Black History Month: The newest update to a youngCanLit book list

In February 2014, I first posted a list (Black History Month: Book list) of youngCanLit that would help young people recognize the significance of Black History Month.  In February 2016, I updated that list as Black History Month: An updated youngCanLit booklist. In 2018, I added more titles (Black History Month: Additional titles). Now two years later, it is incumbent upon me to update this list yet again. As the listing continues to grow (there were 98 titles before today), I will simply add those titles that did not appear on the earlier lists. I encourage young readers and the adults in their lives who want to visit relevant titles for Black History Month to check out those earlier posts in addition to this one to get a fuller picture of the wonderful titles by Canadian creators that celebrate the lives and experiences and accomplishments of many African Canadians, African Americans and others of African ancestry while also giving voice to struggles and history that should not be forgotten.

List 1: Black History Month: Book list (February 10, 2014)

List 2: Black History Month: An updated youngCanLit booklist (February 3, 2016) 

List 3: Black History Month: Additional titles (February 9, 2018)
(With today's list, that's 109 titles!)


PICTURE BOOKS

An African Alphabet
Written by Eric Walters
Illustrated by Sue Todd
Orca Book Publishers
28 pp.
Ages 1-5
2017

Africville
Written by Shauntay Grant
Illustrated by Eva Campbell
Groundwood Books
32 pp.
Ages 4-7
2018
Reviewed here 

A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice
Written by Nadia L. Hohn
Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes
Owlkids Books
32 pp.
Ages 4-8
2019

FICTION

One Thing That's True
Written by Cheryl Foggo
Kids Can Press
128 pp.
Ages 10-14
1997

YOUNG ADULT

Blue Gold
Written by Elizabeth Stewart
Annick Press
304 pp.
Ages 12+
2014

Freedom's Just Another Word
Written by Caroline Stellings
Second Story Press
232 pp.
Ages 12+
2016
Reviewed here

NON-FICTION

Africville: An African Nova Scotian Community Is Demolished — and Fights Back (Righting Canada's Wrongs)
Written by Gloria Ann Wesley
Lorimer
96 pp.
Ages 9-14
2019

John Ware (The Canadians)
Written by Ian Hundey
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
64 pp.
Ages 9-14
2005

Meet Viola Desmond (Scholastic Canada Biography)
Written by Elizabeth McLeod
Illustrated by Mike Deas
Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 6-9
2018
Reviewed here

Meet Willie O'Ree (Scholastic Canada Biography)
Written by Elizabeth McLeod
Illustrated by Mike Deas
Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 6-9
2020

P.K. Subban: Fighting racism to become a hockey superstar and role model for athletes of colour (Recordbooks)
Written by Catherine Rondina
Lorimer
160 pp.
Ages 9-14
2020

Novels in verse: Updating a great booklist

Recently I've had multiple requests from readers asking about novels in verse, a genre which is becoming more plentiful but which still isn't recognized as it should be. I had put together a post over six and a half years ago about youngCanLit written in free verse (see that original post here) and listed 12 titles. In a few short years, that list has more than doubled. I'm pleased to share with you this updated book list of one of my favourite genres, the novel written in free verse style.  Enjoy!

Ann and Seamus
Written by Kevin Major
Groundwood Books
108 pp.
Ages 13+
2003

The Apprentice's Masterpiece: A Story of Medieval Spain
Written by Melanie Little
Annick Press
310 pp.
Ages 12+
2009

Audacious
Written by Gabrielle Prendergast
Orca Book Publishers
336 pp.
Ages 14+
2013

Burn
Written by Alma Fullerton
Dancing Cat Books
255 pp.
Ages 10-14
2010

Capricious
Written by Gabrielle Prendergast
Orca Book Publishers
352 pp.
Ages 14+
2014

Closing Down Heaven
Written by Lesley Choyce
Red Deer Press
176 pp.
Ages 12-17
2016
Reviewed here

Counting Back from Nine
Written by Valerie Sherrard
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
198 pp.
Ages 14+
2013
Reviewed here

The Crazy Man
Written by Pamela Porter
Groundwood Books
214 pp.
Ages 8-12
2005

Ebb and Flow
Written by Heather Smith
Kids Can Press
232 pp.
Ages 9-12
2018
Reviewed here

The Gospel Truth
Written by Caroline Pignat
Red Deer Press
328 pp.
Ages 12+
2014
Reviewed here

I’ll be Watching
Written by Pamela Porter
Groundwood Books
280 pp.
Ages 12+
2011
Reviewed here

In The Garage
Written by Alma Fullerton
Red Deer Press
112 pp.
Ages 12+
2006

Jeremy Stone
Written by Lesley Choyce
Red Deer Press
184 pp.
Ages 14-18
2013
Reviewed here

Karma                                  
Written by Cathy Ostlere
Razorbill
544 pp.
Ages 12+
2011

Libertad                               
Written by Alma Fullerton
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
211 pp.
Ages 9-14
2008

Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess
Written by Shari Green
Pajama Press
240 pp.
Ages 8-12
2017
Reviewed here

Missing Mike
Written by Shari Green
Pajama Press
248 pp.
Ages 8-12
2018
Reviewed here

My Book of Life by Angel
Written by Martine Leavitt
Groundwood Books
246 pp.
Ages 14+
2012
Reviewed here

Nix Minus One
Written by Jill MacLean
Pajama Press
296 pp.
Ages 12+
2013
Reviewed here

Prince Puggly of Spud and the Kingdom of Spiff
Written by Robert Paul Weston
Illustrated by Victor Rivas Villa
Puffin
207 pp.
Ages 8-12
2013
Reviewed here

Root Beer Candy and Other Miracles
Written by Shari Green
Pajama Press
240 pp.
Ages 8-12
2016
Reviewed here

Stay
Written by Katherine Lawrence
Coteau Books
128 pp.
Ages 9+
2017
Reviewed here

Walking on Glass
Written by Alma Fullerton
HarperCollins Canada
144 pp.
Ages 14+
2006

Wolf Pack of the Winisk River                                        
Written by Paul Brown
Lobster Press
192 pp.
Ages 12+
2009 

Yellow Mini
Written by Lori Weber
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
234 pp.
Ages 13+
2011

Zorgamazoo
Written by Robert Paul Weston
Razorbill
169 pp.
Ages 9-13
2008