At SparkPress, promoting and publishing diverse voices to make the publishing landscape more inclusive is an important priority. In honor of Black History Month, here are some of our picks for this year’s most-anticipated books written by black authors. These are in our preorder baskets—what’s in yours?

The Goddess Twins by Yodassa Williams

In The Goddess Twins, debut author Yodassa Williams tells the story of black identical twins, Aurora and Arden, who are faced with the seemingly impossible challenge of finding their missing mother. On top of that, days before their eighteenth birthday, the twins find that they have developed telepathic and telekinetic abilities. Determined to find answers, the sisters embark on a journey that will reveal a dangerous family secret that was long-since buried. This soul-trying quest will test their trust in their own inner strength—and in each other.

The Goddess Twins publishes on May 19, 2020.

Child Bride by Jennifer Smith Turner

Desperate to become independent, sixteen-year-old Nell’s plans for her future are shattered when she is married off to an abusive man. Forced to adjust to life as a wife and young mother when she is still just a girl herself, she must learn to survive through physical challenges and emotional strain. When she finds out she’s pregnant with another man’s baby, she comes to a crossroad. Will she stay with the life she knows or walk into the unknown to claim her full potential? Filled with striking prose, Jennifer Smith Turner presents a coming of age story that testifies to the strength of a woman’s spirit.

Child Bride publishes on April 14, 2020.

Conjure Women by Afia Atakora

In Conjure Women, Afia Atakora leaps across the boundaries of time both before and after the Civil War as she writes the lives of three women. A story full of secrets and curses, May Belle, Rue, and Varina have to overcome the dangerous consequences of superstition. Their dedication to their loved ones and their freedom creates a magnificently rich narrative rooted in healing and community. Spectacularly detailed with equal parts research and imagination, Atakora connects readers across generations to these extraordinary women.

Conjure Women publishes on April 7, 2020.

A Phoenix First Must Burn: Sixteen Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope edited by Patrice Caldwell

Filled with stunning romance, betrayal, and rich detail, Patrice Caldwell has given black women and gender-nonconforming individuals the stage in A Phoenix First Must Burn. A captivating narrative of genre-spanning stories, this collection traverses everywhere between retold folktales and science fiction. Witches, rebels, sisters, priestesses—these characters will speak to you as they share their triumphs, regrets, losses, and love. Patrice Caldwell has captured the essence of Black Girl Magic in a bottle—and with it, she explores the strength and beauty of the human spirit.

A Phoenix First Must Burn publishes on March 10, 2020.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

A proud Afro-Dominicana, Elizabeth Acevedo has dazzled audiences with her previous works. She earned her spot as a New York Times best-selling author with The Poet X and With the Fire on High. Clap When You Land is novel-in-verse about the bittersweet lessons that come from painful loss. When Camino in the Dominican Republic and Yahaira Rios from New York each learn that their father has died in a plane crash, it seems like this new reality is something they have to endure alone—until they learn of each other. From the points of view of these two distinct, heartbroken voices, Acevedo arrests readers as we follow their path from grief and confusion to enlightenment and forgiveness.

Clap When You Land publishes on May 5, 2020.

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

A strong stand-out in the YA realm, Namina Forna’s West African-inspired fantasy series comes out this May. In a world where a girl’s acceptance into her village is dictated by a blood ceremony, sixteen-year-old Deka’s gold blood brands her impure. She’s forced to either face the village’s judgment or leave to join the alaki—an army of girls fighting for the emperor. With this band of outcasts, Deka embarks on a journey where she will face the harshest fight of her life. Filled with immersive adventure and an unforgettable cast of characters, The Gilded Ones is a book to look out for.

The Gilded Ones publishes on May 26, 2020.