Earlier this year, we asked teens to tell us about the LGBTQIAP+ YA books that have touched their lives. This is our first round-up of those stories! We are so excited to be able to share these. Books can touch lives in unseen ways, something that is especially the case for LGBTQIAP+ YA books. We wanted to make some of those unseen experiences visible. This series of post is a reminder of why LGBTQIAP+ YA is so important, why it is so necessary for all of us to keep writing and advocating for these books.
“Of Fire and Stars was the first f/f book I had ever read. It was the first time I got to read about two women falling in love in a fantasy novel, my favourite genre. It was something I never experienced before. In other fantasy novels there was little to no f/f representation and when there was they were just background characters whose relationship was never truly developed. Lastly, the chemistry between Denna and Mare changed my view points on overall relationship standards in books.”
-Olivia, 16, Canada
“I am a biromantic asexual, meaning I like both girls and guys, but I don’t experience sexual attraction. I also may be genderfluid, but I’m still trying to figure that out for myself. Not many people understand my sexuality—or lack thereof—so I’m only out to some of my friends. I haven’t come out to my parents yet, but I plan to sometime before I leave for college this fall. It’s hard to tell which I’m more scared of: going to college or coming out to my parents. I don’t know 
what to do or how to say it or how to help them understand. I live in a fairly conservative town, and I don’t know a whole lot of LGBTQIAP+ folks in real life. Something that has helped me accept myself though is LGBTQIAP+ books. I’ve always been careful to make sure that as few as possible of the LGBTQIAP+ books appear obviously LGBTQIAP+ because I don’t want my parents to notice. I’ve read lots of books with gay couples that I love, of course, but there unfortunately aren’t many books with asexual characters. However, when reading What If It’s Us by Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli, now one of my favorite books, I read about a side character who briefly mentioned being a biromantic asexual, and I honestly cried a bit out of sheer joy. I had never read about an asexual character, let alone a bi ace character. It makes me wonder if straight people realize the impact diverse characters have. That what some may call just an “unnecessary gay character”, means the world to somebody else. There are real live queer folks out there, whether homophobes like it or not, and we deserve to see ourselves in the media. Every single LGBTQIAP+ book has the power to positively impact someone’s life, and it can tell a closeted reader that who they are is not only okay, it’s beautiful. Although I didn’t figure out my sexuality until I was 17, I know there are a lot of kids and young teens who know they’re, for example, trans, and might be struggling with it, but if they see themselves in a book, it truly can make a world of difference. Not only can these books help LGBTQIAP+ people, it can help straight people realize, especially from an early age, that it’s okay to be different, and it could help them be a more empathetic ally. LGBTQIAP+ books remind us that our identities are valid and our differences are beautiful, and I am incredibly grateful to all LGBTQIAP+ authors for writing and publishing their lovely and powerful words.”
-Rachael C, 18
“A lot of queer books have helped me over the years, but probably the most prominent are We Are Okay 
by Nina LaCour, Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann, and Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender. The first taught me a lot about wlw relationships. It also taught me about college and mental health. The second made me realize there’s a wide spectrum to asexuality and that I don’t have to be wholly homosexual. Lastly, the third made me realize my gender and how to be comfortable with who I am.
I think it’s important for teens to see that queerness is not just one thing; it’s not all cis gay white men. Your queerness is a spectrum, it can’t always be defined by one word. No matter what people tell you, there’s queerness all around. It may seem like you’re alone, but sometimes it takes others longer to find who they are. Your queerness, no matter how big or small, is what makes you you. These books helped me realize a lot about myself, and while the publishing industry may have a long ways to go before perfectly capturing queerness, I’m glad these books were written for teens like me.”
-Abbott S., 18, Texas
“My first LGBTQIAP+ book I read was Of Fire and Stars, by Audrey Coulthurst. I was probably in elementary school, and the ironic thing is, I didn’t even comprehend the girl/girl romance. I didn’t know what the word “gay” 
even meant until sixth grade. Looking back, I find it sad that my seemingly progressive parents didn’t find it necessary to explain to me that all girls didn’t have to like boys, or that all girls didn’t have to stay girls! Now, I am a non-binary bisexual who would like to spread the word to children about gender and sexuality. There are so many harmful connotations with the words gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, transgender, etc, and so many genders/sexual orientations that people don’t know about! I found out about the LGBTQIAP+ community through young adult literature, but that took a lot of searching. Some gems I have come across are We Set the Dark on Fire, Parrotfish, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, It’s not like its a secret, etc. I still wish there was more non-binary rep in YA lit, but thankfully there is also the internet to research topics like these. Most of my education in LGBTQIAP+ subjects come from literature, and I would like to thank all of the authors that write about these characters for letting me experience so many genders and orientations through the page.”
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (Balzer + Bray, 2015)
“I remembered questioning who I am, what I like and if what I’m feeling is right. I remembered thinking if I’m alone. I read books, but most of them are crime fiction and Miss Peregrine’s. Until I saw Simon Vs. on the shelf. I read the synopsis and I decided to buy it. I don’t know what I was expecting when I read it. I remembered laughing through the whole thing, crying with Simon and also started feeling the same thing he felt then, although I’m a girl. I decided then to take a break from mysteries and start picking up LGBTQ+ books to find out what’s with me. Somehow I started to feel like I’m connected to the characters until they helped me find out who I am. Not only that but LGBTQIAP+ YA books has taught me to write whatever stories I dare to write because it’s what the future generation needs, to not fear what others say to you. Now, I’m a happy pansexual with a beautiful girlfriend, and it’s because of LGBTQ+ YA. Words coming from the books I read helped me know who I am and told me to accept it, that people can’t do anything.”
