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Black History Is Your History

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From TikTok star and creator of Fast Black History Taylor Cassidy comes a witty, lightly illustrated nonfiction debut that blends history and memoir in a joyful celebration of Black American historical figures.

Meet Taylor Cassidy, Black history enthusiast and creator of the viral TikTok series Fast Black History. In her debut book, Taylor takes readers on a journey through the Black history she wishes she was taught in school. With sparkling wit and humor—and lots of fun pop culture references—she paints a vibrant picture of twelve figures from Black history whose groundbreaking contributions shaped America as we know it today. Introducing icons from activists to literary giants, movie stars to Olympic gold medalists, fashion designers to astronauts, and more, this one-of-a-kind collection makes Black history relatable, relevant, and utterly irresistible.

Using Black history as inspiration, Taylor weaves together research and personal anecdotes that illuminate each trailblazer’s impact on her own life—as well as sharing plenty of triumphant, funny, and embarrassing moments from her past. From navigating friend breakups and unrequited crushes to setting boundaries and fighting self-doubt, Taylor’s been there…and she’s learned some valuable life lessons along the way.

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!

200 pages, Hardcover

Published October 14, 2025

4 people are currently reading
130 people want to read

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Taylor Cassidy

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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Lia Reads.
536 reviews462 followers
November 7, 2025
If all of my history classes were set up the same way as this book I would have learned more. This book was well thought out and I loved the variety of stories. Would highly recommend.
Profile Image for LiteraryMarie.
809 reviews58 followers
October 19, 2025
Black history enthusiast Taylor Cassidy wtote a book based on the TikTok series Fast Black History. Her videos are engaging, fun and informative. She is educating our community in quick reels that are easy to digest and addicting to watch. I appreciate Taylor Cassidy bringing awareness to our history and reaching over two million followers. Now she brings this same format to literary form.

Black History Is Your History features the stories of twelve (12) Black American historical figures. Some are familiar and others are lesser-known but just as impactful. In addition to the figures' narratives, Taylor shares stories from her own past and the lessons learned from them. Each chapter includes this section titled Taystory! Benjamin Banneker (And How to Never Shrink Yourself), Ledger Smith (And How to Find Confidence in Nerve-Racking Moments) and Maya Angelou (And Why Your Energy is Never Too Much) are just a few examples.

Black History Is Your History is recommended for readers of all ages. Younger readers will be able to connect with the author and hopefully draw upon their own experiences. Older readers can refresh their knowledge, learn about someone new and reflect. You know the clichés: when you know better, you do better; you have to know where you're from to know where you're going. Black History Is Your History is a good resource to help you. Add to your personal library!

Happy Early Pub Day, Taylor Cassidy! Black History Is Your History will be available Tuesday, October 14.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie
Profile Image for Kym's Open Books.
1,067 reviews2 followers
October 15, 2025
If my history classes were as fun as this book then I wouldn’t have hated history as a kid! I first learned to appreciate history through FICTION novels, but this book is NONFICTION with spunk!
Cassidy takes 12 people from Black History (Maya Angelou, Ida B. Wells and more) that have made an impact. Not only does she share their stories with charm and humor, she then relates their story to her own life. It doesn’t get more real than that and I appreciated her down-to-earth way of storytelling while keeping the story entertaining and interesting.
It was witty and personal and I wish more people could teach the way Cassidy taught me. I highly recommend this novel for everyone! This book is out today, thank you to @simonteen for the copies!
Profile Image for Paige (pagebypaigebooks).
467 reviews13 followers
November 18, 2025
“A world-changing legacy can be started at any age and last forever.”

I'd like to thank Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.

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Content Warnings: mention of racism, SA, murder, homophobia, ableism

This was a great read! I loved how Taylor Cassidy used a conversational tone to introduce and discuss each historical figure. It was very engaging and made the content more accessible to those who might not read non-fiction often. Another aspect I enjoyed was Taylor's personal contributions about her own life experiences and how she connects to each figure. This opened up some opportunities to discuss life lessons that I think many readers, both young and old, can relate to. There was a good mix of very well-known historical figures and those who often get overlooked. I appreciated how Taylor Cassidy not only discusses each person's accomplishments and actions, but also considers how they were feeling at the time and their motivations. I also loved the beautiful illustrations throughout the book! They were such a fun touch that further immersed me in each person's story. Overall, a great read for those looking to learn more about history in a conversational and accessible way!
Profile Image for Tye.
22 reviews2 followers
August 15, 2025
I received an eARC of Black History Is Your History from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book is a warm, conversational introduction to key figures and moments in Black history, told in a way that feels approachable for readers of all ages. I appreciated how Taylor Cassidy’s writing style makes the history feel like a friendly conversation rather than a textbook. It’s the kind of tone that invites you in and keeps you reading.

While some figures will be familiar to most readers, I definitely came across a few people whose stories were new to me—which is always exciting. Cassidy does a great job balancing well-known names with lesser-discussed individuals, ensuring that you walk away having learned something new.

This would be a great pick for readers who want a quick, engaging overview of Black history or for younger readers beginning to explore the topic. It’s digestible without being oversimplified, and it encourages curiosity beyond the page.

If you like your history told with warmth, accessibility, and a touch of personal voice, this is worth picking up.
Profile Image for Jay Guillory.
188 reviews4 followers
November 22, 2025
This was such an easy way to introduce younger folks to history, while also highlighting some little-known or known Black history figures! I would honestly get these for my younger nephews to help them understand Black History in a fun way. That would also connect them to it through Taylor's personal stories and fun commentary. Thank You Simon Teens for the ARC!
Profile Image for fanboyriot.
1,045 reviews15 followers
October 14, 2025

This was such a good read. Getting to learn about important people in history some I knew already but most of them I hadn’t heard of before.



I’m not the biggest nonfiction reader but books like this make the experience so much easier to learn rather than lose interest. The writing style felt like you were just having a conversation and I really enjoyed it. Plus all the illustrations were a nice touch.



Highly recommend this to everyone, there is such a personal touch to this book and the author even shared how each person mentioned impacted their life which I thought was really cool.



(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity.)



Read For
✓ Non-Fiction
✓ Illustrations
✓ Black History
✓ Good Writing Style
✓ Interesting Facts About History



⚠️ Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Classism



𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊



Pace: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Would I Recommend? Yes



Favorite Quote: ❝ When you have a choice between trying to make change or staying comfortable, choosing the latter can sometimes mean choosing silence. And nobody can silence me. ❞



Pages: 200
Format: ebook
Language: English
Release Date: 14, October 2025
Rep/Extras: racial diversity, queer diversity

Profile Image for Deirdre Megan Byrd.
519 reviews7 followers
May 4, 2025
Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This is a must read. Every child, every adult should read this. A quick way to learn about incredible people in Black history and done in a modern way.
Profile Image for Doreen.
3,244 reviews89 followers
October 27, 2025
10/26/2025 Did not expect to find such excellent self-help to go with the expectedly excellent Black history, but here we are! Full review tk at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.

10/27/2025 What I would give to have been as confident a teenager as Taylor Cassidy! As this book progresses, it becomes clear that good parenting played a huge role in raising such a well-adjusted, intellectually curious, boundlessly creative person who, in turn, wants to shine a bright, warm light for others to follow and be inspired by.

But this isn't about her parents, tho the book is definitely about her antecedents (and she does open the volume with a lovely dedication to her family and friends.) Not being on TikTok, I didn't know of Ms Cassidy before this book, but what an excellent book! Given everything happening in US politics right now, I definitely felt the need to read something that would help me push back against the truly diabolical whitewashing being put out by large sectors of government and media. Black History Is Your History is the perfect, accessible antidote to the bizarre idea that we're a country that doesn't benefit from diversity, equity and inclusion.

For her book, Ms Cassidy carefully selects twelve famous Black people who've represented the struggle for equal rights, representation and opportunity throughout US history. These aren't necessarily the most famous -- tho everyone has likely at least heard of Maya Angelou, or so I'd hope -- but do cover a broad spectrum, from Benjamin Banneker to Tommie Smith to Marsha P Johnson to Mae Jemison. Each person gets a biographical chapter that's presented in straightforward, lively language that highlights their accomplishments and important role in Black and American history.

Each of these chapters is interspersed with something called a Tay-Story. I was at first surprised by these interjections in the middle of each biography. Soon into reading the first one, however, I was hooked. Ms Cassidy takes the lessons of each famous person's life and relates them to events in her own, translating what can feel like a past episode set in stone into something visceral and breathing and very much akin to the struggles of our everyday lives. Think you're too young to effect meaningful change, for example? Claudette Colvin was only fifteen when she started making good trouble by refusing to give a white woman her seat on the bus. Sure, the Civil Rights movement ultimately felt that Rosa Parks was a more palatable/sympathetic figurehead for their bus boycotts, but this crucial fight in the courts -- and in the hearts and minds of the public -- was sparked by a teenager refusing to be seen as lesser because of her skin color.

The Tay-story in this chapter talks about how the author, feeling frustrated at the ignorance she faced in school regarding Black history, decided to make a series of TikTok videos on the subject. She, like Claudette, did not expect her actions to blow up the way they did, garnering national attention and catapulting her to fame while also upholding the twinned causes of truth and justice. Each of the following chapters continues in the same vein, to excellent effect. I was not only affected and inspired by the stories of these Black icons but also by how they affected and inspired her in turn.

Ms Cassidy is an engaging writer and gorgeous soul who deserves all the flowers for her commitment to being a force for good. Her debut book is a knockout, especially with illustrations by Adriana Bellet and the inclusion of the author's own personal photographs. I can't recommend this book highly enough, especially in these turbulent times.

Black History Is Your History by Taylor Cassidy was published October 14 2025 by Atheneum Books For Young Readers and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
Profile Image for Ann-Marie Herod.
64 reviews5 followers
October 8, 2025
I really enjoyed this one! Taylor Cassidy mixes personal and relatable stories with real lessons about our history in such an engaging way. I actually learned about people I didn’t know before, which I loved. This is definitely a book that belongs in schools and in homes with parents who want to teach their kids about Black history and the figures who often get overlooked. Reading this reminded me of that Sister, Sister episode where Tamera dreams she’s gone back in time and meets different historical figures, learning from each of them while tying those lessons back to her own life. That’s exactly how this book felt educational but still fun and inspiring.
Honestly, this would make such a great TV show or special. I’m also looking forward to diving into Taylor’s TikToks now I can already tell I’m about to go down a rabbit hole.
Profile Image for Lauren | TransportedLFL.
1,675 reviews41 followers
November 1, 2025
Thank you to Simon Teen for the advance reader copy and to Simon Audio and LibroFM for the free audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Though I expected this to be YA nonfiction, it read very young to me. I would recommend it for pre-teens who are interested in dipping their toes in learning about Black history.

I appreciated the choice of which figures to feature. They included an array of professions, and they varied greatly in how famous they were. The story is told in a conversational style with lots of fun and relatable jokes. The research isn't as deep as I would hope, so it's more of a starter pack towards history.

For me, the Taylor's Story bits added to contextualize the stories hit an off note and felt like they minimized the impact of the actual historical figures. I think this could have been much more powerful with a focus on history and no asides about high school crushes. That's part of why I would recommend it to pre-teens and middle grade students who are not yet interested in history. That audience might find it sparks their interest in the topic.
Profile Image for Anne Fiewig.
126 reviews5 followers
October 14, 2025
4.75 ⭐️

challenging, informative, emotional, inspiring, funny, hopeful, medium-paced

Thank you so so much to Simon Teen for sending me an eARC for an honest review!
I have to start by saying I am not usually a nonfiction reader but l ate this book up! I loved the mix between the historical figures and the additions from the author.
It made the subject of history so much more accessible and interesting to me.
I was so excited to put together that I had already followed Taylor Cassidy on TikTok and love her Fast Black History series. She is so passionate about black history that it inspires others to invest in it the same way.
This was such a joy to read and a proper call out as a teacher to include black history all year long!
Thank you so much again to Simon Teen!
Profile Image for Vnunez-Ms_luv2read.
899 reviews27 followers
November 27, 2025
I really enjoyed this book!!! I loved the way the author gave you insight on various people that one may not have had knowledge of as I agree with her sentiment as far as not enough Black History is provided in our education system. As an African American female, who loves her culture and history, I was very proud to have read this book. I will be giving this book out for Christmas gifts. Oh, and her inclusion of events and memories from her experiences was an added bonus. This book should be a must read for all people. It teaches in a comforting way. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of the book. Receiving this book in this manner, had no bearing on my review.
Profile Image for Jaynelle Dessirae.
230 reviews10 followers
July 22, 2025
Thank you to the publisher for an eARC to read and review.

This was such fun way to have kids learn about different historical figures, and I looked up the authors "Fast Black History" videos which are so well done.

I think this would be a great tool in a history classroom or for kids to read at home on their own time. The tie in with how the historical figures stories impact will make the stories from the past more relatable to the people that read this book and it personifies someone who may not be alive anymore.

I definitely learned some things while reading!
Profile Image for The Library Lass.
109 reviews23 followers
October 12, 2025
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Simon Teen for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

This is a must-read for every teenager. Throughout this book, Taylor has shown an absolute talent for educating readers while also being entertaining and relatable. "Black History is Your History" sheds light on some of the Black individuals in history who, despite their impact are often left out of your average school history lesson. Through each of their stories, Taylor also shares some of her own experiences and challenges readers to think of what they, too, can learn from these historic figures.
Profile Image for Cristy (Quinnbook).
183 reviews8 followers
October 14, 2025
I normally don’t read a lot of non fiction, but I am so glad I read this. So happy to get to know the author by reading her book, Taylor Cassidy has created an incredible book that focuses on many amazing pioneers that broke boundaries and paved the road to future generations. From activists to movie stars and Olympic medalists.

The illustrations were so amazing and love seeing Taylor’s inspirational pages to her readers. It made learning about these amazing figures in a modern and fun way. I highly recommend for anyone that is looking to learn more about Taylor’s mission to educate and inspire the public.
Profile Image for Tia Morgan.
131 reviews2 followers
November 21, 2025
This book was perfect My daughter is 8 and we thoroughly enjoyed reading it together. I was particularly impressed by the author's inclusion of less known figures in Black history. If you're looking for an interesting and educational book to share with young children, this is a great choice. The dialogue is funny and it is age appropriate,. We will be adding this one to our home library. Thank you to Simon & Schuster for this Reader Copy all opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Laurenlovesstories .
117 reviews2 followers
October 15, 2025
Thank you Simon Teen and NetGalley for the eARC and physical copy! I really enjoyed how Taylor put her spin on black history while giving us facts. It was so enjoyable to read and really enjoyed the taystory as well!! If you enjoy bite sized reads with a modern style of history telling, this is the read for that.
788 reviews9 followers
November 4, 2025
Black History is Your History
Taylor Cassidy
The author is a TikTok creator who makes popular Black History videos. Her short, lively pieces about noteworthy Black Americans each contain sections that she calls “personal impact,” describing how the struggle and triumphs of each person she profiled impacted her life. Lively and fun! EARC from Edelweiss.
Profile Image for Christine Reads.
595 reviews35 followers
December 10, 2025
📰Black History is Your History📰
.
Emphasis on the YOUR to my fellow white people! This collection of important black figures and people is sure to include someone I bet you've never heard of but who made an impact on what you know today! The amount of research and work put into this is exceptional and I love the formatting for a younger audience! This is perfect for any teen or young adult too!
Profile Image for Lyssa Smith.
405 reviews7 followers
November 22, 2025
This book would be a perfect introduction to Black History for younger readers. Not only does Cassidy introduce important figures (both familiar and lesser-known), she also relates the struggles of history to the issues that current teenagers face in vulnerable, realistic ways.
Profile Image for Brittany.
1,099 reviews37 followers
Read
December 11, 2025
I actually was living under a rock apparently because Taylor Cassidy and her series "Fast Black History" has 2.2 million followers on TikTok, and this was my introduction to her. I would highly recommend this accessible, quick read to educators and parents!!!
Profile Image for Amari.
113 reviews
December 24, 2025
Love that this exists. The stories were engaging and very diverse. The way of writing was very accessible. I didn't connect at all the Taystory parts and mostly skipped those. That might be different for younger readers though.
Profile Image for ⋆.˚.
11 reviews1 follower
August 6, 2025
this is such a fun, quick and great way for anyone and everyone to learn more about black history, thank you netgalley and the publisher for providing me this arc. <3
11 reviews
November 11, 2025
Who knew?
Short stories about black history. The author made it "fun" by infusing her vivacious personality.

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