Books To Read if You Love Abbott Elementary
If you haven’t been watching Quinta Brunson’s Abbott Elementary, you’re missing out on great television! The show follows a group of teachers who all work in an underfunded public school and who, despite their differences, work together to find new and hilarious ways to shine light on important everyday issues that impact urban communities. Whether you’re new to the show or have binge-watched the whole series, here are ten books to add to your TBR list.
For more great reads by Black voices, explore the All Ways Black book guide, then follow @AllWaysBlack on Instagram to join the conversation.-
1
Add to BookshelfThe Neighbor Favor
by Kristina Forest
Just like Janine, Lily Greene, shy and bookish, feels inadequate compared to her accomplished family. Stuck in the nonfiction division, she dreams of becoming a children’s book editor. She finds solace in emails with her favorite fantasy author, which turns into a friendship — until he ghosts her. Months later, Lily seeks a date for her sister’s wedding and turns to her charming new neighbor, Nick. Unbeknownst to her, Nick is actually, her favorite author. As Nick realizes Lily is the same person he fell for over email, he agrees to help her find a date, despite his growing feelings for her …
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$19.00Buy from Other Retailers:
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2
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Ayesha at Last
by Uzma Jalaluddin
Ayesha is a reluctant teacher who dreams of being a poet. In debt to her wealthy uncle, Ayesha needs a day job to be able to pay him back. However, she is determined to make it on her own, eschewing her family’s demands that she get an arranged marriage. But then she meets Khalid, and everything becomes a lot more complicated …
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$19.00Buy from Other Retailers:
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3
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Such a Fun Age: Reese’s Book Club
by Kiley Reid
Janine Teagues and Such a Fun Age heroine, Emira, have a lot in common. They both live in the Philadelphia area and answer to “self-made girl bosses,” even though they can feel a bit lost at times. Such a Fun Age deep-dives into complex subject matters like race, class, and identity in a way that is both profound and highly entertaining.
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$19.00Buy from Other Retailers:
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4
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Skye Falling
by Mia McKenzie
Ava Coleman is, arguably, one of the funniest characters on television right now. She’s unpredictable at times and can be unreliable, as well as standoffish, just like Skye. Fans of the disconnected principal will enjoy rooting for Skye as she figures out how to navigate motherhood after a twelve-year-old girl pops up, a result of when Skye, young and broke, sold her eggs …
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$22.00Buy from Other Retailers:
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5
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My Teacher Is the Best!
by D.J. Steinberg
There’s nothing more joyous than seeing children embrace their teachers. Abbott Elementary proves that, no matter what the circumstances are, teachers will go above and beyond for their students. Now, children and parents can gift this book to their favorite teachers. Students can even write poems inside to brighten up their instructor’s day!
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$8.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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6
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Late Bloomers
by Deepa Varadarajan
If you’ve watched the show, you can probably guess who is and isn’t a late bloomer. (Yes it’s Janine and possibly Gregory and Jacob, too.) Now, try to imagine if your parents were late bloomers. That’s the new reality for the Raman family. After 36 years of a dutiful yet unhappy arranged marriage, Suresh and Lata are getting a divorce. Now they, and their kids, try to navigate this new world and learn how to be happy.
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$18.00Buy from Other Retailers:
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7
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Uncle John’s City Garden
by Bernette Ford
In Season 1, the garden that Barbara and Jacob have been tending starts to bear fruit. Despite Gregory’s initial reluctance to participate, he finds he just can’t help himself from getting involved. This book will inspire all aspiring green thumbs to learn how and why we should all invest in city gardens. Urban gardening can be a community or family effort, and no matter how big or how small your garden is, Ford shares how rewarding it can be.
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$8.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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8
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Poverty, by America
by Matthew Desmond
Despite the teachers and staff of Abbott Elementary making the best of what they have, they struggle to obtain basic necessities to teach. In this important book, Desmond makes a sound argument on what America can do to end poverty by uncovering who stands to benefit the most in our current system.
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$20.00Buy from Other Retailers:
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9
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Dear Black Girl
by Tamara Winfrey Harris
There’s a lot of Black girl magic on Abbott Elementary. This book encapsulates all the feelings of Black womanhood in a series of letters and essays. Tackling subjects such as sisterhood, identity, self-love, and mental health, Winfrey Harris delivers a powerful book full of open letters to Black girls and women everywhere.
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$16.95Buy from Other Retailers:
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10
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Business Not As Usual
by Sharon C. Cooper
There might be a workplace romance brewing on Abbott Elementary, and we are all waiting for it to unfold. Nobody expects to fall in love while at work but sometimes it just happens. Dreamy Daniels just needs a little bit of luck because she knows she deserves to be loved. Her luck might change once she meets the handsome potential investor her boss brings to the office.
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$16.00Buy from Other Retailers:
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11
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House Party
by justin a. reynolds
Who doesn’t love a good party? In Abbott Elementary, the teachers had an unforgettable holiday party. To keep the party going, you’ll love this YA collection of interconnected stories that take place during an epic house party. Filled with teen drama like new relationships, enemies-to-friends, and heartbreaking romances, these stories will stick with you for a long time.
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$12.99Buy from Other Retailers:
