Three amazing kids books from Black authors
Up Above The City by Clare Weze (ages 9+)
Jake has to go into work with his mum during the school holidays. Sitting in the staff room he's bored and lonely when he spots a mysterious girl reflected in the window. And the girl has an incredible secret that will pull Jake into the world above and below London's streets as dangerous forces close in. This is an original look at refugee communities through a strange labyrinthine world above the city of London. It blends complex social topics and infuses them with an element of the extraordinary. I loved the hidden version of London that it creates, along with an enigmatic cat, a powerful friendship between the two central characters and some brilliant use of science.
[AD|PR GIFTED]
Dead Yard: Seeds of Doom by P.J. Killburn (ages 8+)
Jermaine is an aspiring film-maker trying to finish his entry for a competition. When he steals a patty before midnight at his great great-great-uncle’s Nine Night celebration (also know as Dead Yard), his uncle Carl’s ghost becomes tethered to him. And they don’t get on. To make matters worse, kids all over the neighbourhood are falling sick, and there’s a bunch of cursed cassava seeds on the loose.
I love a spooky middle-grade book and I’m also a huge fan of Jamaican folktales and this is a great combination of the two, with a West London setting. It’s full of Caribbean culture from the dead yard celebrations and delicious food to the curse that starts to plague Shepherd’s Bush. Jermaine and his uncle Carl are a great antagonistic pair at the centre of this story, fighting and arguing as Jermaine tries to figure out what’s going on. There’s a great supporting cast of relatives, neighbours, annoying sisters and a sinister, cloaked man staying at the Premier Inn to keep things interesting. It’s full of mystery, friendships, duppies and the living and the dead coming together to save their neighbourhood. Perfect for the spooky season.
[AD|PR GIFTED]
Running My Own Race by Abena Eyeson (ages 9+)
Kofi’s mum is determined he’s going to be ‘somebody,’ telling everyone and the local paper when he’s given a place at a prestigious private school. Kofi just wants to run and dreams of being a professional athlete – but with the pressure mounting from those around him, and a rival at school, finding his path will be far from easy.
I loved this story, and for someone who doesn’t usually gravitate to sports-led books, I enjoyed the running element, but there’s a bigger, richer narrative around it. Kofi is a hugely likeable protagonist and you’re with him as he tries to stand up to his wonderfully extra mum, and through his struggles to find his place in his new posh private school. There's a whole community supporting him, but that comes with built-in pressure for him to succeed. There’s great representation of male friendships, supportive sibling dynamics and some sharp commentary around bullying and racism in his relationship with a rival at school. It also does a great job of leaning into the stereotype of Black kids being good at running but managing to make Kofi’s achievements and dreams go far beyond that one-note narrative. It’s a hugely compelling and engaging read that I devoured in about two days.
AD|PR GIFTED