We're thrilled to share that I GOT YOU and THE INCREDIBLY HUMAN HENSON BLAYZE are nominees for the 2026 Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters awards!

Full list: www.ms-arts-letters.org/nominations1...

#DerrickBarnes #BookSky #AwardNomination #MississippiInstituteofArtsandLetters

We’re proud to share that THE INCREDIBLY HUMAN HENSON BLAYZE by #SerendipityLit author Derrick Barnes was named a winner of the 2026 Walter Dean Myers Award for Young Readers by @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social!

Full list: www.diversebooks.org/programs/wal...

#DerrickBarnes #BookSky #Awards

Happy Book Birthday to the powerhouse #SerendipityLit team of Derrick Barnes and Christian Gregory for SEVEN MILLION STEPS, illustrated by award-winning artist Frank Morrison!

Order here: bookshop.org/a/10902/9780...

#DerrickBarnes #DickGregory #SevenMillionSteps #BookBirthday #BookSky

Coming fall 2027, WONDER LOVE by #SerendipityLit author Derrick Barnes and illustrator Dan Lish is a poetic and illustrative praise to Stevie Wonder’s “Classic Period” and his enormous influence on music.

#DerrickBarnes #DanLish #StevieWonder #BookDeal #BookSky #ChildrensBooks #PictureBooks

We were thrilled to see two #SerendipityLit titles receive honors at the @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social Youth Media Awards! Congratulations to Derrick Barnes, @gordoncjamesart.bsky.social, and Quartez Harris!

Watch: www.ala.unikron.com

#DerrickBarnes #QuartezHarris #GordonCJames #ALAYMA #BookSky

Congratulations to #SerendipityLit author Derrick Barnes and illustrator Shamar Knight-Justice on their recent book deal with Nancy Paulsen Books (@nancyrosep.bsky.social / @penguinkids.bsky.social)!

#DerrickBarnes #ShamarKnightJustice #BookDeal #ChildrensBooks #BookSky

Big congratulations to #SerendipityLit author Derrick Barnes, honoree of the 2026 Jane Addams Children's Book Award in the Chapter Book Category!

Full list: janeaddamschildrensbookaward.org/book-award/

#DerrickBarnes #JaneAddamsChildrensBookAward #BookAward #ChildrensBooks #BookSky

Velshi Banned Book Club: The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze by Derrick Barnes The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze by Derrick Barnes follows Henson Blayze, a kind and gifted young athlete who is one of the few Black kids in a small town. When his 10-year-old neighbor is beaten ne...

In case you missed it: THE INCREDIBLY HUMAN HENSON BLAYZE by #SerendipityLit author Derrick Barnes was inducted into the @velshibbc.bsky.social.

Watch the interview: www.ms.now/ms-now/watch...

#DerrickBarnes #BookBans #BannedBooks #BookSky #VelshiBannedBookClub

The Southern Book Prize What do you think is the best southern book of the year?

THE INCREDIBLY HUMAN HENSON BLAYZE by #SerendipityLit author Derrick Barnes is a finalist for the Southern Book Prize in the Young Readers category!

Vote here: thesouthernbooksellerreview.org/southern-boo...

#DerrickBarnes #BookSky #LiteraryAwards #SourthernBookPrize

Kirkus Reviews named THE INCREDIBLY HUMAN HENSON BLAYZE by #SerendipityLit author Derrick Barnes as one of the Best Middle-Grade Fiction Books of 2025! Congratulations, Derrick!

Full list: www.kirkusreviews.com/book-lists/b...

#BookSky #DerrickBarnes #BestBooksof2025 #MiddleGradeBooks

The 10 best kids listens of 2025 Discover tales that will never grow old in this year’s crop of children’s literature meant to enrich, enlighten, and delight.

Audible named THE INCREDIBLY HUMAN HENSON BLAYZE audiobook as one of the Best Kids Listens of 2025! Congratulations to #SerendipityLit author Derrick Barnes and narrator Miles J. Harvey!

Read it here: www.audible.com/blog/article...

#DerrickBarnes #Audible #Audiobooks #BestAudiobooks #BookSky

I GOT YOU by #SerendipityLit author Derrick Barnes and illustrator Shamar Knight-Justice was named one of the Best Picture Books of 2025 by the @chipublib.bsky.social!

Read it here: chipublib.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/disp...

#BookSky #DerrickBarnes #BestBooksof2025 #BestPictureBooks

The Loneliness of the Larger-Than-Life Black Athlete

Author @dbarclaymoore.bsky.social recently gave THE INCREDIBLY HUMAN HENSON BLAYZE by #SerendipityLit author Derrick Barnes a glowing review in the @nytimes.com!

Read it here: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/b...

#DerrickBarnes #BookSky #BookReview #MiddleGradeBooks

Last month, #SerendipityLit CEO Regina Brooks attended the 2025 Kirkus Prize ceremony to celebrate Derrick Barnes and other Kirkus Prize nominees on their achievements and honor the winners.

#KirkusPrize #DerrickBarnes #ReginaBrooks #KirkusReviews #BookSky

Best Books 2025: Publishers Weekly Publishers Weekly Best Books 2025, Best Middle Grade Books, Lauren Wolk, Meg Medina, Daniel Miyares, Derrick Barnes, Ibram X. Kendi, Bibi Dumon Tak, Mika Song, Karina Yan Glaser, Guojing, Katherine Applegate, María Dol...

We are thrilled to announce that @publisherswkly.bsky.social named THE INCREDIBLY HUMAN HENSON BLAYZE as one of the Best Middle Grade Books of 2025!

Read their full list here: best-books.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-book...

#DerrickBarnes #TheIncrediblyHumanHensonBlayze #BookSky #PublishersWeekly

#SerendipityLit author Derrick Barnes will be attending the Portland Best Festival (@literary-arts.org) next Saturday, November 8th, for two live sessions!

A Portland Book Festival pass is required: pdxbookfest.org/bio/derrick-...

#BookSky #DerrickBarnes #PortlandBookFestival #PortlandBookFest

School Library Journal Day of Dialog Fall 2025 Join us October 9th for SLJ Day of Dialog—fully virtual and free to attend! Our daylong program of author panels, in-depth conversations, and keynote talks will leave you informed, inspired, and enter...

#SerendipityLit author Derrick Barnes will be attending the @slj.com Day of Dialog tomorrow, Wednesday, October 9th, to answer questions about his upcoming book, SEVEN MILLION STEPS!

Register here: www.slj.com/event/school...

#BookSky #DerrickBarnes #SchoolLibraryJournal #SLJDOD #DickGregory

For a guy whose job is knocking people down, Derrick Barnes is a really nice & friendly guy...let's go @detroitlions.bsky.social !!!

#DetroitLions #Linebacker #DerrickBarnes #OnePride

{2025 New Release} The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze by: Derrick Barnes In the small town of Great Mountain, Mississippi, all eyes are on Henson Blayze, a thirteen-year-old football phenom whose talents seem almost superhuman. The predominately white townsfolk have been waiting for Henson to play high school ball, and now they’re overjoyed to finally possess an elite Black athlete of their own. Until a horrifying incident forces Henson to speak out about injustice.

Happy Pub Week to Derrick Barnes! #newrelease #DerrickBarnes This story speaks to important, of-the-moment issues in a middle-grade-accessible way from a Black perspective, including Black Lives Matter, police brutality, and the targeting of Black children.

#TheIncrediblyHumanHensonBlayze by #DerrickBarnes is a children’s novel for readers 10 and up. The story examines America’s long history of confining Black people to labor or entertainment roles and challenges readers to consider how far society has come – and how much still remains the same. (3/5)

Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes back for 'unfinished business' Allen Park — The Detroit Lions' new $25.5 million man, linebacker Derrick Barnes, was reaching the end of his press conference when a teammate crashed the party. From the back of the Lions' media room, teammate Malcolm Rodriguez asked if the…

Allen Park — The Detroit Lions' new $25.5 million man, linebacker Derrick Barnes, was reaching the end of his press conference when a teammate crashed the party.


From the back of the Lions' media room, teammate Malcolm Rodriguez asked if the linebackers' snack… #Lions #DerrickBarnes #NFL

Report: Lions ink linebacker Derrick Barnes to three-year extension The Detroit Lions are returning a big piece of their linebacking room, reportedly agreeing to terms with pending free agent Derrick Barnes on a three-year deal that will keep him in Detroit through the 2027 season. According to multiple reports,…

The Detroit Lions are returning a big piece of their linebacking room, reportedly agreeing to terms with pending free agent Derrick Barnes on a three-year deal that will keep him in Detroit through the 2027 season.


According to multiple reports, Barnes' deal is… #DetroitLions #DerrickBarnes #NFL

February 10th
#BlackHistoryMonthBookChallenge #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM #tlskychat #booksky #books #DerrickBarnes

Lions LB Derrick Barnes, off crutches, attacking rehab: 'Everything's going to be good' Derrick Barnes said he rode a stationary bike Wednesday for the first time since injuring his knee in a Week 3 game against the Arizona Cardinals.

www.freep.com/story/sports...
#DerrickBarnes #Lions

Derrick Barnes: 'It Was a Long Journey For Me' Derrick Barnes has became a valuable member of Detroit's linebackers unit.

www.si.com/nfl/lions/ne...
#DerrickBarnes #Lions

Injured Lions LB back rehabbing with team; no timetable for return Barnes was spotted in the locker room on Wednesday. He's back rehabbing at the team facility after spending time recovering in West Lafayette, Indiana.

www.mlive.com/lions/2024/1...
#DerrickBarnes #Lions