Rainbow Reads for Teens

Recommended books by and about 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

Updated April 9, 2024
W
Winnipeg Public Library
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1

Going bicoastal
Adler, Dahlia
Paper Book
A SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARD MEDALIST "This is what it looks like when a brilliant high concept is executed to perfection. It's got all the Dahlia Adler trademarks--romance, wry humor, specificity, and genuine emotional depth." - Becky Albertalli, New York Times...

Also available in eAudiobook format.

2

Aristotle and Dante dive into the waters of the world
Sáenz, Benjamin Alire
Paper Book
A #1 New York Times bestseller Four starred reviews! "Messily human and sincerely insightful." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) The highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed, multiple award-winning novel Aristotle and...
Also available in Audiobook and eAudiobook formats.

3

Icarus
Ancrum, K.
Paper Book
"The sparse prose in this unconventional, must-read of a trauma-infused borderline thriller is packed with emotional breadth." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "In this intimate poetic reimagining of the Icarus myth, Ancrum crafts a subversive triumph that is a love letter...

4

Only on the weekends
Atta, Dean
Paper Book
From the Stonewall Award-winning author of The Black Flamingo comes a romantic coming-of-age novel in verse about pursuing the love we know we deserve. The ideal next read for fans of Kacen Callender, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Becky Albertalli. Mack is a hopeless romantic--likely a hazard of...
Also available in eBook and eAudiobook formats.

5

The stars of Mount Quixx
Beiko, S. M.
Paper Book
Even the best intentions can bring down a mountain ... Sent away for the summer, the Ivyweather sisters were promised a family vacation by their wealthy, indifferent parents. Two at-odds opposites -- Constance an anxious society sweetheart and Ivory an adventure-struck rebel --...

Also available in eBook format.

Canadian author.

6

Kings, queens, and in-betweens
Boteju, Tanya
Paper Book
"Poignant and important." --Refinery29 "A bright and sparkly celebration of love and self-acceptance." --Kirkus Reviews Judy Blume meets RuPaul's Drag Race in this funny, feel-good debut novel about a queer teen who navigates questions of...
Canadian author.

7

Songs of Irie
Bromfield, Asha
Paper Book
"A devastating and nuanced look at two teens' battle for freedom, hope, independence, and love." - Publishers Weekly (starred review) Perfect for fans of The Black Kids, Songs of Irie is a sweeping coming-of-age novel from Asha Bromfield about a budding...

8

Felix ever after
Callender, Kacen
Paper Book
A Stonewall Honor Book * A Time Magazine Best YA Book of All Time From Stonewall and Lambda Award-winning author Kacen Callender comes a revelatory YA novel about a transgender teen grappling with identity and self-discovery while falling in love for the first time. Felix Love has...

Available in eBook and eAudiobook formats.

9

Dragging Mason County
Campbell, Curtis (Author of Dragging Mason County)
Paper Book
A laugh-out-loud YA debut that examines the realities of small-town queer life and celebrates the transformative power of drag--perfect for fans of RuPaul's Drag Race and Pumpkin. Peter Thompkins needs a public image overhaul. After a tense confrontation with one of the few...

10

Queerceañera
Crespo, Alex
Paper Book
This irresistible and hilarious rom-com from acclaimed author Alex Crespo is a whirlwind of telenovela-level drama and hijinks when Joaquin Zoido finds himself fake-dating his childhood crush and newly minted date to his queerceañera. Joaquin Zoido is out and proud...

11

Other ever afters : new queer fairy tales
Gillman, Melanie
Paper Book
Once upon a time . . . happily ever after turned out differently than expected. In this new, feminist, queer fairy-tale collection, you'll find the princesses, mermaids, knights, barmaids, children, and wise old women who have been forced to sit on the sidelines in classic stories taking center...
Also available in eBook format.

12

Friday I'm in love
Garrett, Camryn
Paper Book
It's too late for a Sweet Sixteen, but what if Mahalia had a coming-out party? A love letter to romantic comedies, sweet sixteen blowouts, Black joy, and queer pride. "A perfect ode to romantic comedies, wrapped in a dazzling rainbow dress." --Rachael Lippincott, #1 New...
Also available in eBook format.

13

Icebreaker
Graziadei, A. L.
Paper Book
A. L. Graziadei's Icebreaker is an irresistible YA debut about two hockey players fighting to be the best--and the romance that catches them by surprise along the way. Seventeen-year-old Mickey James III is a college freshman, a brother to five sisters, and a hockey...
Also available in eBook format.

14

Fire song
Jones, Adam Garnet
Paper Book
How can Shane reconcile his feelings for David with his desire for a better life? Shane is still reeling from the suicide of his kid sister, Destiny. How could he have missed the fact that she was so sad? He tries to share his grief with his girlfriend, Tara, but she's too concerned with her own...

Also available in eBook format.

Canadian author.

15

Salt the water
Iloh, Candice
Paper Book
A Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book Cerulean Gene is free everywhere except school, where they're known for repeatedly challenging authority. Raised in a free-spirited home by two loving parents who encourage Cerulean to be their full self, they've got big dreams of moving cross...

16

The breakup lists
Khorram, Adib
Paper Book
Love is more complicated than "boy meets boy" in bestselling author Adib Khorram's sharply funny new romantic comedy, set in the sordid world of high school theater Jackson Ghasnavi is a lot of things-a techie, a smoothie afficionado, a totally not obsessive list-maker-but one...

17

Destination unknown
Konigsberg, Bill
Paper Book
From Stonewall Award winner Bill Konigsberg, a remarkable, funny, sexy, heartbreaking story of two teen boys finding each other in New York City at the height of the AIDS epidemic. The first thing I noticed about C.J. Gorman was his plexiglass bra. So begins Destination Unknown --...
Also available in eBook format.

18

Who we are in real life
Koops, Victoria
Paper Book
Fans of Rainbow Rowell and Casey McQuiston will fall for this story of tabletop gaming, romance and epic campaigns -- both in game and IRL. IRL, Darcy has just moved to the small prairie town of Unity Creek with her two moms. It feels like she left everything good behind in the city. She...
Canadian author.

19

When the angels left the old country
Lamb, Sacha
Paper Book
Stonewall Book Award Winner Sydney Taylor Award Winner Michael L. Printz Honor Book National Jewish Book Award Finalist AudioFile Earphones Award Winner BEST OF THE YEAR NPR · New York...

20

Café con lychee
Lee, Emery
Paper Book
From the author of Meet Cute Diary comes a delectable rom-com that's brimming with zest and a sprinkle of sweetness. A must-read for fans of Casey McQuiston and Julian Winters. Theo Mori and Gabriel Moreno have always been at odds. Their parents own rival businesses--an Asian American café...
Also available in eBook format.

21

Pride and prejudice and Pittsburgh
Lippincott, Rachael
Paper Book
From the New York Times bestselling coauthor of Five Feet Apart and She Gets the Girl comes a fresh and inventive sapphic romantic comedy that's "a gem of a book" (Booklist, starred review) "perfect for fans of Outlander and Bridgerton" (Kirkus Reviews...
Also available in eBook format.

22

Last night at the Telegraph Club
Lo, Malinda
Paper Book
Winner of the National Book Award A New York Times Bestseller "The queer romance we've been waiting for."--Ms. Magazine Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can't remember exactly when the feeling took root--that desire to look, to move closer, to touch....
Also available in eBook and eAudiobook formats.

23

Ophelia after all
Marie, Racquel
Paper Book
A teen girl navigates friendship drama, the end of high school, and discovering her queerness in Ophelia After All, a hilarious and heartfelt contemporary YA debut by author Racquel Marie. Ophelia Rojas knows what she likes: her best friends, Cuban food, rose-gardening,...
Also available in eBook format.

24

Lakelore
McLemore, Anna-Marie
Paper Book
In this young adult novel by award-winning author Anna-Marie McLemore, two non-binary teens are pulled into a magical world under a lake - but can they keep their worlds above water intact? Everyone who lives near the lake knows the stories about the world underneath it, an...

25

Man o' war
McCarthy, Cory
Paper Book
A Stonewall Honor Book An achingly honest and frequently hilarious coming-of-age novel about an Arab American trans teen fighting to keep their head above water in a landlocked Midwestern town. Man o' wars are not jellyfish, and River McIntyre is not happy...

26

I kissed Shara Wheeler : a novel
McQuiston, Casey
Paper Book
*INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER* *INSTANT #1 INDIE BESTSELLER* *INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER* From the New York Times bestselling author of One Last Stop and Red, White & Royal Blue comes a romantic comedy about chasing down what you...
Also available in eBook and eAudiobook formats.

27

Only this beautiful moment
Nazemian, Abdi
Paper Book
Stonewall Book Award Winner * A Best Book of the Year from the Guardian, ALA Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, and BookPage From the award-winning author of Like a Love Story comes a sweeping story of three generations of boys in the same Iranian family. Perfect for fans of Last Night at the...
Also available in eBook format.

28

Heartstopper. Volume 1
Oseman, Alice
Paper Book
Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. A sweet and charming coming-of-age story that explores friendship, love, and coming out. This edition features beautiful two-color artwork. Now streaming on Netflix! Shy and softhearted Charlie Spring sits next to...

29

The princess and the fangirl : a geekerella fairy tale
Poston, Ashley
Paper Book
An enchanting YA romance from the New York Timesbest-selling author of The Dead Romantics. The Prince and the Paupergets a Geekerella-style makeover in this witty and heartfelt novel for those who believe in the magic of fandom. Imogen...
Also available in eBook format.

30

Drizzle, dreams, and lovestruck things
Prasad, Maya
Paper Book
The Singh sisters grew up helping their father navigate the bustle of the Songbird Inn. Nestled on dreamy and drizzly Orcas Island in the Pacific Northwest, the inn's always been warm and cozy and filled with interesting guests - the perfect home. But things are about to heat up now that the...

31

The lesbiana's guide to Catholic school
Reyes, Sonora
Paper Book
National Book Award Finalist * William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist * Goodreads Finalist for Best Teen Book of the Year * Walter Honor Award Winner * Pura Belpré Honor Book * Lambda Literary Award Winner for LGBTQ+ Young Adult A sharply funny and moving debut novel about a queer...
Also available in eBook format.

32

When you get the chance
Ryan, Tom
Paper Book
Follow cousins on a road trip to Pride as they dive into family secrets and friendships in this contemporary novel--perfect for fans of David Levithan and Becky Albertalli.   As kids, Mark and his cousin Talia spent many happy summers together at the...

Also available in eBook format.

Canadian author.

33

Kings of B'more
Thomas, R. Eric
Paper Book
"Infused with all the joy of the best teen movies, Kings of B'moreis sure to be a big hit." -BuzzFeed Two Black queer best friends face their last day together with an epic journey through Baltimore in this magnetic YA debut by bestselling author of Here for It, R. Eric...
Also available in eBook format.

34

Love Letters for Joy
See, Melissa
Paper Book
A new LGBTQIA+ romance story by the author of You, Me, and Our Heartstrings. Less than a year away from graduation, seventeen-year-old Joy is too busy overachieving to be worried about relationships. She's determined to be Caldwell Prep's first disabled valedictorian. And she only has one...
Also available in eBook format.

35

Surviving the city. Vol. 2, From the roots up
Spillett-Sumner, Tasha
Paper Book
Dez's grandmother has passed away. Grieving, and with nowhere else to go, they're living in a group home. On top of everything else, Dez is navigating a new relationship and coming into their identity as a Two-Spirit person. Miikwan is crushing on the school's new kid Riel, but doesn't...

Also available in eBook format.

Canadian author.

36

She is a haunting
Tran, Trang Thanh
Paper Book
William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist Instant New York Times and Indie Bestseller This house eats and is eaten . . . "A riveting debut from a remarkable new voice! Trang Thanh Tran weaves an impressive gothic mystery in which...

Also available in eBook format.

37

Always the almost : a novel
Underhill, Edward
Paper Book
A trans pianist makes a New Year's resolution on a frozen Wisconsin night to win regionals and win back his ex, but a new boy complicates things in Edward Underhill's heartfelt debut YA rom-dram, Always the Almost. Sixteen-year-old trans boy Miles Jacobson has two New...

38

The prince and the dressmaker
Wang, Jen
Paper Book
A fairy tale for any age, Jen Wang's The Prince and the Dressmaker will steal your heart. Winner of the Eisner Award for Best Publication for Teens Winner of the Harvey Award for Best Children or Young Adult Book Paris, at the...

39

Le prince et la couturière :
Wang, Jen
Paper Book
A fairy tale for any age, Jen Wang's The Prince and the Dressmaker will steal your heart. Winner of the Eisner Award for Best Publication for Teens Winner of the Harvey Award for Best Children or Young Adult Book Paris, at the...

Alors que le prince Sebastien revet des robes et court les nuits parisiennes sous l'identite de Lady Cristallia, ses parents, qui ignorent tout de sa vie nocturne, lui cherchent une fiancee. Une des deux seules personnes a connaitre son secret est sa meilleure amie Frances, qui a toujours reve de devenir une grande couturiere.

40

Hell followed with us
White, Andrew Joseph
Paper Book
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A furious, queer debut novel about embracing the monster within and unleashing its power against your oppressors. "A long, sustained scream to the various strains of anti-transgender legislation multiplying around the world...
Also available in eBook and eAudiobook formats.

41

Look on the bright side
Williams, Lily
Paper Book
The creators of Eisner-nominated Go With the Flow Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann are back with a funny and heartwarming story following four best friends Brit, Abby, Christine, and Sasha in the graphic novel, Look on the Bright Side. Perfect for fans of Maria Scrivan's...

42

Nothing burns as bright as you
Woodfolk, Ashley
Paper Book
Five starred reviews! From New York Times bestselling author Ashley Woodfolk, Nothing Burns as Bright as You is an impassioned stand-alone tale of queer love, grief, and the complexity of female friendship. Two girls. One wild and reckless day. Years of...
Also available in eBook format.

43

Pride : an inspirational history of the LGBTQ+ movement
Caldwell, S. A.
Paper Book
Take pride in who you are! This inspiring history of the LGBTQ+ community enlightens young readers on the true timeline of LGBTQ+ history around the world, the lives of important figures like Harvey Milk, and iconic events like Stonewall. The LGBTQ+ community is so much more than...
Also available in eBook format.

44

Still Stace : my gay Christian coming-of-age story
Chomiak, Stacey
Paper Book
Is it possible to be gay and Christian? Stacey loves being a Christian. Her best friends are also her church friends. Her favorite place on earth is Bible camp every summer. And she talks to God like they are old friends. But one summer, she meets a girl who turns everything upside...
Canadian author.

45

Here and queer
Ellis, Rowan
Paper Book
Here and Queer is a helpful, friendly guide full of support and advice about living your best queer life, written for girls.  This vibrant, inclusive guide, designed for all kinds of girls, is designed to help you be the strongest, proudest,...

46

Welcome to St. Hell
Hancox, Lewis
Paper Book
A groundbreaking memoir about being a trans teen, in the vein of FUN HOME and FLAMER... and at the same time entirely its own. Lewis has a few things to say to his younger teen self. He knows she hates her body. He knows she's confused about who to snog. He knows she's really a he and will...
Also available in eBook format.

47

All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto
Johnson, George M.
Paper Book
In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson's All Boys Aren't Blue explores their childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. A New York Times Bestseller! Good Morning America,...

Also available in eBook and eAudiobook formats.

48

Breathe : journeys to healthy binding
Kobabe, Maia
Paper Book
A graphic guide to chest binding with real-life stories and research-backed advice from bestselling Gender Queer author MAIA KOBABE and University of Michigan professor SARAH PEITZMEIER. Breathe arose from the need for a resource for folks considering chest binding...

49

From here : a memoir
Mufleh, Luma
Paper Book
In her coming-of-age memoir, refugee advocate Luma Mufleh writes of her tumultuous journey to reconcile her identity as a gay Muslim woman and a proud Arab-turned-American refugee. With no word for "gay" in Arabic, Luma may not have known what to call the feelings she had...
Also available in eBook format.

50

Homebody
Parish, Theo
Paper Book
In their comics debut, Theo Parish masterfully weaves an intimate and defiantly hopeful memoir about the journey one nonbinary person takes to find a home within themself. Combining traditional comics with organic journal-like interludes, Theo takes us through their experiences with the hundred...

51

Call me Bill
Richards, Lynette
Paper Book
A gorgeously illustrated historical graphic novel based on a real person who, defying gender expectations, left home in search of adventure and a more authentic life. It was April 1, 1873. In the middle of the night, Sarah Jane spotted flares off the coast of her island home. She woke...

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