Earlier this fall, VOYA magazine, a trade book review magazine that focuses on children’s and YA books, was called out for having published a review of Kody Keplinger’s YA novel Run that included problematic language about a bisexual character. You can read about the initial situation here.

Soon afterward, author Phoebe North noticed that several VOYA reviews used problematic language in reviews of YA books with lesbian and/or bisexual female characters (including my own novel, Ash). Many people in the kidlit and YA community questioned whether this showed that VOYA has been homophobic or biphobic, particularly with regard to books that include female same-sex relationships. As this situation developed, author Saundra Mitchell continued to follow it publicly for several weeks. You can read Saundra’s reports on it starting here, and concluding most recently here.

Since the VOYA news broke, I’ve been thinking about the ways that trade book reviews represent children’s and YA books with LGBTQ+ characters and issues. As many people know, I’ve written previously about the representation of diversity in general in trade book reviews. Although I didn’t focus solely on LGBTQ+ issues in that previous analysis, I did see some problematic representations. I suspect that VOYA is not the only trade publication to have published book reviews that present LGBTQ+ characters in heteronormative and/or homophobic ways.

This is why I’ve decided to take a closer look at representations of LGBTQ+ characters in children’s and YA trade book reviews. I am not going into this with an expectation that I will find a consistent trend toward homophobic reviews; I intend to see what’s out there first, and draw conclusions after that.

To that end, I’ve created this Google form where anyone can alert me to potentially heteronormative, homophobic, biphobic, and/or transphobic trade reviews of published children’s/YA books. At this time I’m limiting my data collection to trade book reviews (see definition below). Although I know there are homophobic reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and book blogs, I am not looking at those sources. There is no deadline for filling out this form and it will probably be live for a few more weeks, but if you have information to share, I’d certainly appreciate getting it sooner rather than later.

Please note the following terms:

LGBTQ+ = Recognizing that no acronym can include all gender and sexual minorities, I use this term to indicate that I’m seeking information about books with main characters who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, or additional identities that fall underneath this umbrella; or books that focus on LGBTQ+ issues (such as a parent coming out, or homophobia).
Children’s and YA books = Books published for children, including picture books and middle grade books, plus young adult books (books for teens). I am not seeking information on books for adults.
Mainstream publisher = A publisher that acquires books for publication, pays authors an advance and/or royalties. Includes members of the Big 5 publishing houses, major publishers such as Scholastic, as well as smaller presses like Cinco Puntos. This does NOT include self-published books. At this time I am not seeking information on self-published books.
Major trade journal = Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, School Library Journal, Booklist, VOYA, The Horn Book, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

TL;DR: If you know of a children’s or YA book, published by a mainstream publisher, that was about an LGBTQ+ main character or issue, and that received a problematic book review in a major trade journal, please fill out this form to let me know. You are welcome to fill out this form anonymously.

If you have any questions about the above, you’re welcome to contact me by email at mlo@malindalo.com or on twitter @malindalo. Thank you for your help!