Before High School: 7 Books Every Black Middle Schooler Should Read
- welitacademy
- Mar 1
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 1
Black History Month is a starting point — not the finish line.
Culturally relevant reading materials should be in our children’s hands all year long. When students regularly see themselves reflected in the stories they read, it shapes how they see their possibilities in the real world. Books that center Black voices, experiences, brilliance, and resilience help normalize Black excellence, deepen historical understanding, and build a sense of belonging in academic spaces.
Representation isn’t “extra.” It’s essential.
At We Lit Academy, we believe every child should enter high school with a strong foundation in:
• Black history• cultural identity• reading confidence• critical thinking
And that foundation begins with books.
Students who read books that reflect their identity show:
Higher engagement and motivation to read
Stronger reading stamina and comprehension
Increased academic confidence
Deeper critical thinking skills
Greater pride in their cultural heritage
Build a Home Library That Reflects Your Child
A strong home library:
improves reading levels
supports emotional development
prepares students for academic success
Start building your child’s legacy through books today.
Below are 7 powerful books every middle schooler should consider reading before high school — stories that challenge, affirm, educate, and empower.
1. Stamped (For Kids) by Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi
A kid-friendly adaptation of Stamped from the Beginning that explores racism’s roots and how to think critically about history and the present.
2. Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy
Young people have the power to affect sweeping change, and the key to mending the racial divide in America lies in giving them the tools to ask honest questions and take in the difficult answers
2A. I Am, I Can, I Will
Bold statements, compelling quotes, and thoughtful prompts lead young Black girls on a journey of ancestral wisdom and self-discovery in this beautifully illustrated guided journal.
I AM a voice for my people. I CAN create my own opportunities. I WILL live with hope.
3. Hidden Figures (Young Readers’ Edition) by Margot Lee Shetterly
The inspiring true story of Black women mathematicians at NASA whose work helped send astronauts into space — celebrates brilliance and perseverance.
4. What Color Is My World?: The Lost History of African-American Inventors by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Raymond Obstfeld
Fun and informative, this book introduces kids to little-known Black inventors, fostering curiosity, pride, and a sense of legacy.
5. And We Rise
A powerful, impactful, eye-opening journey that explores through the Civil Rights Movement in 1950s-1960s America in spare and evocative verse, with historical photos interspersed throughout.
6. Have I Ever Told You Black Lives Matter
Black lives matter. That message would be self-evident in a just world, but in this world and this America, all children need to hear it again and again, and not just to hear it but to feel and know it.
7. Black History Is Your History
This book is a joyful celebration of Black historymakers, and you’re invited to the party. Come on in and let these twelve true stories inspire you to make history of your own!
These are not just stories — they are tools for educational empowerment.
Black History Month reminds us of the importance of these stories — but our commitment to culturally relevant literacy must extend beyond February.
Because when children see themselves in books, they don’t just become better readers.
They become more confident thinkers.Stronger writers.Proud historians of their own stories.
And that changes everything.
Don’t wait for schools to introduce these stories to your child (they won't).
Make them part of your child’s everyday reading life.
When you shop with We Lit Academy:
📚 you support a Black-owned literacy initiative
🚌 you help fund mobile book access through the Lit Bus
🖤 you put books into the hands of children
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