I’ll admit that I don’t specifically wander into the teen LGBTAQ+ genre very often, mostly because many of the young adult books that involve content regarding sexual identity end up being a downer. They either involve suicide, bullying, or a person struggling to come to terms with their sexuality. Over the past few years, however, I have found several YA books with gay characters that I thought were really enjoyable. Thus, I’d like to share them with you.
"I’ll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson
This is my favorite book of all time. This book is an inimitable masterpiece. Its plot is complicated to explain because it is incredibly character-driven, but it follows a set of twins – Noah and Jude – and the book is told in a dual perspective between the two. Jude’s chapters take place in the current time, when the aftermath of a family tragedy ruins the closeness between her and her brother and she is searching for a creative outlet to alleviate her pain. Noah’s chapters take place three years previously, as he is trying to get into art school whilst dealing with being a gay teenager who is trying to find his own place in the world. This book is one of the most eloquent and beautifully-written pieces of literature that I have ever read and I will read every single thing that Jandy Nelson publishes, hands down. This book made me laugh, this book made me cry, and this book made me think. The love interests for both Noah and Jude are inspiring and adorable and the characters make you crave to be in the story alongside them. I cannot recommend this one enough.
"Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
This is a staple in the world of YA LGBTAQ+ fiction. It follows the unfolding friendship and subsequent relationship between two teenage boys, Aristotle and Dante. I don’t need to say much more about this feelsy contemporary other than its pace is very fast and addicting, the characters are so tangibly real, and you will definitely put it down feeling satisfied. There have been rumors about a sequel, which I would undoubtedly purchase.
"Love is the Higher Law" by David Levithan
This is another book that really makes you think about LGBTAQ+ culture. This book follows a gay main character living in Brooklyn in 2001 when the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers occur. This book is a tragic recollection of what the city endured and reveals the disturbing details that the news omitted, such as homosexuals not being allowed to donate blood due to those in need because of their sexuality. This book discusses friendship and resilience and it was so touching and startling that it will forever stick around in my thoughts.
"Grasshopper Jungle" by Andrew Smith
If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind book, this is definitely the one for you. This book is strange. It’s based in sci-fi, in a world where giant, man-eating grasshoppers are accidentally released and the main characters have to survive in a society overrun by the literal apocalypse via giant insects. However, at the heart of this unique novel is a story about a boy discovering himself and questioning his sexuality as he fights for his life alongside his best friend. Don’t let the weirdness of this novel deter you from giving it a try. I promise that it’s worth it for the laughs and the compelling plot.
"The Darkest Part of the Forest" by Holly Black
This is, again, is one of my favorite books. There are so many layers to why it is great, but I mostly love it because it’s a book with a gay and a bisexual character in an urban fantasy setting. This book is set in a town where there is a mysterious and rumored faery prince in a glass coffin on top of a hill, where he has been resting for centuries. No one knows why he is there or who he is exactly and magic surrounding the town prevents the glass from being broken or tourists from lingering for too long. Then, one day, the glass casket is broken and prince goes missing, which unfolds our mystery that main character Hazel helps to uncover. This book is written gorgeously and the fantastical/paranormal elements are really well-described and refreshing. This book was an absolute surprise for me, both in the events that take place in the plot and with how much I found myself enjoying it. It's definitely a memorable read and another that I’d highly recommend.
