June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Pride Month (LGBTQ+ Pride Month) — celebrated annually to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots, a series of demonstrations by members of the gay community in response to violent police raids during the summer of 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan, New York City. The riots are considered to be one of the most important events leading to the gay liberation movement and the twentieth century fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States.
Pride Month works to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning Americans. Check out these great books that represent the broad spectrum of LGBTQ+ voices in YA literature, and follow the links for each book to learn more from the CA Library catalog!
If an eBook and/or audiobook is available, links are also provided (Sora login is required). You can also explore our Read With Pride collection in Sora, eBooks and audiobooks available for in Sora Digital Reading app!
According To Plan by Christen Randall — Being editor of the school’s literary magazine was part of high school senior Mal’s plan to escape their small town, where as a fat, queer person with ADHD, they’ve never fit in, but when budget cuts shut down the magazine, Mal discovers working on a zine and spending time with Emerson could be somewhere they belong.
“Randall’s sophomore work will deeply resonate with readers who have felt like there’s something wrong with them just because of how their brains work” (Booklist).
Amelia, If Only by Becky Albertalli — High school senior Amelia Applebaum isn’t in love with Walter Holland. He just happens to be her favorite moderately famous, chaotically bisexual YouTuber. Who she just happened to invite to prom. Okay, maybe her friends are right: She’s slightly parasocially infatuated. If only she could talk her best friend Natalie into taking a short road trip to meet Walter in person. But what if Amelia’s butterflies aren’t for Walter at all? Get the Audiobook
“Albertalli masterfully weaves together characters from Amelia’s life with fan favorites from her previous work Imogen, Obviously (2023), but the focus is wholly on Amelia and her journey” (Booklist).
COMING SOON! How To Be Normal by Ange Crawford — When her dad loses his job, Astrid’s homeschooling comes to an end. Until now, she has lived within the confines of a tightly controlled, contracted world where there’s no room for anything . . . except following her father’s rules and pretending that everything is normal. With with hope, new friends, and the strength of a promise, Astrid has a chance to find out what she wants, who she loves, and who she really is. Get the eBook
“A harrowing and ultimately uplifting tale of self-discovery, surviving emotional abuse, and coming of age in a complex world” (Kirkus Reviews).
Just Between Us by Adeline Kon — A figure skater grapples with the pressure to perform and her changing feelings when her competitor starts training at the same rink. Get the eBook
“A must-read sports romance with beautiful LGBTQ representation that evaluates how we show up for one another and ourselves” (Booklist).
Lies We Tell About The Stars by Susie Nadler — After an 8.1-magnitude earthquake hits, seventeen-year-old Celeste refuses to believe her best friend Nicky is dead, so when she finds his notebook, she teams up with Meo, a mysterious stranger who knew Nicky, and follows its clues on a dangerous quest across the country all the way to Florida. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook
“While the mystery’s resolution might not satisfy every reader, that’s exactly what makes this such a realistic coming-of-age story: the answers we’re looking for lie in the questions we’re afraid to ask” (Booklist).
Lost Girls of Hollow Lake by Rebekah Faubion — Haunted by a disastrous school trip where three of her classmates never returned, Evie and her friends must return to a deadly island to confront a sinister force hunting them and uncover the secrets that could cost them everything. This dark YA thriller is perfect for fans of Yellowjackets.
“Faubion delivers a riveting tale that’s both affecting and petrifying, juxtaposing psychological and supernatural terrors with tender queer romance and a heartwarming human-canine bond” (Publishers Weekly).
One Word, Six Letters by Adib Khorram — Two teen boys grapple with identity and accountability and set off a ripple effect within their community after a school assembly is disrupted by a shouted slur. Timely, raw, and deeply thought-provoking, this novel is perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Nic Stone.
“A painful, honest, and ultimately hopeful story of deciding between what is easy and what is right” (Booklist).
Postscript by Cory McCarthy — From Stonewall Honoree Cory McCarthy, a joyful, affectionate, read-in-one-sitting post-apocalyptic novel about letting go of the things we can’t change and holding on to the passion of our instincts. On a depopulated archipelago off the coast of Massachusetts, a tiny handful of sapiens sift the remnants of civilization for scraps of comfort and joy in this fleeting postscript about the last of us. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook
“While short, this post-apocalyptic story is richly thought-provoking; readers will savor it and may find themselves wanting to return again and again” (SLJ).
To The Death by Andrea Tang — Two teens are pitted against each other in a magical duel for revenge, but they’ll have to fight their growing attraction first in this YA fantasy thriller. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook
“Fast-paced duels and dynamic depictions of arcane magic flesh out the world, while the complicated relationships bring drama and tension. A rewarding page-turner that’s filled with deception and intrigue” (Kirkus Reviews).
Worst-Case Scenario by Ray Stoeve — Sidney has one goal for their junior year. Well . . . two, if they’re being honest. Number one: become president of their school’s Queer Alliance club. And number two: keep their self-diagnosed anxiety in check so their grades don’t tank like they did last year. But when the election results in a tie with none other than Sidney’s arch nemesis, the class clown Forrest, the two are forced to share the presidency until a revote at the end of term. Get the eBook
“An honest depiction of OCD paired with a cute queer romance” (Kirkus Reviews).
Find even more great LGBTQ+ titles in these previous posts:
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