City streets may still be sweeping up the glitter and confetti from the latest string of pride parades, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop! We here at Bookstr believe in celebrating the LGBTQ+ community 24/7, 365 days a year. This week, for Three to Read Teen, we’re keeping the party going with three YA novels all about the beautiful and zany experiences of queer individuals.
Trigger Warning: The books in this article contain mentions of suicide and homophobia. Please exercise personal care while reading.
FIRE READ
The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood & Boyfriends by Jamie D’Amato
SYNOPSIS:
Freshman year of college is hard enough as it is, but now, on top of studying and finals, 19-year-old Brennan has gone and gotten himself turned into a vampire. Turns out, there’s no subtle way to keep up an appetite for blood. When the librarian (and campus hottie!), Cole, catches Brennan drinking out of a stolen blood bag, Brennan is shocked to find that Cole is willing to keep his secret. Soon, on top of vampirism, Brennan is also juggling the self-proclaimed “good” vampire clan and his growing crush on Cole. Then, to make matters worse, vicious animal attacks rock the campus, and a student goes missing. Can Brennan figure out what’s going on and keep his new friends close?
WHY:
Author and graphic designer Jamie D’Amato (she/they) has made a career around all things creative. Her debut novel, The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood & Boyfriends, is sparkling with her creative spirit. D’Amato makes the vampire legend new and exciting while also grounding the supernatural among themes of anxiety, depression, and the fallout of a suicide attempt.
TEA TIME READ
Love, Misha by Askel Aden
SYNOPSIS:
Why did Misha even agree to this road trip? Sure, they miss their mom and almost never get to see her, but their mother simply does not understand them. Misha is non-binary and has tried to explain this (repeatedly) to their mother, but even on paper, the words don’t come out right. When a wrong turn into a mysterious forest lands the two in the Realm of Spirits, mother and child have no choice but to work together. Among the supernatural chaos, can Misha and their mother find a way to reconnect?
WHY:
Askel Aden is a celebrated cartoonist; their beautiful artwork has appeared in countless comics and cartoons and now, finally, in book form! Love, Misha is Aden’s debut graphic novel and handles the topic of strained family relationships with grace. Every page is dripping with gorgeous illustrations and emotional truth.
HEAR ME OUT
Messy Perfect by Tanya Boteju
SYNOPSIS:
Cassie is the perfect student at St. Luke’s, and junior year will be better than ever! That is, until her former friend, Ben, suddenly returns to school. Ben left their conservative school years ago after a horrible, homophobic bullying incident left him shattered. Still wracked with guilt from failing to stop Ben’s bullies, Cassie vows to make it up to him… and she, maybe, goes a bit over the top. Partnering with a nearby public school, Cassie creates a GSA club and finds herself surrounded by the best friends she’s ever had. Despite her perfectionist spirit, balancing school, her Catholic faith, and her burgeoning sexuality proves to be impossible. But this new mess may be the best thing that ever happened to her.
WHY:
Messy Perfect is not author and educator Tanya Boteju’s first YA novel and, hopefully, not the last. Boteju brilliantly weaves intersectional identities through her book, reminding readers that everything about us, from our sexuality to our religious beliefs, makes us who we are. And no one should ever have to sacrifice those identities.
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s edition of Three to Read Teen! Be sure to check back later this month for more phenomenal YA recommendations.
Click here for more excellent YA novels that celebrate the queer experience.
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