Listed Alphabetically by Authors
Nephew: a Memoir in 4-Part Harmony
Written by MK Asante. Nephew: a Memoir in 4-Part Harmony. Published in May 2024 by Amistad, an imprint of Harper Publisher, a division of HarperCollins Publishers. Hardback $26.99. 208 pages. 9780063275287. Ages 12-18.
Nephew, MK Asante shares a deeply personal and powerful memoir, written as a series of heartfelt letters to his eighteen-year-old nephew, Nasir, who lies unconscious in a Philadelphia hospital after being shot nine times. As Nasir fights for his life, MK confronts long-buried family secrets, particularly the story of Nasir’s absent father, Uzi—MK’s estranged brother. Through these letters, MK attempts to bridge the gap between uncle, nephew, and father, hoping to break the cycle of mistakes that has haunted their family. Both Nasir and Uzi share striking similarities: fiery tempers, battles with opioid addiction, and lyrical talent as raw, autobiographical rappers—though neither had heard the other’s music. MK uses their lyrics to weave a vivid narrative of family, struggle, and redemption, culminating in an emotional meeting between father and son where music becomes their language of healing.
Trigger Warnings: Gun Violence, Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Dysfunctional Family, Mental Health,Physical/Emotional Abuse, Incarceration, Grief, Poverty
TOP NF TITLE
Little by Little Yout can Change the World
Written by Sonya Ballantyne. Illustrated by Rhael McGregor and Letterer Toben Racicot. August 2023. Published by Highwater Press, a division of Portage & Main Press. Hardback $18.95. 56 pages. 9781774920985. Ages 9-12.
Written by Sonya Ballantyne, Little by Little: You Can Change the World is an inspiring graphic novel based on the real-life story of Michael Redhead Champagne, an Indigenous youth who learns the power of using his voice to advocate for his community. Through perseverance and small acts of kindness, Michael discovers that even small efforts can lead to significant change. The story follows Michael as he struggles with feeling like an outsider and confronting misrepresentations of Indigenous people. A turning point comes when he attends a youth conference, only to hear inaccurate statements about his community from a speaker on stage. Though initially nervous, Michael finds the courage to speak up, demonstrating the power of standing up for the truth. A key theme of the book is how small, meaningful actions—whether advocating for others, showing kindness, or speaking up against injustice—can have a lasting impact. Michael’s development is also influenced by his teacher, Ms. Holmes, who nurtures his critical thinking and love for reading, highlighting the importance of supportive mentorship.With vibrant illustrations and a compelling narrative, Little by Little empowers young readers by showing that change is possible at any age. It is a heartfelt tribute to the strength of community and the courage to speak up for what is right.
Trigger Warnings: Harmful Misrepresentations of Indigenous People, Isolation, Self-Doubt, Confrontation of Injustices
Better Must Come
Written by Desmond Hall. Published in June 2024 by Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers. Hardback $19.99. 336 pages. 9781534460744. Ages 14-18.
Deja is known as a “barrel girl,” a Jamaican teen whose parents work abroad, sending barrels packed with clothes, food, and other essentials to support her from afar. Gabriel is entangled in gang life, desperate to find a way out. When their paths cross at a party, Gabriel sees a glimpse of hope—maybe even a future—with Deja. Everything changes when Deja stumbles upon an abandoned, blood-streaked go-fast boat while fishing. Inside, she finds a gravely injured man who pleads with her to deliver a knapsack for him and to keep it secret. Determined to help, Deja has no idea the bag holds $500,000—or that Gabriel’s gang is hunting it down, willing to do whatever it takes to get it back. Caught in a dangerous web, Deja and Gabriel face impossible choices, forced to risk everything for the people they care about—and for a future neither of them thought possible.
Trigger Warnings: Gang and Gun Violence, Death, Abandonment, Poverty, Mental/Emotional Trauma
The Accomplice: A Novel
Written by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson with Aaron Philip Clark. Published in September 2024 by Amistad, an imprint of Harper Publisher, a division of HarperCollins Publishers. Hardback $27.99. 272 pages. 9780063312906. Ages 17 & Up.
Nia Adams, the first Black female Texas Ranger, faces her most dangerous case yet. Determined and fearless, Nia is tasked with tracking down Desmond Bell, a shrewd Vietnam veteran-turned-thief who doesn’t just steal valuables—he steals secrets from the elite and uses them as leverage for blackmail. When Desmond’s latest heist targets the Duchamp family, one of the wealthiest and most influential dynasties in the country, Nia’s investigation plunges her into a treacherous world of crime, corruption, and deadly alliances. As the body count rises, Nia’s relentless pursuit of justice puts her career, her life, and everything she stands for on the line. But the Duchamps will stop at nothing to protect their empire—even if it means eliminating both the thief and the Ranger on his trail.
Trigger Warnings: Violence, Death, Racism, Crime War-Related Trauma
TOP FICTION TITLE
Marty’s Kid
Written by Hannah K. Published in December 2023 by Hannah K. Paperback $11.95. 293 pages. 97808989652600. Ages 13-18.
In North Philadelphia, everyone knows Connor as Marty’s drug runner, but few remember that Marty once cared for him like family, buying him gumballs and tucking him into bed. Connor wishes things were still that simple. He longs for the attention of his school crush and can’t shake the curiosity sparked by a neighbor kid who insists that Jesus loves him. Everything changes on Christmas Eve when a job goes horribly wrong, plunging Connor into a dangerous spiral of gang rivalries and threats of retaliation. As he struggles to survive, a new friend offers him hope and a different path. But breaking free from Marty’s control and the world of crime isn’t easy. Can Connor escape the darkness and build a life beyond the streets—or is he destined to be nothing more than Marty’s kid?
Trigger Warnings: Drug Trafficking, Gang Violence, Gang Retaliation, Child Neglect, Emotional Abuse, Death, Religious Themes, PTSD Issues
What Kind of Bird Can’t Fly: A Memoir of Resilience ans Resurrection
Written by Dorsey Nunn with Lee Romney. April 2024. Published by HeydayBooks. Paperback $24.00. 368 pages. 9781597146326. Adults.
Dorsey Nunn’s memoir is a powerful account of transformation, resilience, and activism. At the age of nineteen, Nunn entered the California prison system, shackled and barely literate. While incarcerated, he learned firsthand about the racial and systemic injustices embedded in the criminal legal system. Guards deliberately incited racial violence among inmates, while outside the prison walls, the legal system disproportionately targeted Black and Brown communities.
After serving ten years in San Quentin, Nunn emerged not just as a free man but as a radical activist determined to fight for the rights of system-impacted individuals. Fueled by the militant wisdom he gained behind bars, he co-founded All of Us or None, an organization advocating for formerly incarcerated people. His lifelong work has centered on dismantling systemic discrimination against people labeled as “criminals” and fighting for policies that restore dignity and justice to those who have been imprisoned.
Throughout his memoir, Nunn draws connections between the Black Power movement and contemporary struggles for Black lives and reentry justice. His journey from incarceration to national leadership underscores the necessity of coalition building, perseverance in the face of adversity, and the importance of centering the voices of directly impacted individuals in the fight for change.
With a foreword by Michelle Alexander and praise from Angela Davis and Cornel West, this deeply personal and politically urgent book proves that those once caged can rise and lead movements for justice—showing, as Nunn says, that “jailbirds can fly.”
Trigger Warnings: Racialized and State Sanctioned Violence, Mass Incarceration, Inhumane Prison Conditions, Psychological Trauma, Systemic Discrimination.
Dear Dad: Growing Up with a Parent in Prison — and How We Stayed Connected.
Written by Jay Jay Patton, Antoine Patton, and Kiara Valdez. Illustrated by. Markia Jenai. Published in September 2024 by Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc. Hardback $24.99. 128 pages. 9781546128373. Ages 8-12.
Dear Dad: Growing Up with a Parent in Prison — and How We Stayed Connected is a powerful coming-of-age story about Jay Jay Patton’s experience growing up with an incarcerated father. Since she was nine, Jay Jay’s dad, Antoine, has been in prison, and their connection has relied on sporadic letters—some taking weeks or months to arrive, and others never delivered at all. Living in Buffalo, New York, with her mom and younger brother, Jay Jay has only visited her dad twice, leaving her to wonder: what will life be like when he finally comes home? Through heartfelt storytelling and vivid illustrations, this graphic memoir explores the challenges of maintaining a parent-child bond across prison walls. Despite the distance, Jay Jay and her dad develop a strong relationship, eventually co-creating Photo Patch, an innovative app designed to help children stay connected with their incarcerated parents. Jay Jay’s story is a moving testament to resilience, love, and the belief that every child deserves the right to engage with their parents.
Trigger Warnings: Parental Incarceration, Family Separation, Emotional Distress, Systemic Injustice, Communication Barriers
One Pill Killed: Fentanyl Poisoning. Are you Next?
Written by Normandy D. Piccolo. Published in October 2023 by Normandy’s Bright Ideas. Paperback $5.99. 59 pages. 9788985565430. Ages 12-17.
Author Junauda Petrus wrote this poem in 2014, shortly after Michael Brown’s death in Ferguson, MO. The poem, along with picture book artist Kristen Uroda’s wonderful drawings, is a radical call to action towards community-based policing that provides safety, compassion, accountability, humanity, and respect for all. The committee envisions this book as a catalyst for collective action, emphasizing the importance of united efforts to build a safer, more trusting, and all-inclusive community. By pooling our resources and working collaboratively, the book suggests that we can actively contribute to the creation of an ecologically sound environment that prioritizes the well-being of all its members. The call to action embedded in the narrative encourages readers to engage in initiatives that promote dignity and respect for everyone, irrespective of their race or class.
Trigger Warnings: Parental Incarceration, Family Separation, Emotional Distress, Systemic Injustice, Communication Barriers
Sito: An American Teenager and the City that Failed Him
Written by Lawrence Ralph. Published in February 2024 by Grand Central, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette. Hardback $30.00. 320 pages. 978-1538740323. Ages 16 & Up.
Sito is an intimate and powerful narrative that blends personal grief with academic insight, offering a profound reflection on urban violence, the cycle of trauma, and the fragile presence of grace amidst tragedy. Written by Laurence Ralph, an Ivy League professor and expert on youth violence, the book explores the heartbreaking story of Luis Alberto Quiñonez—known as Sito—who was shot and killed at nineteen in San Francisco’s Mission District. His killer, seventeen-year-old Julius Williams, had encountered Sito once before, five years earlier, when Julius witnessed his brother’s murder by someone connected to Sito. Though both incidents received fleeting media attention, the deeper human and societal impacts remained unseen. For Ralph, who is also the stepfather of Sito’s half-brother, this tragedy was deeply personal, compelling him to grapple with issues of violence, loss, and systemic injustice not just through the lens of academia, but as a grieving member of the family.
Trigger Warnings: Gun / Gang Violence, Murder, Grief, Systemic Racism Emotional Distress
The Second Chance of Darius Logan.
Written by David Walker. Published in July 2024 by Scholastic Press, a division of Scholastic Publishing, Inc. $19.99. 384 pages. 978133826425. Ages 12-16.
Darius Logan has never seen himself as a hero. Orphaned at a young age, he’s spent his life navigating foster homes, shelters, and the harsh realities of survival in abandoned neighborhoods. When a drug deal he never should’ve been part of goes wrong, Darius finds himself on the run from the police, convinced that prison is his only future. But instead of a prison sentence, Darius is offered an unexpected lifeline: a spot in the Second Chance program with the Super Justice Force, an elite league of individuals with extraordinary powers dedicated to protecting the world. As Darius discovers strengths he never knew he had, he’s forced to confront not just external threats but his own past. When a dangerous enemy with familiar ties emerges, Darius must find the courage to rise above his circumstances and fight for what truly matters.
Trigger Warnings: Death of Parents, Foster Care, Homelessness, Incarceration, Street and Police Violence, PTSD
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