Barnes' books celebrate African American culture and feature positive images of black children in everyday life.

[3] In 2003, he left Hallmark and moved to New Orleans, where he worked a variety of jobs before signing a multi-book deal with children's book publisher Scholastic.

[10] The series started with two books published simultaneously in 2008, Brand New School, Brave New Ruby and Trivia Queen, 3rd Grade Supreme.

"[13] We Could Be Brothers, a hardcover novel written for young teenagers, tells the story of two middle-grade boys with two different upbringings who both attend the same school.

The book explores coming-of-age themes, including race, self-respect, women, and what it means to grow up as a black kid in American society.

[15] Barnes' first picture book, Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, illustrated by Gordon C. James, was published in 2017 to critical acclaim.

[21] Barnes' 2020 book, I Am Every Good Thing, won the 2020 Kirkus Prize for young people's literature, as well as The NCTE Charlotte Huck Award.