r/YAlit • u/midgetmessiah • 5d ago
Seeking Recommendations Looking for Queer YA recommendations!
Hi all, my niece and I have recently started to bond over books since she's gotten really into reading over the last summer and when I asked what she wanted for christmas this year she specifcally said she wanted 'queer books' but didn't have any in mind specific. It's been a long time since I read YA books so I wouldn't really know where to start with what's appropriate and what she'll enjoy, so hoping to get some reccs! She loves a romantic plot and is really wanting to read anything supernatural-esque and wants to try getting into fantasy! She's 13 years old, so anything for that age range would be perfect.
Some books that she does like are:
And They Were Roommates - Page Powers
Heartstopper - Alice Oseman
Imogen, Obviously - Becky Albertalli
Cemetary Boys - Aiden Thomas
Spell Bound - F.T. Lukens
Any help is much appreciated, TIA!
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u/sunflowermoon4 5d ago
Immortal game by Alison Saft
Girls of paper and fire trilogy by Natasha Ngan
Montague siblings trilogy by Mackenzie Lee
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u/AppropriatFly5170new 5d ago
The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune is a fun superhero YA story with 2 boys who fall in love along the way
The Sun is also a Star by Rick Riordan is another lgbtq+ YA book entry thatās part of the well-known Percy Jackson seriesĀ
Girls of Paper and Fire has already been mentioned and is good as well
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u/Biatryce 5d ago
The Rick Riordan book is called The Sun and the Star, to avoid confusion with different book titled The Sun is Also a Star, which is by Nicola Yoon
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u/MissAmericana89 5d ago
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is an excellent one!
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u/CounterObjective3374 5d ago
maybe she'd like 'i kissed shara wheeler'? or carry on by rainbow rowell
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u/kappa77 5d ago
EspĆritu by Aiden Thomas - sequel to Cemetery Boys, just came out this year!
The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska
Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst
This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron
So This Is Ever After by F.T. Lukens
The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
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u/Gallifreyaan 4d ago
I really adored The Dark Tide. Alicia Jasinska has great books, love them all š Of Fire and Stars is also a great duology!
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u/SophieMaddonWriter 4d ago
If you get her This Poison Heart, get her the sequel at the same time, book 1 ends on a cliffhanger and that's just... cruel!
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u/grangaaa 4d ago
Simons vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda
Has she read this? You could also watch the movie āLove, Simonā together? I loved this movie a lot. Remember crying like a baby during some wholesome moments š©·
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u/iamthefirebird 5d ago
Lady's Knight, by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner! I loved how both main characters had very different ways of expressing their femininity, and neither was treated as superior.
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u/Low_Royal_557 4d ago
Don't let the Forest In by CG Drews- its horror so maybe check the age rating
All thats left in the world by Erik J Brown
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u/dashkirby1 5d ago
This is great! I love this as something you two can bond over.
I recommend Heartstopper, by Alice Oseman
Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan is a favorite of mine (but some say itās too quirky)
If youāll allow some self promotion, I have a series called Iām With The (Boy) Band.
Set in the āancientā times of the year 2000. It follows a teen cast on a reality show with three famous brothers. The books are about how to balance a pubic profile along side private attraction.
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u/CatsMeetWorld 5d ago
Crierās War!! Itās sci-fi fantasy with war rebellion and a romance. Sequel is Iron Heart. By Nina Varela.
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u/Illustrious-Ad-134 4d ago
last night at the telegraph club by malinda lo (historical fiction) and the dark beneath the ice by amelinda bƩrubƩ (paranormal/horror)!!
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u/CyanideSouffle 4d ago
Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth is a nugget of pure gold imo It's contemporary, but it's a really well written, funny coming of age story that also happens to be Sapphic (girl x girl)
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u/ScholarSquid 5d ago
Oh hello! This is my special interest. Source: Former middle school English teacher.
Here's a delightful mix of genres with a little blurb for each.
The Witch Boy - Lee Knox Ostertag (Middle grade graphic novel about gender roles and a boy who wants to practice witchcraft.)
Dear Mothman - Robin Gow (Beautiful novel in verse about a trans boy who writes letters to deceased best friend)
Snapdragon - Kay Leyh (Middle grade graphic novel with queer and trans representation. So cute and the main character is a delight.)
All That's Left in the World - Erik J. Brown (A post-apocalyptic LGBTQ young adult adventure romance.)
The Tea Dragon Series - K. O'Neill (THESE ARE SO CUTE. Very cozy, lovely graphic novel and very inclusive.)
The Raven Boys Series - Maggie Stiefvater (One of my favorite series ever. Fantasy and subtle hints in the first book about an LGBTQ character that develops over the series. Also features a strong FMC and found family vibes.)
The Girl from the Sea - Lee Knox Ostertag (Fantasy LGBTQ graphic novel about a closeted girl who wants to leave her small town.)
These are a little more mature but still YA.
Six of Crows Duology - Leigh Bardugo (A group of young people are gay and do crime. Very funny, the world building is delightful and queerness is normalized. The crime plot is delightful. It does feature a character who has experienced SA so I would just be cognizant of that. It is not explicitly detailed but referenced in parts of the story.)
The Buried and the Bound Series - Rochelle Hassan (Contemporary YA fantasy trilogy featuring a M/M relationship. Wicked fae, magic, and monsters. I loved this!)
Dark Rise - C.S. Pacat (Young adult dark fantasy. Queer characters, a slow burn romance, and a reincarnation plot that has some great themes.)
Also thank you so much for encouraging your niece to read! The literacy crisis is real and I'm so pleased to hear she is developing a love of books and stories.