Experts > Krishna Grady

Krishna Grady's Top Book Recommendations

Want to know what books Krishna Grady recommends on their reading list? We've researched interviews, social media posts, podcasts, and articles to build a comprehensive list of Krishna Grady's favorite book recommendations of all time.

1

Genesis Begins Again

A Newbery Honor Book
Winner of the Correta Scott King - John Steptoe for New Talent Author Award
A Morris Award Finalist
An NPR Favorite Book of 2019
A School Library Journal Best Middle Grade Book of 2019
A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of 2019

This deeply sensitive and powerful debut novel tells the story of a thirteen-year-old who must overcome internalized racism and a verbally abusive family to finally learn to love herself.

There are ninety-six things Genesis...
more
Recommended by Krishna Grady, and 1 others.

Krishna GradyGenesis Begins Again, we would say, is for 12 years and up. This book is definitely hard-hitting. The book tells the story of a 13-year-old called Genesis, who deals with colorism, self-loathing and problems like her father’s gambling and alcoholism. It’s just a really, really powerful book that I think kids in this age range haven’t really seen before. It really opened up questions and we... (Source)

See more recommendations for this book...

2

Other Words for Home

I am learning how to be
sad
and happy
at the same time.


Jude never thought she’d be leaving her beloved older brother and father behind, all the way across the ocean in Syria. But when things in her hometown start becoming volatile, Jude and her mother are sent to live in Cincinnati with relatives.

At first, everything in America seems too fast and too loud. The American movies that Jude has always loved haven’t quite prepared her for starting school in the US—and her new label of “Middle Eastern,” an identity she’s never known before. But this life...
more
Recommended by Krishna Grady, and 1 others.

Krishna GradyOther Words for Home is a beautiful immigration story and it’s wonderfully written in free verse, which is very accessible to kids and is really becoming popular. The book explores themes of family and prejudice. We just felt that we hadn’t seen this story told in this way before, and it’s a very important story. (Source)

See more recommendations for this book...

3

Scary Stories for Young Foxes

Christian McKay Heidicker draws inspiration from Bram Stoker, H. P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe for his debut middle-grade novel, a thrilling portrait of survival and an unforgettable tale of friendship.

The haunted season has arrived in the Antler Wood. No fox kit is safe.

When Mia and Uly are separated from their litters, they discover a dangerous world full of monsters. In order to find a den to call home, they must venture through field and forest, facing unspeakable things that dwell in the darkness: a zombie who hungers for their flesh, a witch who tries...
more
Recommended by Krishna Grady, and 1 others.

Krishna GradyChristian McKay Heidicker really can forge a sentence like no one else. It’s about the language and how he put it all together. It’s horror for children that isn’t so horrific that it will keep you up at night. (Source)

See more recommendations for this book...

4

The Undefeated

This poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present. less
Recommended by Keith Smith, Krishna Grady, and 2 others.

Keith SmithHappy Reading Across America Day!!! Today @lyndalemon blessed amandataney Aubrey, and I with the opportunity to read “The Undefeated” an amazing book on historic African Americans to her 4th grade class! Ms. Lemon… https://t.co/SkHr3aSDJp (Source)

Krishna GradyIt’s about the contributions that African Americans have made to America and celebrating and exploring those. The poetry is striking and it’s such a perfect partnership between Kadir Nelson’s illustrations and Kwame Alexander’s words. It’s just this beautiful love letter to America. (Source)

See more recommendations for this book...

5

New Kid

Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Gene Luen Yang, New Kid is a timely, honest graphic novel about starting over at a new school where diversity is low and the struggle to fit in is real, from award-winning author-illustrator Jerry Craft.

Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade.

As he makes the...
more

Bunmi LaditanBest book I’ve read all year. Absolutely wonderful, touching and fun. I bought it for my oldest daughter and ended up reading it, too. 📚 ♥️🌹 https://t.co/IkV115zyJo (Source)

Todd NesloneyI love this book from @JerryCraft and even got to interview him for #TellYourStory!! https://t.co/Hnmx0usD4u (Source)

Krishna GradyIt’s about a kid, Jordan Banks, who transfers to the Riverdale Academy Day School. He’s in seventh grade and he can’t help seeing privilege everywhere. He’s one of the few African American students in the school. The beauty of the story is that he’s regularly dealing with racism and microaggressions and bullying, but there’s also friendship and learning who you are, which is especially hard in... (Source)

See more recommendations for this book...

Don't have time to read Krishna Grady's favorite books? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

  • Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
  • Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.