5 Books by Black Women to Read During Quarantine

We’ve entered our second month of social distancing and self-isolation due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Although there is now a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel with some countries and Canadian provinces discussing entering the early stages of reopening the economy, it seems like we still have at least a few more weeks before social distancing rules are relaxed.

If you’re running out of shows to binge-watch on Netflix, why not do what our ancestors would have done to pass the time without internet access: read.

I did some research on what books I would be interested in and plan on reading during this time. I have been wanting to read more creative works by black women, so I compiled a list of 5 novels that I will be working on in the coming weeks.

1. Given

Nandi Taylor

Always had an interest in YA novels? Given combines Afro-Caribbean folklore, sci-fi and a little bit of romance. This novel follows a warrior princess who seeks out to find a cure for her sick father’s illness. Along the way she meets a dragon and becomes enchanted by his complex human form. It’s a great read for all ages and anyone who wants to read something fun.

Purchase your copy here.

2. Such a Fun Age

Kiley Reid

Reid’s debut novel is a commentary on the intersection of race and class. Following the experience of a young black babysitter who is accused of kidnapping the two year old white boy she is babysitting, her employer is confronted with what it truly means to be privileged. Socioeconomics are an important factor of the lasting impact of this pandemic, so this may be a topical read.

Purchase your copy here.

3. Homegoing

Yaa Gyasi

Demonstrating the effects of intergenerational trauma, Homegoing tells the story of two sisters in the Gold Coast (present-day Ghana) and the 8 generations that follow them. This novel explores the little moments in history that can shape families and their descendants for centuries.

Purchase your copy here.

4. The Fifth Season

N.K Jemisin

I included another science-fiction novel on this list because I believe that it’s important to promote the fact that black authors are not only writing about historical oppression. The first volume of the Broken Earth trilogy, The Fifth Season takes place on a planet with a supercontinent called “Stillness,” where every few centuries, a “fifth season” occurs that cause catastrophic climate change. Given the intense nature of the society within the novel, hopefully this story is not a prophecy.

Purchase your copy here.

5. Here Comes the Sun

Nicole Dennis-Benn

Here Comes the Sun is a story about a young gay woman in Montego Bay who is in love with another young woman who lives near her. Sadly, to put her younger sister through school, she has to sleep with a number of men while she works at a hotel. This novel shines a hard truth on a place that many outsiders see as paradise.

Purchase your copy here.

Have you read any of these books? Comment your review below!