Girl, Woman, Other is a magnificent portrayal of the intersections of identity and a moving and hopeful story of an interconnected group of Black British women that paints a vivid portrait of the state of contemporary Britain and looks back to the legacy of Britain’s colonial history in Africa and the Caribbean.

With empathy and piercing social commentary, Such a Fun Age explores the stickiness of transactional relationships, what it means to make someone "family," and the complicated reality of being a grown up. It is a searing debut for our times.

A Guide for Young Women in Planning Their Future This book is necessary for any young Black woman—blending history, biography, poetry, and essays to discuss the rich history and heritage of Africa and Black women. Its themes include everything from race and culture to relationships, sexual health, and self-sufficiency. The book also includes interactive tools and activities to help young women plan for their future.

This classic coming-of-age novel begins when Annie is just ten years old. She is fiercely bonded to her mother, entranced by her mother’s beauty and wisdom. As she gets older, she begins to grow apart from her mother and seek out her own friendships. The novel ends when Annie is seventeen years old, ready to leave home and embark on the world as an independent, young woman.

This novel follows Ava Delaney and her family through the mid to late 20th Century. At one time a wild young girl and brilliant artist, Ava is changed after a violent event that still impacts her family’s place in the community nearly two decades later. After a mysterious woman comes to visit, something is reignited within Ava. But not without consequences…

A story about a man's deception, a family's complicity, and two teenage girls caught in the middle. Set in a middle-class neighborhood in Atlanta in the 1980s, the novel revolves around James Witherspoon's two families, the public one and the secret one.When the daughters from each family meet and form a friendship, only one of them knows they are sisters. It is a relationship destined to explode when secrets are revealed and illusions shattered.

Written to underscore the courageous endurance of people perceived as chattel, Kindred examines the dynamics and dilemmas of antebellum slavery as well as its legacy in present American society. Through the two interracial couples that form the emotional core of the story, the novel also explores the intersection of power, gender, and race issues and speculates on the prospects of future egalitarianism.

My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More Janet Mock is a beautiful woman, inside and out. As an activist, she has brought the issues that transgender people face in America to light. Her memoir explores her childhood in Honolulu, her transition during adolescence, and how she became the fearless, inspiring woman she is today.

When a young person decides they want to be an artist, we often discourage them. However, in this book, Anna Deavere Smith writes letters of advice to the fictional young BZ. She does not shy away from the realities of what it’s like to live and work as an artist. This is a great read for any young person hoping to pursue a career in the arts and creative fields, but who may be unsure of what they will need to be successful.

In this novel, we meet fifteen year-old Kambili and her family, who live a sheltered life in Nigeria. Everything appears perfect from the outside. But within the home, Kambili and her brother Jaja, face abuse at the hands of their fanatically religious father. When they are sent to live with an aunt, Kambili is exposed to a new world. And she must find the strength and independence to fix what her father has done to her family.

This classic by the late Dr. Maya Angelou is a must-read for every young person, but especially the young Black girl. In her autobiography, Angelou recounts her life through age 17 and the various struggles she faces living in the South. Her indomitable writing focuses on important themes that we all cope with as we grow up—identity, racism, gender, and family.

Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf This chorepoem was written in 1974. Although it is often performed as a play and has since been adapted into a major film, the words are still vibrant and alive on page. It follows seven different women “of the rainbow”, as they share stories and poems about their experiences with men, love, identity, and overcoming oppression. The language is beautiful and the topics are heavy, but it’s a necessary read for any and all “Colored Girls.

This novel is another classic by one of the most important African-American writers to ever live. The book follows the protagonist Janie Crawford’s life from late teens through adulthood. It specifically focuses on her three marriages and her journey to define herself as an independent, self-determined woman.

In 1977, Assata Shakur was charged and imprisoned for the murder of a white state trooper. In her own words, she explains what really happened on the New Jersey Turnpike… and how growing up Black during Jim Crow led to her joining the Black Panther Party. She is a masterful storyteller and a true freedom fighter.

This is the first collection of poetry published by writer and performer Angel Nafis. Her writing is contemporary, lyrical, passionate, and laced with irreverence. Her poems explore a range of themes including family, identity, love, and womanhood. Angel Nafis understands what it means to be a Black Girl today and celebrates the Black Girl beautifully.

This classic was Toni Morrison’s first novel and follows the tale of Pecola Breedlove, a poor Black girl who yearns to have blue eyes, so she will be seen as beautiful. Morrison wrote the novel to specifically focus on Black Girls, who are often not protagonists in novels, as well as explore the themes of racism and beauty.