Books by Frederick Joseph
The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person
The instant New York Times bestseller!
Writing from the perspective of a friend, Frederick Joseph offers candid reflections on his own experiences with racism and conversations with prominent artists and activists about theirs—creating an essential read for white people who are committed anti-racists and those newly come to the cause of racial justice.
“We don’t see color.” “I didn’t know Black people liked Star Wars!” “What hood are you from?” For Frederick Joseph, life as a transfer student in a largely white high school was full of wince-worthy moments that he often simply let go. As he grew older, however, he saw these as missed opportunities not only to stand up for himself, but to spread awareness to those white people who didn’t see the negative impact they were having.
Speaking directly to the reader, The Black Friend calls up race-related anecdotes from the author’s past, weaving in his thoughts on why they were hurtful and how he might handle things differently now. Each chapter features the voice of at least one artist or activist, including Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give;April Reign, creator of #OscarsSoWhite; Jemele Hill, sports journalist and podcast host; and eleven others. Touching on everything from cultural appropriation to power dynamics, “reverse racism” to white privilege, microaggressions to the tragic results of overt racism, this book serves as conversation starter, tool kit, and invaluable window into the life of a former “token Black kid” who now presents himself as the friend many readers need. Backmatter includes an encyclopedia of racism, providing details on relevant historical events, terminology, and more.
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Better Than We Found It: Conversations to Help Save the World
by Frederick Joseph, Porsche Joseph
From the New York Times best-selling author of The Black Friend and a seasoned activist comes an indispensable guide to social and political progressivism for young people and anyone wanting to get more involved.
What is disinformation, and how does it influence our lives? How did the wealth gap become so staggeringly wide? Why do so many Americans lack access to quality health care? And—most importantly—what can we do about it all? Through a combination of personal anecdotes and interviews, authors Frederick Joseph and Porsche Joseph make a compelling case for tackling some of the biggest issues of our day, from gun violence, the prison system, transphobia, and indigenous land theft to climate change, education, housing, and immigration. Covering sixteen topics and featuring more than two dozen interviews with prominent activists, authors, actors, and politicians, this is the essential resource for those who want to make the world better than we found it.
Featuring interviews with:
Mehcad Brooks
Keah Brown
Julián Castro
Sonja Cherry-Paul
Chelsea Clinton
Charlotte Clymer
Mari Copeny, aka Little Miss Flint
Greg D’Amato
Jesse Katz
Amed Khan
Daniel Alejandro Leon-Davis
Willy and Jo Lorenz
Ben O’Keefe
Brittany Packnett Cunningham
Anna Paquin
Robert Reich
Brandon T. Snider
Nic Stone
Anton Treuer
Andrea Tulee
David Villalpando
Elizabeth Warren
Shannon Watts
Natalie Weaver
Brandon Wolf
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$19.99
Better Than We Found It: Conversations to Help Save the World
by Frederick Joseph, Porsche Joseph
"Accessible and enlightening. . . . Whether considered individually or taken as a whole, these crucial topics will shape the future, and the Josephs want readers to be ready to join the conversation." --Booklist (starred review)
What is disinformation, and how does it influence our lives? How did the wealth gap become so staggeringly wide? Why do so many Americans lack access to quality health care? And--most importantly--what can we do about it all? Through a combination of personal anecdotes and interviews, authors Frederick Joseph and Porsche Joseph make a compelling case for tackling some of the biggest issues of our day, from gun violence, the prison system, transphobia, and indigenous land theft to climate change, education, housing, and immigration. Covering sixteen topics and featuring more than two dozen interviews with prominent activists, authors, actors, and politicians, this is the essential resource for those who want to make the world better than we found it.
Featuring interviews with:
Mehcad Brooks * Keah Brown * Julián Castro * Sonja Cherry-Paul * Chelsea Clinton * Charlotte Clymer * Mari Copeny, aka "Little Miss Flint" * Greg D'Amato * Jesse Katz * Amed Khan * Daniel Alejandro Leon-Davis * Willy and Jo Lorenz * Ben O'Keefe * Brittany Packnett Cunningham * Anna Paquin * Robert Reich * Brandon T. Snider * Nic Stone * Anton Treuer * Andrea Tulee * David Villalpando * Elizabeth Warren * Shannon Watts * Natalie Weaver * Brandon Wolf
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This Thing of Ours
The powerful and timely YA novel debut from two-time New York Times best-selling author Frederick Joseph is a deeply heartfelt story—and a rallying cry against book banning.
In an instant, Ossie Brown’s entire future is in jeopardy when a torn ACL ends his promising basketball career. Now that basketball is no longer a major part of his identity, Ossie—a Black teen who doesn’t come from wealth and privilege—must navigate his new place in the social and academic ecosystems of his affluent, predominantly white school. When a Black teacher encourages him to join her highly regarded writing program, Ossie begins to find a new purpose, buoyed by not only the rich works of literature by marginalized authors he’s now reading, but also by new friends who see him as something more than an asset to the sports program. Everything changes when some students’ viral “anti-woke” video puts the teacher’s job, the writing program, and even Ossie’s friends’ safety at risk—and Ossie must find his true voice. This unflinching novel confronts critical issues like racism and classism, the treatment of student athletes, homophobia, and book banning while weaving together a moving testament to family, romance, friendship, and the power of words.
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$18.99
This Thing of Ours
"Both heartening and heartbreaking, this richly layered, sensitive YA fiction debut from Joseph unflinchingly confronts systemic racism, classism, and homophobia via a powerful story of self-discovery and social justice that aims, shoots, and scores." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)
In an instant, Ossie Brown's entire future is in jeopardy when a torn ACL ends his promising basketball career. Now that basketball is no longer a major part of his identity, Ossie--a Black teen who doesn't come from wealth and privilege--must navigate his new place in the social and academic ecosystems of his affluent, predominantly white school. When a Black teacher encourages him to join her highly regarded writing program, Ossie begins to find a new purpose, buoyed by not only the rich works of literature by marginalized authors he's now reading, but also by new friends who see him as something more than an asset to the sports program. Everything changes when some students' viral "anti-woke" video puts the teacher's job, the writing program, and even Ossie's friends' safety at risk--and Ossie must find his true voice. This unflinching novel confronts critical issues like racism and classism, the treatment of student athletes, homophobia, and book banning while weaving together a moving testament to family, romance, friendship, and the power of words.
Copies
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$12.99
Spider-Man: Stories from the Spider-Verse
by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, Tui T. Sutherland, Preeti Chhibber, Steve Foxe, Jessica Kim, Ronald L. Smith, Alex Segura, Frederick Joseph, David Betancourt, Caroline M. Yoachim
The Spider-Man you know is one of many. Meet ten Spider-Heroes in this new short story collection from acclaimed, best-selling authors writing across the Spider-Verse.
There is a Spider-Verse filled with Spider-Heroes, each on their own world: Spider-Punk, as adept at the guitar as he is at fighting crime. Spider-UK, who’s juggling Eid celebrations and a super-villain threat to her London neighborhood. And Web-Weaver, whose latest fashion event is threatened by a citywide storm of hallucinations.
Some, like Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy, have already crossed from one universe to the next. Others are still discovering they’re not alone. And now ten acclaimed best-selling authors, including New York Times bestselling authors Tui Sutherland, Frederick Joseph, and Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, and many more, tell the stories of these amazing Spider-Heroes—just as a mystery villain rises to threaten the entire Spider-Verse.
The full list of authors:
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
David Betancourt
Preeti Chhibber
Steve Foxe
Frederick Joseph
Jessica Kim
Alex Segura
Ronald L. Smith
Tui T. Sutherland
Caroline M. Yoachim
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We Alive, Beloved Poems
NYT Bestselling Author Frederick Joseph explores a new genre in this captivating poetry collection that seeks to find joy in moments of difficulty whether through illuminating the beauty of being Black, highlighting the hope that can be found in childhood, or by sharing intimate truths revealed on a mental health journey. This book will appeal to both new and established readers of poetry.
Step into the world of We Alive, Beloved, where its words will resonate within the deepest corners of your soul, leaving a mark on your heart and a renewed appreciation for the beauty of being alive.
We Alive, Beloved moves beyond being a poetry collection; it's a celebration of the profound aspects of our existence. Each poem seeks to immortalize the fleeting moments of joy, love, resilience, and inspiration that often slip through the grasp of our fast-paced lives.
In this poetic testament, we defy the ephemeral nature of beauty and goodness, daring to clutch onto these facets of life for just a little longer. With words that stand as guardians against the relentless march of time and the ceaseless tides of change, trauma, and grief, this collection becomes a sanctuary of light in a world that sometimes seems dim.
We Alive, Beloved explores a rich tapestry of themes, from the intricacies of relationships and the heartache of loss, to the wide-eyed wonder of existence and the challenges of exploring the possibility of parenthood in our modern age. Each poem reaches out to readers, offering a mirror to their own journeys and emotions, inviting them to be seen and acknowledged in its lyrical embrace.
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