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Black Enough

Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

Edited by National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi, and featuring some of the most acclaimed bestselling Black authors writing for teens today—Black Enough is an essential collection of captivating stories about what it's like to be young and Black in America. A selection of the Schomburg Center's Black Liberation Reading List.

Black is...sisters navigating their relationship at summer camp in Portland, Oregon, as written by Renée Watson.

Black is...three friends walking back from the community pool talking about nothing and everything, in a story by Jason Reynolds.

Black is...Nic Stone's high-class beauty dating a boy her momma would never approve of.

Black is...two girls kissing in Justina Ireland's story set in Maryland.

Black is urban and rural, wealthy and poor, mixed race, immigrants, and more—because there are countless ways to be Black enough.

Contributors:
Justina Ireland
Varian Johnson
Rita Williams-Garcia
Dhonielle Clayton
Kekla Magoon
Leah Henderson
Tochi Onyebuchi
Jason Reynolds
Nic Stone
Liara Tamani
Renée Watson
Tracey Baptiste
Coe Booth
Brandy Colbert
Jay Coles
Ibi Zoboi
Lamar Giles

  • Creators

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  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from October 22, 2018
      This collection of 17 original stories is written by contemporary black authors who explore “teens examining, rebelling against, embracing, or simply existing within their own idea of blackness.” The tales offer a wide array of perspectives and thoughtful reflections on black teenagers’ experiences, with pervading themes that include black identity (Varian Johnson’s “Black Enough”), sexual awakening (Justina Ireland’s “Kissing Sarah Smart”), and teenage worries. The stories, all worth savoring, share a celebratory outlook on black teenagers fully and courageously embracing life. Ages 13–up.

    • School Library Journal

      Starred review from November 1, 2018

      Gr 9 Up-A compilation of short stories that offers unique perspectives on what it means to be young and black in America today. Each entry is deftly woven and full of such complex humanity that teens will identify with and see some of their own struggles in these characters. In Leah Henderson's "Warning: Color May Fade," a prep school girl examines the cost of being and remaining invisible in a world carefully crafted to exclude her. Two girls take the peer pressure of naked selfies and turn it on its head in "Girl, Stop Playing" by Liara Tamani. A group of young black boys dream up food creations heavily influenced by the flavors of other cultures in "The Ingredients" by Jason Reynolds. This collection presents the beauty of black humanity in all its many forms. The teens in these tales are dealing with mental health issues, complicated family dynamics, sexuality and gender constraints, and being part of a marginalized group. The entries offer a rich tableau of the black teen diaspora in an accessible way. VERDICT A great volume for all libraries serving young adults.-Desiree Thomas, Worthington Library, OH

      Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Kirkus

      Starred review from November 1, 2018
      A diverse and compelling fiction anthology that taps 17 established, rising star, and new #ownvoices talents.Editor Zoboi (Pride, 2018, etc.) lays out the collection's purpose: exploring black interconnectedness, traditions, and identity in terms of how they apply to black teens. Given that scope, that most stories are contemporary realistic fiction makes sense (Rita Williams-Garcia's humorous "Whoa!" which dips into the waters of speculative fiction, is a notable exception). Conversely, the characters are incredibly varied, as are the narrative styles. Standouts include the elegant simplicity of Jason Reynolds' "The Ingredients," about a group of boys walking home from the swimming pool; Leah Henderson's "Warning: Color May Fade," about an artist afraid to express herself; the immediacy of Tracey Baptiste's "Gravity," about a #MeToo moment of self-actualization birthed from violation; Renee Watson's reflection on family in "Half a Moon"; and the collection's namesake, Varian Johnson's "Black Enough," which highlights the paradigm shift that is getting woke. In these stories, black kids are nerds and geeks, gay and lesbian, first gen and immigrants, outdoorsy and artists, conflicted and confused, grieving and succeeding, thriving and surviving--in short, they're fully human. No collection could represent the entire spectrum of blackness, however, the presence of trans, Afro-Latinx, and physically disabled characters is missed: a clarion call for more authentic black-centric collections.A breath of fresh air and a sigh of long overdue relief. Nuanced and necessary. (contributor biographies) (Anthology. 12-18)

      COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      The vocal dream team of Bahni Turpin and Ron Butler delivers a poignant, funny, and ambitious YA anthology in which the brightest stars in YA fiction showcase a variety of black American teen experiences. Turpin confidently takes on the female-driven stories, while Butler settles in with the male points of view. Settings include camping trips, disastrous parties, and family reunions, and each story features a moment of triumph and self-realization. Listeners will find themselves dropped into the lives of teens who are rendered lifelike by the wealth of talent the narrators bring to the production. Together, Turpin and Butler are more than enough for this must-listen collection. J.E.C. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
    • Booklist

      Starred review from November 1, 2018
      Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* What is it like to be young and black, and yet not black enough at the same time? That's the question explored in this poignant collection of stunning short stories by black rock-star authors, including Justina Ireland, Jason Reynolds, Nic Stone, and Brandy Colbert. The stories center on the experience of black teens, while driving home the fact that they are not a monolith; one person's experiences, reality, and personal identity can be completely different from another's. Family, friends, belonging, isolation, classism, and romance are among the topics that take center stage, and the stories' teens come from a diverse array of backgrounds (e.g., economic, neighborhood, country of origin). Readers glimpse the struggles, achievements, heartaches, and joys of a host of black teens who are authentically and lovingly portrayed. From the kid with two black parents to the mixed-race kid with one black parent, all of the characters grapple with the heart-wrenching question most real-life black teens struggle with (and never should need to): Am I black enough? The additional magic of this collection is that it shirks off the literary world's tired obsession with only depicting the struggles of black teens. With this, readers see everyday struggles as well as the ordinary yet remarkable joys of black teens that have nothing to do with the trauma of their history.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • ATOS Level:5.1
  • Interest Level:9-12(UG)
  • Text Difficulty:3-4

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