YA LGBT Books discussion

Hey guys,

So I'm new to LGBT+ literature and feeling totally overwhelmed tbh. I am trying to include good LGBT+ characters in the stories I'm writing but as I haven't read any yet I don't know if what I'm writing is totally cliche or not.

If you could suggest me some of the books you love for the LGBT+ characters and maybe explain what you love and also what you don't love about them, that would be really super helpful. :)

BoredofBeingWallpaper wrote: "Hey guys,

So I'm new to LGBT+ literature and feeling totally overwhelmed tbh. I am trying to include good LGBT+ characters in the stories I'm writing but as I haven't read any yet I don't know if ..."

You might look at the list of Library List Recommendations - redux - What books do you love? - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

If you do, you'll also see that the same books that are one reader's favorites, are sometimes "not recommended" by another reader. There is no one right way to write LGBTQ+ characters, and a reader's personal sensitivities and experiences come into play too. (It can be a simple as a word - like "queer" which some LGBTQ+ people use as the best expression of who they are, and others hate, as the word used to bully them throughout their teens.)

My list is the first one there - as for why those books?
In general, they have characters who I feel are real people first, and the LGBTQ is a part of who they are, not the total reason they are in the book. They have emotional connections, but not angst for the sake of angst. (Something which is very individual. What I find OTT teen angst is someone else's tear-inducing real emotion. And vice versa)
I also like books with a plot that isn't just about bullying and coming out. Not that there aren't good books with that focus (the Tales from Foster High series, for example) but generally I love to have a broader content.

Gay MCs:
Vivaldi in the Dark - a realistic look at major depression in a teen character, and at falling in love with someone who deals with this. Great teen boy conversations, a fun British flavor, and a moving emotional content. (Note that there is off page sex in the first book as plot, and the third approaches NA (New Adult 18-24) content. Trigger warning for suicide issues.)

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda - a fun, light but not superficial or silly look at identity, friendships, and coming out in high school.

Lesbian MCs
Empress of the World - a bright young girl coming to terms with who she is, it has moments of hope and pain and discovery, stays appropriate to a gifted 15-year-old narrator, and ends sweetly but not wrapped up with an unrealistic bow.
Come To My Window - two girls who are superficially unalike, find a meeting place, deal with body issues, parental expectations, and more.

BTQ+
Freakboy - although a "prose-poem" this is a straight-forward, engrossing, subtly-emotional and thought-provoking read that's easy to follow. There's a trans girl, and a couple of questioning characters including a possibly-trans or gender fluid girl, and a realistic look at the process of rearranging your own self-perceptions.
Spy Stuff - a trans guy with an interesting group of friends, varied family, reasonable expectations and issues, and a nicely emotional but not angsty tone (written by a trans author).
Symptoms of Being Human - we never learn the assigned-at-birth gender of the MC, Riley, which lets us see them more clearly in how they present, in a genderfluid M-F spectrum. Well written, with an interesting plot revolving around online privacy issues and coming out.
Beautiful Music for Ugly Children - Life for a trans teen, with ups and downs, hits and misses, positively-reviewed by several trans authors I know as well.

Genre
Knight Errant (SciFi) - coming out angst/homophobia has almost no role in this light, fun (but with solid, sometimes painful backstory) SciFi adventure with growing up, survival, spaceships, family, and finding love.
Vintage: A Ghost Story (Paranormal) - A nicely spooky paranormal with teens whose personal stories are sometimes tough, but which doesn't drag the book into melodrama.

I love YA LGBT+ books where the MC's are not defined by their label, but are comprised of parts. And I especially love bools where the MC is trying to update or change a part of themselves that they may have out grown.

Openly Straight is a good example.

The Great American Whatever is a recent addition to my loved books stack, because it presented an authentic representation of a part of me (and it isn't sexuality).

Also, don't worry about if your characters are cliche or not. Write the characters you want to read. If you want a character that is self-acknowledging walking stereotype, then write one (I know I already did… tons of fun, BTW). Also, don't be afraid to ask for an alpha or beta reader if you really want feedback on character strengths and weaknesses.

Thank you Kaje for your suggestions, I will have a look at that list. I'm particularly intrigued by the Sci-Fi book as it is a favourite genre of mine.

Also thank you Rez, I think there is a common theme that people just want realistic characters who are also LGBT+. My book is not in a form ready for beta readers yet but I will be (hopefully) looking for one in a few months time.

There isn't enough YA LGBTQ SciFi out - a lot more fantasy. There are a few - I recently enjoyed The Star Host which was pretty good, although a bit of a paranormal/sciFi blend.

Kaje wrote: "There isn't enough YA LGBTQ SciFi out - a lot more fantasy. There are a few - I recently enjoyed The Star Host which was pretty good, although a bit of a paranormal/sciFi blend."
A Little Bit Langston is a YA LGBTQ sci-fi book with a teenage boy MC. It's good! And there's a sequel coming.

Ooh this looks good! Thanks Skype :)

Hey I'm looking for some recommendations of books that include a wide range of lgbtq+ characters. Something that will appeal to a wide audience as its for my youth group who all identity differently.

BoredofBeingWallpaper wrote: "Thank you Kaje for your suggestions, I will have a look at that list. I'm particularly intrigued by the Sci-Fi book as it is a favourite genre of mine.

Also thank you Rez, I think there is a comm..."

If you're into sci-fi and want realisticlally portrayed LGBT characters, then give my book series a go! It's free today on Amazon too! :)

Shiva XIV

Crystal wrote: "Hey I'm looking for some recommendations of books that include a wide range of lgbtq+ characters. Something that will appeal to a wide audience as its for my youth group who all identity differently."

The list I posted above covers a range of identities. You might add
Love Spell - light story of a young gender-fluid gay guy
Luna -MC's brother is M2F trans - an older title
Wide Awake - near future SciFi about two gay boys and the campaign for the first gay president,
Golden Boy - intersex character (NB - sexual assault)
Pantomime - fantasy with gender identity, sexual orientation, the circus, high society, ancient mythology
Exiled to Iowa. Send Help. And Couture - light fun, gay MC
The Thunder in His Head - black gay MC
Gives Light - Native American MC, a lot of content affected by the continued discrimination against First Nations communities and people
Openly Straight - a gay kid decides to go back in the closet
Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You - a questioning gay charater
Every Day - an interesting device to look at gender and identity
Just Between Us - HIV
Hope and Love Anthology
How Beautiful the Ordinary: Twelve Stories of Identity
Am I Blue?: Coming Out from the Silence
The Full Spectrum: A New Generation of Writing About Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Question
The Realm of Possibility