These books are authored by LGBTQ+ writers and showcase LGBTQ characters or themes. Whether you’re looking for picture books about gender and diversity or novels that explore sexual identity and gender nonconformity, this list includes recommendations for all grade levels: elementary, middle, and high school. Learn more about our visiting authors.
Children’s Books
A curated selection of available books for children ages 3 – 8 years old and grades Kindergarten to second grade.
ABC of Gender Identity
by Devika Dalal
Bling Blaine: Throw Glitter, Not Shade
by Rob Sanders
Carlos, The Fairy Boy: Carlos, El Niño Hada
by Juan A. Ríos Vega
Drawing on Walls: A Story of Keith Haring
By Matthew Burgess
From Archie to Zack
by Vincent X Kirsch
Keesha’s South African Adventure
by Cheril N. Clarke and Monica Bey-Clarke
The Meaning of Pride
by Rosiee Thor
The Name I Call Myself
by Hasan Namir
Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag
by Rob Sanders
Rainbow: A First Book of Pride
by Michael Genhart
Stonewall: A Building, An Uprising, A Revolution.
by Rob Sanders
Sylvia and Marsha Start a Revolution
by Joy Michael Ellison
When Aidan Became a Brother
By Kyle Lukoff
When We Love Someone We Sing to Them: Cuando Amamos Cantamos
by Ernesto Javier Martínez
Middle Readers
From magical paradises to Lego cities, these middle-grade books featured in our LGBTQ Writers in Schools program are all about finding the true you inside and out. Perfect for readers ages 8 – 12 years old and grades 6 – 8.
Almost Flying
by Jake Maia Arlow
The Best at It
by Maulik Pancholy
A High Five for Glenn Burke
by Phil Bildner
The Insiders
Mark Oshiro
Melissa’s Story: George
by Alex Gino
Middletown
by Sarah Moon
Not Your Sidekick
C.B. Lee
Other Boys
Damian Alexander
Rainbow Revolutionaries: Fifty LGBTQ+ People Who Made History
by Sarah Prager
Rick
by Alex Gino
The Stars Beneath Our Feet
by David Barclay Moore
The Street Belongs to Us
by Karleen Pendleton Jiménez
Too Bright to See
by Kyle Lukoff
Young Adult
You might know who you are, but is it safe to let others know who you are? Look for inspiration and all the feels in these outstanding books for young adults, ages 12 and up, grades 9 and up.
All Kinds of Other
by James Sie
All the Things We Do in the Dark
by Saundra Mitchell
Anger is a Gift
by Mark Oshiro
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World
by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Ash
by Malinda Lo
Between Perfect and Real
by Ray Stoeve
Both Sides Now
by Peyton Thomas
Boyfriends with Girlfriends
by Alex Sanchez
Bruised
by Tanya Boteju
Cemetery Boys
by Aiden Thomas
Cinderella is Dead
by Kalynn Bayron
A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix
by C.B. Lee
Darling
by K. Ancrum
Each of Us a Desert
by Mark Oshiro
Every Body Looking
by Candice Illoh
Full Disclosure
by Camryn Garrett
The Grief Keeper
by Alexandra Villasante
How to be Remy Cameron
by Julian Winters
I Am J
by Cris Beam
Indivisible
by Daniel Aleman
Last Night at the Telegraph Club
by Malinda Lo
Like a Love Story
by Abdi Nazemian
Meet Cute Diary
by Emery Lee
A Million Quiet Revolutions
by Robin Gow
Off the Record
Camryn Garrett
Out Now: Queer We Go Again!
by Saundra Mitchell
Out of Salem
by Hal Schrieve
The Passing Playbook
Isaac Fitzsimons
Queer, There, and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World
by Sarah Prager
Running with Lions
by Julian Winters
Sasha Masha
by Agnes Borinsky
Sorted: Growing Up, Coming Out, and Finding My Place: A Transgender Memoir
by Jackson Bird
Spin Me Right Round
by David Valdes
The Summer of Everything
by Julian Winters
Tarnished Are The Stars
by Rosiee Thor
This Poison Heart
by Kalynn Bayron
Victories Greater Than Death
By Charlie Jane Anders
We Are Totally Normal
by Naomi Kanakia
The Weight of the Stars
by K. Ancrum
When the Moon was Ours: A Novel
by Anna-Marie McLemore
The Wicker King
by K. Ancrum
Poetry
These collections are stunning representations of the power of poetry for young adults centered around queer life and introspection.
Birthright
by George Abraham
dayliGht: Poems
by Roya Marsh
Fire is Not a Country
by Cynthia Dewi Oka
Gumbo Ya Ya: Poems
by Aurielle Marie
I’m Alive. It Hurts. I Love It.
by Joshua Jennifer Espinoza
Inheritance
by Taylor Johnson
Wound from the Mouth of a Wound
by torrin a. greathouse
The Year of Blue Water
by Yanyi
Adult Crossover
These books feature young protagonists and their coming-of-age journeys that appeal to every age. These poignant works appeal to young adults and adults.
Blue Talk and Love
by Mecca Jamilah Sullivan
Eighty Days
A.C. Esguerra
Everything is Beautiful, and I’m Not Afraid
by Yao Xiao
Fairest: A Memoir
by Meredith Talusan
In the Watchful City
by S. Qiouyi Lu
Under the Udala Trees
by Chinelo Okparanta
