english MG & Up fantasy witchcraft LGBTQ+ relationships magic adventure Adrienne Tooley summary This is a great fantasy novel with LGBTQ relationships (normalized throughout the society), and most importantly, the strife experienced doesn’t come from homophobia but from dark magic. Tamsin is an incredibly powerful witch, but was banished for using dark magic to save…
Tag: fantasy
a dark and hollow star
The ease with which Shuttleworth infuses the existing mythology and lore with nonbinary characters and frank discussions of the trauma inherent in growing up with a marginalized identity is striking.
the year i flew away
read along with us! want a copy of your own? summary: This book stressed me out in the best way possible. Main character Gabrielle is given the opportunity to leave her village in Haiti and live with family in the states. All she has to do is stay out of trouble. Now, the reader can…
The Magic in Changing Your Stars
English MG Family Black Culture & Identity Harlem Renaissance Fantasy Time Travel Tap Dancing Leah Henderson Summary: This book is really clever, and I love the idea of time travel that other people remember. Ailey is a talented dancer, but he has an utterly crushing tryout for The Wiz. When Ailey talks with his Grampa…
Root Magic
Written & Illustrated by: Eden Royce For ages: MG Language: English & some Gullah Topics Covered: History Own Voices Magic Police Harassment Eden Royce Eden Royce is from Charleston, South Carolina and is a member of the Gullah-Geechee nation. Her work has appeared in various print and online publications and she is the recipient of the…
Amari and the Night Brothers
Written & Illustrated by: B.B. Alston For ages: MG Language: English Topics Covered: Black Protagonists Women in STEM Fantasy Magic Single Parent Families Bravery Courage Summary: Ya’ll, especially after this past summer filled with gross transphobic tweets from JKR, I’ve been on the hunt for a Harry Potter replacement. Let me tell you, I’ve found…
Pet
Written by: Akwaeke Emezi Cover Art by: Shyama Golden For ages: YA (CW: child abuse. Mention of bruises and insinuation of pedophilia) Language: English, some French Creole. Topics Covered: Black Culture & Identity, BIPOC Narratives, Sci-Fi, LGBTQ Lives, Growing Up, Friendship, Social-Emotional Learning, Transgender Youth, Family, Art. Summary: This book is phenomenal. Jam is a teenage girl living in a town…