To continue my LGBTQ-friendly books list, I will be writing this post about LGBTQ-friendly books for middle school-aged children. These are books that I have in my own classroom at school. My school has the privilege to have LGBTQ books in the classrooms and encourages us to teach diversity and inclusivity to our students. Unfortunately this is not the case around the country, so if your state does not allow access to these books in your schools here is a list of some books to add to your home library.
5 LGBTQ-Friendly Middle School Books
1. Hurricane Season by Nicole Melleby
This book is about a sixth-grade girl and her father who live by the sea. The two have to endure long hurricane seasons where her father often travels to play his music. But there is more than meets the eye to her father's obsession with storms. The story follows Fig as she struggles with understanding mental illness, her own sexuality, and looking for family in different places. This is a beautifully written book, with complexity, and is great for any middle school-aged child.
Hurricane Season by Nicole Melleby is available at:
2. Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle
Tim Federle is a king of LGBTQ literature. I love teaching his short story "Secret Samantha." And he does it again with Better Nate Than Ever. This book is about a theater boy who has big dreams of being a Broadway show but he is stuck in a small town in Pennsylvania. This book delves into bullying, identity, and acceptance. Although these are heavy themes, Federle's humorous and light tone makes it an easy and relatable read.
Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle is available at:
3. Hurricane Child by Kacen Callender
Hurricane Child follows Caroline, a girl who has had bad luck since she was born during a hurricane. Her mother left her and she is struggling with bullies at school. Things get even more complicated when a new girl transfers to her school and she begins to develop more-than-friendly feelings for her new friend as she considers inviting her to help Caroline find her mother. This is a beautifully written LGBTQ book; I found this book extremely relatable and is a must for your middle school child. I wish I had this book when I was a child, as it would have made my journey much easier.
Hurricane Child by Kacen Callender is available at:
4. I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
This novel is for older middle school-aged or high school-aged children (13 and or older). I absolutely love this book. It is one of the first LGBTQ books I have ever read. This book follows twins who when they were young were inseparable but have grown apart as they got older. The book is told from two different points of view, Noah at age 13 and Jude at age 16. It is so brilliantly written and shows such creative imagery it will keep you at the edge of your seat until the end. There are some more intimate scenes in the book so it is more suitable for older kids. The love story between Brian and Noah is intense and beautiful. I highly recommend this book.
I'll Give You the Sun is available at:
5. The Sun and The Star by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro
If you are a fan of The Percy Jackson series, this is the LGBTQ series for you. This story follows Nico and Will venture to Tartarus to rescue a friend. Will and Nico's relationship will be tested and Nico will have to face many demons, both internal and external. Rick Riordan teamed up with Mark Oshiro for a uniquely queer experience. There are many LGBTQ characters in this story and it is very entertaining. This may catch the attention of your more reluctant readers.
The Sun and The Star is available at:
Additional Resources:
Conclusion
These are just some of the many great books that have LGBTQ representation. I will be adding more books as time goes on. LGBTQ representation in books and media is so important for not only LGBTQ youth but for all children. It allows children who do not identify as LGBTQ to have a perspective change and see the world from a different point of view. This encourages empathy, acceptance, and compassion for others. As an LGBTQ individual, jumping into the mind of characters like you makes you feel like you aren't alone. You feel less isolated and misunderstood; it makes such a difference to know that there are others like you. So if your state has decided to regress back to into their ignorance, include these books in your own personal library.
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