Young readers need to have LGBTQ+ stories that show the joys and hardships of figuring out our identities. Books can be a resource to provide hope for these readers as they relate to characters and their situations, along with providing answers to questions they may have. For readers looking for YA books that validate LGBTQ+ identities, let’s look at five novels that bring hope to people.
Amelia, If Only by Becky Albertalli
Amelia Applebaum is on the road with her friends in this coming-of-age novel, looking for someone to take to prom.
When Amelia makes a post asking famous YouTuber Walter Holland out on a date, she quickly deletes it because if you delete a post, it didn’t happen, right? On the hunt to connect with him in real life, Amelia and her friends take a road trip to see him at a meet-and-greet. As a last hurrah before graduation, Amelia is set on convincing her best friends to take this trip, even her newly single, cynical best friend, Natalie. On the road to love and exploration, will Amelia make it to Walter, or will she realize her heart was never set for him in the first place? Albertalli is an expert in writing YA queer novels for teens that are light-hearted and funny to give readers a joyful perspective into queer life and all it has to offer.
The (Un)Popular Vote by Jasper Sanchez
Mark is ready to make his breakthrough in the political sphere against a manipulatively charming bully, but is he prepared for what it will cost?
With his father being a Congressman who pretends he still has a daughter and not a son, Mark keeps his identity a secret as he masks as the cis guy everyone thinks he is at school. When the student body president starts preaching dangerous rhetoric, his low profile becomes at risk when he starts to challenge them politically. Having not grown up in this town, Mark and his few nerdy friends must campaign on his behalf. With an investigative journalist digging into his past, his father’s protest to silence him, and a bully campaigning against him, Mark must decide what matters most to him: his image or the truth. Sanchez’s writing is electric in its ability to motivate young readers to stand up for themselves and their peers in the fight for freedom of expression.
How It All Blew Up by Arvin Ahmadi
With his freedom on the line and the fear of disappointing his family, Amir Azadi must tell the whole truth if he wants to keep his life.
Facing a failed relationship, blackmail, and bullying, running away to Rome feels like Amir’s only option. He becomes accustomed to his new life by building it with new friends and dates at the Sistine Chapel. That is, until his old life comes back in full force as a U.S. Customs officer puts his truth into question. Amir always knew that coming out to his Muslim family would be chaotic, but he never imagined it to happen in an airport interrogation room. Ahmadi’s novel is a powerful celebration of life in all its joys and devastations, allowing readers to discover who they are. He authentically captures the fears of being a queer kid while also compelling readers with a stunning story of hope and discovery.
Camp by L.C. Rosen
At Camp Outland, a summer camp for queer kids, Randy Kapplehoff is ready to reinvent himself for his crush, but is this truly what will make him happy?
Camp Outland is where Randy met his best friends, made his stage appearance in a musical, and fell for Hudson Aaronson-Lim. The only problem is that Hudson barely knows Randy exists, and his type tends to land on straight-presenting guys. When Randy reinvents himself as Del, the buff, masculine man who’s single and ready to date, he gives up pieces of himself that used to bring him joy to become his new alter ego. As they grow closer to one another, Randy must take a long look at himself to decide how much he is willing to change for love while also questioning what love is when you aren’t your true self. Rosen’s writing gives readers an in-depth look into self-exploration, which reflects the beauty of being our most authentic selves.
The Queer Girl Is Going to Be Okay by Dale Walls
Working hard to make a documentary about queer love to hopefully win a scholarship to film school, Dawn and her friends tell a fun story of queer friendships.
Dawn is looking for queer love, so why not make a documentary to find it? Interviewing queer people who are in love and capturing it for her doc, Dawn hopes her project will lead to love finding her on the way. With the help of her best friends, Edie and Georgia, they will do what it takes to help her reach her goals while dealing with their own problems. As Georgia worries about being the only one who hasn’t been accepted into college yet and Edie working to keep her nonbinary partner a secret from her Southern Baptist family, the three girls must stick together to make it through their senior year. Walls gives us an affirming story filled with love, confusion, laughter, and friendship to remind readers that no matter what happens, everything will be okay.
Young readers deserve to feel seen and heard in all aspects of their lives. As we continue to see the LGBTQ+ narrative grow, we must strive for accurate representation that helps validate readers’ identities while giving them an outlet to grow as people. Hopefully, these novels can comfort young adult readers looking for answers as they discover who they are in this big world of possibility.
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Looking for more young adult book recommendations? Check out our Adventures Beyond Pages: A Young Adult Journey bookshelf on Bookshop.org.
