Top 10
Books that paved the way
Goines, Donald. Never Die Alone. Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1991. Lead character King David tries to climb his way out of his desperate street life at any cost. This gritty tale of revenge is classified as "ghetto realism."
Slim, Iceberg. Pimp: The Story of My Life. Los Angeles: Holloway House, 2007 (1967). This is a fictional autobiographical story of Robert Beck (a.k.a. Iceberg Slim) and his cruel career as a pimp. Pimp is a classic in the street lit genre.
Souljah, Sister.The Coldest Winter Ever. New York: Pocket Books, 1999. Daughter of a fallen drug lord in NYC, Winter Santiaga struggles to keep of the posh life that she's used to. Souljah includes herself as a character in this raw tale that is said to have revived the street lit genre.
Slim, Iceberg. Pimp: The Story of My Life. Los Angeles: Holloway House, 2007 (1967). This is a fictional autobiographical story of Robert Beck (a.k.a. Iceberg Slim) and his cruel career as a pimp. Pimp is a classic in the street lit genre.
Souljah, Sister.The Coldest Winter Ever. New York: Pocket Books, 1999. Daughter of a fallen drug lord in NYC, Winter Santiaga struggles to keep of the posh life that she's used to. Souljah includes herself as a character in this raw tale that is said to have revived the street lit genre.
Fiction Street Lit Series for Young Adults
"Bluford High" series (Townsend, Scholastic)
This 13-book series set in California follows a group of mostly African American characters through high school.
"The Break-Up Diaries" series (K-Teen/Dafina) by Ni-Ni Simone and Kelli London
Each book presents two urban tales of love and loss.
"Drama High" (Dafina) series by L. Divine
Jayd James navigates her two lives between her affluent, mostly white high school, and her "hood."
"A Fab Life" series (K-Teen/Dafina) by Nikki Carter
Hip-hop, drama, and glamour converge in these urban stories of teens trying to make it big.
"Hollywood High" series (K-Teen/Dafina) by Ni-Ni Simone and Amir Abrams
Daughters of celebrities learn that fame has a price, as their lives take unexpected turns.
"Hotlanta" (Point) series by Mitzi Miller and Denene Millner
Identical twins living a posh lifestyle in Atlanta have their lives turned upside-down when they discover their stepfather is a crime boss. Similar to the "Gossip Girl" and Sweet Valley High" series.
"Kimani Tru" series (Harlequin)
Follows African American and Latino students as they navigate the ups and downs of high school and college.
"Lockwood Lions" series (Saddleback) by Stephanie Perry Moore
A Flip Book series, containing two stories in a back-to-back, upside-down format, one told from the female perspective, and the other from the male perspective.
"Platinum Teen" series (Precioustymes Entertainment) series by Precious and KaShamba Williams
Fourteen-year old Dymond and her crew go through their first year of high school together.
"So For Real" series (K-Teen/Dafina) by Nikki Carter
Follows 15-year old Gia as she figures out high school, friendships, boys, and her newfound popularity.
"Urban Underground" series (Saddleback) by Anne Schraff
Teens confront issues of violence, drugs, poverty, abuse, friendship, and loyalty.
This 13-book series set in California follows a group of mostly African American characters through high school.
"The Break-Up Diaries" series (K-Teen/Dafina) by Ni-Ni Simone and Kelli London
Each book presents two urban tales of love and loss.
"Drama High" (Dafina) series by L. Divine
Jayd James navigates her two lives between her affluent, mostly white high school, and her "hood."
"A Fab Life" series (K-Teen/Dafina) by Nikki Carter
Hip-hop, drama, and glamour converge in these urban stories of teens trying to make it big.
"Hollywood High" series (K-Teen/Dafina) by Ni-Ni Simone and Amir Abrams
Daughters of celebrities learn that fame has a price, as their lives take unexpected turns.
"Hotlanta" (Point) series by Mitzi Miller and Denene Millner
Identical twins living a posh lifestyle in Atlanta have their lives turned upside-down when they discover their stepfather is a crime boss. Similar to the "Gossip Girl" and Sweet Valley High" series.
"Kimani Tru" series (Harlequin)
Follows African American and Latino students as they navigate the ups and downs of high school and college.
"Lockwood Lions" series (Saddleback) by Stephanie Perry Moore
A Flip Book series, containing two stories in a back-to-back, upside-down format, one told from the female perspective, and the other from the male perspective.
"Platinum Teen" series (Precioustymes Entertainment) series by Precious and KaShamba Williams
Fourteen-year old Dymond and her crew go through their first year of high school together.
"So For Real" series (K-Teen/Dafina) by Nikki Carter
Follows 15-year old Gia as she figures out high school, friendships, boys, and her newfound popularity.
"Urban Underground" series (Saddleback) by Anne Schraff
Teens confront issues of violence, drugs, poverty, abuse, friendship, and loyalty.
Fiction Street Lit Titles for Young Adults
Black, Artemis. Picture Me Rollin' New York: New American Library, 2005. Print.
Blue, Treasure E. Fly Betty. [United States]: Cash Money Content, 2013. Print.
Booth, Coe. Tyrell. New York: PUSH, 2006. Print.Daniels, Babygirl. Glitter. West Babylon, NY: Urban, 2009. Print.
Dotson-Lewis, Gloria. Ninety-nine Problems: A Young Adult Novel. East Orange, NJ: W. Clark Pub., 2011. Print.
DuPree, Kia. Shattered: A Novel. New York: Grand Central Pub., 2012. Print.
Jordan, Dream. Hot Girl. New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2008. Print.
King, Katina. Ride Wit' Me: A Novel. Fort Lee, NJ: Young Diamond, 2006. Print.
Knight, Khadijah, Iman Smallwood, Marketa Salley, Lakeyshia Dorsey, and Nyomi Simmons. Teenage Bluez III: A Collection of Urban Stories. Brandywine, MD: Life Changing, 2009. Print.
London, Kelli. Boyfriend Season. New York, NY: Dafina KTeen, 2011. Print.
Sapphire. Push: A Novel. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1996. Print.
Shiraz, Yasmin. Retaliation: A Novel. Chantilly, VA: Rolling Hills, 2007. Print.
Simone, Ni-Ni. Upgrade U. New York: Dafina, 2011. Print.
Sitomer, Alan Lawrence. Hip-hop High School. New York: Hyperion For Children, 2006. Print.
Sparkle. Sade's Secret: A Sweet 16 Diaries Novel. East Orange, NJ: Wahida Clark Presents Young Adult, 2012. Print.
Van, Diepen Allison. Street Pharm. New York: Simon Pulse, 2006. Print.
Blue, Treasure E. Fly Betty. [United States]: Cash Money Content, 2013. Print.
Booth, Coe. Tyrell. New York: PUSH, 2006. Print.Daniels, Babygirl. Glitter. West Babylon, NY: Urban, 2009. Print.
Dotson-Lewis, Gloria. Ninety-nine Problems: A Young Adult Novel. East Orange, NJ: W. Clark Pub., 2011. Print.
DuPree, Kia. Shattered: A Novel. New York: Grand Central Pub., 2012. Print.
Jordan, Dream. Hot Girl. New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2008. Print.
King, Katina. Ride Wit' Me: A Novel. Fort Lee, NJ: Young Diamond, 2006. Print.
Knight, Khadijah, Iman Smallwood, Marketa Salley, Lakeyshia Dorsey, and Nyomi Simmons. Teenage Bluez III: A Collection of Urban Stories. Brandywine, MD: Life Changing, 2009. Print.
London, Kelli. Boyfriend Season. New York, NY: Dafina KTeen, 2011. Print.
Sapphire. Push: A Novel. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1996. Print.
Shiraz, Yasmin. Retaliation: A Novel. Chantilly, VA: Rolling Hills, 2007. Print.
Simone, Ni-Ni. Upgrade U. New York: Dafina, 2011. Print.
Sitomer, Alan Lawrence. Hip-hop High School. New York: Hyperion For Children, 2006. Print.
Sparkle. Sade's Secret: A Sweet 16 Diaries Novel. East Orange, NJ: Wahida Clark Presents Young Adult, 2012. Print.
Van, Diepen Allison. Street Pharm. New York: Simon Pulse, 2006. Print.
Nonfiction Street Lit for Young Adults
50, Cent, and Noah Callahan-Bever. 50 X 50. New York: Pocket, 2007. Print.
Common, and Adam Bradley. One Day It'll All Make Sense: A Memoir. New York: Atria, 2011. Print.
Greenburg, Zack O'Malley. Empire State of Mind: How Jay-Z Went from Street Corner to Corner Office. New York: Portfolio/Penguin, 2011. Print.
Jay-Z. Decoded. New York, NY: Spiegel & Grau, 2010. Print.
Jean, Wyclef, and Anthony Bozza. Purpose: An Immigrant's Story. New York: It, 2012. Print.
Neri, Greg, and Randy DuBurke. Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty. New York: Lee & Low, 2010. Print.
Pearson, Felicia, and David Ritz. Grace after Midnight: A Memoir. New York: Grand Central Pub., 2007. Print.
Sanchez, Reymundo, and Reymundo Sanchez. Once a King, Always a King: The Unmaking of a Latin King. Chicago, IL: Chicago Review, 2003. Print.
Sanchez, Reymundo, and Sonia Rodriguez. Lady Q: The Rise and Fall of a Latin Queen. Chicago, IL: Chicago Review, 2008. Print.
Sanchez, Reymundo. My Bloody Life: The Making of a Latin King. Chicago: Chicago Review, 2000. Print.
Tyrese. How to Get out of Your Own Way. New York, NY: Grand Central Pub., 2011. Print.
Shakur, Tupac. The Rose That Grew from Concrete. New York: Pocket, 1999. Print.
Common, and Adam Bradley. One Day It'll All Make Sense: A Memoir. New York: Atria, 2011. Print.
Greenburg, Zack O'Malley. Empire State of Mind: How Jay-Z Went from Street Corner to Corner Office. New York: Portfolio/Penguin, 2011. Print.
Jay-Z. Decoded. New York, NY: Spiegel & Grau, 2010. Print.
Jean, Wyclef, and Anthony Bozza. Purpose: An Immigrant's Story. New York: It, 2012. Print.
Neri, Greg, and Randy DuBurke. Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty. New York: Lee & Low, 2010. Print.
Pearson, Felicia, and David Ritz. Grace after Midnight: A Memoir. New York: Grand Central Pub., 2007. Print.
Sanchez, Reymundo, and Reymundo Sanchez. Once a King, Always a King: The Unmaking of a Latin King. Chicago, IL: Chicago Review, 2003. Print.
Sanchez, Reymundo, and Sonia Rodriguez. Lady Q: The Rise and Fall of a Latin Queen. Chicago, IL: Chicago Review, 2008. Print.
Sanchez, Reymundo. My Bloody Life: The Making of a Latin King. Chicago: Chicago Review, 2000. Print.
Tyrese. How to Get out of Your Own Way. New York, NY: Grand Central Pub., 2011. Print.
Shakur, Tupac. The Rose That Grew from Concrete. New York: Pocket, 1999. Print.
Street Lit Book Award Medal
Check out this website to view the 2012 winners of the SLBAM.
Bluford Audiobooks
All the Bluford books are available for free online in audio format. You can also download them to your device.
http://bluford.org/audiobooks/
http://bluford.org/audiobooks/
