A young boy tries to learn how to whistle, so that he can call his dog like all the bigger boys do.

"An elegant, stirring, insistent new book bearing out actions taken and not taken, from the acclaimed National Book Award finalist"-- Provided by publisher. "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...

Unusual from the day she is born, Thunder Rose performs all sorts of amazing feats, including building fences, taming a stampeding herd of steers, capturing a gang of rustlers, and turning aside a tornado.

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...

"A groundbreaking debut collection portraying the lived experiences of Black Muslims grappling with faith, family, and freedom in America"-- Provided by publisher. "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...

Two lonely characters, one black and one white, meet on the street and become friends.

A girl describes how she and her family celebrate the seven days of Kwanzaa.

"Unjustly overlooked in its own time, Frank J. Webb's novel of pre-Civil War Philadelphia weaves together action, humor, and social commentary. The Garies and Their Friends tells the story of two families struggling for different sorts of respectability: the Garies, a well-to-do interracial couple who relocate to Philadelphia from the plantation South in order to legalize their marriage, and their friends the Ellises, free black Philadelphians hoping...

"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:...