Sara’s BHM Book Recs
Written by Sara Fergang
Image courtesy of Dr. Holly Hatcher-Frazier
As a bookseller at an indie bookstore and an avid reader, I absolutely love recommending books to everyone around me. Okay, sometimes the suggestions are unsolicited, but I really do like to recommend books with intention. I never just go for what’s popular on BookTok, and I don’t gush over poorly-written titles that won’t leave bestseller lists (despite many of those bestselling authors being inherently problematic). Naturally, as February and therefore Black History Month has arrived, I want to take the opportunity to highlight books by Black authors. It’s important to recognize that reading books by authors of color, specifically Black authors, should not be confined to just one month. We should be reading and recommending books by Black authors year-round. It’s no secret that the literary world and publishing in general has a history of silencing Black and other marginalized voices. By reading, buying, recommending, and library loaning books that center Black voices and stories, we can ensure that their stories and histories aren’t suppressed.
*Every title listed will be linked via a Bookshop.org wishlist! If you purchase anything on it, all proceeds will go to my favorite bookstore in my area, which happens to be Black owned! If you’re ever in Northern New Jersey, please support Watchung Booksellers*
https://bookshop.org/wishlists/741b3c7f460f602abfa12df7156a3788e4d90ff5
My Favorites
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
An absolute classic! When I was a senior in high school, my AP Lit teacher told us that this was her favorite book, and after reading it, I can now say it is one of my favorites too. Published in 1982, Alice Walker’s epistolary novel won both the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction. In the book, sisters Celie and Nettie connect with one another through letters. The Color Purple is a moving novel about empowerment, sisterhood, and resilience. Walker is an incredible author and this book really marked the beginning of traditionally published American books about the Black female experience. I am due for a reread of The Color Purple ASAP!
This is one of those books that’s deservedly popular, because it really is just that good. I finally read James in December and I’m still wondering why it took me so long to pick it up; once I did, I couldn’t put it down. James is a reimagining of Huckleberry Finn told through Jim’s point of view. It’s his way of reclaiming his name and narrative and gives us context that the original did not provide. And, you don’t need to read Huckleberry Finn to dive into James! I personally never read the former and I still understood and adored this version. Everett is one of those authors whose words truly stick with you. His use of dark comedy and dialogue propels his work, and it’s no wonder this book won pretty much every literary award ever.
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
If you’re a romance reader and you haven’t read Seven Days in June, what are you even doing? This is a story about two writers, Eva and Shane, who met in childhood and spent one week being madly in love with each other as teenagers. When they reunite, it’s almost impossible for them to deny the chemistry they once had and still have. While this is a love story, it’s also a story about Blackness, overcoming past traumas, and motherhood. Williams’ writing touches a lot on the human experience and what it means to contend with your past. The chemistry between Eva and Shane is palpable, and I am begging you to dive into this!
How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair
I’ve been trying to up my nonfiction game, and reading this fantastic memoir has really proved to me that nonfiction isn’t as intimidating when you find the right books. In this memoir, Sinclair reflects on a strict and cruel upbringing under her Rastafarian father. As Sinclair turned to books and writing, her worldview was broadened and she escaped the patriarchal reigns she was trapped in. This isn’t an easy story to read; Sinclair, her siblings, and her mom faced many hardships under her father’s control. However, the journey she goes on to find and harness her power is remarkable. Her writing is really what makes this book so memorable for me; Sinclair is a poet and doesn’t shy away from bringing her prose into this book. I would highly recommend reading How to Say Babylon even if you don’t normally read nonfiction; actually, especially if you don’t normally read nonfiction. It should be required reading.
Bottom of the Pyramid by Nia Sioux
I was the biggest Dance Moms fan when I was in middle school, so I’ve been following Nia’s journey for over ten years. When I found out she was writing a memoir, I immediately requested it on Libby. I think I was the first one in my county to check out the audiobook (which I highly recommend because Nia narrates it)! In case you don’t know the name Nia Sioux, let me give you some quick background: Nia was a competitive dancer on the reality TV show Dance Moms for seven consecutive seasons. Nia was also the only Black main cast member, and because the show’s team and surrounding dance culture was predominately white, Nia faced a lot discrimination, from snide comments about how she should wear her hair to the intentionally racist typecasting of her solos. Hearing Nia’s story in her own words really pulled the curtain back from a show I once loved. Her experience and voice is so, so important. Bottom of the Pyramid is a tale of persistence, optimism in the face of adversity, and overcoming your past, which feels especially poignant since Nia was under a very public microscope for much of her adolescence. This is a very readable memoir and I’d recommend it to anyone, whether you’re a reality TV fan or not.
Books On My TBR
If you know me, you know I LOVE sad literary fiction. This one has been on my TBR for a while. The cover is absolutely gorgeous as well. I plan on sinking my teeth into Loved One very soon!
This is another novel about sisterhood, friendship, and what it means to be a woman. Clearly there’s a theme here; We love girlhood at DWG! I honestly don’t know a ton about this book, but it does come out on my birthday this year, so I know what I’ll be getting to celebrate! Also, I love a family saga, so certainly sign me up!
A Black Queer History of the United States by C. Riley Snorton and Darius Bost
My goal this year is to read one nonfiction book a month, so I definitely want to dive into this one. U.S. history is known for silencing Black queer voices and their stories, and I would love to learn more about narratives different from my own, so that I can broaden my worldview and better understand the experiences of others.
On Sundays She Picked Flowers by Yah-Yah Scholfield
First of all, I’m obsessed with this book’s cover (and yes I do judge by those). This is a queer, gothic horror that touches on family drama, past reconciliation, and what it means to find the truth within yourself. All of these things sound right up my alley, and I’ve been dying (wink) for a good horror.
I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For by Bsrat Mezghebe
Another 2026 literary fiction release, and it’s a debut novel! I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For focuses on three Black female main characters during the Eritrean Ethiopian conflict in the ‘90s. I don’t know anything about that, so I would love to learn more history while reading a book that interweaves multiple perspectives.
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
I just bought Open Water at an indie bookstore I was visiting for the first time, so I WILL be diving into it very soon. This book has been praised for its beautiful love story and the author’s poetic writing style. It’s short but supposedly packs quite the punch! And it’s another gorgeous cover; I want to frame it and bring it with me everywhere.
