In Week 3 of our four-part series, we have a list of amazing books exploring all facets of LGBTQA+ life. Read any of these acclaimed books in the month of October to celebrate LGBTQA+ History Month while learning more about the community.
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
A young adult novel about a transgender teen going through phases of self-discovery and working to understand their identity. Felix Love, the main character, has never been in love (yes, he realizes this is ironic), and soon that is about to change.
Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg
Jess Goldberg is the main character in this novel, who readers follow through coming out as a butch lesbian in the pre-Stonewall era and going on a journey of gender discovery. Stone Butch Blues doesn’t hold back when describing the trauma and hardships inflicted upon the LGBTQA+ community (particularly lesbian and drag communities) by the police, external community, and society as a whole.
All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson
This book is a series of personal essays in which the Author, George M. Johnson, focuses on what life was like growing up as a Black queer boy. All Boys Aren’t Blue weaves together young memories of getting bullied as a child with brotherhood, and draws parallels between attending flea markets with his grandmother as an expression of Black joy.
Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
A story about a boy coming to terms with his identity as a mixed-race gay teen. While attending university, he performs in drag for the first time as the “Black Flamingo”. This story is all about embracing your uniqueness and showing the world the truest version of yourself.
Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera
This book is about Juliet, a 19-year old Puerto Rican queer girl from the Bronx. Gabby Rivera is able to capture what it means to be a LGBTQA+ youth and also a person of color. We see Juliet growing up, coming out to family, dealing with white privilege, and attempting to make a long-distance relationship work.
Butch Geography by Stacey Waite
Stacey Waite is a UNL associate professor who has written many poetry collections, with Butch Geography being her most recent. Butch Geography explores gender as a role and gender as a body. For an in-depth review of Waite’s poems, check out this blog post.