Black Characters in YA Fantasy

Last year, I was putting together a book display of fantasy books for my junior high students. I quickly picked up the "classics" - Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Hunger Games - and realized that all the characters were white. After seeing the conspicuous abence of black characters, I intentionally searched through the collection for fantasy with black characters. It took me over an hour, and I couldn't find more than ten fantasy books with black main characters.

I've only been developing the collection in this library for two years, so I am still finding the gaps in diverse literature. But even if the collection had been stocked with every YA fantasy book with black characters, it would not compare to the stacks and stacks of fantasy with white characters. This is an issue.

In recent years, authors have started to fill in the gap, but there's still a long way to go. Especially lacking are fantasy books that highlight black boys as main characters in YA (there are a few titles in middle grade). While we make known this need for Black characters in YA and advocate for the publishing industry to pursue these books and authors, here are some of my recommendations in this category:

Raybearer

Jordan Ifueko

Raised in isolation, Tarisai yearns for the closeness she could have as one of the Crown Prince's Council of 11, but her mother, The Lady, has magically compelled Tarisai to kill the Crown Prince. Tarisai must learn more about herself and the power she holds as she decides what her actions and her story will be. Beautiful world building and a fast-paced plot are all part of the package of this fantastic YA book.

Pet

Akwaeke Emezi

In a near-future society that claims to have gotten rid of all monstrous people, a creature emerges from a painting seventeen-year-old Jam's mother created, a hunter from another world seeking a real-life monster. Jam must decide if she wants to join the creature on the hunt or stay back in safety and potentially let the monster roam free.

A Phoenix First Must Burn

Edited by Patrice Caldwell

Black girls, including gender non-conforming individuals, star in this collection of sixteen stories of fantasy, science fiction, and magic. Written by some of the finest Black authors in the KidLit scene today, this collection promises a thrilling story for every preference.

Legendborn

Tracy Deonn

To discover the truth behind her mother's mysterious death, a teen girl infiltrates a magical secret society claiming to be the descendants of King Arthur and his knights

Opposite of Always

Justin A. Reynolds

After falling for Kate, her unexpected death sends Jack back in time to the moment they first met, but he soon learns that his actions have consequences when someone else close to him dies.

Children of Blood and Bone

Tomi Adeyemi

Seventeen-year-old Zélie, her older brother Tzain, and rogue princess Amari fight to restore magic to the land and activate a new generation of magi, but they are ruthlessly pursued by the crown prince, who believes the return of magic will mean the end of the monarchy.

Wings of Ebony

J. Elle

Half-god, half-human Rue is snatched from her Houston home to Ghazan, a secret land of gods, by her estranged father, then must face an evil determined to steal everything from her.

Dread Nation

Justina Ireland

When families go missing in Baltimore County, Jane McKeene, who is studying to become an Attendant, finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy that has her fighting for her life against powerful enemies.

Follow these sources for more reviews and recommendations from Black creators:

1. The Brown Bookshelf

2. Reading Middle Grade

3. Crazy QuiltEdi

4. Books and Big Hair