In honor of Women’s History Month & International Women’s Day, we wanted to share some new-ish black women authors whose books should be making their way on your Kindle or bookshelf this year. While we will forever love the greats–Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Maya Angelou, Zora Neale-Hurston–let me stop before this gets too long, this particular shout out is to those black women authors making waves in 2017 and beyond. Take a look and make sure to put a few of these ladies books on your book list.
photo via Time.com
Yaa Gyasi: Gyasi is a Ghanian author whose debut novel Homegoing hit bookshelves last year. At the age 4, Gyasi moved to America and graduated from the prestigious Stanford University. Homegoing is a novel that was inspired by a trip to Gyasi’s home country. It carefully follows the life of two African sisters on two different continents over the course of 4 centuries. At just 26 Gyasi has earned the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Award for best first book and the National Book Foundation’s “5 under 35” honors selected by Ta-Nehisi Coates in 2016.
photo via NicoleDennisBenn
Nicole Dennis-Benn: Kingston born Dennis-Benn is author of the highly celebrated novel, Here Comes the Sun. This captivating tale captures the parallel realities of poor Jamaicans who live in the slums and wealthy caucasian tourists. Her debut novel was released in 2016 and quickly received a number of coveted literary awards. Among her many accolades received for her debut in 2016 are the New York Times Notable Book of the Year, Buzzed Best Literary Debut, NPR Best Books, and a host of best book reviews in 2016.
photo via poetryfoundation.org
Jacqueline Woodson: Jacqueline is a writer who has been telling stories her whole life. Literally, from childhood, she mastered the art of storytelling in a way that would probably make the best parents crazy if we had a child who could piece together such masterful tales when we wanted the truth. Turns out, this worked out in her favor as Jacqueline has gone on to build a library of children’s and young adult books. Last year, she released her first novel for adults and it’s a must read. Another Brooklyn, is a story that chronicles the lives of four girls growing up in Brooklyn.
What authors are you currently reading? Let us know which black women’s books you’re enjoying!
