Gooseberry

Gooseberry by Robin Gow  Amulet Books, 9781419764424

B is twelve years old, non-binary, and a foster kid who loves loves LOVES dogs. B has dreams of living with a family and training dogs, but nothing seems to be going to plan. B’s new foster moms agree to adopt a shelter dog, but Gooseberry is afraid of everything and doesn’t understand B’s good intentions. What will they do?

This sweet, kind story features wonderful friendships (in contrast to one schoolyard bully), some amazing adults (plus a few clueless grownups and a couple of yukky ones), and a lovely shelter dog who will make an awesome pet when he finally feels secure enough to come out from under the couch.

I found myself yearning for somebody to say “you know, what we really need here is an experienced adult dog trainer who isn’t just some yabbo on Youtube” but nobody ever did, which is realistic but very frustrating. B’s search for family and identity is lovely and filled with hope. Highly recommended for ages 10 to adult.

Bullying, cussing (mild), diversity, friendship, gay friends, gender diversity, homophobia, mental health, neurodivergence, parents, rainbow+, straight friends, teachers

Camp Quiltbag

Camp Quiltbag by Nicole Melleby and A.J. Sass

Algonquin Young Readers, 9781643752662

Abigail (she/her/hers) has had a rough year since coming out to her family and the classmates she thought were her friends. She’s excited to attend Camp Quiltbag, a summer camp for LGBTQ+ kiddos…but also, too embarrassed to tell Stacey and the other girls where she’s going. Kai (e/em/eir) has had an even rougher year, but e would rather stay home and practice parkour and hang out with friends e knows e can trust. The two make a pact to help each other, which seems like a great idea…until it sort of backfires.

This is a sweet summer story of crushes, queer identity exploration and friendship. Recommended for middle grader readers.

Bullying, diversity, friendship, gay friends, gender diversity, homophobia, kissing, neurodivergence, no sex, parents, rainbow+, religion, sports, Star Trek sex, straight friends, teachers.

Heartstopper

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman (graphic novel)

Graphix, 9781338617436

Charlie is skinny and gay (he was outed last year, and then bullied as a result).  Nick is a big rugby player with a kind heart.  They become friends…and then more.  There is a lot of confusion as both boys try to sort out what labels they want to claim, and who they will allow to influence them.  Their affection grows stronger throughout the story, even when things go completely sideways.  Best of all: even when they doubt themselves they are both adorable.

Oseman’s art is friendly and accessible, depicting the emotions of characters beautifully.  Be ready to have volume 2 in the series ready to read, because the first book ends on a cliff hanger!  Highly recommended for ages 12 to adult.

bullying, cussing, cussing (mild), friendship, gay friends, gender diversity, graphic novel, high school, homophobia, kissing, mental health, off-page intimacy, parents, rainbow+, sports, Star Trek sex, straight friends

Gender Queer

 

Gender Queer : a memoir  by Maia Kobabe

Lion Forge, 9781549304002

In 5th grade, Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, had the feeling that everybody else had access to information that e lacked — not an uncommon feeling for 5th graders. This feeling persisted through high school and college, and always seemed to center around gender identity. Maia doesn’t identify as female, but e doesn’t feel like a guy, either. What is e?

There is a lot of controversy over this book, including attacks by politicians, school boards, and parents upset about certain sexual situations and images. Significantly, many of these would-be censors say that they have not read the entire book, and are reacting only to a few select pages and images. Maia’s story is 239 pages long, and taking a few pages out of context destroys the entire purpose of the book: to tell about eir entire journey.  

bullying, cussing (mild), diversity, friendship, gay friends, gender diversity, graphic novel, high school, homophobia, kissing, mental health, non-fiction, on-page sex,  parents, rainbow+

Fourth Wing

Fourth Wing  by Rebecca Yarros

Red Tower Books, 9781649374042

Violet Sorrengail is small, brittle, and well-prepared for the quiet life of a scribe.  But after the death of her father, Violet’s mom orders her to change her plans and pass the stringent ordeal to become a dragon rider instead–or die trying. Almost every other cadet in the Quadrant will try to get her to fail (with a few notable exceptions), and a dragon who finds her unsuitable will simply incinerate her.  

This book was originally marketed for adult audiences, but teen readers have run away giggling with it.  The characters are young adults in their 20’s dealing with teen issues, most especially the task to to define themselves as separate from their parents. Non-binary gender expression and sexual diversity is presented as normal. The on-page, window-shattering sex scenes do not seem to alarm younger readers but might concern their elders.

Action, adventure, magic, intrigue, loyalty and betrayal keep the pages turning.  Recommended for ages 14 to adult.

Bullying, cussing, death, dragons, friendship, gender diversity, kissing, magic, off-page intimacy, on-page sex,  parents, straight friends, teachers.

Plan A

 

Plan A by Deb Caletti

Labyrinth Road, 9780593485545

16-year old Ivy is strong, independent, opinionated…and pregnant.  She has plans and hopes and dreams for her future, and that future does not involve a child originating from sexual assault.  

Unfortunately for Ivy, she lives in contemporary Texas, which has some of the most restrictive women’s health laws in the country.  Ivy doesn’t realize that she is pregnant until she has passed the 6-week mark, after which an abortion is illegal in her home state.  Fortunately for Ivy, she is not alone:  her mother, grandmother, and a host of other women (and men) are willing to prioritize her choices, and so begins what Ivy and her adorable boyfriend Lorenzo call their “abortion road trip love story.”  

This book is serious and funny, timeless and timely.  It will absolutely be banned and challenged, and should absolutely be available for any reader who wants it–because these choices are important, and stories about these choices are possibly even more important. Highly recommended for ages 14 to adult.

Abortion, birth control, bullying, cussing, diversity, friendship, high school, kissing, parents, pregnancy, rainbow+, religion, sexual assault (on-page), Star Trek sex

Nigeria Jones

Nigeria Jones by Ibi Zoboi
Harper Collins Publishers, 9780062888846

16-year-old Nigeria Jones was raised to be a warrior princess, fight against White Supremacy and support the Movement headed by her father, the famous Black separatist Kofi Sankofa. Without her mom’s support, Nigeria questions her own place in her father’s vision, especially when she begins to explore the world on her own and discovers that people don’t always sort into tidy categories.

The narration is instantly engaging, and although the astute reader will predict some of her revelations, Nigeria’s journey is a compelling page-turner. The on-page sex scene is poetic rather than specific. Recommended for ages 12 to adult.

Abortion, bullying, cussing (mild), death, diversity, friendship, gay friends, high school, homophobia, kissing, mental health, on-page sex, parents, pregnancy, racism, teachers.

Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy

 

Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy by Faith Erin Hicks (graphic novel)

First Second, 9781250838728

Alix loves playing hockey so much that she is willing to put up with bullying from the team captain. But after one snide comment too many, Alix’s temper snaps and she punches Lindsay in the face in front of the whole team. Now her recommendation to hockey camp is in jeopardy, her mom is mad, and Alix doesn’t know what to do. Then, she sees “gay drama boy” Ezra (he’s really bi, not gay, this is important) being bullied (by Lindsay’s boyfriend, because real life does work that way) but responding in a healthier way.

So, Alix does what any other other socially awkward, probably spectrum-y person would do: she asks Ezra to teach her to chill out. The resulting friends-to-lovers story is sweet in all the possible ways. Heaps of emotional growth for everyone–except Lindsay, of course. Evocative drawings by the author and plenty of Canadian references. Alix and Ezra hold hands, kiss, and spend a night together in the front seat of a broken-down pickup truck–any sexual activity beyond that is tactfully off-page. Recommended for ages 12 to adult, especially readers who love the stage, hockey games, or both.

Bullying, diversity, friendship, gay friends, graphic novel, high school, homophobia, kissing, mental health, neurodivergence, off-page intimacy, rainbow+, sports, Star Trek sex, straight friends.

The Meaning of Birds

The Meaning of Birds  by Jaye Robin Brown

Jess is still kind of a mess when she meets Vivi, betweem grieving the death of her dad and trying to cope with her anger at classmates who harass the "gay girl".  But Vivi changed all that.  Vivi doesn't just love Jess, she also encourages Jess to pursue an artistic future.

And then, suddenly, Vivi died.

Reeling from loss, Jess retreats back into old (bad) habits to cope.  She drinks, she skips schools, she gets into fights, and she throws out her art portfolio--because art reminds her of Vivi, and Vivi is dead.

The narrative skips back-and-forth in time, from scenes labeled "Then" featuring Vivi and Jess together, before Vivi got sick, alternating with scenes labeled "Now", when Jess tries to figure out how to think about her future.  

This compelling story features flawed characters, including Jess and Vivi, and also their friends, families, and teachers. 

Highly recommended.