#ArmchairBEA2014 Beyond the Borders: LGBT in YA

Design by Nina of Nina Reads
  Whenever I was thirteen, I had my first kiss. It was with my neighbor. It was with a girl. I thought I was the only girl in the world who wanted to kiss other girls. Something was wrong with me, I just knew it. None of the books I had read mentioned anything about girls kissing girls.

  Thankfully, I've discovered since then that girls kiss girls, boys kiss boys, and boys and girls kiss. And there's some people like me who love to kiss regardless if it's with a boy or a girl or someone who doesn't fit into those labels. But that is something I would have loved to know whenever I was confronted with my sexuality at a young age. I would have loved to know that labels don't define us, but it's nice to know that I can identify as a pansexual and have an entire community of people to call my own that I belong with.

  Over the past few months, diversity in books has really been a hot button issue. I've seen the tweets. I've read the posts. I've looked at the lists. And it's about time! But my big draw back with the diversity movement is that I haven't seen a lot of LGBT books and authors being talked about. It saddens my heart.

  We need LGBT books. Specially, we need LGBT Young Adult books. For every thirteen year old out there who is questioning themselves and their sexuality like I was, they need to know that it's normal, it's okay, and you can be happy.

LGBT Young Adult Recommendations:
I love discovering new LGBT books. If I didn't list one of your favorites, please leave it in the comments below so I can check it out!

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19 comments:

  1. LivianiaMay 29, 2014 at 12:25 AM

    Great recs! I can't wait to read Everything Leads to You; I've heard nothing but good things!

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    1. Kristen @ Pretty Little PagesMay 30, 2014 at 2:10 PM

      I am absolutely dying for that book. It's one of my most wanted books of 2014!

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  2. Nikki SMay 29, 2014 at 2:06 AM

    Great recs! Everything Leads to You, One Man Guy, and Lies my Girlfriend Told Me are all ones I hope to read soon! (Or as soon as its released!)

    Great poost! Here's my Armchair BEA: Giveaways Galore and Beyond the Barriers!

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    1. Kristen @ Pretty Little PagesMay 30, 2014 at 2:11 PM

      I'm so ticked with Amazon and Hachette over the dispute because I couldn't preorder Lies My Girlfriend Told Me. I'm really excited about that one!

      Delete
  3. Roberta R.May 29, 2014 at 5:12 AM

    First off..I'd never come across your blog before, and I really like your banner :). I also loved your post. I'm a straight female who supports the GLBTQ+ movement...and likes to read about diverse characters. I even participated in the LGBT month hosted by Cayce @ Fighting Dreamer and Laura @ Laura Plus Books - see, these books and authors are talked about :).
    Recs? I have some for you as well...
    Kathe Koja: Talk (my review here)
    Sandra Scoppettone: Trying Hard to Hear You (my review here)
    M.E. Kerr: Deliver Us from Evie (Goodreads page here).

    Happy reading!

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  4. Mel@ThedailyprophecyMay 29, 2014 at 5:22 AM

    Have you read More than this from Patrick Ness? It's a really messed-up story and I wasn't a fan of the ending (too open for my taste), but the LGTB is subtly handled and it was my favorite aspect of the story :)

    Mel@thedailyprophecy

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  5. Suzy, The Grey BrunetteMay 29, 2014 at 7:26 AM

    I haven't read any LGBT YA (or adult) books either but I wouldn't not read them. I think it's important to be open to any kind of books regardless of the sexuality within them. Good for you for writing such a lovely, honest post. I'm just sorry you felt so lonely when you were young :(

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  6. AthiraMay 29, 2014 at 8:02 AM

    I totally agree with you. It bugs me when the LGBT books that get some recognition are all about sex or erotica, as if that is what it is about. Thanks for these recommendations - I'm checking them out.

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  7. UnknownMay 29, 2014 at 8:02 AM

    o: o: o:!!!! I basically did a post on LGBTQ in YA for today's Armchair BEA topic as well! And I'm giving away an LGBTQ YA book (choice of 12) on my blog today. (: Come drop by my post if you want, there are a few books I mentioned that you haven't listed in your recs. (My book blog has a pretty heavy focus on books with LGBTQ content.) I really really want to read Everything Leads To You! I must get my hands on a copy at some point.

    Yeah, I'm queer (bisexual) too and there was such a sad lack of books with queer girls when I was younger. There are definitely more now though, which is great! I've read quite a few books with bisexual MCs this year and it's made me really happy. (:

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  8. StephMay 29, 2014 at 8:43 AM

    Wonderful Recommendations! I loved Two Boys Kissing it was a beautiful book!

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  9. LinaMay 29, 2014 at 9:35 AM

    This is a wonderful post. I really liked your introduction, because it rings true for me.

    I was just remembering a sci-fi book I read about a girl who, as a subplot, is having issues understanding her stance sexuality (i don't want to spoil it)... but it's very well done!!

    The book is called Quicksilver by R.J. Anderson, and is the sequel of Ultraviolet. (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13149420-quicksilver)

    #Diversity all the way :)

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  10. Elizabeth BevinsMay 29, 2014 at 11:16 AM

    I will read anything. I don't stick to one genre or author. So I have discovered some amazing books. Maus is a fantastic Graphic Novel. The Color Purple is stunning literature. The Color of Water is a great memoir. I highly recommend those. Thanks for sharing some of your favorites.

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  11. CayceMay 29, 2014 at 12:48 PM

    I just read Everything Leads to You and absolutely loved it. (But my favorite LGBT YA is, hands down, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.) And I'm super excited about One Man Guy. (oh and The Miseducation of Cameron Post is on my tbr as well)

    Thanks you for sharing your story! Glad you found your "people" :)

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  12. La La in the LibraryMay 29, 2014 at 4:39 PM

    Tides by Betsy Cornwell.
    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13112921-tides?from_search=true

    And thank-you for commenting on my blog. :)

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  13. fredamansMay 29, 2014 at 8:18 PM

    LOVE this post. I don't read near enough LGBT books.

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  14. DoingDeweyMay 29, 2014 at 8:30 PM

    I'd really like to read more LGBT books, especially since my experience with Ari and Dante was so good! Thanks for the recommendations :)

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  15. Beth WMay 30, 2014 at 11:48 PM

    Libba Bray and Holly Black have (multiple) YA novels with LGBT characters in them (as well as being awesome authors in general). I agree about the diversity- in faith, color, culture, sexual orientation, and gender identity. But in good novels, not diversity for diversity's sake. At least we're at the point of talking about these things....and we have award-winning authors from all races, creeds, cultures, gender identities and sexual orientations!

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  16. ahz1May 31, 2014 at 9:11 AM

    Those are some nice recommendations. I'll have to add a few of them to my list.

    AH@badassbookreviews

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  17. KristenJune 1, 2014 at 9:14 AM

    I also love Ash by Malinda Lo. Such a great post, there will hopefully be more character in literature that reflect sexual diversity. I'm hoping it will trickle down into middle grade fiction as well.

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