Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

Use this space to discuss books you're reading or that might fit the 17th Read Harder task.

I was suggested The Coldest Winter Ever for this one, but in reading the synopsis I'm not sure if the fact that the main character was raised by a family of drug dealers in Brooklyn would fall under the aspect of Black pain.

Very excited to read The Sound of Stars for this prompt.

Has anyone read You Should See Me in a Crown ?
It looks like this book would work and I've heard good things about it.

Pride by Ibi Zoboi sounds like a good fit for this. I was sold when I saw Elizabeth Acevedo narrates the audiobook of it! I read The Poet X by her for one of the challenges this year, and she's a FANTASTIC writer AND narrator.

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon sounds good for this.

I'm reading The Revolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert for this

Does anyone know if Children of Blood and Bone would work for this prompt?

I read two this year that I think would fit....

I Wanna Be Where You Are by Kristina Forest

Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett

I feel like there's a bit of pain in every book, and with Black main characters it's often Black pain. But here's some I might pick that at least aren't focused on Black pain... I think

With the Fire on High
Felix Ever After
War Girls
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin
A Song Below Water
Legendborn
Dread Nation
Daughters of Jubilation

Thinking The Voice in My Head by Dana L. Davis or maybe The Revolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert.

I think Cinderella Is Dead will fit this prompt. At least I'm hoping it will

Does Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann have Black pain in it? It looks like a romance type book but I haven't read it yet.

Gina wrote: "Pride by Ibi Zoboi sounds like a good fit for this. I was sold when I saw Elizabeth Acevedo narrates the audiobook of it! I read [book:The Poet X|..."

I read Pride last year for the retelling of a classic item on the challenge. I really enjoyed it.

Stephanie wrote: "Has anyone read You Should See Me in a Crown ?
It looks like this book would work and I've heard good things about it."

YES!!!! FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC!! Wonderful story. Perfect for this prompt. Perfect!

Jessica wrote: "I feel like there's a bit of pain in every book, and with Black main characters it's often Black pain. But here's some I might pick that at least aren't focused on Black pain... I think

[book:With..."

With the Fire on High was amazing. Elizabeth Acevedo is gold!

I loved this realistic YA with a Black MC:
Dear Haiti, Love Alaine. And the sister's have a new book coming out in 2021 but it is decidedly about "Black pain."

If you want a fantasy:
Raybearer. I'd say this is tops in my "flying too far under the radar" books for 2020.

So on second thought, I've decided to go with Jackpot by Nic Stone for this one. While the black main character does live under the poverty line and struggles due to it, that isn't an issue related to her race.

Here are some I'm considering:

You Should See Me in a Crown
All the Things We Never Knew
Charming as a Verb
Now That I've Found You

Jessica wrote: "I feel like there's a bit of pain in every book, and with Black main characters it's often Black pain. But here's some I might pick that at least aren't focused on Black pain... I think

[book:With..."

Dread Nation is brilliant, but it has a LOT of Black pain in it.

taeli wrote: "Does Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann have Black pain in it? It looks like a romance type book but I haven't read it yet."

It is a romance type book. Very light hearted and there isn't really any discussion of race issues.

It's been a while since I've read it, but I'm pretty sure that Akata Witch counts for this. I may read the sequel Akata Warrior

I'm going to read With the Fire on High. I love Elizabeth Acevedo!

The Revolution of Birdie Randolph is on my tbr and it seems like most Brandy Colbert books might work.

The Voting Booth
The Only Black Girls in Town

Probably too Y for YA, but I really enjoyed Tristan String Punches a Hole in the Sky

I'm wondering about Slay by Brittney Morris- looks really good!

I read the YA fantasy #ownvoices novel A Song Below Water this year...while the book definitely features some of the main characters struggles related to being Black (which I don’t think any book about Black characters could genuinely omit), it isn’t focused entirely on Black pain and the main plot is unrelated to race. I would definitely recommend it!

I’m considering A Blade So Black, Pride, War Girls, Legendborn or Jackpot for this prompt.

I read High School High by Shannon Freeman for this. I found it in a Goodreads list of Black YA and MG speculative fiction and it wasn't actually speculative at all, but I gave it a go. Teen drama at high school - not really my thing, but okay.

First task down, anyway.

I really enjoyed A Blade So Black last year. Alice in Wonderland retelling but this Alice kicks ass. Also, if you're doing the PopSugar Challenge, it has a spade on the cover (#3).

I'd put "poverty" under the "black pain" category. YMMV, of course - but it feels like the books that get published with black main characters either have the protagonist overcoming racism, overcoming poverty, overcoming drug abuse (either their own, or their guardians'), or some combination of the three - while white protagonists get a lot more range. (I've not done a comprehensive analysis on YA books - this is a perception. I would be thrilled to be corrected.)
I'm hoping to find a YA novel where the protagonist is worried about prom (and not "how ever will I afford it when, as a black teenager, of course my one remaining parent is an impoverished drug addict?") or fighting vampires or joining a secret society to take over the world or is having trouble balancing their superhero identity and their alter-ego.

I just read "The Death of Vivek Oji," by Emezi. It's (really great) billed as adult fiction, but she writes for YA ("Pet") and I think this would work for older YA readers. Set in Nigeria, it's about a group of teens as they grow up to young adulthood, and deals with the death of one of the group, addresses gender identity, and the dynamics of close friends figuring out who they are, how to be friends, etc.

Suzanne wrote: "I just read "The Death of Vivek Oji," by Emezi. It's (really great) billed as adult fiction, but she writes for YA ("Pet") and I think this would work for older YA readers. Set in Nigeria, it's abo..."

I have been thinking along those same lines for Purple Hibiscus, which I am reading right now. It is a coming of age story, but certainly not written like YA. I feel like it might fit, but also like it doesn't really honor the spirit of the prompt. Not sure where I will come down.

I'm wondering about Tiny Pretty Things? I think it's more about the ballet infighting than anything that would be classified as Black pain?

They are not YA, but I always want to recommend the Peter Grant series by Ben Aaronovitch. Peter is a POC but mostly he is a detective who is trained in magic and supernatural events. River gods and goddesses play a prominent role in the "Rivers of London" series. Peter's race is incidental to the story line, which I appreciate.

I'm pretty sure Ben Aaronovitch is white -- doesn't meet "own voices" part of the challenge.

I know - just randomly recommending this series. Maybe someday there will be a category for books featuring a black detective/slash/magician in London written by a former Dr. Who writer. :)

Good morning, all. Sending you all positive thoughts/fist bumps/virtual hugs today. Here's our latest recommendation post: https://bookriot.com/read-harder-2021...

Does anybody know of any historical fiction books that would meet this prompt?

Elaina wrote: "
I'm wondering about Slay by Brittney Morris- looks really good!"

I am wondering the same thing. I am already planning to read Slay for another challenge.
Of course, I am also planning to read A Dream So Dark, the follow up to A Blade So Black. (This one has a heart on the cover.)

*Legendborn
*A Song Below Water
*Black Flamingo
*Pride
*Monday's Not Coming
*The Gilded Ones
*The Raybearer
*A Blade So Black

You Should See Me in a Crown is also delightful.

Does Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky fit this prompt? Maybe more middle grade than YA?

Kari wrote: "Does anyone know if Children of Blood and Bone would work for this prompt?"

I definitely think it does.

Gina wrote: "Pride by Ibi Zoboi sounds like a good fit for this. I was sold when I saw Elizabeth Acevedo narrates the audiobook of it! I read [book:The Poet X|..."

I agree!

Does anyone know of graphic novels for this task?

Tammy wrote: "Does anyone know of graphic novels for this task?"

I am reading Aya right now. I think it works perfectly for this.

Milena wrote: "Tammy wrote: "Does anyone know of graphic novels for this task?"

I am reading Aya right now. I think it works perfectly for this."

Thank you!

I read The Revolution of Birdie Randolph for this prompt. It was pretty solid. Deals with addiction and growing up.

I wish I hadn’t read Do You Dream of Terra-Two? last year because it would’ve been perfect for this.