9 Refreshing Young Adult Novels That Put LGBT Characters Front and Center

LGBT YA Books: Our 9 Picks

Non-Profits That Support the LGBTQIA+ Community

Despite the progress made in recent years, many LGBT+ people still face discrimination, rejection, and even violence. If you want to help combat these issues, consider supporting nonprofit organizations like these:

• PFLAG
• The Trevor Project
• GLAD
• Pride At Work
• Family Equality Council
• GLSEN
• Human Rights Campaign
• Transgender Law Center
• GLMA

Walking in Your Truth as an LGBT Youth

In Depth

In the past, readers of Y.A. literature may have been frustrated by the lack of L.G.B.T. representation, but modern authors have been working to correct this oversight. No longer relegated to the background, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender characters in the books included here take leading roles. For those yearning for more diverse representation, here are, in no particular order, some of the most satisfying Y.A. stories that embrace a spectrum of sexual identities.

At #1 we have "Radical" by E.M. Kokie. Bex is certain that a major world crisis is imminent, and she's doing everything to ensure that she, her father, and her brother Mark are prepared for the worst. Mark introduces her to the survivalist group Clearview, whose beliefs about doomsday match hers in fervor. But trouble is looming in unexpected places. When Bex falls for the beautiful Lucy and Mark loses himself to the wrong crowd, all of her exacting preparation is thrown into disarray, and she is forced to question her loyalties.

Coming in at #2 is "Fifty Yards and Holding" by David-Matthew Barnes. Seventeen, failing his classes, and grieving the murder of his cousin, Victor Alvarez is promoted to leader of his street gang. By chance he meets Riley Brewer, their school's star baseball player, and an unexpected romance blossoms between them. But both boys realize that their social standings will be jeopardized if their secret gets out. Tensions rise as Riley refuses to deny his feelings while vowing to risk his life for Victor.

Seventeen, failing his classes, and grieving the murder of his cousin, Victor Alvarez is promoted to leader of his street gang.

At #3 we get "The Art of Starving" by Sam J. Miller. Matt has discovered something incredible about himself: when he doesn't eat, he develops the ability to read minds and manipulate reality. Hunger gnaws at him, but he hopes his self-imposed starvation will allow him to figure out how a group of school bullies caused the disappearance of his sister Maya. Matt conducts an investigation by tuning into the chief bully's thoughts, but the many temptations that surround him could upend his endeavor.

For #4 we find "Tell Me How You Really Feel" by Aminah Mae Safi. Sana Khan, a straight A cheerleader, and Rachel Recht, an amateur director, weren't supposed to fall in love. Their friction comes from a past incident in which Sana asked Rachel out, and Rachel thought it was a prank. Ever since, they've been on opposite sides of the school ecosystem, sneering at each other in the halls. But when Rachel finds that Sana is the ideal lead for her senior project, their contentious relationship begins to transform into something more romantic.

At #5 is "You Belong With Me" by Jeff Erno. Sixteen-year-old artist Wesley Harris is openly gay to his friends and family, but he's often bullied at school. He finds an unexpected friend in popular jock and new neighbor Brad Johnson. Communicating by holding notes up to their bedroom windows, the two boys grow close, and personal secrets are shared, including the fact that Brad might not be heterosexual himself.

Sixteen-year-old artist Wesley Harris is openly gay to his friends and family, but he's often bullied at school.

Coming in at #6 is "The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali" by Sabina Khan. Being yourself while trying to live up to the expectations of your conservative parents is hard to do, especially when your sexuality goes against their Muslim customs. Rukhsana Ali knows this well, which is why she can't wait to leave home for a new life at Caltech. But when her parents find her kissing another woman, they send her to Bangladesh for a traditional arranged marriage. Aided by her grandmother's diary, Rukhsana tries to muster the courage to put love first.

For #7 we get "Heavyweight" by M.B. Mulhall. A gay teenager in a Southern town, wrestler Ian has learned to hide his sexuality from others. While trying to avoid staring at his teammates in the locker room, he also starves himself so he can be kept in his weight class. Ian's secrets become harder to keep after he befriends the handsome and flirtatious Julian Yang. As his classmates wonder if there's something going on between them, and word spreads, Ian's world starts to unravel.

At #8 we find "The Art of Escaping" by Erin Callahan. Seventeen-year-old Mattie is obsessed with becoming a world-class escape artist, but she keeps this interest hidden for fear of being ostracized by her peers. Over a lonely summer, she tracks down Miyu, the daughter of her idol, and through Miyu's guidance becomes the escapologist she always dreamed of being. Mattie is nervous when school athlete Will sees one of her shows, worried he'll tell everyone. But after Will shares some of his deepest secrets with her, a friendship between the two begins.

Mattie is nervous when school athlete Will sees one of her shows, worried he'll tell everyone.

Finally, we come to #9, "Beautiful Music for Ugly Children" by Kirstin Cronn-Mills. His classmates only know him as Gabe, a radio DJ for the local station, but what they don't realize is that he was born female. Only Gabe's parents and best friend Paige understand that he's in the process of transitioning to male, and only Paige, who he has a crush on, supports his journey. But what will happen when the fans who listen to Gabe's increasingly popular station learn the truth about his identity?