Black History Month Celebration: Black Protagonists in YA and Middle Grade Horror & Speculative Fiction
Black Protagonists in YA & Middle-Grade Horror & Speculative Fiction
Everyone deserves to see themselves in what they read and watch, but as we all know, many of us have gone without representation for far too long. This is true even (or perhaps especially?) in the horror genre, which has been…well, exceedingly white for most of its history, at least in terms of stories that see wide distribution. That said, the number of stories–horror included–that feature diverse protagonists is increasing each year, and honestly, you love to see it.
So, in honor of Black History Month, here’s a short list of some excellent YA and Middle-Grade horror and/or speculative fiction titles featuring Black protagonists and written by Black authors, as well as a few resources to find books like these in various genres year-round!
(Note: The following book summaries and notes come primarily from NoveList and reviews there, because I didn’t want to bog you all down with lengthy descriptions in one article. NoveList is an excellent database for finding books. Check to see if your local library system, state agency, or university has access or allows patrons access through their library cards!)
YOUNG ADULT
White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson
Believing her new home to actually be alive, especially when her brother almost dies, Marigold and her new blended family won't be safe until she brings the truth to light once and for all. Horror; suspenseful and thought-provoking.
The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass
When the murderous ghost of a school shooter begins to haunt sixteen-year-old Jake Livingston, the only Black kid in his grade, high school soon becomes a different kind of survival game. Horror; creepy and atmospheric with queer rep.
Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
When two Black students, Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, are selected to be part of their elite school’s senior class prefects, an anonymous texter called Aces begins to reveal secrets about the two of them that threaten every aspect of their carefully planned futures. What seemed like a sick prank quickly turns into a very dangerous game. Thriller; fast-paced and suspenseful with queer rep.
The Upper World by Femi Fadugba
After Esso is accidentally caught up in a gang war, he is haunted by a vision of a bullet fired in an alleyway with devastating consequences. A generation later, Rhia is searching for answers—and a catastrophic moment from the past holds the key to understanding the parents she never got to meet. When their fates collide, a race against the clock will become a race against time itself. Sci-fi mystery; fast-paced and soon to be a Netflix movie.
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
Shortly after Jane McKeene was born, the dead rose and attacked the living, effectively ending the Civil War. A reunified army fought the shambling hordes until Congress passed the Negro and Native Reeducation Act, requiring adolescent children of color to train for battle. At age 14, Jane enrolled at Miss Preston’s School of Combat for Negro Girls, hoping to avoid conscription by becoming a socialite’s bodyguard. Three years later, Jane is close to earning her attendant certificate when she, her ex, and her rival stumble across a dastardly plot hatched by Baltimore’s elite. Alternate History, Horror; emotionally intense with biracial rep.
The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris
Sixteen-year-old Alex Rufus is trying his best, but it’s hard to for him to be present when every time he touches an object or person, Alex sees into its future. And when Alex touches a photo that gives him a vision of his brother Isaiah’s imminent death, everything changes. With Alex now in a race against time, death, and circumstances, he and Isaiah must grapple with their past, their future, and what it means to be a young Black man in America in the present. Sci-fi; Emotionally intense and moving.
MIDDLE-GRADE
Amari and the Night Brothers by BB Alston
Amari, a poor Black girl from the projects, gets an invitation from her missing brother to join the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs and join in the fight against an evil magician. Fantasy; magical realism and daring rescues.
The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
In Trinidad, Corinne lives with her widowed papa on the edge of the forest, a jumbie is an evil spirit that comes out at night to suck blood, steal children, or lure people into peril. Corinne knows they aren’t real, but when a beautiful woman suddenly takes an interest in Papa, she starts digging deeper and discovers something deeply sinister going on. Horror, Fantasy; action-packed with folkloric inspiration.
In 1930s Alabama, twelve-year-old Hoodoo Hatcher is the only member of his family who seems unable to practice folk magic–but when a mysterious man called the Stranger puts the entire town at risk from his black magic, Hoodoo must learn to conjure to defeat him. Horror; small town Southern Gothic with a first-person narrative.
In the summer of 1963, eleven-year-old Jezebel and her twin brother, Jay, must learn the family trade—working roots. Despite her excitement at the thought of learning how to protect her family from the racist policeman terrorizing them, Jezebel knows that it’ll only make her more of a target. But when evil both natural and supernatural comes to show itself in town, it's going to take every bit of the magic she has inside her to see her through. Historical Fantasy; coming-of-age story with a supernatural twist.
Hide and Seeker by Daka Hermon
Joining his friends for a game of hide-and-seek at the welcome back party of a young neighbor who mysteriously went missing for a year and came back rather changed, Justin watches in horror as players are pulled into a nightmarish alternate world where they are terrorized by a mysterious Seeker. Horror; thrilling, fast-paced, and full of monsters.
The Girl in the Lake by India Hill Brown
When strange things begin to happen while staying at her grandparents' lake house, Celeste spies a twisted version of herself in the mirror and must discover who this girl is and what she wants before it's too late. Horror; chilling, suspenseful ghost story.
Want more where these came from? Check out We Need Diverse Books, RA for All: Horror, The Seers’ Table, Diversity in Horror Fiction, and Spooky Middle-Grade. BONUS: LGBTQReads is also here and meticulously categorized for all your queer fiction needs.
Happy reading!
Review by Kayla Martin-Grant
Twitter: @poultryofperil
