This content material incorporates affiliate hyperlinks. When you purchase by these hyperlinks, we might earn an affiliate fee.
If you’re a reader of kidlit, then it’s greater than probably that you simply’ve heard of Kekla Magoon, prolific writer of over 20 books for youngsters and younger adults. In addition to writing books for practically all ages and throughout a variety of genres — from historic fiction to sci-fi to up to date life like to image e book biographies — Magoon has additionally garnered a number of awards and honors for her work. She’s the winner of the John Steptoe New Talent Award, the Boston Globe Horn Book Award, and the NAACP Image Award. She’s collected quite a few Coretta Scott King Honors in addition to being a National Book Award longlist and finalist writer. In 2021, she obtained the distinguished Margaret Edwards Award, given by the American Library Association for an enduring contribution to younger grownup literature.
Across the wide-ranging genres and matters of her work, Magoon usually writes about teenagers and youngsters going through injustice in on a regular basis life whereas nonetheless coping with points that really feel relatable, akin to friendship drama, characters eager to show themselves, and the ups and downs of coming of age in a sophisticated world. Her work can run the vary from severe to humorous, however her larger-than-life characters floor her fiction and make them relatable to readers. When it involves her nonfiction, Magoon tends to write down about Civil Rights and American historical past within the second half of the twentieth century, and he or she’s written seven biographies for very younger writers about well-known and influential Black leaders.
There actually isn’t any incorrect place to begin in studying Magoon’s work! One of her extra acknowledged works is X: A Novel, co-written with Ilyasah Shabazz, which is a novel account of Malcolm X’s teenage years. That’s an important novel to choose up, however under are three books that showcase Magoon’s vary as an writer and are all wonderful entry factors into her work!
How It Went Down
This YA novel is definite to be a dialogue starter and is ideal for individuals who are searching for readalikes to The Hate U Give. When Tariq Johnson, a Black teen, is shot by a white man who claims self-defense, Tariq’s whole neighborhood is rocked to its core. Magoon takes a premise that feels as if it is likely to be ripped from the headlines and assuredly explores the individuals who encompass Tariq and people who are affected by his dying and the fallout. As readers study in regards to the individuals who assume that they know what went down and people who are additional faraway from Tariq’s dying by affected nonetheless, it turns into clear that among the tales battle, and a extra nuanced and complex image of Tariq emerges.
The Season of Styx Malone
Caleb and Bobby Green are all the time looking out for his or her subsequent massive journey or escapade, they usually know easy methods to make a great deal. This summer season, they’re itching for one thing extra thrilling than their sheltered small-town life, which is once they meet Styx Malone, an older boy who enlightens them in regards to the Great Escalator Trade — buying and selling one thing small for one thing barely higher. Styx has concepts that Caleb is very enthusiastic about, however when his older good friend’s secrets and techniques come to gentle, Caleb finds himself viewing all the things — Styx, his household, and his personal desires — in a brand new gentle. This is a hilarious center grade novel with tons of journey and humor, nevertheless it has a sober undercurrent that will likely be an important dialog starter for younger readers.
Revolution in Our Time
This nonfiction e book is aimed toward younger grownup readers, nevertheless it’s one that’s important studying for even adults and has garnered quite a few awards and honors. It is the account of the Black Panther Party, which has usually been maligned and misunderstood all through historical past. The Black Panther Party was based as a neighborhood assist group to show Black Americans about their historical past and to supply assist and neighborhood to individuals who have been in any other case focused or weak. As a consequence, the Panthers confronted immense backlash from the American authorities, and Magoon particulars the challenges they confronted. This account is stuffed with images, information clippings, and loads of supplemental materials that makes historical past come alive and helps contextualize the historical past of the Panthers within the historical past of slavery, Civil Rights, and Black Lives Matter.
Looking for extra studying suggestions? Check out our 20 must-read books about social justice for younger grownup and center grade readers!
Discussion about this post