The most recommended LGBTQ+ books for teens

Who picked these books? Meet our 215 experts.

215 authors created a book list with a LGBTQ+ book for teens, and here are their favorites.

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Book cover of Cemetery Boys

Evelyn Benvie Author Of I Am Not Your Chosen One

From Evelyn's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Future librarian Reader D&D gremlin Crafter Cat lover

Evelyn's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Evelyn Benvie Why did Evelyn love this book?

This book got me back into reading novels after a depressive slump.

Though geared towards young adults, the themes of fighting for what you believe in and for a place to fit in, even within your own family, are so strong and universal. Plus, the plot is just plain old ghost-busting fun.

By Aiden Thomas,

Why should I read it?

6 authors picked Cemetery Boys as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can't get rid of him.

When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.

However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school's resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He's determined to find out what happened and tie off some looseā€¦


Book cover of The Black Flamingo

Abdi Nazemian Author Of Only This Beautiful Moment

From my list on queer youth to make you laugh, cry, and grow.

Why am I passionate about this?

I grew up feeling invisible in media, and absent in history. My Iranian history was hidden from me by a culture that believed shielding young people from trauma was the right thing to do, and my queer history was hidden from me by a homophobic time. Iā€™m passionate about the power of seeing yourself represented in storytelling and in history, and have devoted much of my life to telling queer stories, and queer historical stories. As a parent, as a queer Iranian storyteller, as a passionate believer in art as a tool for empathy, these are books I think will both entertain readers and inspire them to love their fellow humans a little more.

Abdi's book list on queer youth to make you laugh, cry, and grow

Abdi Nazemian Why did Abdi love this book?

My novel received a Stonewall Honor, which was one of the great thrills of my life. But the winner of the Stonewall Award that year was The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta, and let me tell you, this is the book you want to lose to, the book you want to laugh to and cry to and cling to.

Iā€™ve read it multiple times. Written in brilliant poetic verse, itā€™s a celebration of Blackness and queerness and all the complex emotions that make us human. I love it and cherish it, and you will too. 

By Dean Atta,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Black Flamingo as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

'I loved every word' - Malorie Blackman

'Atta's bold verse novel calls to its readers to find their own blazing, performative inner truth' - Guardian

WINNER OF THE STONEWALL BOOK AWARD

A boy comes to terms with his identity as a mixed-race gay teen - then at university he finds his wings as a drag artist, The Black Flamingo. A bold story about the power of embracing your uniqueness. Sometimes, we need to take charge, to stand up wearing pink feathers - to show ourselves to the world in bold colour.

'I masquerade in makeup and feathers and I amā€¦


Book cover of This Time Will Be Different

Kelly Vincent Author Of Ugliest

From my list on capture the power and triumph of teen activism.

Why am I passionate about this?

I identify as agender and grew up in Oklahoma, one of the worst places to be trans or LGBTQ because of the onslaught of anti-LGBTQ legislation thatā€™s flying through the Oklahoma state legislature. Writing Ugliest, a book about teen activists fighting these laws, reminded me how important standing up for whatā€™s right is and what powerful activists teens can be when they get together. This list has other books celebrating the strength of teens protesting and pushing against societal wrongs. Although some terrible things happen in these booksā€”just like in the real worldā€”reading them reminds us that fighting back is worth it.

Kelly's book list on capture the power and triumph of teen activism

Kelly Vincent Why did Kelly love this book?

I love it when modern stories deal with history, especially when they try to bring injustices to light. CJ's grandparents were thrown into a Japanese internment camp in World War II, and a local white man swept in and effectively stole their flower shop. It took them decades to buy it back after they were released. CJā€™s family members regard the history differently, and I love how sheā€™s a little ambivalentā€”sometimes, itā€™s just easier to ignore things, forge ahead, and let bygones be bygones.

But after some damning info come out about the scope of the exploitation, I love how CJ starts an effort to right some of the wrongs. I loved seeing CJ go from feeling unimportant to finding that she has something important to say and do.

By Misa Sugiura,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked This Time Will Be Different as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

A Kirkus Reviews Best Book * A 2020 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection

For fans of Jenny Han, Morgan Matson, and Sandhya Menon, critically acclaimed author Misa Sugiura delivers a richly crafted contemporary YA novel about family, community, and the importance of writing your own history.

The author of the Asian Pacific American Award-winning It's Not Like It's a Secret is back with another smartly drawn coming-of-age novel that weaves riveting family drama, surprising humor, and delightful romance into a story that will draw you in from the very first page.

Katsuyamas never quit-but seventeen-year-old CJ doesn't evenā€¦


Book cover of All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens Throughout the Ages

Robin Stevenson Author Of When You Get the Chance

From my list on queer communities throughout history.

Why am I passionate about this?

I love reading about queer history: Itā€™s the story of a diverse, courageous, and creative community, and itā€™s filled with inspiring actions and fascinating people. Itā€™s also a history I had to seek out for myself because it was never taught at schoolā€”and although there has been progress since I came out as queer three decades ago, this is still true for most teens today. Over the last few years, I have written LGBTQIA+ books for all ages, and spoken to thousands of students. The books on this list explore queer history in ways that I think many teens will find highly enjoyable as well as informative.

Robin's book list on queer communities throughout history

Robin Stevenson Why did Robin love this book?

This oneā€™s a bit different: not a novel, but a collection of short stories. And what a collection! Featuring short stories by a wonderfully talented group of authors (including two who are also on this list!), it covers hundreds of years of history, spans the globe, and dives into multiple genres. It is a great way for readers to explore queer historyā€”the real thing and some fantasy versions--and discover new authors.

By Sara Farizan, Shaun David Hutchinson, Kody Keplinger , Mackenzi Lee , Malinda Lo , Tehlor Kay Mejia , Robin Talley , Alex Sanchez , Dahlia Adler , Saundra Mitchell , Natalie C. Parker

Why should I read it?

1 author picked All Out as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

Take a journey through time and genres to discover stories where queer teens live, love, and shape the world around them.

Seventeen young adult authors across the queer spectrum have come together to create a collection of beautifully written diverse historical fiction for teens.

From a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood set in war-torn 1870s Mexico featuring a transgender soldierā€¦to two girls falling in love while mourning the death of Kurt Cobainā€¦to forbidden love in a sixteenth-century Spanish conventā€¦and an asexual girl discovering her identity amid the 1970s roller-disco scene, All Out tells a diverse range of stories acrossā€¦


Book cover of Three Bullets

Peter Kalu Author Of One Drop

From my list on bleak urban futures that give you a sense of hope.

Why am I passionate about this?

I spent most of my childhood hiding under the table reading science fiction and fantasy books to avoid having to communicate with the weird people claiming to be my family up in the world above. After a while, the local library turned me away saying they had no more books left on those shelves, so I started writing my own. I like a mix of urban themes like in Angie Thomasā€™s The Hate U Give and dystopias like George Orwellā€™s 1984. That said, I love most futurist novels that have a love story at their centre, because despite everything Iā€™m a romantic.

Peter's book list on bleak urban futures that give you a sense of hope

Peter Kalu Why did Peter love this book?

This book is family. And like family, the main character, Marti is both maddening (choose any from heartless, obnoxious, selfish, cruel, deluded, vainā€¦) and yet somehow also loveable.

Marti makes no effort to have you the reader like her, in fact she goads you to hate her, to reject her, to join the rest of society in putting her out with the trash. Despite herself, she emerges from the trauma of her awful journey with a completely unexpected heroic status. Thatā€™s the central paradox of this book and the genius of Melvin Burgess: Forget the dystopian ultra-right wing takeover plot.

You will scratch your head at the end of the story and think, how did I end up loving Marti? 

By Melvin Burgess,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Three Bullets as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 13, 14, 15, and 16.

What is this book about?

The Bloods are in control and they're desperate to turn Britain into the world they want to see: right, white, Christian supremist. Anyone who they call abnormal is a target. Amidst the chaos of civil war the country is on the move as small militia groups fight each other and a sea of refugees escapes the cities and the pursuing Bloods.

When her home is destroyed in a bombing raid, Marti must strike out on a mission of her own - to save her father and get his vital software into the right hands. But Marti is mixed race andā€¦


Book cover of Where We Go from Here

Abdi Nazemian Author Of Only This Beautiful Moment

From my list on queer youth to make you laugh, cry, and grow.

Why am I passionate about this?

I grew up feeling invisible in media, and absent in history. My Iranian history was hidden from me by a culture that believed shielding young people from trauma was the right thing to do, and my queer history was hidden from me by a homophobic time. Iā€™m passionate about the power of seeing yourself represented in storytelling and in history, and have devoted much of my life to telling queer stories, and queer historical stories. As a parent, as a queer Iranian storyteller, as a passionate believer in art as a tool for empathy, these are books I think will both entertain readers and inspire them to love their fellow humans a little more.

Abdi's book list on queer youth to make you laugh, cry, and grow

Abdi Nazemian Why did Abdi love this book?

My personal wish is that Americans start reading a whole lot more books from other countries, especially books that shine a light on the queer experience around the world.

Ours is a global community, and we canā€™t fall into the trap of thinking diversity only exists in our own country and language. Lucas Rochaā€™s novel tells the story of three Brazilian teens who are dealing with the impact of HIV in their own unique ways. Itā€™s engrossing, tender, and transporting.

Anyone who loves this should also seek out the work of Vitor Martins, and should demand more books in translation so we can travel through literature.

By Lucas Rocha, Larissa Helena (translator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Where We Go from Here as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

Henrique has had HIV for three years.
Ian has just tested positive.
Victor got with Henrique last night and thinks he might have it.

Ian, Victor and Henrique must navigate treatment, friendship and love, and eventually learn to trust each other.

Because with judgement and ignorance lurking round every corner, the real challenge isn't the disease - it's other people.

Brazilian author Lucas Rocha unveils the common misconceptions and prejudices that still surround HIV in the twenty-first century, showing how far we've come while shining a light on just how far we have yet to go.


Book cover of Anger Is a Gift

Kelly Vincent Author Of Ugliest

From my list on capture the power and triumph of teen activism.

Why am I passionate about this?

I identify as agender and grew up in Oklahoma, one of the worst places to be trans or LGBTQ because of the onslaught of anti-LGBTQ legislation thatā€™s flying through the Oklahoma state legislature. Writing Ugliest, a book about teen activists fighting these laws, reminded me how important standing up for whatā€™s right is and what powerful activists teens can be when they get together. This list has other books celebrating the strength of teens protesting and pushing against societal wrongs. Although some terrible things happen in these booksā€”just like in the real worldā€”reading them reminds us that fighting back is worth it.

Kelly's book list on capture the power and triumph of teen activism

Kelly Vincent Why did Kelly love this book?

I love watching a struggling teen come into his own despite terrible obstacles, and thatā€™s what happens in this book. Moss is a Black teen haunted by the policeā€™s unjust (and unpunished) murder of his father, which gives him crushing anxiety and self-doubt.

This made me empathize with him, and when things started to go well with a boy he liked, I cheered him on. But things go haywire at his high school (now crawling with police), pushing him almost over the edge. But instead of falling apart, he discovers a well of confidence he never knew he had. I also loved the honest and raw truths in this book about the experience of being Black, white allyship and privilege, and the importance of community.

By Mark Oshiro,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Anger Is a Gift as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

The trade paperback edition of the highly buzzed about YA debut from Mark Oshiro, Anger Is a Gift follows a boy from Oakland as he falls in love amidst the chaos of modern America.

*31st Annual Lammy Finalist for LGBTQ Childrenā€™s/Young Adult category*
*2019 ALA Schneider Family Book Award Teen Winner*
*Buzzfeed's 24 Best YA Books of 2018*
*Vulture's 38 Best LGBTQ YA Novels*
*Book Riot's Best Books 2018*
*Hyable's Most Anticipated Queer YA Books of 2018*
*The Mary Sue's 18 Books You Should Read in 2018*

Moss Jeffries is many thingsā€•considerate student, devoted son, loyal friend and affectionate boyfriend,ā€¦


Book cover of Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute

Christen Randall Author Of The No-Girlfriend Rule

From my list on young adult books that put fierce, fabulous fat girls front and center.

Why am I passionate about this?

Growing up as a fat kid, I hardly ever saw myself reflected in the media I consumed. If I did, it was by someone relegated to the side character status as the funny fat friend or the cautionary tale. Now, itā€™s my great joy to spread the word about books that put fat people in the spotlightā€”living our best lives, falling in love, and just having our much-deserved Main Character Moments.

Christen's book list on young adult books that put fierce, fabulous fat girls front and center

Christen Randall Why did Christen love this book?

If some of my favorite tropesā€”forced proximity, grump/sunshine, and academic rivalsā€”got together and took a doomed survival trek in the woods, it would be this book. This romance is full of swoon and laugh-out-loud moments, but also rich emotional depth and OCD representation.

I came for the witty banter and stayed for the absolutely charming warm fuzzies. (As a bonus, Talia Hibbert has wonderful fat-focused adult romances, too. Double win!)

By Talia Hibbert,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

From the bestselling author of the Brown Sisters trilogy, comes a laugh-out-loud YA novel about a quirky content creator and a clean-cut athlete testing their abilities to survive the great outdoors - and each other.

RIVALRY OR ROMANCE? These archenemies can't decide!

BRADLEY GRAEME is pretty much perfect: he's a star football player, manages his OCD well (enough) and comes out on top in all his classes . . . except the ones he shares with his ex-best friend, Celine.

CELINE BANGURA is conspiracy-theory-obsessed. Social media followers eat up her takes on everything from UFOs toā€¦


Book cover of The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali

A.M. Kirsch Author Of Murder of an Uncommon Man

From A.M.'s 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Queer Scientist Lesbian Storyteller

A.M.'s 3 favorite reads in 2023

A.M. Kirsch Why did A.M. love this book?

I canā€™t resist a queer femme YA story, and this one hit me so hard that I cried in joy and heartbreak.

Young lovers separated by culture and family made a Shakespearean drama that gripped me to the last word.

The world of arranged marriages, family honor, and homophobia reminded me of personal stories from friends in Vancouver. It echoed the fights that many queer people face coming out to family and being their true selves.

By Sabina Khan,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

A timely and honest coming-of-age story that explores the complicated
relationship between identity, culture, family, and love.


Seventeen-year-old Rukhsana Ali tries her hardest to live up to her
conservative Muslim parents' expectations, but lately she's finding
that impossible to do. She rolls her eyes when they blatantly
favour her brother and saves her crop tops and makeup for parties
her parents don't know about.

If she can just hold out another few months, Rukhsana will be out
of her familial home and away from her parents' ever-watchful eyes
at Caltech, a place where she thinks she can finally be herself.ā€¦


Book cover of Cemetery Boys
Book cover of The Black Flamingo
Book cover of This Time Will Be Different

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