Celebrating Black History Month 2026
Celebrating Black History Month 2026
The canon of black literature is vast and much beloved by our students and staff, so it is impossible to pick out any favourites. However, we would like to highlight four books that made a particular impact this year.
The Queen’s Spade
The Queen’s Spade by Sarah Raughley is a tale of Victorian court intrigue.
We acquired it to accompany our Archives display about Victoria Davies, goddaughter to Queen Victoria and former student at CLC. Although Victoria does not feature in the novel, her mother, Sarah (‘Sally’) Bonetta Forbes, does.
Formerly called Aina, she was believed to have been a high-born member of the Yewa people. ‘Gifted’ to Queen Victoria as a child, she became her goddaughter, just as her own daughter would later.
The Girl with the Louding Voice
The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré is a novel set in Nigeria and follows the 14-year-old Adunni, who is forced to find her own voice and strength under unimaginably difficult circumstances.
Our students love this book so much they voted to include it in our CLC125 Reading Challenge this year. We love it, too!
Black Flamingo
Black Flamingo by Dean Atta is an incredibly moving coming-of-age verse-novel by this versatile and award-winning British writer.
We had the pleasure of welcoming him to CLC earlier this year for a poetry slam competition, and he very kindly agreed to judge for us.
It was so much fun and a huge honour to host him, and with any luck, we will see more of him in the future.
Noughts and Crosses
Finally, Noughts and Crosses by Malory Blackman hardly needs an introduction, but we include it here all the same, because it has featured in our Top-10 most-borrowed books for years.
Bearing in mind that it is only the first in a series of five books, all of which continue to be hugely popular, we absolutely must salute Part One here.
It continues to shine a light on racism, and we are so grateful for its clear and ever-important message.
These four books, as well as many others, are available in our libraries, and during October, they are on special display to encourage students to read, not just this month, but all year round.
Keep turning those pages, people!
Miss Muhlberg, Head of Library Services
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