Tag Archives: LGBTQ

MG – Turning Twelve

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Ormsbee, Kathryn.  Turning Twelve. Random House Children’s, 2024. 978-0-593-65006-6. 240 p. $14.99. Grades 6-8. 

Sequel to Growing Pangs. Katie is a homeschooled student who has great plans for her seventh grade year: babysitting, pool parties, acting! She’s starting to feel grown up. But when her best friends move away, and her church also institutes a new dress code that she feels is unfair, things seem to have taken a spin for the worst. But her bright spot in all of this is her new friend Grace that she met through the local theater group. As their friendship grows, Katie begins to question if it is friendship or something more that she feels towards Grace. And if it’s a crush what would that mean for her place in her community as she reflects on what adults have said around her.

THOUGHTS: Turning Twelve is a well-illustrated, coming of age graphic novel set in the 2000s where Katie is beginning to take on more responsibilities and coming into her own. Katie also is questioning the why of things she is being told by adults in her life, especially as things become more strict at church. She has a lot of introspection, and the story touches on many aspects of growing up, like how a girl’s body changes, periods, and crushes. Great for fans of Raina Telgemeier.

Graphic Novel
Realistic Fiction

Elem. – Marley’s Pride

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Retener, Joelle. Marley’s Pride. Illustrated by DeAnn Wiley. Barefoot Books, 2024, 979-8-888-59075-1. $17.99. 32 p. Grades PK-4.

Marley identifies as non-binary. When their Zaza, who has been a remarkable advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, is slated to receive an award at their local PRIDE parade, Marley decides it is time to push aside her fears of large crowds and loud noises to find a new sense of belonging with the LGBTQ+ community. 

THOUGHTS: This book is beautifully written and illustrated. It does a phenomenal job of not only highlighting LGBTQ+ culture and history, but bringing to light social anxiety and sensory sensitivities in an approachable and genuine manner. 

Picture Book 

YA – The Diablo’s Curse

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Novoa, Gabe Cole. The Diablo’s Curse. Random House, 2024. 978-0-593-37805-2. 388 p. $19.99. Grades 9-12.

The Diablo’s Curse follows Dami who is a demon that wants to become human again. In order to do that, he has to cancel every deal he ever made, which is when Silas enters the picture. Silas is a human who was cursed to die young until he made a deal with Dami to never die. If Dami cancels the deal he made with Silas, Silas will die, unless they can get rid of the curse that has plagued Silas’s family for years. As the two try to figure out how to do just that, they end up on an island that isn’t quite what it seems. Are they going to escape, or will Silas be cursed forever? Will Dami never be a human again?

THOUGHTS: This is a solid young adult fantasy with some amazing world building and wonderful gender fluid characters. This is not a sequel to The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa, and the reader doesn’t need to read that to follow what’s happening in this book. Highly recommended for high school collections, just be aware of the conversations about gender. Dami describes themselves are gender fluid, and Silas and he have several conversations regarding that topic.

Fantasy

YA – The Race to Be Myself: A Memoir

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Semenya, Caster. The Race to Be Myself: A Memoir. Norton Young Readers, 2024. 978-1-324-03097-3. 240 p. $19.99. Grades 6-12.

Olympic runner Caster Semenya has always known who she is no matter what. When she discovered running, she became determined to be a world class runner and that is just what she did. In 2009 she won the World Championships in Berlin in the 800 meter race, and she has dominated the sport of running. However, issues with the level of testosterone in her body caused issues, and eventually she was forced to take drugs that changed her hormone levels if she wanted to compete. These drugs messed with her body in various ways, including her recovery from injuries she sustained while running. Through all of this Caster is determined to do the thing she loves to do and be exactly who she knows she is.

THOUGHTS: I had never heard of Caster Semenya before I picked up this memoir, and I was blown away by what she has had to endure just to compete in the sport she loves. The writing makes the reader feel as though she is talking directly to you. This book is great for readers who love sports memoirs, racing, or just reading about someone with the determination to do what they love.

Memoir
Biography

MG/YA – Thief of the Heights

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M., Son. Thief of the Heights. Illustrated by Robin Yao. HarperAlley, 2024. 979-8-368-73772-0. 240 p. $26.99. Grades 7-12.

Three friends, Basem, Mustafa, and Aarfah have made a decent business in Muqadas, but they dream about getting out and ending up in the top tiers of their city, away from the diseases and death that surrounds them. One day that dream comes true, and they are approached by a scout who wants to bring talent to the top tiers of their city. However, things aren’t quite what they seem, and Mustafa and Aarfah are cast out back to where they started. Will Basem stay in the upper city, fall in line, and live out his dreams? Or will he fight to help those he left behind?

THOUGHTS: This is a great graphic novel with some excellent disability representation. The story is a little hard to follow at times, and the ending feels like there has to be a sequel coming at some point. Would be appropriate for higher middle school students all the way up to high school. 

Graphic Novel
Science Fiction (Dystopian)

YA – To the Bone

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Bruzas, Alena. To the Bone. Rocky Pond Books, 2024. 978-0-593-61620-8. 256 p. $19.99. Grades 9-12.

On the surface, this is a harrowing survival story about the starving time, 1609-1610, at the James Fort. But really this is a tale of true horrors, specifically those endured by Ellis, a young indentured servant. She learns that the people she is supposed to trust are not going to protect her, that loving the wrong person could threaten her life, and that colonizing land is wrong and dangerous. 

THOUGHTS: Based on what archaeologists have discovered about what people did to survive that crushing winter, this horror novel is all the more frightening because everything in it that is evil is, and was, real. The terrifying account of abusive husbands, violence against the indigenous people, and, of course, cannibalism, is so chilling, it’s easy to forget that these events actually happened. Much of the story, especially the end, is very dark and while fans of historical fiction might love this, they will need to be warned that it should be categorized as much horror as historical, if not more so. This story will stay with readers for a long time and could even prompt them to want to learn more about Jamestown. Between this fictionalized version, and the real stories, they will not be disappointed. 

Historical Fiction

Ellis flees devastation in England after losing her family and looks forward to a new adventure in America. Filled with hope for finding a place of her own after fulfilling her debt, Ellis works for the Collins family which includes Henry and Mrs. Collins who is expecting. Despite Mr. Collins’ warnings not to explore with Jane Eddowes, Ellis can’t help but fall under Jane’s adventurous spell. The two find ways to meet and explore their new surroundings both inside James Fort and in the uncharted land around it. Ellis harbors a secret hope of locating her father, who traveled to America before her but never sent word to the family. It’s not difficult for Ellis to observe the unkind relationship between the colonists and the Indigenous people. Jane offers Ellis a break from the reality of Mr. Collins’ anger towards their situation and his wife’s resistance to accepting their new life. As supplies and food stores dwindle and winter approaches, the colonists are forced to do whatever it takes to survive. Will Ellis reach her breaking point when the unthinkable happens, or does she have the will to survive?

THOUGHTS: Initially, I picked up To the Bone due to its short length, unique approach to a less-covered historical time period, and its appeal to horror fans. That said, I had to put down my book while reading on more than one occasion due to the graphic descriptions. Though this one fits historical fiction, the horror definitely is real. A worthy YA purchase to highlight the realities of early American history and where horror books are in demand.

Historical Fiction

YA – Just Another Epic Love Poem

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Akhbari, Parisa. Just Another Epic Love Poem. Dial Books, 2024. 978-0-593-53049-8. 394 p. $19.99. Grades 9-12.

Mitra Esfahani, an Iranian American high school senior at a Catholic school in Washington, has always relied on two things to make sense of her world: her best friend Bea Ortega and poetry. From the day Bea passed Mitra a note in eighth grade with an original poem scribbled inside, their friendship blossomed into an unshakable bond. Together, they’ve poured their hearts into The Book, an ever-growing collection of confessional poetry that’s seen them through heartbreak, identity struggles, and family traumas. For introverted Mitra, The Book is a lifeline—a creative sanctuary where she can express everything except the one truth she’s too afraid to admit: she’s in love with Bea. As senior year unfolds, Mitra and Bea face new challenges. They’re taking a competitive poetry seminar together, grappling with college decisions, and planning their future in Seattle. But when Bea begins to suspect Mitra’s feelings and Mitra’s estranged, newly sober mother reenters her life, everything feels on the verge of unraveling. Mitra must confront her past, her fears, and the insecurities that have kept her from fully opening up—not just to Bea, but to herself.

THOUGHTS: In this poignant debut, Akhbari weaves lyrical prose, chat logs, and heartfelt poetry with themes of first love, cultural identity, and the lingering impact of addiction. Mitra’s journey of self-discovery—rooted in Iranian culture, family dynamics, and queer identity—offers a tender and authentic portrayal of growing up, filled with humor, heartbreak, and hope. Perfect for teens navigating big emotions and literary aspirations.

Romance

MG – A Song For You and I

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O’Neill, K. A Song For You and I. Random House Children’s, 2025. 978-0-593-18230-7. 224 p. $13.99. Grades 4-8.

Rowan is on the verge of achieving their goals of becoming a ranger, protecting the villagers from the back of Kes, their winged horse. But in an ill fated attempt to prove their skills, Kes is injured and Rowan and Kes are forced to stay on the ground until Kes heals. Frustrated, Rowan spends more time with a lazy, but musically gifted, sheep herder, Leone, protecting him while traveling to the city. The trip allows Rowan to see a different side to Leone, and the two of them bond while each confronting their own struggles. Seeing life outside of training makes Rowan question if they want something more, beyond just being a ranger, and if that choice would also include Leone.

THOUGHTS: A beautifully illustrated, cozy, magical graphic novel from the writer of The Moth Keeper and The Tea Dragon Society. With similar themes of questioning one’s place in the world as other titles from the author, Rowan wants to be a protector and knows they can be a good one, but is questioning if this life is truly for them when they begin to travel and see the world around them. But they do know that the name everyone calls them is not the name they want preserved but is unsure of how to tell their friends and superiors. As Rowan struggles with their frustrations of not being able to share that side of them, they struggle finding the courage to ride again in a parallel emotion. While the story has illustrations of a happy ending it also leaves it open with a lot of showing and little telling, but leaves the reader feeling as though they are soaring through the sky.

Graphic Novel

YA+ – Nightmare Before Kissmas

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Raasch, Sara. Nightmare Before Kissmas. Bramble, 2024. 978-1-250-33319-3. 356. $19.99. Grades 9-12 

Nicholas “Coal” Claus has very big and famous shoes to fill, and he can’t seem to live up to his father’s, the current Santa’s, expectations. He used to love the spectacle, but as the heir to Christmas he does anything to escape his duties, including drunken hookups with an anonymous guy in an alley behind a bar. Now his duties come calling, and he is commanded to marry his best friend Iris, the Easter Princess and his brother’s not-so-secret crush. The tension ratchets even higher when Halloween demands a chance at romance with the princess, but the Halloween prince Hex, is also the same handsome man from the alley behind the bar. It’s a fake dating competition between two holiday princes who are attracted to each other, fighting over a marriage of convenience that no one wants. Humor, heart, and a steamy romance fill out this fun first in a Royals and Romance series.

THOUGHTS: The audiobook, narrated by Ellis Evans, was a delightful listen with great inflection and adding great feeling to the story. An interesting take on how holiday royal families would exist with magic abound in our world, great for fans of The Nightmare before Christmas but with the romance level of Red, White and Royal Blue. Coal as a main character is snarky and lovable with clear flaws, and Hex is a great foil with his insecurities too. Raasch builds a great web of magical royalty that is easy to follow and really helps the world building. It hits many of the romance cliches, but that is what helps it weave well into the genre. Content skews more to the New Adult side than Young Adult so be aware of your audience.

Fantasy
Romance

YA – Blood & Fury

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Gratton, Tessa, and Ireland, Justina. Blood & Fury. Razorbill, 2024. 978-0-593-35335-6. $19.99. 352 p. Grades 9-12.

It has been months since Darling Seabreak transformed into the Phoenix along with Caspian, who became a dragon, and the rest of the house regents who turned into their Empyrean forms. When the regents are finally returned to their human forms and begin to learn how to harness their new powers, Darling is still trying to build a peaceful world. Her new role as the Phoenix reborn earns her a lot of respect, and her powers are able to release chaos within those who are developing new abilities all over the kingdom. In the meantime, Talon Goldhord’s Aunt Aurora still must be found to pay for her betrayal to House Dragon, and as he makes plans to end the war started by his family, he must also earn back the trust of Darling. Together, and with the house regents, they must fight against the violence that threatens to destroy the kingdom they so desperately want to save.

THOUGHTS: Blood & Fury is the second installment in this enemies to lovers, fantasy duology (Chaos & Flame) perfect for fans of Game of Thrones or for readers looking for something similar. One of the unique aspects of this duology is the way the characters transform and embody the sigils of their houses, and the fast paced plot will keep readers engaged until the very last page. 

Fantasy