As summer winds down and the school year kicks back off, it’s time for students to be ‘quiet on the creek,’ in the words of the Saucy Santana song of the summer, and open those books.
Diving into books not only promotes reading and literacy rates, particularly as the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress revealed 12th-grade reading scores dropped to the lowest average since the evaluation was first completed in 1992.
“One of my most treasured memories as a mother was instilling a love of reading in my son Jordan,” Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) said in an Aug. 4 statement, after leading the House introduction of the Reading Excellence and Achievement for Development (READ) Act. “Tragically, far too many young people in America are graduating high school without basic literacy skills.”
Reading not only combats declining literacy rates, but gets students geared up for the school year and allows youth and young adults to discover new worlds.
Check out a list of books for students from elementary to high school to read, enjoy and thrive this back-to-school season and beyond.
“When we teach our children to read, we give them the tools to think critically, and a child who can think critically can achieve whatever they set their mind to,” said Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Utah), when emphasizing the importance of the bipartisan READ ACT.
Elementary Grades
“My Curls Bounce Back”
By Shelia Burlock
Shelia Burlock introduces an adorable little African American boy who goes on a self-love journey to accept his God-given coily, gravity-defying, bouncy hair. He learns to appreciate his hair for its movement, its bounce, its beautiful curls. The story begins in the form of a prayer and after being filled with gratitude to God for making his curls bounce back and concludes with a thank-you for his bouncy hair.
“Day Shift, Night Shift”
By Ariel Vanece
A young girl, Atticus, is so amazed by her Pop Pop who is a train engineer by day and ‘toy train mechanic’ at night. When Atticus can’t figure out how to get their toy train to climb a hill, her and Pop Pop must put their brilliant minds together to figure out the solution.
Middle School Grades
“The Blonde Dies First”
By Joelle Wellington
Didn’t mama always say not to play with Ouija boards? Well, Devon, her twin sister Drew, and their friends did not listen and now their “Best Summer Ever” is at risk when a demon released from their board hunts them down— old slasher movie style. And what is a more slasher movie cliche than the blonde (which would be Devon in this case) always dies first? This chaotic circle of friends must rely on horror movie rules or this could be their last “best summer ever.”
“Charmed and Dangerous”
By Shelley Page
The cozy town of Fair Glen is full of magic and is protected by its very own Bureau of Mystical Affairs including Monroe Bennett, a junior recruit at the Bureau. After receiving her first case of tracking down the source of a rogue love charm, Monroe’s life gets a little complicated when the bureau director’s daughter Iris James, asks her to get into a fake relationship. Monroe tries to maintain her professional status but as more time with Iris passes, real sparks begin to fly. See how Monroe balances this magical case alongside her magical feelings in this charming novel.
High School Grades
“If I Ruled the World”
By Amy Dubois Barnett
Authored by the former editor-in-chief of Ebony Magazine and Teen People Magazine, “If I Ruled The World: A Novel” takes it back to 1999 with Nikki Rose, the main character. She was the only Black editor on the staff of a prestigious fashion magazine that she believed would be her golden ticket to becoming a successful editor-in-chief. Her dreams are smashed after her boss repeatedly tells her “Black girls don’t sell magazines.” Rose goes on her own journey after quitting her “prestigious” job and dedicating her attention to saving Sugar, a struggling hip hop music and lifestyle magazine with untapped potential. Through all-nighters, parties with bad boys, and navigating Alonzo Griffin, her currently married, powerful, ex-lover and former boss, who is determined to destroy both her and Sugar. Dive into DuBois Barnett’s new comedically, romantically empowering piece as Nikki Rose finds her truth and reconnects with her own potential.
“Needy Little Things”
By Channelle Desamours
Chanelle Desamours, originally from Atlanta, Georgia, is a high school science teacher who enjoys writing about ‘magically black girls’. Her newest piece is about a horror-themed birthday party gone wrong. Simone Washington, the main character, enjoys planning Halloween parties as an escape from thinking about her dark past. However, when her best friend Kira dies under mysterious circumstances at her 18th birthday bash, Washington must make a deal to free a cursed witch to restore Kira’s life within 14 days. If Washington should fail, Kira will die once again and this time, Washington will be her killer.
“Two Can Play That Game”
By Zakiya N. Jamal
AD is the star basketball player on the New York Rebels who plays on the court almost as hard as she does in her dating life. In order to retire from basketball, AD must secure brand deals from sponsors that are concerned about her Black, non-binary lesbian heartbreaker identity. Chelsea is a sex-postive influencer who is ready to take her career to the next level. What better way to help each other than to fake a relationship to bring up their public images and then separate once the basketball season ends? However as the hoax becomes more serious, Chelsea finds her falling for AD and risking her heart and the future she is striving for. Georgetown University alum Jamal’s new piece coming in November is sure to be heartbreaking and heartwarming as readers get a chance to see if fake love can always turn real.
