What to Read Next If You Loved The People Could Fly
These books celebrate Black storytelling traditions.
There’s a kind of magic in imagining worlds shaped from non-European culture and myth — and these books paint possibilities powerful and profound.
The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton
When The People Could Fly was published in 1985, it heralded a movement toward more diverse literature — Virginia Hamilton called her work “Liberation Literature,” and one of its goals was to preserve Black culture and memory through books and stories. We may be living in a golden age of diverse literature, and if you loved The People Could Fly, add these empowering books based on Black history and culture to your homeschool reading list.
Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor
Zahrah the Windseeker isn’t like the other kids in the Ooni kingdom — her long green dadalocks made her an object of fear for many in her techno-nature community. But when Zahrah’s best friend’s life is in danger, she is the only one who can venture into the forest to save him. (Middle grades)
The Jumbies by Tracy Baptiste
Corinne La Mer isn’t afraid of anything, including The Jumbies — but maybe she should be. One of these Haitian folk monsters is after her family, and Corinne must channel her own unexpected magic to save the day. (Middle grades)
Hurricane Child by Kacen Callender
Being a Hurricane Child is believed to be bad luck — and it’s certainly been that way for Caroline, who’s been despised by her classmates and abandoned by her mother. But a new student inspired Caroline to channel her inner courage, and they set out on an adventure that may restore Caroline’s lost luck — and her mother. (Middle grades)
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
A whole world of African folklore and legend opens up in Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, when Tristan accidentally unleashes evil on the MidPass and discovers that he is one in a long chain of Storytellers with the ability to shape reality through stories. (Middle grades)
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
In The Gilded Ones, girls with golden blood are considered impure — and subject to all kinds of abuse. Deka is one of them, but an unlikely opportunity presents itself: If she joins the emperor’s elite military force, full of girls with the same golden blood, all her sins will be forgiven. Of course, it’s much more complicated than she knows. (High school)
Children of Bone and Blood by Tomi Adeyemi
In Children of Bone and Blood, Zélie has just one chance to bring magic back to Orïsha and take down the ruthless monarch who is determined to eradicate it forever. (High school)
Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older
Sierra discovers that she’s a Shadowshaper, a person who has the ability to connect with spirits through art, music, and stories — a discovery that comes just in time, since another Shadowshaper is attempting to channel all their power for himself. (High school)
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