Black Boy Joy

Celebrate the joys of Black boyhood with stories from seventeen bestselling, critically acclaimed Black authors—including Jason Reynolds, Jerry Craft, and Kwame Mbalia!

Black boy joy is…
 
Picking out a fresh first-day-of-school outfit.
Saving the universe in an epic intergalactic race.
Finding your voice—and your rhymes—during tough times.
Flying on your skateboard like nobody’s watching.
 
And more! From seventeen acclaimed Black male and non-binary authors comes a vibrant collection of stories, comics, and poems about the power of joy and the wonders of Black boyhood.
 

“From stories to poetry and comics, Black Boy Joy has something for every type of reader.”—The New York Times Book Review

★ ”Luminous . . . Filtering perennial subjects such as friendships, gender identity, and family through the lenses of magic, science, space travel, superheroes, and more, this is an exuberant celebration of carefree Black experiences; while it will especially resonate with Black readers, any reader will appreciate how this genre-bending collection expands the horizons of what joy for Black boys can be.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ ”This book is a must-have in every collection for its variety of topics and its celebration of Black boyhood in all its forms.”—School Library Journal, starred review

★ ”In a world where Black boys’ stories are often tragedies, statistics, and stereotypes, this work surely reclaims ownership over the boldness, creativity, and wholeness they possess.” —Booklist, starred review

★ “Some are humorous, some are poignant, but all are compelling reading… A unique, timely, and necessary read.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ “This anthology for middle-graders is beautifully and unapologetically written, allowing anyone, regardless of age, sex or race, to feel a sense of pride and joy in being true to themselves.”—Shelf Awareness, starred review