Reddit mentions of Parable of the Sower (Earthseed)

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler (post-apocalyptic)

When unattended environmental and economic crises lead to social chaos, not even gated communities are safe. In a night of fire and death Lauren Olamina, a minister's young daughter, loses her family and home and ventures out into the unprotected American landscape. But what begins as a flight for survival soon leads to something much more: a startling vision of human destiny... and the birth of a new faith.

I'm not familiar with books about body image but I don't think that books need to be about body image to make young black kids comfortable with their blackness - just reading about normal, well-written black characters is enough for some kids. (Even seeing a black face on the back of the book or illustrated on the cover is a good thing for young people.) There are a bunch of books out there that address the topic of fitting in and what it's like to be black in America and feel "normal," but those books are usually catered to pre-teens and I don't know enough about them to give any recommendations.

There are a bunch of good books out there by black writers (all of the ones I can think of right now are by women) that have black main characters and convey a positive message (not just about being black) that I think might help. Check out these books and their authors:

• Plain City by Virginia Hamilton
  
• Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson
  
• Mindscape by Andrea Hairston
  
• Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
  
• Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
  
• Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
  
• Words with Wings by Nikki Grimes

You mention Atwood but I'd like to put The Handmaid's Tale and Oryx and Crake out there as well. Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower is a great one as well.
One I read when I was quite young and I still have vivid mental images from it is John Wyndham's The Chrysalids.
Also... I am saving this for all of the other suggestions!

I think Parable of the Sower is far and away her best novel. Dystopian post-apocalyptic west cost with awesome politics. Didn't care for the sequel as much though - too preachy. Kindred is also fantastic literary sci-fi (though some would argue it's not sci-fi at all). Other suggestions for good political and/or feminist sci-fi novels?

Edit: Here's a good list from China Mieville, slanted towards socialist politics as is the author.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler! I just finished it, loved it, can't wait to go onto the next one. It's the perfect border between YA/adult.

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula LeGuin

Anything by Joanna Russ

Floating Worlds and Great Maria by Cecelia Holland

The Shattered Chain by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Titan by John Varley

Ammonite by Nicola Griffith

Walk to the End of the World by Suzy McKee Charnas

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

Downbelow Station by C.J. Cherryh

Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter by Simone de Beauvoir

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned yet, but Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler reminded me a lot of Fallout.

the Diamond Age

Friday

the Sparrow

the Blind Assasin

Parable of the Sower

http://www.amazon.com/Parable-Sower-Octavia-Butler/dp/0446675504/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321902753&sr=8-1

Are you not from the US?

Parable of the Sower was pretty good.
http://www.amazon.com/Parable-Sower-Octavia-Butler/dp/0446675504/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1310715086&sr=1-2

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler and the sequel to it. It's an amazing read just on an entertainment level, but there's a lot of social commentary too if you're looking for it.

Olivia Butler's Parable of the Sower

I don't see why the candy wouldn't work, its not like they are fit for consumption.

Edit: Also, unrelated but you should get him the book "The Parable of the Sower." Amazon link. Its not a zombie book, but it is an interesting read about survival in an apocalyptic world.