She Who Knows by Nnedi Okorafor

4 stars A fantastically crafted story. Najeeba has heard the Call and knows it is time to travel the Salt Roads. But only men and boys are supposed to experience the Call. Follow Najeeba on her unprecedented journey beyond her home to travel the Salt Roads with her father and brothers, change her family’s prospects,…

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Naming Ceremony by Seina Wedlick

Illustrated by Jenin Mohammed 5 stars A beautiful story celebrating new life and special connections. Amira is excited for her baby sister’s naming ceremony. But as her friends and family arrive, she worries the name she’s chosen isn’t special enough. Soon baby sister will wake and the naming ceremony will begin. Will Amira be ready…

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The Girl Who Married a Skull and Other African Stories

3 stars I recently read The Woman in the Woods and Other North American Stories and absolutely loved it. So, I thought I’d read some of the earlier collections in the series. What I loved about The Woman in the Woods is that it showcases a variety of indigenous authors and artists. As far as I can…

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Myths and Legends of Africa by Scott A. Leonard

4 stars A nice introduction to African myths and legends. There are 11 stories included in total that range from 1 to 4 pages. Photographs of various elements associated with the story are paired with each. I especially liked that the book isn’t just a collection of stories with no context. After each story, there…

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Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo”

by Zora Neale Hurston Edited by Deborah G. Plant Forward by Alice Walker 5 stars An incredible read. Barracoon not only tells Cudjo Lewis’ story in his own words, but also the story of how Hurston’s relationship with him grew and the history of the book’s publication. About half of the book comes directly from…

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