Celebrate LGBTQ+ #OwnVoices stories! #OwnVoices stories are important because they allow children to see themselves in stories and know the person behind the words is similar to them. It means that not only is the story important, but also who tells that story. Enjoy these great titles!
Celebrate LGBTQ+ Voices
Compiled by:
Ginny H.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Bell)
Alan Cole can’t stand up to his cruel brother Nathan or escape the wrath of his demanding father. Scariest of all, he can’t let the cute boy across the cafeteria know he has a crush on him. When Nathan discovers Alan's secret, he's in danger of being outed to all of Evergreen Middle School. Recommended for ages 9–12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Panchol)
The start of middle school is making Rahul feel increasingly anxious, so his grandfather Bhai gives him some advice: find one thing you're really good at and become the best at it. If Rahul can do this, maybe he won’t be worried about staring too long at his classmate, Justin. Recommended for ages 9–12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J 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. Recommended for ages 9–12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J 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. the Extra-Terrestrial. Recommended for ages 9–12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Bigelow)
Melly and her best friend Olivia are about to spend the next two weeks at Camp Rockaway, jamming under the stars in the Michigan woods. But this summer brings a lot of big changes for Melly: her parents split up, her best friend ditches her, and Melly finds herself unexpectedly falling for another girl at camp. Recommended for ages 9–12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Bigelow)
Hazel wonders what eighth grade will bring. What if no one at her new school gets her, and she doesn't make any friends? What's going to happen to one of her moms, who's pregnant again after having two miscarriages? Why does everything have to change when life was already perfectly fine? Recommended for ages 9–12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Callend)
12-year-old Caroline is a Hurricane Child, born on Water Island during a storm. Coming into this world during a hurricane is unlucky, and Caroline has had her share of bad luck already. Worst of all, her mother left and never came back. Caroline is determined to change her luck and find her mother. Recommended for ages 9–12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Blake)
When a tornado rips through town, 12-year-old Ivy's house is destroyed and she feels invisible and ignored in the aftermath of the storm. Also, her notebook filled with secret drawings of girls holding hands has gone missing, risking the chance that everyone will find out about her true identity. Recommended for ages 9–12.
(Juvenile Nonfiction - J 921 Jennings Rod)
Jazz Jennings is one of the first youth to speak publicly about her experiences as a transgender individual and inspires all people to embrace themselves and be accepting of all people. Recommended for ages 9–12.
(Juvenile Graphic Novel - J-GN Gros Gros)
Becoming a hard-hitting journalist is a lot harder than Jo imagined. But, that's not all that's tough. Jo and her sisters are getting used to their dad being deployed overseas and their mom, a nurse, working overtime. Recommended for ages 9–12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J 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. When her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web, George really wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part...because she's a boy. Recommended for ages 9–12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Howard)
Mikey thinks he's finally found his million-dollar idea, and that's when the Anything Talent and Pizzazz Agency was born! Soon, Mikey has a whole roster of kid clients looking to hit it big or at least win the middle school talent show's hundred-dollar prize. Recommended for ages 9–12.
(Juvenile Graphic Novel - J-GN Oneill Princess Princess Ever After)
Princess Sadie is tired of princes trying to rescue her from her tower prison, but this new rescuer is different—she's a princess! Together, Sadie and Amira forge a strong friendship that soon turns to love as they struggle to overcome their pasts and recover Sadie's lost kingdom. Recommended for ages 9–12.
(Juvenile Graphic Novel - J-GN Leyh Snapdragon)
Snap makes a deal with the rumored town witch, Jacks. Jacks will teach Snap how to take care of the baby opossums that Snap rescued, and Snap will help Jacks with her work. But as Snap starts to get to know Jacks, she realizes that Jacks may in fact have real magic—and a connection with Snap's family's past. Recommended for ages 9–12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Ho)
As a school assignment, a 13-year-old boy writes an alphabiography—life from A to Z—and explores issues of friendship, family, school, and the challenges of being a gay teenager. Recommended for ages 9–12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Knowles)
Summer is meant to be a time of swimming at the lake and hanging out with friends. But this year, things are complicated. Rachel's parents seem more worried about money than usual; they've even started arguing about it. And now, Rachel's best friend wants a relationship and she isn't sure she wants that kind of relationship with any boy—and wonders what that might mean. Recommended for ages 9–12.