LGBTQ YA Books & Links 2011

I thought I had a L(esbian)G(ay)B(isexual)T(ransexual)Q(ueer) list somewhere, but apparently I don’t.  Here’s one, with links to other sites that list books/authors I’m not familiar with!  This list doesn’t pretend to be complete, up-to-the-minute, or anything but what it is: something to start with.

 
 F = fantasy
 SF = science fiction

If a book isn’t listed with a code in parentheses after it, you can assume it’s contemporary.
 

  • AM I BLUE? Coming Out From the SilenceAmelia Atwater-Rhodes — WOLFCRY (f)

  • Marion Dane Bauer, editor — AM I BLUE? COMING OUT FROM THE SILENCE (16 short stories)

  • Steve Berman, editor — BOYS OF SUMMER (short story anthology)

  • Holly Black — TITHE (f); VALIANT (f); IRONSIDE (f)

  • Francesca Lia Block — BABY BE-BOP; I WAS A TEENAGE FAIRY; WEETZIE BAT, and more

  • Marion Zimmer Bradley — one of the most legendary writers in fantasy (and considered an adult writer), Bradley introduced readers first to gay heroes, and then to characters with other sexuality, starting with the books set in her science fiction Darkover universe.  I don’t think it’s too extreme to say that she opened the door for all of us when it comes to writing about LBGT characters.  Some may disagree and argue that it was Ursula LeGuin with THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS, but I hated that book and didn’t take “alternate sexuality” from it, so I don’t see it that way.  BEAUTY QUEENS by Libba BrayIt was MZB first for me and then, more broadly, Mercedes Lackey.

  • Libba Bray — GOING BOVINE; BEAUTY QUEENS; the Gemma Doyle series, starting with A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY (f)

  • Jacqueline Carey — SANTA OLIVIA (sf)

  • Stephen Chbosky — THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER

  • Cassandra Clare — CITY OF ASH (f); CITY OF BONES(f); CITY OF GLASS (f); CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS (f)

  • Rachel Cohn — GINGERBREAD; CUPCAKE; SHRIMP

  • NICK & NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST by Rachel Cohn & David LevitanRachel Cohn and David Levitan — NICK AND NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST

  • Tanuja Desai Hidier — BORN CONFUSED

  • Alex Flinn — FADE TO BLACK

  • Nancy Garden — ANNIE ON MY MIND; THE DAY THEY BURNED THE BOOKS

  • Alison Goodman — EON (f); EONA (f) (trans)

  • Molly Beth Griffin — SILHOUETTE OF A SPARROW (historical)

  • GEOGRAPHY CLUB by Brett HardingerBrent Hartinger — GEOGRAPHY CLUB; THE ORDER OF THE POISON OAK; GRAND & HUMBLE; SPLIT/SCREEN; SHADOW WALKERS (sf)

  • Karen Healy — THE SHATTERING (f); GUARDIAN OF THE DEAD (f)

  • James Howe — THE MISFITS; TOTALLY JOE

  • Maureen Johnson — THE BERMUDEZ TRIANGLE

  • Gordon Korman — BORN TO ROCK

  • Mercedes Lackey — She’s considered an adult author.  For a very long time Lackey was the writer who introduced my generation and subsequent generations of fantasy readers to books with LGB characters (I don’t recall any trans ones).  The only writer with more of an impact when it comes to opening the minds of modern adults on this subject in science fiction and fantasy is Marion Zimmer Bradley.

  • BOY MEETS BOY by David LevitanDavid Levithan — HOW THEY MET AND OTHER STORIES; BOY MEETS BOY; THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY; WIDE AWAKE; LOVE IS THE HIGHER LAW

  • David Levithan and Billy Merrell — THE FULL SPECTRUM: A New Generation of Writing About Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Other Identities.

  • Malinda Lo — ASH (f); HUNTRESS (f)
    I Have Numbers! (http://www.malindalo.com/2011/09/i-have-numbers-stats-on-lgbt-young-adult-books-published-in-the-u-s/), Malinda Lo’s blog entry of statistics on LGBTQ books published until 2011, including Christine Jenkins’ thorough list of books published ever, and Lo’s list of books published 2009-2011, her graphics of books published by publisher and books published per category (L, G, B, T, G) — VERY instructive for those interested in these things.  Both Jenkins’ and Lo’s booklists include many more books than I have here.

  • Melissa Marr — WICKED LOVELY (f)
     HERO by Perry MooreIn Don’t Mind My Big Gay Book Spam! Melissa Marr has compiled a massive list of books on LBGT themes, YA and adult (poor AND TANGO MAKES THREE, most challenged, yet snubbed for being a picture book!).

  • Perry Moore — HERO (contemporary fantasy — superhero)

  • Lauren Myracle — KISSING KATE; SHINE

  • K. E. Payne — ME@YOU.COM

  • Julie Anne Peters — KEEPNG YOU A SECRET; FAR FROM XANADU; IT’S OUR PROM (SO DEAL WITH IT)

  • Carol Plum-Ucci — WHATEVER HAPPENED TO LANI GARVER

  • SCARS by Cheryl RainfieldQueer YA: fiction for LGTBQ teens – reviews of current teen fiction  

  • Cheryl Rainfield--SCARS

  • Sarah Rees Brennan — THE DEMON’S LEXICON (f), THE DEMON’S COVENANT (f); THE DEMON’S SURRENDER (f)

  • Kristopher Reisz — TRIPPING TO SOMEWHERE (f)

  • Charles Rice-Gonzáles--CHULITO

  • Alex Sanchez —  RAINBOW BOYS; RAINBOW HIGH; RAINBOW ROAD; GETTING IT; THE GOD BOX; BOYFRIENDS WITH GIRLFRIENDS
    REVOLUTIONARY VOICES anthology    Alex Sanchez’s GREAT GAY TEEN BOOKS list

  • Amy Sonnie, editor — REVOLUTIONARY VOICES: A MULTICULTURAL QUEER ANTHOLOGY

  • Robin Wasserman — FROZEN (COLD AWAKENING), formerly SKINNED (sf) & sequels

  • Ellen Wittlinger — HARD LOVE; LOVE AND LIES: MARISOL’S STORY; PARROTFISH (trans)

  • Paul Yee — MONEY BOY

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