"An elegant, stirring, insistent new book bearing out actions taken and not taken, from the acclaimed National Book Award finalist"-- "In these ten stories, each set in the changing landscapes of contemporary New York City, a range of characters -- from children to grandmothers to ghosts -- live through the responsibility of perceiving and the moral challenge of speaking up or taking action. Though they strive to connect, to remember, to stand up...

Spare and unsparing, God Help the Child -- the first novel by Toni Morrison to be set in our current moment -- weaves a tale about the way the sufferings of childhood can shape, and misshape, the life of the adult. At the center: a young woman who calls herself Bride, whose stunning blue-black skin is only one element of her beauty, her boldness and confidence, her success in life, but which caused her light-skinned mother to deny her even the simplest...

Although a classmate says that she cannot play Peter Pan in the school play because she is black, Grace discovers that she can do anything she sets her mind to do.

A young girl and her grandmother enjoy a day filled with tea parties, hide-and-seek, stories, and plenty of love.

"A groundbreaking debut collection portraying the lived experiences of Black Muslims grappling with faith, family, and freedom in America"-- "In Temple Folk, Black Muslims contemplate the convictions of their race, religion, economics, politics, and sexuality in America. The ten stories in this collection contribute to the bounty of diverse narratives about Black life by intimately portraying the experiences of a community that resists the mainstream...

Unwilling to live in a society based on inequality, a Southern Black burns his land and home and departs for the North with his family.

"Ten years ago, Malik's life changed forever the night his mother mysteriously vanished and he discovered he had uncontrollable powers. Since then, he has kept his abilities hidden, looking out for himself and his younger foster brother, Taye. Now, at 17, Malik is finally ready to start a new life for both of them, far from the trauma of his past. However, a daring act to rescue Taye reveals an unexpected connection with his long-lost grandmother:...

Lola loves to hear Daddy read a new library book each night, an activity that spurs her imagination and results in inventive play the next day.

Despite differences in abilities, two little girls appreciate each other and are "best friends."

"Hot Shot is back home in California. Operation Clean Up is his mission, but not his primary concern. He has been tasked with bringing down the Inglewood 13s gang, since they've been targeted by the F.B.I. This suits Hot Shot just fine, because the Inglewood 13s are also responsible for the murders of his parents and his brother. This mission gives Hot Shot the opportunity to do his job and get the revenge he seeks. Hot Shot has become increasingly...