- Richland Library
- Monday, July 13, 2020
iRead features the best ebooks, eaudiobooks and print titles for children and teens curated by the Children's Room and Teen Center staff.
Travel through time and space with these fantasy and science fiction novels. Pulling from African tradition and mythology, Black history, and the Black experience, these authors have created powerful worlds and mythologies of their own.
Check out one of these digital titles instantly, place them on hold through the website or call us at 803-799-9084 to place a hold.
A Phoenix First Must Burn: Sixteen Stories Of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, And Hope
Available as an eaudiobook through Hoopla
Place a request on print copies
Sixteen #ownvoices authors including favorites such as Elizabeth Acevedo, Ibi Zoboi, and more team up to create a fantastical anthology focusing on Black girl magic. Explore the Black experience through fantasy and sci-fi short stories that include diverse experiences, cultures, and characters. From a tale of hair-braiding magic that weaves into your heart to a high-stakes sapphic Western to an examination of the Flint Water Crisis through a supernatural lens and more, this collection has stories for everyone.
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
available as an ebook through Overdrive
available as an eaudiobook through Overdrive and Hoopla
place a request on print copies
Magic has been banned in the kingdom of Orïsha, and Zélie’s mother and other maji were killed in the king’s purge. Seeking to reclaim the magi's powers, Zélie partners with the king’s daughter in this action-packed fantasy. Inspired by West African mythology, Children of Blood and Bone was selected as one of School Library Journal and Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2018 and a YALSA Teen’s Top Ten List title.
The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
available as an ebook through Overdrive and Hoopla
available as an eaudiobook through Overdrive and Hoopla
place a request on print copies
In the cursed world of Orléans, the only way to acquire beauty is through the Belles…if one can afford it. Trained and molded to serve the kingdom, Camelia hopes to become the most sought after Belle in all of Orléans and the Queen’s favorite. However, court is not as glamorous as expected and a darkness lies under the beautiful faces and glittering dresses the Belles work so hard to create. As Camelia’s reality quickly unravels, she discovers terrible secrets about the Belles and what their true abilities really look like. Clayton expertly creates a lavish world that delves into society’s obsession with beauty and how it is defined by those in power. Magical and dark, The Belles is a captivating tale of identity, greed, and obsession in a plagued society and one girl who can change it all.
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
available as an eaudiobook and ebook on Overdrive
place a request on print copies
Jam has grown up safe and cared for in the utopian city of Lucille, where monsters no longer exist thanks to the triumphant revolution of the angels. When Jam meets Pet, a creature come to life from a painting, she learns that there is more to her world than adults are willing to admit. An absorbing and peculiar fantasy, this 2019 National Book Award finalist is perfect for teens and adults of all ages.
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
available as an eaudiobook through Hoopla
available as an ebook through Overdrive
place a request on print copies
Days before the dead begin to rise from the Civil War battlefields, Jane McKeene is born the Black daughter of a socialite. Determined to survive this wasteland, Jane, like many other Black children, is sent to Miss Preston’s School of Combat in Baltimore where she is trained in weaponry and etiquette so that she may one day protect the elite from the undead. But as Jane dares to dream of a different life in Kansas, she begins to unravel dark secrets that plague the city. Ireland weaves racial injustice, feminism, and compelling characters into this unique historical fantasy.
Beasts Made of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi
place a request on print copies
The Aki eat the sins and guilt of the noble class in the walled city of Kos. 17 year-old Taj is the most accomplished Aki, and knows that most of his kind are driven mad by their ability. When Taj accidentally uncovers a new depth to his powers, he must navigate a world of nobility and intrigue to save the city he loves. Inspired by Nigerian folklore, Onyebuchi has created a richly detailed world and perfectly sets the stage for the sequel, Crown of Thunder.
Download and start reading (or listening to) these great titles today. All you need is your Richland Library card (apply here), a laptop or mobile device and Wi-Fi access or you can request a physical copy online or by phone (803-799-9084) and swing by the Pick-up window at Ballentine, Northeast, Sandhills or St. Andrews from 3 - 6 p.m., Monday - Saturday.
A friendly reminder, Wi-Fi is accessible from the parking lots of 12 of our library locations - with the exception of Richland Library Sandhills.