{"id":369,"date":"2024-02-29T07:00:07","date_gmt":"2024-02-29T12:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nilahmagruder.com\/blog\/?p=369"},"modified":"2024-02-29T18:20:42","modified_gmt":"2024-02-29T23:20:42","slug":"a-reading-list-for-magical-negroes-book-giveaway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nilahmagruder.com\/blog\/2024\/02\/29\/a-reading-list-for-magical-negroes-book-giveaway\/","title":{"rendered":"A Reading List for Magical Negroes + Book Giveaway"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Yes. I saw The American Society for Magical Negroes<\/em><\/strong> trailer.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m not going to talk about the trailer. What I do want to talk about is the very interesting reaction to it.<\/span><\/p>\n

It seems like there was a lot of hype before the trailer was released based on the title of the movie. In recent years, we’ve seen discussion online about the Magical Negro trope as well as the role of Black characters in speculative fiction. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Magical Negro is a trope that has long plagued literature as well as cinema, in which a Black side character is introduced to help the white protagonist along their journey. This character often possesses some special trait or mystical power, but ultimately their role is to give the white protagonist purpose or help them with their problems, and then they die, or disappear as mysteriously as they appeared, or what have you.<\/p>\n

These days, as tales of wizards and superheroes capture the imagination, there is a hunger for narratives that flip the Magical Negro trope on its head, so that the term signifies not subservience, but power. Less Magical Negro, more Black Magic.<\/p>\n

One of the more interesting things to come out of such discussions was a meme on Twitter imagining what the Harry Potter series would look like if it took place at an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities).<\/span><\/p>\n

The meme lives on on Tiktok<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mainstream media and big commercial successes in the Western world often falter when it comes to including marginalized communities. There is a noticeable hierarchy to who gets to play the role of Main Character. Cis, straight, able-bodied white men come first, then cis, straight, able-bodied white women, and then everyone else must jockey for position. It\u2019s why reimaginings like Harry Potter HBCU take on a life of their own on the Internet. Stories tell us about ourselves and the world around us, so of course we all crave to imagine ourselves as the Main Character.<\/span><\/p>\n

Luckily, there are plenty of writers and artists putting in the work.<\/p>\n

\"The
Cover illustrated by Hillary D Wilson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I got the idea for this list because I was reading reactions to The American Society for Magical Negroes<\/em><\/strong> trailer and someone dropped the beautiful cover of Blood at the Root<\/em><\/strong>. You want Harry Potter HBCU? This is the book, written by LaDarrion Williams, and it hits stores May 7, 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n

But let\u2019s not stop there. Read on, and I\u2019ll share a few other titles for the reader hungry for spectacular, unapologetic Black magic.<\/span><\/p>\n

And when you’re done with the list, keep reading to win a free book.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t publish reading lists much, because inevitably I will leave off some perfectly wonderful book that deserved to be included. Up front, I\u2019m an author, not a book blogger. That means I spend a greater amount of time writing than reading. This list features books I have read. If you\u2019ve read an excellent book that you want people to know about, please drop it in the comments! I love a good book rec.<\/span><\/p>\n

Artie and the Wolf Moon<\/b><\/h4>\n
\"The
Cover illustrated by Olivia Stephens<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Author: Olivia Stephens
\n<\/b>Growing Up: \u2605\u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>Transformations: \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>Family Ties: \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/b><\/p>\n

Grief, community, photography, and werewolves. Artie and the Wolf Moon<\/strong><\/em> tells the story of a girl named Artie who stumbles upon her mother turning from a wolf into a human! Artie has questions of course, and her mother introduces her to a past and a legacy she never knew. Artie and the Wolf Moon<\/strong><\/em> is a story of self-discovery and the power of family buoyed by Stephens\u2019s moody art. When you\u2019re done gushing over Artie, move on to Stephens\u2019s current project, Darlin\u2019 and Her Other Names<\/a>, <\/strong><\/em>and the graphic novel adaptation of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky<\/strong><\/em>, written by Kwame Mbalia and illustrated by Stephens.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Black Mage<\/b><\/h4>\n
\"The
Cover illustrated by DJ Kirkland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Authors: Daniel Barnes, DJ Kirkland
\n<\/b>Wizarding School: \u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>Funny: \u2605\u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>Stylish Fight Scenes: \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/b><\/p>\n

I imagine The Black Mage<\/strong><\/em> is close to what many people were expecting when they heard the title The American Society for Magical Negroes<\/strong><\/em>. It\u2019s clear satire of American race dynamics and the magic school subgenre, down to the punny title. In The Black Mage<\/strong><\/em>, you will not<\/em> be surprised what the Klan has been up to. When St. Ivory Academy admits its very first Black student, it sets off a chain of events that puts two students on the path to discovering the academy\u2019s secrets and righting past wrongs. Barnes writes a witty, fast-paced story, paired with Kirkland\u2019s beautifully illustrated fight scenes and hero poses. Enjoy this story of magic students taking on the institution of racism. <\/span><\/p>\n

Blood Debts<\/b><\/h4>\n
\"The
Cover illustrated by Khadijah Khatib<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Author: Terry J. Benton-Walker
\n<\/b>Contemporary Fantasy: \u2605\u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>Generational Magic: \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>ALL<\/em> the Drama: \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/b><\/p>\n

Set in modern day New Orleans, Blood Debts<\/strong><\/em> is about magical families at war. Sixteen-year-old twins Clement and Cristina Trudeau are the heirs to a magical dynasty, in conflict with white and black magical families in their community. Years ago a white heiress was murdered, their grandmother was lynched, and feuds and secrets continue to disrupt their lives. Now they\u2019re out to discover the truth, but they\u2019ve got to unite their family to the cause, first. Blood Debts<\/strong><\/em> has a huge cast and takes a lot of twists and turns, but Benton-Walker does some fascinating things with world-building. There\u2019s curses, gods, zombies, and a whole lot of intrigue. The sequel, Blood Justice<\/strong><\/em>, is on its way April 23, 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brooms<\/b><\/h4>\n
\"The
Cover illustrated by Teo DuVall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Authors: Jasmine Walls, Teo DuVall
\n<\/b>Witches: \u2605\u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>Alternate History: \u2605\u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>Illegal Broom Races: \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/b><\/p>\n

It\u2019s the 1930s, US witch populations are monitored closely by the government, and broom racing has emerged as an exciting sport that has the power to change a witch\u2019s fortunes. Mattie and Emma are Choctaw and Black and need to raise money to avoid being sent to residential school. Their cousin Luella, whose powers were sealed away long ago, is a living testament to what they have to lose. Luella introduces them to Loretta and Billie Mae, who together hope to raise enough money to move out west where Black witches can race legally, and Cheng-Kwan, who leads a double life: a dutiful son to her parents by day, and a carefree racer by night. Brooms<\/strong><\/em> gives focus to marginalized characters whose stories are often lost in both the fantasy and historical fiction genre, and it\u2019s also a delightful excuse to pore over DuVall\u2019s fine line work.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fate of Flames<\/b><\/h4>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Author: Sarah Raughley
\n<\/b>Magical Girls: \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>Elemental Magic: \u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>Monster Battles: \u2605\u2605\u2605<\/b><\/p>\n

This book feeds my inner magical girl who grew up on Sailormoon and Shoujo Kakumei Utena. In the world of Fate of Flames<\/strong><\/em>, super-powered women known as Effigies that wield elemental magic and protect the world from monster invasions are international celebrities. Maia Finley is one of the Effigies\u2019 many fans, whose world is turned upside down when she inherits the fire Effigy\u2019s power. Now she must get up to speed on using her new abilities while also bringing her team of quirky personalities together. If you vibe with magical girl stories and ensemble casts, the Effigies trilogy is for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Jumbies<\/b><\/h4>\n
\"The
Cover illustrated by Vivienne To<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Author: Tracey Baptiste
\n<\/b>Folk Magic: \u2605\u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>Monstrous Foes: \u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>Friendship: \u2605\u2605\u2605<\/b><\/p>\n

Now it\u2019s time to dive into Caribbean folklore. The Jumbies<\/strong><\/em> is a retelling of the Haitian tale The Magic Orange Tree. Young Corinne La Mer is a brave, strong girl missing her deceased mother. She isn\u2019t afraid of anything, not scary stories, not the dark forest she wanders into on her island home. But something follows her out of the forest, and it\u2019s not a simple woodland creature. Corinne comes face-to-face with a monstrous force that threatens to take away everything she loves. The Jumbies<\/strong><\/em> is a spooky tale, perfect for middle-grade readers, and make sure you continue the adventure with Rise of the Jumbies<\/strong><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Legendborn<\/b><\/h4>\n
\"The
Cover illustrated by Hillary D Wilson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Author: Tracy Deonn
\n<\/b>Arthurian Legend: \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>Generational Magic: \u2605\u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>Ghostly Possession: \u2605\u2605<\/b><\/p>\n

I love Arthurian legend, so Legendborn<\/strong><\/em> was an insta-buy for me. Sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews attends University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill following the sudden death of her mother, and soon stumbles upon a secret magical society. Long ago, King Arthur and his Knights of the Roundtable possessed magic and have passed their powers to their descendents through the centuries. These modern-day knights, called Scions, protect the world from magical threats and may also have something to do with the death of Bree\u2019s mother. Legendborn<\/strong><\/em> pits Southern Black magic against the institutional magic represented by the Scions, with Bree caught in the middle. There\u2019s monsters, romance, and twists to keep you turning the page. The next book, Bloodmarked<\/strong><\/em>, is out now, with Oathbound<\/strong><\/em> projected to hit stores in 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Marvellers<\/b><\/h4>\n
\"The
Cover illustrated by Khadijah Khatib<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Author: Dhonielle Clayton
\n<\/b>Magic School: \u2605\u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>International Magic: \u2605\u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>Kids Solving Mysteries: \u2605\u2605\u2605<\/b><\/p>\n

The Marvellers<\/strong><\/em> is a lush magic school tale that brings together characters from a wide array of cultures and backgrounds. Ella Durand is a new enrollee at Arcanum Training Institute and the school\u2019s very first Conjuror. Conjurors have a bad rep in the international magic community, however, and Ella is virtually alone in the face of suspicion and bullying from students and faculty alike. She finds friendship in unexpected places and when her favorite teacher goes missing, it\u2019s Ella and her friends to the rescue. The Marvellers<\/strong><\/em> takes a look at how prejudice and injustices can go unchecked even in environments that pride themselves on open-mindedness. It is in equal parts whimsical, heart-warming, funny, and riveting, and you\u2019re in luck, the sequel, The Memory Thieves<\/strong><\/em>, is out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pet<\/b><\/h4>\n
\"A
Cover illustrated by Shyama Golden<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Author: Akwaeke Emezi
\n<\/b>Low Fantasy: \u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>Monsters: \u2605\u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>The Quest for Truth: \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/b><\/p>\n

Pet<\/strong><\/em> is an unusual story. The magic is so understated that you\u2019d almost believe you\u2019re reading a contemporary story except for the talk of monsters and an underlying uneasy feeling from the prose. Then fifteen-year-old Jam knocks over a painting in her mother\u2019s studio and a monster steps out. The creature, which calls itself Pet, informs Jam that it\u2019s come to hunt a monster. Jam joins the hunt to protect her community and starts on a dark path to uncover terrible truths. This is a quick read and a quiet, thoughtful story about monsters hiding in plain sight. If you enjoy Pet<\/strong><\/em>, you can revisit the world with Emezi\u2019s follow-up novel, Bitter<\/strong><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

That Self-Same Metal<\/b><\/h4>\n
\"The
Cover illustrated by Fernanda Suarez<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Author: Brittany N. Williams
\n<\/b>African Gods: \u2605\u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>William Shakespeare and Friends: \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>Girls with Swords: \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/b><\/p>\n

I love all my children equally, but I must say, this is one of my faves on the list. Taking place in ye olden times, we are introduced to sixteen-year-old Joan Sands and her twin brother, James, whose family possess magic abilities bestowed upon them by the Orishas. Joan and James are also members of William Shakespeare\u2019s theater troupe. The Fae walk among humans in London and have inspired a Shakespeare play or two, but lately they\u2019ve become a bit bloodthirsty, and that spells trouble for Joan\u2019s family and friends. Luckily she has potent magic of her own. Full of actors, artists, and mischievous Fae, this book is rowdy and hysterical at moments, and bone-chilling in others. Look for the sequel, Saint-Seducing Gold<\/strong><\/em>, arriving Spring 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Wish After Midnight<\/b><\/h4>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Author: Zetta Elliott
\n<\/b>Wish Upon a Star: \u2605\u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>Time Travel: \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605
\n<\/b>Fish Out of Water: \u2605\u2605<\/b><\/p>\n

Fifteen-year-old Genna wishes for a different reality, and gets more than she bargained for when she\u2019s transported back to Civil War-era Brooklyn. With no way to get back to her own time, Genna focuses on survival. She finds herself on the eve of the 1863 draft riots, and if that wasn\u2019t bad enough, Genna\u2019s crush is also transported to the same time. This is a low-fantasy story that focuses on the characters, bringing the reader into their struggles. Fans of Octavia Butler\u2019s Kindred<\/strong><\/em> will enjoy this young adult time travel tale and its sequel, The Door at the Crossroads<\/strong><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

And if this is still not enough for you, check out this reading list<\/a> at The Reclaimed Bookshop. Look for \u201cMagical Books by Black Authors.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A Very Magical Negro Book Giveaway<\/h1>\n

Y’all, I buy way too many books.<\/p>\n

I buy so many books that I was having trouble finding some of the books I wanted to include on this list, and as I was looking for them, I discovered I bought The Memory Thieves<\/strong><\/em> twice<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Sure, I could just keep both copies, but as you can imagine from the fact that I buy way too many books, I’m low on shelf space. So alas, The Memory Thieves<\/strong><\/em> part deux must go.<\/p>\n

That’s where you come in. Please take this book.<\/p>\n

No purchase necessary. Keep scrolling for details on how to enter!<\/p>\n

\"The
Cover illustrated by Khadijah Khatib<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The fantasy adventure sequel to the instant New York Times and #1 Indie Bestseller, The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton! Return for Year Two at the global magic school in the sky in The Memory Thieves.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

“The Marvellers deserves the highest compliment I can give a book: I want to live in this world.” \u2014Rick Riordan, #1 New York Times bestselling\u2013author<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Eager to wield their stapiers for Marvel Combat, Ella, Brigit, and Jason are back for their second year at the Arcanum Training Institute. With Ella\u2019s celebrity growing throughout the Marvellian world after thwarting the Ace of Anarchy\u2019s diabolical plans, it\u2019s proving hard for her to focus on her coursework. But back home in New Orleans the Conjure community isn\u2019t too happy about her return to the skies for another year learning to become a Marveller. As if life wasn\u2019t complicated enough, Ella soon discovers more dangerous secrets about the Conjure architect who built the school.<\/em><\/p>\n

Before she can dig deeper, a mysterious magical illness sweeps through the Institute, and Ella lands at the top of the suspect list. Can Ella and her friends save themselves and the Marvellian world before chaos breaks loose?<\/em><\/p>\n

No purchase necessary. In accordance with international sweepstakes laws, this giveaway is available to United States residents only. The sender\u2014that’s me\u2014pays postage. Participating in this giveaway will not register you for a mailing list, newsletter, or any such regular correspondence. A working e-mail address is required to win. Your contact information will be saved until a winner is selected and then will be deleted. Only one prize is available and one winner will be selected. <\/p>\n

The winner will be selected at random. Once contacted, the winner will have 72 hours to reply. If the winner fails to reply, they forfeit the prize and a new winner will be selected.<\/p>\n

The giveaway closes on Thursday, March 7 2024 at 11:59 pm EST.<\/strong><\/p>\n

To enter the giveaway: <\/strong><\/em>fill out the short form below.<\/h5>\n
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