YA LGBT Books discussion

What are you reading? Let us know what you think of it and if it's a book that should go on our bookshelf, feel free to add it. Please keep in mind that this is a YA group so books suggested should be appropriate for a young adult audience.

Hi, I'm way beyond the cut off age for this group but I do read the occasional YA book. I'm currently reading Rise of Heroes which is about a 16 year old high school student, his friends, life & loves & I assume rise to super hero status as they try to fight super villains. I'm just getting started so we'll see.

By the way, great idea for a group.

Matthew wrote: "Yvonne, sounds like a cool book. I'm off to check it out.

There's another book this reminds me of:

Hero by Perry Moore."

They do sound very similar but in Rise of Heroes, Eric is not a super hero(at least not in this book which is the first part of a trilogy). It's his friends who are. Eric is a funny character in the book though. I think it's a fun story.

Just added the book Wrestling with Desire to the bookshelf. I haven't read it as yet but it's on my TBR shelf. It's a YA coming of age story & love story between two high school senior athletes (wrestlers obviously).

I've also added Shadow Walkers by Brent Hartinger (who wrote Geography Club.) This would probably be classified as paranormal romance (it has astral projection in it & a first love type romance)

I just downloaded by Jeff Erno. It is only 14 pages, but a free YA story.

Summer wrote: "I just downloaded by Jeff Erno. It is only 14 pages, but a free YA story."

This short story has a great message and I highly recommend it!

There are a couple of Jeff's books that are YA friend (not heavy on the sex and violence). I've added them to the group's bookshelf.

I haven't started it yet but yesterday I got Under the Willow by Kari Jo Spear. It sounded good so we'll see if I like it.

I didn't just read this, but wanted to let you guys know about it. Plus, I like to pimp the work of the members of our critique group, so a YA book by the handsome Charles Edwards

I just read TA Chase's I Call Death Dad. Very good book and I hope she continues with it, I want more in this world. : ) Featherweight Press has some great reads. :)

I haven't read any YA recently, but I do love David Levithan's Boy Meets Boy.



Another GLBT friendly book (one that isn't romance) and is probably more appropriate for middle school age readers is James Howe's The Misfits. I made sure my classroom and school library had copies of this one because it has a wonderful message.

Eyre! Welcome to the group :)

Thanks Lori & Matt!

Matt, it is a great read. I'm going to be reading more by the author.

Eyre wrote: "I haven't read any YA recently, but I do love David Levithan's Boy Meets Boy.



Another GLBT friendly book (one that isn't romance) and is probably ..."

Hey Eyre! (This is Piper from Twitter)

I have "Boy Meets Boy" on my TBR and I bought it a while back. Maybe I'll read it next. I've heard good things. :)

Harper, it's a great story. I hope you enjoy it. :-)

David Levithan's is definitely one of my favorite YA AND Fiction ever. I haven't read many GLBT YA lately, though.

Oh, I remember, I think you need to pick up John Goode's Maybe With a Chance of Certainty



The story is really good for short, and it involves two boys in high school, a jock and a nerd. No lovemaking scene, only first kiss, but it has so much potential. The sequel is coming in Fall

I'm currently reading and I'm really liking this series

Ami wrote: "Oh, I remember, I think you need to pick up John Goode's Maybe With a Chance of Certainty



The story is really good for sh..."

Thanks for the rec! Adding it to my list now.

I haven't read anything YA really recently, but absolutely loved Will Grayson, Will Grayson and Love is the Higher Law. Oh, and a second big thumbs up for Maybe With a Chance of Certainty.

I just started Alex Sanchez's Rainbow Boys. I really like it so far. It's told from the points of view of three different high school boys. Nelson, who is constantly dying his hair, is out and proud. Kyle is struggling with coming out to his parents. Jason is trying to figure out who he really is.

I was happy to see that our local public library has this series. I was also happy to see that a younger White Collar cutie Matt Bomer is one of the cover models.

Looks like some wonderful recommendations - more books on the wish list!

Bart Yates' Leave Myself Behind is a fabulous book. It won an Alex Award--an award from the American Library Association for adult books that they recommend to young adults.

I recently read which is an appropriate book for older teens and adults. It has swearing and talk of sexual themes.

I'm just starting on Love Is In The Title by RJ Scott.

I am finishing up a few non YA friendly books tonight before starting Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green.

Summer wrote: "I am finishing up a few non YA friendly books tonight before starting Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green."

I finished that one recently and loved it.

currently reading . absolutely love it c:

Currently Reading: Geography Club by Brent Hartinger

Matt wrote: "Yvonne, sounds like a cool book. I'm off to check it out.

There's another book this reminds me of:

Hero by Perry Moore."

I've read "Hero" it was kinda cheesy but i definitely liked it.

I just finished Rainbow Boys, which I actually liked better than Boyfriends with Girlfriends.

I also read Boy Meets Boy this week.

I am starting Will Grayson, Will Grayson tomorrow and I am really excited about this!!!

Heya, I'm new here so I'm gonna wave to folks via this page..

MsMiz I've read Rainbow Boys and I know people didn't like it but I think it was good. Read the other two books in the series. I loved Will Grayson, Will Grayson. I don't think I've read the other two books you mentioned.. (guess where they went.. yet MORE books to purchase.)

For the group i recently read UnnaturalWhich sit's firmly in the YA m/m catagory - along with the paranormal element common in the more popular released books directed at YA. So that would be my YA suggestion for the group.(I couldn't see if anyone else had read it yet.)

Cheers,
b

Unnatural sounds interesting. I'll add it to my tbr shelf although I've got so many books there, don't know when I'll get to it. But added it to the bookshelf here as well.

Hey Yvonne, I know how your feeling my TBR shelf is groaning.. literally the one I have at home has something like 80 books on it.. (yes I work in a bookshop - hence the number!) let alone my goodreads one..

i finished reading Vintage. It is so good. i really really liked this one.

Did you guys see the Bravo after hours show with Andy Cohen? For those who didn't know, he gave one guest Damon Suede's new book. Also on the bookshelf behind the guest was by Perry Moore. I knew I saw it mentioned in this thread!

http://www.bravotv.com/watch-what-hap...

I'm currently reading Magic's Pawn. It's one of the early (1989) fantasy series that featured a gay character, Vanyel.

I just finished M.E. Kerr's "Hello," I Lied. It was thought provoking.

I just finished] Hayden Thorne's Rise of Heroes Series... So far there's only 4 books, but I think there are more coming (fingers crossed :D)

haha damn! Yvonne beat me to it! XD

I am really enjoying Will Grayson, Will Grayson!!!

I just ordered .
Can't wait to read it. Bart Yates is an incredible writer.

Brad wrote: "I seem to have 2 or 3 books going at once, so here's the latest one I'm in now:

With or Without You by Brian Farrey."

Oh, I recently read this! 'Fraid I had some issues with it. :-/

Just reread Luna because another author asked about stories with transgendered characters. I pulled it out to confirm I had the author right, and just started reading. It's sad and hopeful at the same time, and not your run of the mill story (although romance is not part of the storyline either, so it's a marginal fit here.)

Kaje wrote: "Just reread Luna because another author asked about stories with transgendered characters. I pulled it out to confirm I had the author right, and just started reading. It's sad and h..."

Oh, God, I bawled my way through that book. It's one of the best LGBT YA novels I've read.

I had to force myself to stop reading Leave Myself Behind so I'd have some left for tomorrow. God, I adore this writer's work.

I'll be ordering Luna soon.

I am currently reading My Summer of Wes- again. I love that book :)

Looks like I'll be finishing in one day. The book is eminently readable -- Burd is an excellent writer with a smooth style -- but there's something missing I can't quite put my finger on. A plot, maybe? The tension that comes from internal and/or external conflict? Convincing emotional depth?

It must be one of the above, because this story is feeling rather flat to me. I'm also more invested in the second MC than in the POV character . . . and I get the disturbing impression the second MC will fall off the map at the end of the book. This will not make me happy.

I read a ton of Mercedes Lackey at one point, and still pull one out now and then. Great YA fantasies with a variety of gay and straight characters.

I'm currently reading Wrestling with Desire by D.H. Starr. Started it a few days ago, before I joined this group, and now I've noticed that it's in the running to be your October book of the month. It's a great book, and since I live in the Boston area and that's where the book takes place, I'm having fun reading it and saying, "Hey, I know where that is." LOL.

I really like the main character, but I can't help wishing there was something from the love interest's point of view.

I'm reading Unnatural by Michael Griffo . So far so good. Deceptive cover is deceptive.

I'm currently reading by Jay Bell. I'm in LOVE with this man's writing style and can't wait until the sequel is released!!