By: Holly Snyder Thompson
Few things in my life have been more transformative than literature. Books and stories got under my skin early and have been unrelenting agents of change ever since.
Turns out, I needed books to help guide me through understanding myself and others—in many ways, but most crucially in regards to sexuality and gender identity. This list of books rewrote my neural pathways and brought me joy, empathy, heartbreak and action.
As we celebrate Pride in Davis, consider taking some time to crack open one of these books written by queer authors, featuring queer protagonists and stories. Bonus: our social media coordinator, Kayla, has included her list as well.
Holly’s Top Five:
Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli
🏳️🌈 Bi Representation
“Insightful prose teems with compassionate interrogations of the harms of compulsory heterosexuality and societally prescribed narratives. Albertalli crafts a striking portrait of one teenager’s experience navigating sexual fluidity and the sometimes overwhelming fear of reinventing oneself.” -Publishers Weekly
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
🏳️🌈 Trans Representation
“Emezi’s characters are diverse in race, physical ability and especially gender…. Readers might see in Jam’s surroundings a version of a world that they, like Jam, might choose to fight for.” -BookPage
Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
🏳️🌈 Gay Representation, Trans Representation
“Both celebratory and elegiac… There’s much to discuss here about identity, about social media, about community—and it would be a particularly stellar choice for a multi-generational LGBTQ-focused book club.” -The Bulletin
This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
🏳️🌈 Lesbian Representation
“A twisting, sapphic time travel fantasy love story that never stops surprising: El-Mohtar and Gladstone have written the ultimate in enemies-to-lovers romance.” -Booklist
I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver
🏳️🌈 Nonbinary Representation
“A soft, sweet, and incredibly important story about a nonbinary teen finding their voice. This book is going to be so important to so many people.” -Alice Oseman, author of Heartstopper
Kayla’s Top Five
- Run Away With Me by Brian Selznick
🏳️🌈 Gay Representation
“Reflecting a full spectrum of time and love, Run Away with Me will run away with you.” – Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked - A Shore Thing by Joanna Lowell
🏳️🌈 Trans Representation
“A Victorian queer love story that will have you giggling and blushing… This book is full of charm and low-stakes adventure, just the warm and soft romance many of us are looking for.” -NPR - Nimona by ND Stevenson
🏳️🌈 Gay Representation
“Nimona, with all her flaws, breaks away completely from what women are allowed to be in popular fiction.” -Vanity Fair
BONUS: This has now been adapted into one of the best animated films you’ll ever see! - Salt Slow by Julia Armfield
🏳️🌈 Lesbian Representation
“Surreal, muscular stories…Fusing genres with supernatural grace, Armfield takes the discourse about inhabiting a female body to spooky, surprising places.” -Esquire - A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
🏳️🌈 Gay Representation
“Confident prose and marvelous touches – a chameleon coat, a scarlet river of magic, a piratical antiheroine – bring exuberant life to an exhilarating adventure among the worlds.” -Publishers Weekly
For even more recommendations from Holly and Kayla, click here.
