Angie Thomas
On the Come Up
Young adult
Insightful, unflinching, and full of heart, On the Come Up is an ode to hip hop from one of the most influential literary voices of a generation. It is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; and about how, especially for young black people, freedom of speech isn't always free.
$12.99$14.99
Prices are indicative. Final price is set by the retailer at checkout.
Why this book
Race on the page without treating the reader like they just arrived.
Who it's for
Young adult. Readers who already notice unfairness and want language for it.
Conversation starter
What made someone in this story proud of who they are?
Try this
End of a chapter: the choice you would have made, and why they didn't.
How we write these notes
Pair with
Two titles that deepen the same conversation.

Young adult
All American BoysJason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely
When sixteen-year-old Rashad is mistakenly accused of stealing, classmate Quinn witnesses his brutal beating at the hands of a police officer who happens to be the older brother of his best friend.

Young adult
Children of Blood and BoneTomi Adeyemi
Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie's Reaper mother summoned forth souls. But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.