YA LGBT Books discussion

If a teen library comes into money for a YA LGBTQ collection... What titles should they buy/request?

We have a thread in the Book Related Banter file for recommendations to YA libraries for LGBTQ books - it's a great list but it's very long by now. Plus most of it was done several years ago, and particularly in the BTQ range we have a bunch of new good choices.

So I want to do another list but to keep it short:

Please list up to:
2 books with gay MCs
2 books with lesbian MCs
4 books with MCs who are BTQIAPP+
2 books of any LGBTQ that are clearly also genre (fantasy, historical, SciFi, mystery) (Your first 8 can also be genre or not, but here's a chance to add 2, because I love books that are not just about being LGBTQ))

That's it. Your top 10 max. Preferably books that come in paper, but don't feel obliged to go track that down.
*bwahhaha - making you choose just 2... :D *

Go...

My list

Gay MCs:
Vivaldi in the Dark
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Lesbian MCs
Empress of the World
Come To My Window

BTQ+
Freakboy
Spy Stuff
Symptoms of Being Human
Beautiful Music for Ugly Children

Genre
Knight Errant (SciFi)
Vintage: A Ghost Story (Paranormal)

*shakes fist at list limitation* CURSES!
Here's a template (remove the asterisks):(view spoiler)[
<*b>Gay MCs:<*/b>

<*b>Lesbian MCs:<*/b>

<*b>BTQ+<*/b>

<*b>Genre<*/b>

(hide spoiler)]
Gay MCs:
The Great American Whatever
The Red Sheet

Lesbian MCs:
(Can't remember any right now, be back later to finish)

BTQ+
Grasshopper Jungle
The Art of Being Normal
Pantomime
A + E 4ever (also Genre; Graphic Novel)

Genre
The Star Host (Science Fiction)
Willful Machines (Speculative Fiction)

Thanks for the picks and the template Rez <3

Gay MCs:
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
I'll Give You the Sun


Lesbian MCs:
Afterworlds
The Miseducation of Cameron Post


BTQ+:
Ash (Fantasy, female MC)
Beauty Queens (lesbian, trans, and not-labeled-bisexual MCs)


Genre:
Proxy (Science Fiction gay MC)
Carry On (Fantasy--this is unapologetically Harry Potter fanfiction but it's kind of brilliant also gay MC)


Books I don't recommend:
Almost Perfect (the most transphobic/homophobic queer book I know of)
Grasshopper Jungle (there's nothing actually wrong with this book apart from the main character being a horrible person. I just don't like it.)

While Rez has Grasshopper Jungle on their top recommended list... that's why I want all the different input. It's a reading rainbow and what one person loves another may not.

Thanks for the list Anna - I really need to get to reading The Miseducation of Cameron Post. I've seen a lot of recommendations for it.

Gay MCs:

Lesbian MCs:
The Miseducation of Cameron Post
Points of Departure

BTQ+
Dating Sarah Cooper (lesbian + bisexual)

Genre
Rising From the Ashes: The Chronicles of Caymin (fantasy)

<3 Thanks for the list.

Here's mine! All 2016 because I figure a lot of libraries already have many of the older titles. ^^

Gay



Lesbian



BTQ+ plus



Genre

Very cool - good to have the new stuff.

Gay MCs:
Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg
Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You by Peter Cameron

Lesbian MCs:
Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth

BTQ:
None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio
What We Left Behind by Robin Talley
The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson
Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin (technically adult, but has teen narrator and appropriate for teens)

Genre:
Lizard Radio by Pat Schmatz
The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow

Thanks Rainbowheart <3

I don't know that I read enough YA to know a lot of good ones but

Any genre: speculative
The Chimes by Anna Smaill A very beautiful romance develops between two young men

I am going to be looking at everyone's lesbian recommendations however not only because I'm a lesbain myself but more so because any YA book that doesn't have the irritating male love interest has to be a good thing, right?

LOL - I find them less irritating when the other character is also a guy, or bi... But I'm going to look at people's non-gay-guy recs too; it's getting easier to find good LBTQ YA but still a bit of a challenge.

Thanks for the link to "The Chimes" - on my TBR now.

books with gay MCs




Books of any BTQIAPP



books of any LGBTQ Genre

Thanks Matt.

Can "Secret" be read as a stand alone?

Favorite gay mc's--gotta tell you I love these boys!
Tales from Foster High

Ok. I'll be back to add. Lol

Gay MCs:
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Contemporary)
Fan Art (Contemporary)

Lesbian MCs:
Everything Leads to You (Contemporary)
Forgive Me If I've Told You This Before (Contemporary)

BTQ+:
Adaptation (Sci Fi)
Proxy (Sci Fi/Dystopian)
I also second Beautiful Music for Ugly Children!

Genre:
Ascension - not technically YA, but SO good and certainly appropriate for YA readers (Sci Fi/Space Opera, Lesbian MC)
Serenity Rose: 10 Awkward Years (Fantasy/Graphic Novel, Lesbian MC)

And I also thought I'd add some books I would not recommend:
What We Left Behind (really awful transphobia, lesbophobia, etc etc - generally terrible)
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (mostly just for the lesbophobia, though I've heard it has other problems too)
The Porcupine of Truth (this has a happy ending, but the main character is pretty gross towards his lesbian friend)
Boyfriends with Girlfriends (I don't even remember what I didn't like about this book, but I'm pretty sure it was racist?)
I am J (again with the lesbophobia. This is an extremely common problem with a lot of LGBT books, especially those with trans or gay MCs.)

Elizabeth wrote: "Gay MCs:
[book:Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe"

That book is one of my absolute favorites.

Elizabeth wrote: "Gay MCs:
[book:Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the (Contem..."

Yahaira wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Gay MCs:
[book:Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe"

That book is one of my absolute favorites."

Adding it to my to-read list! :)

Kaje wrote: "Thanks Matt.

Can "Secret" be read as a stand alone?"

I suppose you could but you'd lose a lot of the background info. The gay character is in the whole series but Secret is the book that focuses on him (Each book is about a different brother while the other brothers are supporting characters). I'd recommend the entire series. It's one of my faves.

Here's my contribution!

Gay MCs:
Carry On (the best fanfic book ever)
Openly Straight

Lesbian MCs:

Colorblind (it isn't the best of all, but it's predictable in a comforting way)

The Big Lie

BTQ+:

Unfortunately I'm short on recommendations on this ): But I'm gonna check all the books people mentioned

Genre:

The Raven Cycle (seriously, GUYS, if I could only recommend one series for you to read, it'd be THE ONE. It's a fantasy YA, has a kind of eerie vibe, witty and well built main characters, and leaves you aching for more by the end of it. Just. Please. Read it.)

Captive Prince (Fantasy) ops. Sorry everyone.

Foxhole Court (Sports. It has some heavy issues as drug abuse, violence, and rape, but truste me, it's an YA. I'll admit to do not like very much the first 2 volumes, but i think the 3rd is a great one; there's a lot of character development to most characters, and I couldn't stop reading until I finished the end. Plus, it's very cheap!).

Marina wrote: "Here's my contribution!

..."

...Adding The Raven Boys to my TBR. Thanks for the list.

Do you think Captive Prince can be considered YA? I admit to not having read it, but hearing it as dark and maybe erotic?

Edited to add - Lots and lots of content warnings for Foxhole Court - I really enjoyed the read, very fan-fic angsty and the sex stays YA, but check out trigger warnings if you have concerns. (abuse, drugs, etc.)

Kaje wrote: "Marina wrote: "Here's my contribution!

..."

...Adding The Raven Boys to my TBR. Thanks for the list.

Do you think Captive Prince can be considered YA? I admit to not having read ..."

Oh my God, you're totally right. I think I suffered a one-second stroke right there when I put Captive Prince (probably cause it's one of my favorites).

I edited my comment to fix that mistake :) and added another one in CP's place (despite not being YA, though, I'd still recommend it <3)

A favorite of mine is Play Me, I'm Yours I've taken it out of my local library multiple times.
The MC is gay. It is a great story that all ya readers can relate to, especial those who feel like they don't quite fit in anywhere, gay or straight.

Confessions of a Teenager This one! It's a story A LOT of LGBTQIA members can relate to!

Thanks for the list Dean <3

I fell in love with reading when i first read Proxy by Alex London, further deepened by it's sequel, Guardian.

I also love The Torch Keeper series by Steven Dos Santos. Extremely so.

My new favorite is the Outlier series(incomplete) by Daryl Banner.

Cool.
Links for Dean and Fay's choices:
Openly Straight
Keeping You a Secret
The Art of Being Normal

Proxy and Guardian
The Culling (Torch Keeper 1)
Outlier: Rebellion

Ahh, this question excites me :)))
2 books with gay MCs:
1. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe! (one of my favorite novels of all time)
2. Teeth by Hannah Moskowitz (does a relationship between a fish-boy hybrid and a teenaged boy count?)
also, more happy than not (couldn't help myself)
2 books with lesbian MCs:
1. Keeping You a Secret (very predictable but very adorable & important)
2. Girl Walking Backwards (not well-known at all, tragic, and heavy emphasis on mental health)
2 books with MCs who are BTQIAPP+
1. Grasshopper Jungle (i didn't like it, but the main character is torn between his best friend, a boy, and his current girlfriend)
2. Luna
2 books of any LGBTQ that are clearly also genre (fantasy, historical, SciFi, mystery):
1. SONG OF ACHILLES (well-written, well-developed relationship and characters, and a tearjerker/heartbreaker); such a beautiful story that is FAR more than just the romance (greek mythology, fantasy, politics)
2. We Are the Ants (contemplated whether this is clearly genre, but decided that it deals with his coming-of-age, mental health, and the aftermath of a death mostly)

Thanks - that's a great list. (We Are the Ants is one of our nominees for next month's book of the month reading.)

I'm keeping my list simple with just one from each category:


Gay MCs:
--Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
(Ari and Dante was so close though)

Lesbian MCs:
--Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden

BTQ+:
--Spy Stuff by Matthew J. Metzger

Genre:
--The Star Host by F.T. Lukens

Labyrinth Lost
This is a recent release
Best book I've read so far, it's a retelling of alice in wonderland but with brujas. All main characters are poc and the protagonist is a latina bisexual girl. Yes, it's as amazing as it sounds

pia carlotta wrote: "recent release "someonesickness", two of the main characters are a gay couple. :)"

I would ask authors to please not use this thread to promote your own books. I'm glad if you believe in them, but this is for the work by other writers that we want to share.

I'd love to hear about the books that inspired you to write YA LGBT.

I hope just 2 books for 1 category are okay, as I don't have any titles yet for the others.

Lesbian:

Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden
Colorblind by Siera Maley (both of these are warm & wonderful)

and

books with MCs who are BTQIAPP

Luna by Julie Peters

Thanks, and absolutely you don't have to fill all the categories.

I did enjoy Luna too.

I'm going to add in Autoboyography since many people have been praising its integration of the themes of religion (particularly Mormon families) and bisexuality and comeing out

Gay MCs
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli - gay MC
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell - gay MC

Lesbian MCs
Santa Olivia / Saints Astray by Jacqueline Carey - lesbian MC with a bi girlfriend (I think this is okay for an older teen audience. Correct me if I'm wrong.)
Dreadnought by April Daniels - trans lesbian MC

BTQIAPP+ MCs
Clariel by Garth Nix - ace MC (heavily implied, not stated)
Autoboyography by Christina Lauren - bi MC
Radio Silence by Alice Oseman - wlw MC with various secondary including ace and mlm rep
Every Heart a Doorway / Down Among the Sticks and Bones / Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire - various, including ace and wlw (with a book about a trans character slated for future release!)

Genre
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet / A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers - wlw and poly rep
The Abyss Surrounds Us / The Edge of the Abyss by Emily Skrutskie - wlw

Yeah, I know that's technically more than ten, but I read a lot of series, and I've stuck to ten franchises? *shrug*

Works for me - thanks :)

Adam silvera's, " History is all you left me" possibly the saddest YA book ever written

Carry on , by Rainbow of course

Thanks for the votes. It helps our member librarians choose books (and readers too.)

What about the Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan? It's for sure YA, I'm not sure if it fits the LGBT requirement: there is a gay character, but his sexual orientation is revealed only in the 4th book (out of 5), and they are definitively not stand-alone, so you need all 5 of them.
On the other side, in my opinion the whole theme is treated quite well, with a good balance between the doubts, the problems with self-acceptance and the moments of weakness of the gay MC and him being, objectively, a badass.

Lomion wrote: "What about the Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan? It's for sure YA, I'm not sure if it fits the LGBT requirement: there is a gay character, but his sexual orientation is revea..."

It's a great series especially for that hard to fit middle grade range, and there is a lot of LGBTQ rep among the characters.

2 books with gay MCs
The Wicker King
The Art of Starving

2 books with lesbian MCs
Girl Mans UP
As I Descended

4 books with MCs who are BTQIAPP+
Cut Both Ways
The 57 Bus

2 books of any LGBTQ that are clearly also genre (fantasy, historical, SciFi, mystery)
Three Truths and a Lie
White Rabbit

2 Titles I'm excited for release -
What If It's Us
Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts)

Thanks for adding to our lists. I'll have to check out The Wicker King and The 57 Bus...

James wrote: "2 Titles I'm excited for release -
What If It's Us
Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts)"

SAME. I've got both pre-ordered despite my usual reluctance to pre-order things (been burned one too many times in the past by the videogame industry in that area). But Albertalli and Silvera haven't disappointed me yet, so I'm hopeful that trend continues.