December 2021 Part Two News, Deals, Reveals, & More

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The Rundown

Melanin in YA News
Cover Reveals
Awards/Honors
Buzz – Starred Reviews
Best Of Lists
General Updates
Podcasts
January 2022 Book Releases

Melanin in YA News

Shoutout LA featured yours truly to discuss Melanin in YA and more.
Thank you so much for supporting Melanin in YA in its first year. We have so much in store for 2022, especially Black History Month so stay tuned! If you haven’t joined the Patreon, now would be the time because 2022 is going to be HUGE!

Cover Reveals

Dean Atta unveiled the cover for ONLY ON THE WEEKENDS (May 24, 2022)

Illustration: Ego Rodriguez

Awards/Honors

YALSA announced the 2022 Nonfiction Award Finalists which includes BLACK BIRDS IN THE SKY by Brandy Colbert.

Buzz – Starred Reviews

School Library Journal: AND WE RISE by Erica Martin

Best Of Lists

Audible: The Best of 2021
Buzzfeed: The Best Young Adult Books Of 2021
Tor.com: Best Young Adult Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror of 2021

General Updates

The title for Ayana Gray’s sophomore novel has been announced. BEASTS OF RUIN releases July 26, 2022.

Book Riot featured BLACK BIRDS IN THE SKY by Brandy Colbert and REVOLUTION IN OUR TIME by Kekla Magoon among others on their Essential YA Nonfiction list.

Epic Reads featured THE UPPER WORLD by Femi Fadugba and BLOOD SCION by Deborah Falaye on their 15 Debut Authors to Look Out for This Year list.

Natasha Bowen was featured in Publishers Weekly Fall 2021 Flying Starts.

Seventeen featured ONE TRUE LOVES by Elise Bryant, REQUIRED READING FOR THE DISENFRANCHISED FRESHMAN by Kristen R. Lee, and YOU TRULY ASSUMED by Laila Sabreen on their The 10 Best Young Adult Books Arriving in 2022 list.

Zinn Education Project lists BLACK WAS THE INK by Michelle Coles, ANGEL OF GREENWOOD by Randi Pink, and BLACK BIRDS IN THE SKY by Brandy Colbert, REVOLUTION IN OUR TIME by Kekla Magoon and more among teaching materials for People’s History for Young Adults.

Podcasts

Bridges & Books
- Namina Forna – December 21, 2021

Everything is Canon
- Kalynn Bayron – December 15, 2021

Here Wee Read
- Nikki Grimes – December 16, 2021

January 2022 Book Releases

January 4, 2022

The Chosen Ones by Echo Brown

One True Loves by Elise Bryant

The Kindred by Alechia Dow

January 11, 2022

Vinyl Moon by Mahogany L. Browne

Ashes of Gold by J. Elle

Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds & Jason Griffin

January 18, 2022

Shattered Midnight by Dhonielle Clayton

Akata Woman by Nnedi Okorafor

Game On: 15 Stories of Wins, Losses, and Everything in Between Edited by Laura Silverman

January 25, 2022

The Great Escape by Varian Johnson & Daniel Isles

Augusta Savage: The Shape of a Sculptor’s Life by Marilyn Nelson

Happy reading and Happy New Year!

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