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Today I’m excited to participate in the Book Tour for Black Boy Joy by Kwame Mbalia hosted by Colored Pages Bookish Tours! Black Boy Joy is an anthology of Middle-Grade short stories that highlight the joys of Black boyhood and it was published on August 3, 2021, from Delacorte Press.
- Tile: Black Boy Joy
- Editor: Kwame Mbalia
- Authors: B.B. Alston, Dean Atta, Jerry Craft, Jay Coles, P. Djèlí Clark, Lamar Giles, Don P. Hooper, George M. Johnson, Varian Johnson, Suyi Davies Okungbowa, Tochi Onyebuchi, Julian Randall, Jason Reynolds, Justin A. Reynolds, Davaun Sanders, Julian Winters
- Publisher: Delacorte Press
- Pub. date: 3 August 2021
- Series: none
- Page count: 320
- Source: Colored Pages Bookish Tours
- Genres: middle-grade, short stories, #ownvoices
Celebrate the joys of Black boyhood with stories from seventeen bestselling, critically acclaimed Black authors–including Jason Reynolds (the Track series), Jerry Craft (New Kid), and Kwame Mbalia (the Tristan Strong series)!
Black boy joy is…
Picking out a fresh first-day-of-school outfit.
Saving the universe in an epic intergalactic race.
Finding your voice–and your rhymes–during tough times.
Flying on your skateboard like nobody’s watching.
And more! From seventeen acclaimed Black male and non-binary authors comes a vibrant collection of stories, comics, and poems about the power of joy and the wonders of Black boyhood.
Contributors include B. B. Alston, Dean Atta, P. Djèlí Clark, Jay Coles, Jerry Craft, Lamar Giles, Don P. Hooper, George M. Johnson, Varian Johnson, Kwame Mbalia, Suyi Davies Okungbowa, Tochi Onyebuchi, Julian Randall, Jason Reynolds, Justin Reynolds, DaVaun Sanders, and Julian Winters
I was immediately drawn to the idea of an anthology of stories authored by these amazing names that have been circulating all over the book community in the past few months, so I had this book on my radar long before I saw the tour sign ups. I thought the whole concept behind this collection is just utter genius and that cover just radiates everything that these authors try to convey with their words in these pages. I was absolutely delighted when Colored Pages Book Tours let me join in on their book tour!
There is no feeling akin to gobbling up amazing short stories written by a host of stellar authors! It has been ages since I read an actual anthology and this book reminded me of the joys of reading. At first, I was very puzzled as to how I was going to review a collection of stories written by seventeen different authors, but then I decided that the best way is write about everything I loved about this reading experience.
I loved that I got to shift from author to author. These authors are obviously masters of their own styles and it shows so well. I like that they didn’t stick to a strict story format, but went with what each person was comfortable with, so there was an entertaining mix of stories, poems, and a comic in here. It was honestly exciting to finish one story and move to the next one and wonder what this story was going to be like!
I liked the mix of genres. We get everyday situations, like funerals and first days at school, but there are also intergalactic games, spirits and a whole host of fantasy and sci-fi elements peppered all over this book. If I had read this as a child, I would have been endlessly thrilled by the variety here. There is literally anything for anyone!
The queer representation was just amazing! I teared up quite a few times reading some of the more heartwarming and touching stories in here. These stories really speak to the heart of the reader and are so emotionally charged, and I was so happy to see that in the middle-grade genre. I loved how the authors tackled with accepting yourself and feeling like belonging in a community and family; all important and relevant themes that I am sure kids would relate to.
I loved the geographical diversity in the stories as well. There were stories that weaved together mythology from Trinidad, Guyana and other cultures. This brought in many great themes like feeling like you don’t belong when moving to a new place or even how to preserve that bit of culture in you when you are seas away. I loved that some authors mixed in aliens, spaceships and wizards into their stories too!
Lastly, I found it really endearing how many of the stories focused on the importance of family and sibling bonds. A few of these moments made me all teary-eyed, and I found so many relatable moments even as a 24-year-old! Absolutely touching!
When I picked up Black Boy Joy, what I found was an astonishing, beautiful, diverse collection of stories that brought me joy, laughter and so many memories. It would be a relatable, joyful read to any child and a nostalgic but wonderful read to any older audience. I cannot recommend this book enough for its wonderful message, its beautiful writing and the love it contains within its words!
The world is harsh. Find your joy, Fortitude, and it’ll be your night-light when everything is dark.
Big Mac always said, “You’re either a doer, or a spectator. And the world already got enough spectators.”
Dad unleashes his famous grin. It’s like vanilla ice cream melting on warm apple pie — perfect!
I think you’re like a dodo
because there isn’t another you
anywhere on Earth.
Sometimes you forget how much you love someone until you see them laugh.
Siblings always wanna be in your business when you don’t want them to be–so quick to give you their opinion on everything when it’s the last thing you want–but then when you finally invite them in, when you ask them for their take, they’re all No, no, I’d hate to butt in.
Like, make up your mind, you know? Is consistency too much to ask for?
Kwame is a husband, father, writer, a New York Times bestselling author, and a former pharmaceutical metrologist in that order. His debut middle-grade novel, TRISTAN STRONG PUNCHES A HOLE IN THE SKY was awarded a Coretta Scott King Author Honor, and it—along with the sequels TRISTAN STRONG DESTROYS THE WORLD and TRISTAN STRONG KEEPS PUNCHING, out October 5th—is published by Rick Riordan Presents/Disney-Hyperion.
He is the co-author of LAST GATE OF THE EMPEROR with Prince Joel Makonnen, from Scholastic Books, and the editor of BLACK BOY JOY, a middle grade anthology from Delacourte, out August 3rd. A Howard University graduate and a Midwesterner now in North Carolina, he survives on Dad jokes and Cheezits.
Have you read Black Boy Joy or will you be picking it up? Check out the other stops below!
August 3 –@Theblerdyreader
August 3 –@myblackbookish_life
August 4 – Bibliosini
August 5 –@mellasmusings
August 5 –Love, Paola
August 6 –@Uponthebooktower
August 6 – @novelsistah
August 7 – Books-N-Bullsh!t
August 7 – @djreadsbooks
August 8 –Forthenovellovers
August 8 –@chubbygirlwithapageavu
August 9 –@_theliteraryartisan
August 9 – @Glendaofalltime
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14 thoughts on “‘Black Boy Joy’ by Kwame Mbalia: A Blog Tour Review of An Amazing Short Stories Anthology Celebrating Black Boyhood”
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this book sounds so good! thanks for sharing!
I hope you get a chance to read it, Chelsea!
I love the sound of this, it also seems perfect for school libraries 😁
Yes, it does, doesn’t it? Would absolutely love to see this on library shelves!
This sounds interesting! I’ve only recently started to appreciate anthologies, and though this is middle grade, you’ve certainly made me curious about it. Great review!
I’m glad I managed to stir up your interest! Means I’m doing something right, I guess! Haha! I really hope you pick this up! It’s such a delightful read!
This review is absolutely wonderful! It gave me all the warm fuzzies––you’re excellent at this. And the representation in this anthology is so exciting! U.S. publishing kind of insists that all Black stories be of trauma and strife, but there should be room for excitement and wonder and love, too. Here’s to hoping many more books get to take after this one.
Thank you so much! Your comment just made my day! Thank you! And yes, I absolutely agree that the concept of this book should be more commonplace TBH! We should be reading more of this too!
Lovely review, Hasini. I will sure check this one out.
Thanks, Ritu! Glad you liked it!
Wonderful review! I can tell how much you enjoyed this and it makes me more eager to give it a try. I do struggle with anthologies but I see a few authors on the list that I’ve read and absolutely loved and a few whose books I can’t wait to read, so this one sounds like a total winner. Will definitely be checking this out! 😃
Thanks, Dini! Haha I’m glad my enthusiasm shows and that you feel like picking up this book! You won’t regret it!