This Black History Month, amidst bans targeting books about POC, it’s even more important to read diverse books. I hope you check out some of these whimsical, powerful middle grade fantasy novels by Black authors!

Eden’s Everdark by Karen Strong

Eden has never been to Safina Island, the place where her mother’s family set up a life for themselves after slavery. But when Eden’s mother dies, meeting her long-lost family is just what she thinks she needs. 

On Safina Island, Eden finds a warm and welcoming extended family, a rich history, and a place that could, maybe, heal her grief. But when she encounters a mysterious sketchbook of her mother’s in a closet, full of dark and morbid illustrations, Eden starts having strange dreams of an eerie nighttime world that mirrors Safina Island. And one day, Eden follows a black cat into the forest and falls into a cut in the daylight. She is in Everdark, a land where spirits wait to move on to the afterlife and the sun never rises. 

Eden is soon taken in by the Witch of Everdark, who promises to make Eden her daughter for all of eternity. As Eden searches for a way to escape the witch’s mansion, she finds that all is not right in this lonesome world. Rot crawls across the mansion walls, and the Witch rules the other spirits with her powerful magic. Will Eden be able to escape Everdark, and save the other spirits from the Witch’s magic, before it’s too late?

Ophie’s Ghosts by Justina Ireland

Ophelia’s life is in turmoil. She and her mother are uprooted from their happy life in Georgia when a horrible act of racism takes her father away from her. Now it’s no longer safe to stay in Georgia, so Ophie and her mother have to move to Pittsburgh, the steel city, to find work and lodging with relatives.

But as she enters Pittsburgh, Ophie learns that she has a special power. She can see ghosts.

Keeping this secret from her mother is hard, especially since Daffodil Manor, the mansion where Ophie and her mother have found work serving a wealthy white family, is filled to the brim with ghosts. These ghosts, and one of them in particular, are waiting on earth for their purpose to be fulfilled. And they think it’s Ophie’s duty to help them.

The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste

Corinne La Mer doesn’t believe in jumbies, Caribbean trickster spirits. But one day in the forest, a pair of yellow eyes shine out from between the trees. And the next day, a beautiful stranger appears at the marketplace. The stranger, Severine, takes an interest in Corinne and her father, but Corinne knows she isn’t trustworthy. And she’s right: Severine is a jumbie in human form, with the goal of taking over the whole island for the jumbies. It’s up to Corinne to save her island home from these demons.

The Fall of the House of Tatterly by Shanna Miles

Theo Tatterly can see ghosts. This isn’t so unusual in his magical family, where ghost ancestors slip through the walls of the House of Tatterly and Theo’s aunts have telekinetic and premonition magic. But after a disturbing supernatural encounter at the aquarium, Theo and his cousin Issa are thrust into a fight to keep their home–and their lives.

Root Magic by Eden Royce

1963 is a monumental year for Jezebel Turner and her family. Jez and her twin brother Jay’s beloved grandmother passes away, leaving a legacy of root magic for her grandchildren to follow. As Jez and Jay navigate the intricacies of their family’s ancestral magic, they must also face the aggression of local police, who are suspicious of the Turners’ rootwork. Learning root magic may be the difference between safety and peril for the Turners.

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston

When Amari discovers a mysterious briefcase in her brother’s closet, with a nomination to try out for summer camp at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, she knows this is the key to finding out where her brother went. She never stopped believing he was alive, even when everyone else did. First, though, she has to compete for a spot at this supernatural summer camp–and get used to the idea of fairies, spirits, and magicians. 

But the first tryout reveals that Amari is much more powerful than she or anyone else could have imagined. This turns her classmates against her as she struggles through the difficult trials of the camp. And with an evil magician on the loose, and the supernatural world in confusion, Amari never loses her determination to find her brother…even when things get a little more complicated than ever. 

If you liked this post, you may enjoy Fantasy Middle Grade by Asian Authors!