The Black Girl Survives in This One

Edited by Desiree S. Evans, and Saraciea J. Fennell, Macmillan Publishers, 2024

Desiree S. Evans holds an MFA in Fiction and is a writer from Louisiana. Saraciea J. Fennell is a writer, book publicist, and creator of Honduran Garifuna Writers. The Black Girl Survives in This One is a collection of horror stories with young adult Black women as the main characters in each story. The stories can each be read over time as they are unique and teen fans of horror will want to dive into each one. From the story about black strings that mysteriously appear above the heads of band members during a competition that signal their impending demise, to the story about the skittering thing that lurks outside of a family home or the story about a cult of green juice drinking teens, readers will find the tales to be a nice combination of fiction with realistic elements.

Black readers will enjoy reading about characters that reflect their backgrounds and also survive. Survival has not been depicted in many of the horror films and books in popular media. This book is also great for teens who don’t want to read a lengthy novel. They can choose what they want to read and each story is written by a different author. A book like this is long overdue. Tananarive Due’s powerful foreword sets the stage and underscores the vital need for more voices of color in horror.

What works: There is something for everyone in this anthology. Not just for young women but men as well who have roles in some of the stories.

What doesn’t work: I cannot think of anything that does not work other than if you are not a horror fan you may not like it. But I think you will be pleasantly surprised. The stories are not grotesque but they are suspenseful and intriguing.

Pass It OR Grab It? Grab it! Give it a shot even if you are not someone who would not normally read horror stories.

Posted by:

Vivian Bynoe

Vivian Bynoe, MLIS is an Assistant Professor and Head of Reference and Instruction at Lane Library, Georgia Southern University, Armstrong Campus. As the liaison to the College of Education and Social Sciences, she works closely with professors to promote information literacy skills in students. She is a member of The American Library Association and active in the Georgia Library Association. Her work with promoting literacy began prior to her academic career when she worked in the children’s department of a public library in Charlotte, North Carolina. There she developed an expertise in readers’ advisory for Children’s and Young Adult Literature. She is a fellow of The Red Clay Writing Institute at The University of Georgia. Her other interests include promoting critical literacy, motivating and educating non-traditional students, assisting underserved communities in gaining access to information, and promoting diversity initiatives in the library and the larger community. Vivian Bynoe can be contacted at: vbynoe@georgiasouthern.edu