Jay Coles

"There's always been a hole in Gio's life. Not because he's into both guys and girls. Not because his father has some drinking issues. Not because his friends are always bringing him their drama. No, the hole in Gio's life takes the shape of his birth mom, who left Gio, his brother, and his father when Gio was nine years old. For eight years, he never heard a word from her . . . and now, just as he's started to get his life together, she's back" --...

Black is ... sisters navigating their relationship at summer camp in Portland, Oregon, as written by Renée Watson. Black is ... three friends walking back from the community pool talking about nothing and everything, in a story by Jason Reynolds. Black is ... Nic Stone's high-class beauty dating a boy her momma would never approve of. Black is ... two girls kissing in Justina Ireland's story set in Maryland. Black is urban and rural, wealthy and...