Great Middle Grade Books With Black Protagonists
Diverse books are important as they show and represent different cultures, beliefs, skin colours and abilities. Reading diverse books can help readers change their attitude towards the differences in society. It allows the reader to step into the shoes of the main character and see a different life through their eyes.
We have picked out some books that have black protagonists that are perfect for middle grade readers.
When Life Gives You Mangoes - Kereen Getten
Twelve-year-old Clara lives on an island that visitors call exotic. But there's nothing exotic about it to Clara. She loves eating ripe mangos off the ground, running outside in the rain with her Papa during rainy season, and going to her secret hideout with Gaynah--even though lately she's not acting like a best friend...
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Bryan knows what's tight for him--reading comics, drawing superheroes, and hanging out with no drama. But drama is every day where he's from, and that gets him tight, wound up. And now Bryan's friend Mike pressures him with ideas of fun that are crazy risky. At first, it's a rush following Mike, hopping turnstiles, subway surfing, and getting into all kinds of trouble. But Bryan never really feels right acting so wrong, and drama really isn't him. So which way will he go, especially when his dad tells him it's better to be hard and feared than liked?
Genre: Contemporary fiction
High Rise Mystery - Sharna Jackson
The detective duo everyone is dying to meet!
Summer in London is hot, the hottest on record, and there's been a murder in THE TRI: the high-rise home to resident know-it-alls, Nik and Norva. Who better to solve the case? Armed with curiosity, home-turf knowledge and unlimited time - until the end of the summer holidays anyway.
Genre: Detective | Mystery
Did you know we had a live author interview with Sharna Jackson?! You can watch the video of that interview by clicking here, or you can read our blog about it by clicking here!
Tristan Strong Punches A Hole In The Sky - Kwame Mbalia
Seventh-grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend when they were in a bus accident together. All he has left of Eddie is the journal his friend wrote stories in. Tristan is dreading the month he’s going to spend on his grandparents’ farm in Alabama, where he’s being sent to heal from the tragedy. But on his first night there, a sticky creature shows up in his bedroom and steals Eddie’s journal.
Genre: Fantasy