Queer Books for Teens
Celebrate Pride with these LGBTQ+ teen titles. (Updated December 2022)
(MS= Books for middle school readers) (GN= Graphic Novel)
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I Kissed Shara Wheeler
On the eve of graduation, perfect student Shara kisses Chloe, her boyfriend Smith, and her neighbor Rory and then disappears. The three band together to figure out what happened to Shara and unravel some of the secrets of their hometown in the process.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Just your Local Bisexual Disaster
Maggie has to decide who to take as her escort for her younger sister’s quinceañera: her ex-boyfriend, her lifelong best friend (and one-time crush), or the new girl at school.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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The Chandler Legacies
Five students are selected for The Circle, an elusive writing workshop at an elite private high school. Told from alternating perspectives, each student confronts their own internal struggles as well as the discriminatory and privileged stances of the school.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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The Magic Fish
Tié̂n and his mom communicate in a smattering of English and Vietnamese. He doesn’t have the words to tell her that he is gay, so he tries to connect through fairy tales—a language they both understand. GN
Format: Graphic Novel
Availability: Available
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From Dust, A Flame
When Hannah wakes up on her 17th birthday with snake eyes, she knows something strange is happening. She could never expect that it would lead her to unknown Jewish heritage, family she’d never heard of, and a budding romance with a girl whose family history is tied to her own.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Spin With Me
Moving to North Carolina for seventh grade is not Essie’s idea of fun, especially given how weird things are between her parents. She’s counting down the days until she can leave, until she meets Ollie, who’s nonbinary, and learns that change can be good. MS
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School
After Yamilet’s disastrous coming out to her former best friend, she decides no one at her new Catholic school will know she’s gay. But she didn’t anticipate befriending Bo, a proud lesbian who catches her eye on day one.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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The Greatest Thing
As Winifred adjusts to her two best friends switching schools, she opens herself up to new friendships, creative outlets, and the possibility of queerness. GN
Format: Graphic Novel
Availability: Available
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Between Perfect and Real
When Dean is cast as Romeo in his Seattle high school production, everyone assumes he’ll be playing the character as the lesbian they know. Then Dean decides that he’s ready to show both his castmates and the world that he’s trans. MS
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Cemetery Boys
Trans boy Yadriel wants to prove his masculinity to his family by summoning a spirit as a brujo. Though he tries to conjure his murdered cousin, he ends up invoking the spirit of local bad boy Julian and things get much more complicated.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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