It’s been said that you can tell a lot about a person by how they write, which is why we’ve got our eyes on Black authors who’ve come out of the gate swinging with their introduction to the literary world.
Let’s shine a light on first-time Black authors whose debut books not only delivered powerful storytelling but also cultural depth across fiction, memoirs and genre storytelling, with stories that are certified page-turners.
‘Blood at the Root’ by LaDarrion Williams
For his debut, LaDarrion Williams brings readers into the world of Malik, a teenager on the run from his past who finds the family he never knew existed through an HBCU community. A fresh fantasy series, this story turns trauma and pain into a fantastical ride sure to help readers realize the magic within them that can pull them out of any situation.
‘The Fantasies of Future Things’ by Doug Jones
A glimpse into the past, Doug Jones explores two Atlanta men as they navigate grappling with their human dignity and the cost of professional ambitions while working for a real estate development company that is displacing Black residents to prepare for the 1996 Olympics.
‘The Grand Scheme of Things’ by Warona Jay
In this satirical debut novel, Warona Jay pens the story of two unlikely friends who conspire to expose racism in the London theater world by submitting a Black playwright’s script under a white man’s name. Chaos ensues through an entertaining journey of ambition, identity and institutional bias.
‘Great Black Hope’ by Rob Franklin
In Rob Franklin’s gripping debut, a glittering story about what it means to exist between worlds, to keep the faith in the midst of spiraling downward and to find the path back to hope. Centered on a Black man stuck between worlds of race and class, where glamorous parties turn to the walls of a jail cell and the mystery behind his friend’s death.
‘Grown Women’ by Sarai Johnson
Sarai Johnson holds nothing back in this stunning debut novel that puts trauma on full display through a multi-generational family, following four generations of Black women as they contend with motherhood, daughterhood, lies and everything in between.
‘Little Movements’ by Lauren Morrow
The Minneapolis Star Tribune called Lauren Morrow’s debut novel “smart, incisive, and hilarious.” A story about a Black woman who finally receives the chance to pursue her dream of becoming a renowned choreographer, Little Movements poses the question of what price do you pay to make your dreams come true?
‘My Sister, the Serial Killer’ by Oyinkan Braithwaite
One of Time magazine’s 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All Time, Oyinkan Braithwaite’s debut novel is dark, yet funny, moving at lightning speed, with Marie Claire dubbing it the “most fun murder party you’ve ever been invited to.”
‘Nightcrawling’ by Leila Mottley
A critically acclaimed debut novel from Leila Mottley, Nightcrawling follows 17-year-old Kiara Johnson, who turns to sex work in the streets of Oakland as a means of survival. Instead, she finds herself entangled in a police corruption scandal. This page-turner is rooted in themes of sexual exploitation, police brutality, poverty and resilience.
‘Rosewater’ by Liv Little
Founder of gal-dem, an English online and print magazine run by women of color up until 2023, Liv Little uses her debut novel to tell the story of Elsie, a sexy, funny and fiercely independent woman whose life is in turmoil as she attempts to make her dreams of becoming a poet come true.
‘Swift River’ by Essie Chambers
Set in the summer of 1987, in Swift River, Essie Chambers brings character Diamond Newberry to life as she navigates life following her pop’s disappearance. This is supposed to be the year that her Ma can declare Pop legally dead in an effort to collect his life insurance money and hit the restart button on life, getting their house back from the bank and moving on with life. Instead, she receives a letter from a relative that she’s never met, which uncovers key elements of her father’s life while simultaneously changing the course of hers.
The post 10 Debut Novels By Black Authors That Are Certified Page-Turners appeared first on Blavity.
