.
Chambers, V. AMISTAD RISING: A STORY OF FREEDOM (1998) A fictional account of the 1839 revolt on a slave ship, and the subsequent legal case argued before the Supreme Court.
Codell, E. SAHARA SPECIAL (2003) Struggling with school and her feelings since her father left, Sahara gets a fresh start with a new and unique teacher who supports her writing talents and the individuality of each of her classmates.
Collier, J.L. JUMP SHIP TO FREEDOM (1981) A 14-year-old slave, anxious to buy freedom for himself and his mother, escapes from his dishonest master.
Fenner, C. YOLONDA’S GENIUS (1995) Yolanda tries to prove that her younger brother is not a slow learner, but a musical genius.
Forrester, S. MY HOME IS OVER THE JORDAN (1997) After the Civil War, Maddie wants to get an education and become a teacher, but finds the reality of freedom harsh.
Greenfield, E. KOYA DELANEY AND THE GOOD GIRL BLUES (1992) Koya has trouble expressing her anger until her cousin, a popular male singer, comes to town.
Guccione, L.D. COME MORNING (1995) After his father, a freed slave, disappears, 12-year-old Freedom takes over his father’s work on the Underground Railroad.
Hamilton, V. HOUSE OF DIES DREAR (1968) After a black family moves into a huge house that used to hide runaway slaves, they believe it is haunted by the murdered abolitionist Dies Drear.
Hamilton, V. TIME PIECES: THE BOOK OF TIMES (2002) Valena’s life experiences in rural Ohio with her family is set against the past as her mother tells stories of her family’s history.
Johnson, A. MANIAC MONKEYS ON MAGNOLIA STREET (1999) Charlie adjusts to her move to a new neighborhood when she befriends Billy.
Johnson, D. NOW LET ME FLY (1993) Minna is captured in Africa and must endure the harsh life of a slave on a Southern plantation.
J
Series Wall
Diaries-Dear COLOR ME DARK (2000) Nellie records the events of 1919, when her
family moves from Tennessee to
Chicago, hoping to leave the racism and hatred of the South behind.
McKissack, P. RUN AWAY HOME (1997) An 11-year-old African American girl and her family shelter a runaway Apache boy in 1886.
Mead, A. JUNEBUG (1995) A young boy living in a rough housing project with his mother and younger sister, anticipates and worries about his upcoming birthday.
Mowry, J. GHOST TRAIN (1996) After arriving in California from Haiti, 13-year-old Remi and his neighbor Niya must travel back in time to solve the mystery of the night train.
Myers, W.D. ME MOP AND THE MOONDANCE KID (1988) T.J. and his younger brother have been adopted, but they try to help their friend Mop become adopted as well.
J Series Diaries-My Name JOURNAL OF BIDDY OWENS (2001) Teenager Biddy Owens' 1948 journal about working for the Birmingham Black Barons baseball team.
Patrick, D.L. ADVENTURES OF MIDNIGHT SUN (1997) After his parents help him escape from slavery, 14-year-old Midnight finds freedom in Mexico.
Pearsall, S.
TROUBLE DON’T LAST (2002) Samuel, a
Kentucky slave, and Harrison, the elderly slave who helped raise him, attempt to
escape to Canada via the Underground Railroad.
Pinkney, A.D. HOLD FAST TO DREAMS (1995) Twelve-year-old Deirdre feels uncomfortable as the only black student at her new school.
Ringgold, F. BONJOUR LONNIE (1996) An African-American Jewish boy traces his ancestry.
Robinet, H. FORTY ACRES AND A MULE (1998) Pascal joins other former slaves in a search for a farm and the freedom it promises despite his withered hand and leg.
Rosenburg, J.M. WILLIAM PARKER: REBEL WITHOUT RIGHTS (1996) Escaped slave William defies the U.S. government in the Christiana Riot of 1851, triggering the biggest treason trial in American history.
Smothers, E.F. MORIAH’S POND (1995) Ten-year-old Annie Rye learns about prejudice first-hand when a local white girl causes Annie’s sister to be unjustly punished.
Tate, E.E. BLESSING IN DISGUISE (1995) Twelve-year-old Zambia would rather live with her fast-living father instead of her aunt and uncle until she discovers the darker side of his world.
Taylor, M.D. ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY (1976) A black family living in the 1930’s are faced with prejudice and discrimination which their children don’t understand.
Walter, M.P. MARIAH LOVES ROCK (1998) Mariah experiences misgivings when she discovers that her half-sister is coming to live with her family.
Winslow, V. FOLLOW THE LEADER (1997) In 1971, 11-year-old Amanda must attend a newly integrated school while her best friend chooses to attend a private school.
Woodson, J. COMING ON HOME SOON (2004) After Mama takes a job in Chicago during WW II, Ada Ruth stays with Grandma but misses her mother who loves her more than rain and snow.
Yarbrough, C. SHIMMERSHINE QUEENS (1989) Two fifth graders encourage the dreams and desires of their classmates in the hope of lifting themselves out of their urban lives.
A Service of the City of Midland 12/05 SW
AfricanAmericanFiction
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