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Quick answer: If you like Angie Thomas, read On the Come Up and Concrete Rose, then Dear Martin, Long Way Down, All American Boys and Monday's Not Coming. All are powerful young adult novels about race, family and finding your voice.
Angie Thomas is best known for The Hate U Give, about sixteen-year-old Starr who witnesses a police shooting, and for On the Come Up and Concrete Rose. Her books are honest, funny and rooted in family and community. The books below offer similar stories of Black teens finding their voice and facing injustice.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| On the Come Up | Angie Thomas | Teen | more Thomas |
| Concrete Rose | Angie Thomas | Teen | prequel |
| Dear Martin | Nic Stone | Teen | letters and race |
| Dear Justyce | Nic Stone | Teen | the follow-up |
| Long Way Down | Jason Reynolds | Teen | verse novel |
| All American Boys | Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely | Teen | two perspectives |
| Monday's Not Coming | Tiffany D. Jackson | Teen | mystery and neglect |
| Ghost Boys | Jewell Parker Rhodes | Teen | history and justice |
| Piecing Me Together | Renee Watson | Teen | identity |
| Punching the Air | Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam | Teen | verse novel |
| Clap When You Land | Elizabeth Acevedo | Teen | verse novel |
| The Poet X | Elizabeth Acevedo | Teen | slam poetry |
| Tyler Johnson Was Here | Jay Coles | Teen | brotherhood |
| Brown Girl Dreaming | Jacqueline Woodson | Teen | memoir in verse |
| The Hate U Give | Angie Thomas | Teen | the debut |
1. On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
A teenage rapper fights for her voice and her family. Fast and funny.
Best for: more Thomas.
2. Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
A teenage father tries to do right by his son. Warm and gritty.
Best for: prequel.
3. Dear Martin by Nic Stone
A student writes letters to Dr. King after a traumatic encounter. Short and sharp.
Best for: letters and race.
4. Dear Justyce by Nic Stone
A teenager in juvenile detention writes to Justyce. Honest and moving.
Best for: the follow-up.
5. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
A teenager takes an elevator ride that changes everything. Fast, poetic and powerful.
Best for: verse novel.
6. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
A Black teen and a white teen respond to a police beating. Honest and thoughtful.
Best for: two perspectives.
7. Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
A girl searches for her missing best friend. Gripping and sad.
Best for: mystery and neglect.
8. Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
A boy killed by police becomes a ghost and meets other victims. Short and moving.
Best for: history and justice.
9. Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson
A talented teenager navigates a mentoring program. Smart and heartfelt.
Best for: identity.
10. Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam
A wrongfully accused teenager finds poetry and hope. Co-written by one of the Exonerated Five.
Best for: verse novel.
11. Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
Two sisters learn of each other after their father dies in a plane crash. A moving verse novel.
Best for: verse novel.
12. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
A Harlem teen finds her voice through poetry. Powerful and honest.
Best for: slam poetry.
13. Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles
A boy tries to learn what happened to his twin brother. Moving and fast.
Best for: brotherhood.
14. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Woodson recalls her childhood in free verse. Gentle and lyrical.
Best for: memoir in verse.
15. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Starr witnesses a police shooting and finds her voice. A modern classic of young adult fiction.
Best for: the debut.
How to Choose
For more Thomas read The Hate U Give if you haven't, then On the Come Up and Concrete Rose. For stories about police violence choose Dear Martin, All American Boys or Ghost Boys. For verse novels pick Long Way Down, Punching the Air or The Poet X. For mystery and neglect read Monday's Not Coming. Many of these books deal with heavy themes, so they work best with discussion. Angie Thomas's books are often taught in schools and book clubs, and many come with discussion guides. Her stories also appear as audiobooks read by gifted narrators. Thomas's books are often paired with discussions about police violence, identity and activism. If you are teaching or reading with teens, a guide helps. If you want more upbeat reading between heavy ones, With the Fire on High and Piecing Me Together are warm. Audiobooks read by Bahni Turpin are widely praised.
Related: Jodi Thomas Printable Book List · 12 Dystopian Books Like the Hunger Games | Best Books to Read Like Hunger Games
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Angie Thomas best known for?
The Hate U Give, about a teen who witnesses a police shooting.
Where should I start?
With The Hate U Give.
What age is it for?
Young adult, usually ages 14 and up.
Is there a film?
Yes, The Hate U Give was adapted as a 2018 film.
Are her books connected?
Yes, they share the Garden Heights setting.
Is On the Come Up a sequel?
No, it has a separate story set in the same neighbourhood.
Are her books funny?
Yes, despite their heavy themes.
What should I read next?
Try Dear Martin or On the Come Up.
Is The Hate U Give appropriate for school?
It is widely taught, though some districts have challenged it, so check your school's policy.
Is On the Come Up related to The Hate U Give?
They share the Garden Heights setting and some characters.