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I’ve always loved historical fiction – it’s such a beautiful way to experience the past.
What I enjoy the most is how these books not only tell great stories but also teach you about history.
It’s so easy to get lost in the characters and their worlds, especially when the story feels so real and connected to actual events.
The books I’m sharing today are ones I’ve read and really enjoyed, and I feel like they’re perfect for Black History Month.
Every book on this list has a Black protagonist or deals with experiences tied to Black identity.
Some focus more directly on Black identity, while others just feel deeply connected to it.
Either way, these books are rich, interesting, and definitely worth reading!
1. Saving Savannah by Tonya Bolden
Savannah is an African-American girl growing up in an upper-class family in Washington D.C. in the early 1900s.
While her family enjoys privilege, Savannah feels trapped by society’s expectations.
When she meets Nell, a working-class girl who introduces her to the suffragette and socialist movements, Savannah finds the courage to fight for change.
This one is a heartfelt story about personal growth and discovering your own voice.
2. Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
This gripping and emotional story follows Pheby Brown, who was promised freedom on her 18th birthday.
But when that day arrives, instead of a joyful future, she finds herself in the Devil’s Half-Acre – a notorious slave jail in Virginia.
Forced into a horrible situation, Pheby’s fight for love and freedom is a powerful journey through unimaginable choices.
3. Island Queen by Vanessa Riley
Based on a true story, this novel follows Dorothy “Doll” Kirwan Thomas, a free woman of color who rises from slavery to become one of the wealthiest women in the colonial West Indies.
Through hard work and determination, Doll builds an empire and defies all odds and living life on her own terms.
It’s an inspiring tale of strength and survival against the backdrop of colonialism.
4. Copper Sun by Sharon M. Draper
Amari’s life is torn apart when slave traders destroy her village.
At just 15, she’s taken on a slave ship to the Carolinas, where she becomes a plantation slave.
Yet, amid all the tragedy, Amari’s hope shines through.
Along with Polly, an indentured servant, she embarks on a dangerous journey to find freedom.
5. The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell
In this debut novel, we follow three families over multiple generations in Zambia.
It starts with a mistake made in 1904 that sets off a long cycle of fate for a Zambian busboy, an Italian hotelier, and their families.
The novel explores love, loss, politics, and human nature across decades and is a sweeping and multi-layered story, full of drama and heart.
6. So Many Beginnings by Bethany C. Morrow
This is a beautiful retelling of Little Women, set during the American Civil War.
The story follows four young Black sisters in the Freedmen’s Colony of Roanoke Island.
Each sister is trying to find her place in a changing world – dealing with love, health struggles, and dreams of independence.
It’s a warm, powerful coming-of-age story, showing the bond of sisterhood and the hope that comes with rebuilding life after slavery.
7. Mrs. Wiggins by Mary Monroe
Maggie Franklin is determined to create a respectable life, and she believes marrying Hubert Wiggins, the town’s perfect man, will be her ticket out of a troubled past.
But her perfect life starts to unravel as she fights to keep her family and secrets intact.
This is a gripping tale of how far Maggie will go to protect her world, with unexpected twists that keep you hooked.
8. The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris
Set during the aftermath of the Civil War, two brothers – freed by the Emancipation Proclamation – find work on a farm in Georgia.
They hope to save money to reunite with their mother.
Meanwhile, a forbidden love between two Confederate soldiers complicates everything.
This novel is about freedom, friendship, and healing, set in a time when everything felt uncertain and full of challenges.
9. Sisters in Arms by Kaia Alderson
This novel tells the true story of the Six Triple Eight, the only all-Black battalion of the Women’s Army Corps during WWII.
Grace and Eliza, two women from different backgrounds, come together to serve their country and battle racism and sexism along the way.
An inspiring story about bravery, friendship, and the power of women working together, this is one book you can’t miss.
10. The Final Revival of Opal and Nev by Dawnie Walton
Opal, a fierce, Afro-punk singer, and Nev, a British songwriter, form an iconic interracial rock duo in the 1970s.
Their rise to fame is full of rebellion, political protests, and personal secrets.
Years later, as they prepare for a reunion tour, old wounds resurface.
This novel digs into fame, race, and the hidden stories behind a band’s breakup, all wrapped in a fascinating oral history format.
11. The Girl at the Back of the Bus by Suzette D. Harrison
This is a powerful novel set during the 1955 bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama.
Sixteen-year-old Mattie Banks is pregnant and running from her past when she witnesses Rosa Parks’ act of bravery.
This moment inspires her to change her life.
The story also follows Ashlee in the present day, who uncovers family secrets through letters from her grandmother.
If you enjoyed this list, be sure to check out my other related posts for more book recommendations.
I’d love to hear your thoughts too, so feel free to leave a comment below.
Let me know if you’ve read any of these or if you have other great books to suggest.
