RIYL LGBTQ

LGBTQ Middle School Books

The Pants Project by Cat Clarke

Eleven-year-old Liv fights to change the middle school dress code requiring girls to wear a skirt and, along the way, finds the courage to tell his moms he is meant to be a boy.

You, Me and Him by Kris Dinnison

Maggie Bowers thinks she knows what to expect her junior year of high school, but when she and her out-of-the-closet best friend Nash have feelings for the same boy she wonders if winning someone's heart means losing her soul mate.

Better Nate Than Ever [Series] by Tim Federle

An eighth-grader who dreams of performing in a Broadway musical concocts a plan to run away to New York and audition for the role of Elliot in the musical version of "E.T."

Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart

Lily Jo, born Timothy, is a girl. But being a girl is not so easy when you look like a boy. Norbert Dorfman, nicknamed Dunkin, is bipolar and has just moved from New Jersey. One summer morning, Lily Jo McGrother meets Dunkin Dorfman, and their lives forever change.

George by Alex Gino

When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl. George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part . . . because she's a boy.

The Other Boy by M. G. Hennessey

Twelve-year-old Shane Woods is just a regular boy. He loves pitching for his baseball team, working on his graphic novel, and hanging out with his best friend, Josh. But Shane is keeping something private, something that might make a difference to his friends and teammates, to Josh, and his crush, Madeline.

Totally Joe by James Howe

As a school assignment, a thirteen-year-old boy writes an alphabiography, and explores issues of friendship, family, school, and the challenges of being a gay teenager.

This Would Make a Good Story Someday by Dana Alison Levy

Although not thrilled when her summer plans are upended for a surprise cross-country train trip with her family and embarrassed because one of her moms is writing a tell-all book about the trip, twelve-year-old Sara finds herself changing along with the landscape outside the train.

Marco Impossible by Hannah Moskowitz

Two best friends and junior high students attempt to break into the high school prom so that one of them can confess his love for the adorable bass player of the prom band.

We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen-Fernlund

Thirteen-year-old brilliant but socially-challenged Stewart and mean-girl Ashley must find common ground when, two years after Stewart's mother died, his father moves in with his new girlfriend--Ashley's mother, whose gay ex-husband lives in their guest house.

Meg & Linus by Hanna Nowinski

Two nerdy best friends navigate high school, drama club, Star Trek fandom, and being gay.

The Best Man by Richard Peck

Archer has four important role models in his life--his dad, his grandfather, his uncle Paul, and his favorite teacher, Mr. McLeod. When Uncle Paul and Mr. McLeod get married, Archer's sixth-grade year becomes one he'll never forget.

Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky

Grayson, a transgender twelve-year-old, learns to accept her true identity and share it with the world.

So Hard to Say by Alex Sanchez

Thirteen-year-old Xio, a Mexican American girl, and Frederick, who has just moved to California from Wisconsin, quickly become close friends, but when Xio starts thinking of Frederick as her boyfriend, he must confront his feelings of confusion and face the fear that he might be gay.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier [Graphic Novel]

Callie rides an emotional roller coaster while serving on the stage crew for a middle school production of Moon over Mississippi as various relationships start and end, and others never quite get going.

The Inside of Out by Jenn Marie Thorne

When her best friend comes out as a lesbian, Daisy leads the charge to end their school's ban on same-sex dates for the homecoming dance, but a local story goes viral and now everyone--including a cute college journalist--believes Daisy is gay, too.

Spinning by Tillie Walden [Graphic Novel]

An autobiographical comic of ten years in the life of cartoonist, Tillie Walden, focusing on her time as a figure skater.

The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson

David Piper, always an outsider, forms an unlikely friendship with Leo Denton who, from the first day at his new school wants only to be invisible, but when David's deepest secret gets out, that he wants to be a girl, things get very messy for both of them.

Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy by Bill Wright

Sixteen-year-old Carlos Duarte is on the verge of realizing his dream of becoming a famous make-up artist, but first he must face his jealous boss at a Macy's cosmetics counter, his sister's abusive boyfriend, and his crush on a punk-rocker classmate.

posted by wendy cunningham wcc381@hotmail.com to CALIBK12 05-16-2019

Non-Fiction

Harvey Milk: pioneering gay politician Corinne Grinapol

Pride: celebrating diversity & community by Robin Stevenson

Queer 13: Lesbian and gay writers recall seventh grade by Clifford Chase

Queer there and everywhere: 23 people who changed the world by Sarah Prager

Same-sex marriage: granting equal rights or damaging the status of marriage? By Tricia Andryszewski

Stonewall: breaking out in the fight for gay rights by Ann Bausum

Fiction

Boy meets boy by David Levithan

The best man by Richard Peck

One true way by Shanon Hitchcock

Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callender

Ivy Aberdeen’s letter to the world by Ashley Herring Blake

Pants project by Cat Clarke

Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart

You, me and him by Tim Federle (YA)

Better Nate than Ever (Series) by Tim Federle

George by Alex Gino

The other boy by M. G. Hennessey

Totally Joe by James Howe

Deliver us from Evie by M.E. Kerr (YA)

This would make a good story by Danna Alison Levy

Marco Impossible by Hannah Moskowitz

We are all made of molecules by Susin Nielsen-Fernlund (YA)

Meg & Linus by Hanna Nowinski (YA)

Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky

So hard to say by Alex Sanchez

Drama by Raina Telgemeier (Graphic Novel)

The inside of out by Jenn Marie Thorne (YA)

Spinning by Tillie Walden (Graphic Novel) (YA)

Star Crossed by Barbara Dee

The art of being normal by Lisa Williamson (YA)

Putting makeup on the fat boy by Bill Wright (YA)

The mighty heart of Sunny St. James by Ashley Herring

Zenobia July by Lisa Bunker

The whispers by Greg Howard

The Backstagers and the theater of the ancients by Andy Mientus (Book 2)

The moon within by Aida Salazar

Angie Gallacher angiegallacher@gmail.com on CALIBK12 05-16-2019

Created by the Gay Straight Alliance at Western High School. Our GSA passed out this list on Valentine's Day:

Love is for ANYONE

Annie On My Mind by Nancy Garden. Two high school girls discover each other and later suffer the consequences of their being discovered.

Bad Boy by Diana Wieler. A.J. Brandiosa becomes the bad boy of the Cyclone hockey team, and learns that his best friend is gay, as he tries to cope with his own sexuality during his senior year in high school.

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan. As a gay high school sophomore, Paul struggles with friendships, an ex-boyfriend who keeps hanging on, and a new love interest.

The Blue Lawn by William Taylor. A fifteen-year-old boy acknowledges his attraction to an older rugby teammate, as he also begins to break out of the preconceived notions his family and others have about him.

Deliver Us From Evie by M.E. Kerr

Sixteen-year-old Parr Burrman and his family face some difficult times when word spreads through their rural Missouri town that his older sister is a lesbian, and she leaves the family farm to live with the daughter of the town's banker.

Eight Seconds by Jean Ferris. John finds riding bulls at a rodeo camp easy compared to the friendship he has formed with Kit, who is gay.

Geography Club by Bret Hartinger is a novel that entails how hard it is for teenagers to feel accepted at the high school level, and Russel wants to be someplace where he and others like him can be themselves.

Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger. When John and Marisol share a love of ‘zines, John falls in love with Marisol, who is a lesbian.

Kissing Kate by Lauren Myracle. Sixteen-year-old Lissa's relationship with her best friend changes after they kiss at a party and Lissa does not know what to do, until she gets help from an unexpected new friend.

My Father’s Scar by Michael Cart. Alienated at home and at school, college freshman Andy Logan finds support for his own feelings when he learns about his uncle’s life-long friendship with another man.

Rainbow Boys, Rainbow High, and Rainbow Road. by Alex Sanchez is a novel that details three teenaged boy’s life and their struggle to find their own comfort with themselves along with finding out where they fit in with the rest of the world.

So Hard to Say by Alex Sanchez Thirteen-year-old Xio, a Mexican American girl, and Frederick, who has just moved to California from Wisconsin, quickly become close friends, but when Xio starts thinking of Frederick as her boyfriend, he must confront his feelings of confusion and face the fear that he might be gay.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. The main character, whose friend is gay, examines his own confusing sexual feelings.

True Believer by Virginia Euwer Wolff. Fifteen year old LaVaughn is in love with the boy upstairs, but he’s not who he seems to be.

The year they Burned the Books by Nancy Garden. The high school protagonist deals with school newspaper censorship as she tries to come to terms with her sexual identity.

7 Days at the Hot Corner by Trueman

Absolute Brightness by James Lecesne

Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee

Absolutely Positively Not by David LaRochelle (upper-el or middle school)

Addie on the Inside by James Howe

Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher

Am I Blue? Coming out From the Silence edited by Marion Dane Bauer

And Tango Makes 3 Parnell and Richardson (Elem)

Another Kind of Cowboy, Susan Juby

Ash, by Malinda Lo (a great adaptation of the Cinderella story with a lesbian twist).

Baby Be-Bop by Francesca Lia Block

Boy Girl Boy by Ron Koertge

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

Crash Into Me by Albert Borris

David Inside Out, Lee Bantle

Dare Truth or Promise, by Paula Boock

Debbie Harry Sings in French by Megan Brothers

Eight Seconds by Jean Ferris

The Flip Side by Andrew Matthews

Freak Show by James St. James

From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun by Jacqueline Woodson

Getting It by Alex Sanchez

The Geography Club by Brent Hartinger

The God Box by Sanchez HS

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Grl2grl by Julie Ann Peters

Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger

Heart on my sleeve by Ellen Wittlinger

Hero (2007), by Perry Moore

Hold Still, by Nina LaCour.

The House You Pass on the Way by Jacqueline Woodson

I Am J by Chris BeamMy Most Excellent Year by Steve Klueger.

Is He or Isn't He? by John Hall

How Beautiful The Ordinary: Twelve Stories of Identity edited by Michael Cart

“I am J” by Cris Beam

King of the Screw-Ups by KL Going

Kissing Kate by Lauren Myracle

The Last Exit to Normal by Harmon

Love & Lies: Marisol's Story by Ellen Wittlinger

Love is the Higher Law, David Levithan

A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner (June 2010)

Luna by Julie Anne Peters

The Manny Diaries by Christian Burch

Misfits by James Howe

Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn

The Order of the Poison Oak by Brent Hartinger

Pink by Wilkinson

PEter by Kate Walker

Rage by Julie Ann Peters (high school)

Realm of Possibility by David Levithan

The Rainbow Boys Trilogy by Alex Sanchez

Secrets of Truth & Beauty by Megan Frazer

Sister Mischief by Laura Goode

So Hard to Say by Alex Sanchez

The Straight Road to Kylie by Nico Medina

Two Parties, One Tux and a Very Short Film about the Grapes of Wrath

Totally Joe by James Howe (upper-el or middle school)

The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd

Whistle Me Home and Holly's Secret by Nancy Garden

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Wide Awake by David Levithan

Wildthorn by Jane Eagland

Non-Fiction:

GLBTQ: The Survival Guide for Queer and Questioning Teens by Kelly Huegel

S.E.X. by Heather Corinna (a great book for all teens)

The Little Black Book for Guys &

The Little Black for Girlz, both from St. Stephen's Community House, published by Annick Press, 2008

Is It a Choice? by Eric Marcus

Hooking Up: a girl's all-out guide to sex & sexuality, by Amber Madison

What if Someone I Know Is Gay?by Eric Marcus

The Man I Might Become by Holleran and Shenitz

Michael Cart's books, The Heart Has Its Reasons : Young Adult Literature with Gay/Lesbian/Queer Content 1969-2004 and Necessary Noise.

Fantasy:

• Commitment Hour by James Alan Gardner

• Magic's Pawn/Promise/Price by Mercedes Lackey

• Tanya Huff The Smoke Trilogy

• Smoke and Shadows

• Smoke and Mirrors

• Smoke and Ashes

Mark Roeder

• The Soccer Field is Empty

• Someone Is Watching

• Someone is Killing the Gay Boys of Verona

• The Vampire's Heart

• Dead Het Boys

• Altered Realities

Lynn Flewelling Nightrunner series

• Luck in the Shadows,

• Stalking Darkness,

• Traitor's Moon, and soon

• Shadows Return)

Tithe, Valiant, Ironside by Holly Black

One for Sorrow by Christopher Barzak

The Darkover series by MZ Bradley

Daughters of a Coral Dawn by Katherine V. Forrest

Will of the Empress by Tamora Pierce

Big Big Sky by Kristyn Dunnion

Manga (Posted on YALSABK)

After School Nightmare by Setona Mizushiro

Gravitation (Does anyone know if it gets graphic at the end of the series?)

Off*Beat

Only the Ring Finger Knows (Both in manga and novel format)

FAKE

Loveless (Oh so twisted, but not graphic)

Black Sun, Silver Moon

Legal Drug (The first volume, at least)

Devil Within (Not yaoi, but written for yaoi fangirls)

Cantarella

Gorgeous Carat

From Eroica With Love

La Esperanca by Chigusa Kawai (7 volumes)

Antique Bakery by Fumi Yoshinaga (4 volumes: not 100% yaoi but has some yaoi elements)

Time Lag by Shinobu Goto (1 volume)

Eerie Queerie by Shuri Shiozu (4 volumes)

Tokyo Babylon by Clamp (7 volumes)

Multicultural

The Letter Q – Sara Moon and James Lecesne

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe - Benjamin Saenz

The House You Past on the Way - Jacqueline Woodson

Boyfriends with Girlfriends - Alex Sanchez

Down to the Bone - Mayra Doyle

Tommy Stands Alone - Gloria Velásquez

Blue Coyote - Liza Ketchum

Love & lies : Marisol's story - Ellen Witlinger

Sprout: Or My Salad Days When I Was Green In Judgement - Dale Peck

Will Grayson, Will Grayson – John Green

Beauty Queens – Libba Bray

Eight Seconds – Jean Ferris

Tessa Masterson Will Go to Prom – Emily Franklin

Annie on My Mind – Nancy Garden

The Year they Burned the Books – Nancy Garden

Perfect – Ellen Hopkins

Pearl – Johanna Knowles

The Will of the Empress – Tamora Pierce

Soames on the Range – Nancy Belgue

Huntress – Malinda Lo

Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy – Bil Wright

I Am J – Cris Beam

Brooklyn Burning – Steve Brezenoff

Sister Mischief – Laura Goode

Hidden- Tomas Mourian

She Loves You, She Loves You Not – Julie Anne Peters

Far From Xanadu – Julie Anne Peters

Deliver Us from Evie – M. E. Kerr

Down to the Bone – Mayra Dole

Getting It – Alex Sanchez

God Box – Alex Sanchez

Ash – Malinda Lo

What Happened to Lani Garver – Carol Plum-Ucci

From the notebook of Melanin Sun – Jacqueline Woodson

When I knew – Robert Trachtenberg

Finlater - Shawn Stewart Ruff

from YALSABK 09/22/08

Books for Gay Families by Title, Author

Debbie Harry Sings in French, Meagan Brothers

The God Box, Alex Sanchez

And Tango Makes Three, Parnell and Richardson

Totally Joe, James Howe

The Man I Might Become, Andrew Holleran and Bruce Shenitz

Freak Show, James St. James

The Off Season, Catherine Murdock

Boy Meets Boy, David Levithan

Between Mom and Jo, Julie Ann Peters

Dramarama, E. Lockhart

The Necessary Hunger, Nina Revoyr

Geography Club, Brent Hartinger

Annie on My Mind, Nancy Garden

Dare, Truth or Promise, Paula Boock

My Father's Scar, Michael Cart

Hello, I Lied, M. E. Kerr

Paintings of You, Mia Paluzzi and Chris Delk

M or F, Lisa Papademetriou and Christopher Tebbetts

Pretty Things, Sarra Manning

Hero, Perry Moore

Another Kind of Cowboy, Susan Juby

So Hard to Say, Alex Sanchez

Swimming in the Monsoon Sea, Shyam Selvadurai

Wide Awake, David Levithan

Far From Xanadu, Julie Ann Peters

The Center of the World, Andreas Steinhofel

The Last Exit to Normal, Michael Harmon

Down to the Bone, Mayra Lazara Dole

Someday This Pain May Be Useful to You, Peter Cameron

Empress of the World, Sara Ryan

Kissing Kate, Lauren Myracle

Tomorrow, Wendy, Shelley Stoehr

Absolutely, Positively Not, David LaRochelle

Skim, Mariko and Jillian Tamaki

Hello, Groin, Beth Goobie

Parrotfish, Ellen Wittlinger

Whistle Me Home, Barbara Wersba

Luna, Julie Ann Peters

Keeping You A Secret, Julie Ann Peters

Hard Love, Ellen Wittlinger

Family Outing, Troy Johnson

Eight Seconds, Jean Farris

King and King, Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland

King and King and Family, Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland

Resources:

• Pacifica High School List

• I'm Here. I'm Queer. What the Hell Do I Read?

• The Rainbow List

• Happy Pride! from SLJ 2019

• Daisy Porter's site (http://daisyporter.org/queerya/) is great for reviews of fiction.

• https://booksforkidsingayfamilies.blogspot.com

• http://www.lambdaliterary.org/category/reviews/ya/

• http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/glbtrt/stonewall/honored/index.cfm

• http://www.leewind.org/

• The ALA's GLBTRT group: http://its.usc.edu/~trimmer/glbtrt/biblist.htm