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List of Black New York Times Best Selling Authors facts for kids

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Books by Black authors have made a big impact on the world of literature! This list celebrates amazing books written by Black authors that have become bestsellers on The New York Times list. Being a New York Times Best Seller means a book has sold a huge number of copies and is very popular. It's a big achievement for any author!

These books cover many different topics, from exciting stories and deep thoughts to inspiring life lessons. They show the incredible talent and diverse voices of Black writers.

What is the New York Times Best Seller List?

The New York Times Best Seller list is a weekly report that shows which books are selling the most copies across the United States. It's like a popularity contest for books! Publishers and readers pay close attention to this list because it highlights books that many people are reading and talking about. Getting on this list is a major goal for authors and publishers.

Trailblazing Authors and Their Stories

Many Black authors have broken barriers and shared powerful stories that resonated with millions. Their books often explore important themes like history, identity, family, and the human experience.

Early Bestsellers

One of the first Black authors to hit the list was Maya Angelou with her famous memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, in 1970. This book tells the story of her early life and struggles, inspiring many readers. She also had another bestseller, Wouldn't Take Nothing For My Journey Now, in 1993.

Another huge success was Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley in 1976. This book traced his family's history back to Africa and became a massive hit, later turned into a very popular TV series.

Powerful Voices in Fiction

Toni Morrison is another legendary author whose books often explored deep themes about Black life and history. Several of her novels became bestsellers, including Tar Baby (1981), Beloved (1988), Jazz (1992), and Paradise (1998). Beloved even won a Pulitzer Prize!

Alice Walker also wrote a very famous book, The Color Purple, which became a bestseller in 1984. This powerful story about a young woman's journey to self-discovery also won a Pulitzer Prize and was made into a movie and a musical.

Terry McMillan is known for her engaging stories about Black women. Her books like Waiting to Exhale (1992), How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1996), and I Almost Forgot About You (2016) were very popular and often adapted into films.

Inspiring Non-Fiction and Memoirs

Many Black authors have also shared their personal stories and insights in non-fiction books.

Barack Obama's book, The Audacity of Hope, became a bestseller in 2006 before he became president. It shared his ideas and hopes for America.

Comedian Trevor Noah's memoir, Born a Crime, was a hit in 2017. It tells the fascinating story of his childhood in South Africa during apartheid.

Malcolm Gladwell is a popular author who writes about interesting ideas in psychology and sociology. His books like Blink (2005) and Outliers (2008) explain complex topics in an easy-to-understand way.

Books for Young Readers

It's exciting to see books for younger audiences also making the bestseller list! Rachel Renee Russell has had many books from her Dork Diaries series become bestsellers. These fun books about Nikki Maxwell's middle school adventures are very popular with kids and teens. Some of her bestsellers include:

  • Dork Diaries Book 1: Tales From a Not-So-Fabulous Life (2009)
  • Dork Diaries Book 2: Tales From a Not-So-Popular Party Girl (2010)
  • Dork Diaries Book 3: Tales From a Not-So-Talented Pop Star (2011)
  • Dork Diaries Book 4: Tales From a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess (2012)
  • Dork Diaries Book 5: Tales From a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All (2012)
  • Dork Diaries Book 6: Tales From a Not-So-Happy Heartbreaker (2013)
  • Dork Diaries Book 7: Tales From a Not-So-Glam TV Star (2014)
  • Dork Diaries Book 8: Tales From a Not-So-Happily Ever After (2014)
  • Dork Diaries Book 9: Tales From a Not-So-Dorky Drama Queen (2015)
  • Dork Diaries Book 10: Tales From a Not-So-perfect Pet Sitter (2015)
  • Dork Diaries Book 11: Tales From a Not-So-Friendly Frenemy (2016)
  • Dork Diaries Book 12: Tales From a Not-So-Secret Crush Catastrophe (2017)
  • Dork Diaries Book 13: Tales From a Not-So-Happy Birthday (2018)
  • Dork Diaries Book 14: Tales From a Not-So-Best Friend Forever (2019)
  • Dork Diaries Book 15: Tales From a Not-So-Best Posh Paris Adventure (2023)

She also wrote The Misadventures of Max Crumbly series, with Locker Hero (2016), Middle School Mayhem (2017), and Masters of Mischief (2019) also hitting the list.

Angie Thomas's novel The Hate U Give (2017) was a huge success. It tells the story of a young girl dealing with important social issues and has been praised for its powerful message.

Nicola Yoon's books, Everything, Everything (2015) and The Sun is also a Star (2016), are popular young adult romance novels that also became bestsellers.

Kwame Alexander's novel The Crossover (2017), written in verse, won the Newbery Medal and became a bestseller. It tells the story of two basketball-loving brothers.

Vashti Harrison's non-fiction book Little Leaders (2017) introduces young readers to amazing Black women in history.

Other Notable Bestsellers

Many other talented Black authors have had their books recognized on the New York Times Best Seller list. These include:

This list shows the incredible range and impact of Black authors on literature. Their stories continue to entertain, educate, and inspire readers of all ages around the world.

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