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What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Title: What If It’s Us Author: Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli Original Publication Date: October 9, 2018 Original Publisher: Harper Collins Queer Representation: 2 gay male protagonists, 1 gay male minor antagonist Page Length: 433 A Broadway musical-centric romantic comedy by two of the biggest names in the field of Queer Young Adult literature. Memorable Quote: “And by good, I mean great. I mean exquisitely perfect. I mean I’m living in a Broadway musical. THIS IS AN ACTUAL BROADWAY MUSICAL.” Review: When two of the biggest voices in queer young adult literature come together, the result is bound to be amazing. Becky Albertalli (author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and more)and Adam Silvera (author of They Both Die at…
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Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
Title: Two Boys Kissing Author: David Levithan Original Publication Date: 2013 Original Publisher: Ember Queer Representation: 7 gay male protagonists, 1 of whom is trans, and a chorus of gay men who died from AIDS Page Length: 200 A hauntingly beautiful tale of a community rallying behind two boys attempting to break the world record for the longest continuous kiss. Memorable Quote: “We always underestimate our own participation in magic. That is, we thought of magic as something that existed with or without us. But that’s not true. Things are not magical because they’ve been conjured for us by some outside force. They are magical because we create them, and then deem them so.” Review: After Craig…
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Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli
Title: Leah on the Offbeat Author: Becky Albertalli Original Publication Date: 2018 Original Publisher: Balzer + Bray Queer Representation: 1 bisexual protagonist Page Length: 339 A charming tale of self-acceptance, love, and the end of high school. Memorable Quote: “Imagine going about your day knowing someone’s carrying you in their mind. That has to be the best part of being in love—the feeling of having a home in someone else’s brain.” Review: In Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, Leah played the role of the best friend and faithful sidekick, but now it is time for her to get her own story. Leah is sure of who she is — she was quick to embrace her bisexuality even…
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The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
Title: The Upside of Unrequited Author: Becky Albertalli Original Publication Date: 2017 Original Publisher: Balzer + Bray Queer Representation: 1 lesbian sister, 1 lesbian and 1 bisexual mother, 1 pansexual girlfriend Page Length: 336 A story of love and family and what it means to grow up. Memorable Quote: “‘But you know, there’s an upside here. Because when you spend so much time just intensely wanting something, and then you actually get the thing? It’s magic.’ All of a sudden, I feel like crying. In a good way. In the best way. Because I know exactly what she means. It’s butterflies and haziness and heart eyes, but underneath all that, there’s this bass line of I…
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History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
Title: History is All You Left Me Author: Adam Silvera Original Publication Date: 2017 Original Publisher: Soho Teen Queer Representation: 1 gay protagonist plus love interest Page Length: 292 A complex look at love and loss told from the perspective of a teenage boy grieving after the death of his first love. Memorable Quote: “People are complicated puzzles, always trying to piece together a complete picture, but sometimes we get it wrong and sometimes we’re left unfinished. Sometimes that’s for the best. Some pieces can’t be forced into a puzzle, or at least they shouldn’t be, because they won’t make sense.” Review: Griffin always thought that he and Theo were “endgame,” that no matter what happened they…
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Another Day by David Levithan
Title: Another Day Author: David Levithan Original Publication Date: 2015 Original Publisher:Knopf Books for Young Readers Queer Representation: A (queer/genderfluild?) love interest, multiple lesbian, gay, bi, trans embodied characters, one gay friend Page Length: 336 pages The companion novel to Every Day, told from the perspective of Rhiannon. Memorable Quote: “Part of the problem is words. The fact that there are separate words for HE and SHE, HIM and HER. I’ve never thought about it before, how divisive this is. Like maybe if there was just one pronoun for all of us, we wouldn’t get so caught on that difference.” REVIEW: Rhiannon thought that she was content with her life. Sure she and her boyfriend…
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Every Day by David Levithan
Title: Every Day Author: David Levithan Original Publication Date: August 28, 2012 Original Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers Queer Representation: A (queer/genderfluild?) protagonist, multiple lesbian, gay, bi, trans embodied characters Page Length: 352 pages A highly unique and experimental look and gender and sexual identity and embodiment that will leave you wanting more. Memorable Quote: “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: We all want everything to be okay. We don’t even wish so much for fantastic or marvelous or outstanding. We will happily settle for okay, because most of the time, okay is enough.” REVIEW: Every day of A’s life, A wakes up in a new body body. After 24 hours A…
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Dance on My Grave by Aidan Chambers
Title: Dance on My Grave Author: Aiden Chambers Original Publication Date: 1982 Original Publisher: Bodley Head Queer Representation: 1 teenage gay protagonist, 1 (bisexual/queer) love interest Page Length: 253 Hal, both in relation to Barry and on his own, is a psychologically rich character worthy of deeper thought and examination Memorable Quote: “Maybe I loved him. I thought I did. As much as I knew what the word means. How do you ever know? I used to think I would know when it happened. Know immediately, without having to wonder about it.” Review: When Hal Robinson capsizes in his classmate’s boat that he borrowed, he is rescued by Barry Gorman. Barry is a few years older than…
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Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Title: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda Author: Becky Albertalli Original Publication Date: 2015 Original Publisher: Balzer +Bray Queer Representation: 1 teenage gay protagonist, 1 unknown gay character, 2 gay minor characters Page Length: 303 Simon is a lovable and witty character that we can all relate to, and his story is the first queer YA novel to be made into a major motion picture Memorable Quote: “Why is straight the default? Everyone should have to declare one way or another, and it shouldn’t be this big awkward thing whether you’re straight, gay, bi, or whatever. I’m just saying.” Review: Imagine being a gay teenager dealing with life in the closet. Imagine that the only person who knows…
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Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden
Title: Annie on My Mind Author: Nancy Garden Original Publication Date: July 1982 Original Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux Queer Representation: 2 teenage lesbian protagonists, 2 secondary lesbian adults Page Length: 234 One of the first QYA novels to offer up the revolutionary idea that you don’t have to make queer characters suffer to have a good novel. Memorable Quote: “Don’t punish yourselves for people’s ignorant reactions to what we all are. Don’t let ignorance win. Let love.” REVIEW: When Liza Winthrop first spots Annie Kenyon in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, she is immediately drawn to the singing girl surrounded by quiet people. The two may have come from different backgrounds —…
