This booklist features titles written about and by members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Stories of the LGBTQIA+ community's experiences are significant because they allow children to see themselves in stories and know the person behind the words are similar to them. It means that not only is the story important, but also who tells that story.
Compiled by:
Ginny H. and Grayson B.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Levitha)
When Donovan left his copy of The Adventurers on the kitchen counter, he did not expect his mother—and the entire town—to have a problem with it just because the two main characters are gay. Now his mother is trying to get the book removed from the school curriculum, and Donovan is caught in the middle. Will Donovan be able to save the book from being banned? Recommended for ages 9–12.
(Juvenile Graphic Novel - J-GN Layne Beetle And The Hollowbones)
Twelve-year-old Beetle is a goblin who dreams of being a witch, but is dissatisfied with learning her grandmother's goblin magic. Instead, she prefers spending her afternoons with her friend, Blob Ghost, who is trapped in the local mall by an unknown force. When Beetle's old best friend, Kat Hollowbones, returns to town for a prestigious sorcery apprenticeship, Beetle finds herself jealous of Kat's talent—and feels something more than friendship toward her old friend. Will Beetle be able to make sense of these feelings while preventing a vile scheme from destroying Blob Ghost's home? Recommend 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 Nonfiction - J 306.76 Pra)
An approachable and empowering introduction to the history of the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement, both in the United States and around the world. This book provides profiles of groundbreaking events and major queer icons as well as introductions to key terms for both members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies. Recommended for ages 9–12.
(Juvenile Graphic Novel - J-GN Smith Deep And Dark Blue)
Twins Hawke and Grayson are forced to assume new identities as Hannah and Grayce after a political coup usurps their noble house. To stay alive and hidden from the assailants, the twins join the Communion of Blue, an order of magical women who spin the threads of reality. As the twins create a plan to take back their home and avenge their family, Grayce comes to embrace her new identity as a girl. Recommended for ages 9–12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Sass)
Ellen Katz, a neurodivergent thirteen-year-old, has always preferred her life to be neat and orderly. However, things are starting to change. Ellen and her best friend are drifting apart, and Ellen decides to go on a school trip to Barcelona, where meeting a new nonbinary classmate leads Ellen to question her binary way of seeing the world. Follow Ellen on her journey through homesickness, autism, and Spanish culture. 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 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 Fiction - J Callend)
Twelve-year-old Kingston James's was turned upside down after his brother, Khalid, unexpectedly passed away. Shortly before he died, Khalid told King to end his friendship with his best friend, Sandy, due to rumors that Sandy might be gay. When Sandy goes missing, King finds Sandy hiding in his backyard out that Sandy was trying to escape an abusive home. As the friends rekindle their friendship and build their own private paradise down by the bayou and among the dragonflies, will King be able to confront questions about himself and the reality of his brother's death? Recommended for ages 9–12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Taylor)
After his parents' divorce, Jeremy finds himself having to spend the summer with his dad and uncle in a seaside cabin in Oregon. While there, Jeremy meets a boy his age on the beach, and a friendship blossoms into something neither boy expects—but also something that both boys have secretly been hoping for. Recommended for ages 9–12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Gino)
When people look at Melissa, they think they see a boy named George. 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 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 Fiction - J Symessm)
Callie is a nonbinary twelve-year-old who is determined to become a knight, despite living in a kingdom where only boys are allowed to train as knights and only girls can learn magic. As Callie trains and makes friends with others who want to fix the injustices in the kingdom, they find themselves embroiled in an ancient war. However, victory over the witches and dragons will require the friends to defeat the bigotry within their own kingdom—and even their families—first. 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 Lukoff)
In the summer before middle school, eleven-year-old Bug is faced with a lot of changes. Their best friend now cares about things like makeup and boys, a ghost has decided to haunt their house, and Bug themself is starting to discover their own gender identity. Join Bug as they untangle the mysteries of who is haunting them and learning who Bug wants to be. 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.