I hated middle school. From the moment, I walked into those doors to the moment I left. It was one of the worst school experiences I have ever had. I was/am an awkward girl. Making friends, especially within established friendships (even when I am invited to the group) is a difficult thing. I joined the volleyball team, basketball, student council, band and still never actually fit it.
So I lost myself in books and for the most part that is where I say. But the purpose of me telling you this is I noticed that every once in a while someone, on Twitter, will ask specifically for middle school reads to Black girls. It isn’t specific to what genre type but just that it is geared towards Black girls and I have been meaning to do a list on it and now I got the time :)
Listed below are some middle school reads that feature a Black girl as the main character.
Let me be honest. When I was looking up books I was disappointed in a few things.
- There aren’t a whole lot of books where there is a Black girl as the main characters.
- There were a lot of books in which the mother left, parents were divorced and the divorce resulted in the child moving away
- There are a lot of trauma novels like a lot
- This is not to say that these stories aren’t important but these are a lot; overwhelmingly so
I was hoping to find a wide range of genres but there was a lot of trauma found. I wonder why is that. . . .
While I go ponder on that, what do you think of this list? Do you have any recommendations that should be added? Leave me a comment :)
Motif by Tanya 