Books by Kekla Magoon
Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People
by Kekla Magoon
***2022 Michael L. Printz Honor Book (for Young Adult Literature)***
Revolution in Our Time is a well researched history book by an award-winning author. It places the Black Panther Party in context, from slavery and segregation through the Civil Rights Movement to today’s Black Lives Matter. Many people are familiar with the image of Black men with guns and berets, but Magoon provides a much more complete account of the Panthers - most of whom were women - and their community activism. Plenty of period photos and other illustrations help make this non-fiction book accessible to teenagers, who are the target readership, but it will appeal more broadly to anyone with an interest in US history.
The Flag Never Touched the Ground: America’s Brave Black Regiment in Battle
by Kekla Magoon
It is 1863 and the soldiers of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment Volunteers are marching to battle in the American Civil War. Their mission is to capture the impregnable Fort Wagner, and the stakes could not be higher. It is only a few months since it became legal for Black men to serve in the armed forces; the 54th is an all-Black regiment needing to prove that they can rise to the challenge. Not only that, but if they get captured by the Confederate army they will be enslaved. In the ranks is William Harvey Carney who – having escaped slavery – knows how precious freedom really is. This book is part of Pushkin Press’s True Adventures series of historical fiction from around the world. All the books centre on a historical person, and contain some non-fiction pages at the end that provide historical context.
Ages 8-12
Interviews where books by Kekla Magoon were recommended
-
1
The False Rose
Jakob Wegelius, translated by Peter Graves -
2
The Secret Detectives
by Ella Risbridger -
3
Above and Below: Sea and Shore
Harriet Evans & Hannah Bailey (illustrator) -
4
The Shark Caller
by Zillah Bethell -
5
A Wish in the Dark
by Christina Soontornvat -
6
Circus Maximus: Race to the Death
by Annelise Gray
Best Children’s Books of 2021
Best Children’s Books of 2021
A lot of excellent books for kids have come out in 2021. It’s turned out to be a very strong year for middle grade fiction (novels for children age 8-12), especially fiction in a historical setting. We made sure to include plenty of picture books and nonfiction as well.
