Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America is a 2019 young adult anthology edited by Ibi Zoboi. The fictional stories are all written by Black authors and "explor[e] black interconnectedness, traditions, and identity in terms of how they apply to black teens".[1] Common themes include Black identity, sexual awakening, and teenage worries.[2]
.jpg) First edition book cover | |
| Editor | Ibi Zoboi |
|---|---|
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
Publication date | January 8, 2019 |
| ISBN | 9780062698742 |
Contents
edit- "Introduction" by Ibi Zoboi
- "Half a Moon" by Renée Watson
- "Black Enough" by Varian Johnson
- "Warning: Color May Fade" by Leah Henderson
- "Black. Nerd. Problems." by Lamar Giles
- "Out of the Silence" by Kekla Magoon
- "The Ingredients" by Jason Reynolds
- "Oreo" by Brandy Colbert
- "Samson and the Delilahs" by Tochi Onyebuchi
- "Stop Playing" by Liara Tamani
- "Wild Horses, Wild Hearts" by Jay Coles
- "Whoa!" by Rita Williams-Garcia
- "Gravity" by Tracey Baptiste
- "The Trouble with Drowning" by Dhonielle Clayton
- "Kissing Sarah Smart" by Justina Ireland
- "Hackathon Summers" by Coe Booth
- "Into the Starlight" by Nic Stone
- "The (R)Evolution of Nigeria Jones" by Ibi Zoboi
Reception
editBlack Enough received starred reviews from Booklist,[3] Kirkus Reviews,[1] and Publishers Weekly.[2]
Booklist's Enishia Davenport highlighted how the anthology "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."[3]
Similarly, Kirkus Reviews said the book is "nuanced and necessary" and referred to it as "a breath of fresh air and a sigh of long overdue relief". They highlighted its "fully human" characters while noting that "the presence of trans, Afro-Latinx, and physically disabled characters is missed".[1]
Publishers Weekly said, "The stories, all worth savoring, share a celebratory outlook on black teenagers fully and courageously embracing life".[2]
Mary Quattlebaum, writing for The Washington Post, also reviewed the anthology.[4]
Honors
editIn 2019, Booklist included Black Enough on their top ten list of "Diverse Fiction for Youth".[5] The following year, the Young Adult Library Services Association included it on their Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults and Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers lists.[6][7]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Black Enough". Kirkus Reviews. October 14, 2018. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Black Enough: Stories of Being Young and Black in America by Tracey Baptiste (et al.)". Publishers Weekly. October 22, 2018. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- ^ a b Davenport, Enishia (November 1, 2018). "Black Enough". Booklist. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ Quattlebaum, Mary (January 10, 2019). "How does it feel to be young and black in America? A new book offers a glimpse". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
- ^ Cooper, Ilene (February 1, 2019). "Top 10 Diverse Fiction for Youth: 2019". Booklist. Archived from the original on September 9, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ "2020 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 2020-01-06. Archived from the original on 2022-10-05. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ "2020 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 2020-01-07. Archived from the original on 2023-11-20. Retrieved December 18, 2023.