Because I love books, I wanted to share a few books that have stuck with me over the years. These are books that, for whatever reason, I haven't been able to forget. I recognize that one of the books I discuss contains problematic topics. I will briefly discuss any problematic topics within this recommendation and also know that it goes much deeper than what I’ve written below.

Promise of Shadows

Promise of Shadows is a young adult fantasy novel written by Justina Ireland and published in 2014. The story follows Zephyr Mourning, a Harpy who very reluctantly gets thrown into her destiny. Ireland mixes Greek mythology with relevant, contemporary themes and does it with ease and grace. The novel is dark, contains well-written sly humor, delivers excellent action, and even a touch of romance! It satisfied all my YA needs.

Zephyr was a super relatable character for me at the time. This book left such a lasting impression on me--it was my first black girl book. It was the first book I read where the black girl was the hero. And Zephyr was black, visibly; I distinctly remember a scene where one character was greasing another character’s scalp. That was a wholly black experience. It brought me joy that I couldn’t contain. I felt seen for the first time.

I know that every black girl who reads has had this experience, and it’s one that...Read More