PRIDE month is almost over, and I’ve practically missed it because of COVID. Ugh! But I couldn’t let the month pass without highlighting some great LGBTQ+ reads! I hope these bite-sized reviews will be enough to feed your fiction addiction!
Love Is Love by Michael Genhart Illustrator: Ken Min
Published by Little Pickle Press on June 1, 2018
Genres: Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Picture Book
Pages: 34
Source: The Publisher
My rating:
A boy confides in a friend that he doesn’t know what to say when he’s teased for having two dads, and when kids say that they’re not a real family. In their conversation, his friend helps him see how her family (with a mom and a dad) isn’t all that different from his: they both have parents who love them, and they both love their parents. And it’s love that makes a family. In this book Michael Genhart, Ph.D., shows that gay families are simply another kind of normal and that all children value the love of family. This heartfelt dialogue provides a gentle way to discuss discrimination.
This book, told from the perspective of a kid with two dads, is simple and direct, but its message is both important and necessary. It teaches that kids should never have to feel ashamed of their families, and that the similarities between same-sex couples and heterosexual couples outweigh the differences. It’s told from a singular perspective, but I love that the illustrations add a more global perspective, showing families from many different cultures and in different situations, and all are tied together by the Pride t-shirt that at least one kid in each picture wears. Speaking of the illustrations, they’re lovely, and they give so much life to the relatively straightforward story. They truly make this book shine!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher so I could provide an honest review. No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag Illustrator: Molly Knox Ostertag
Published by Graphix on June 1, 2021
Genres: Fantasy, Graphic Novel, LGBTQ+, Young Adult
Pages: 256
Source: Purchased
My content rating: YA - Nothing More than Kissing
My rating:
From the author of The Witch Boy trilogy comes a graphic novel about family, romance, and first love.
Fifteen-year-old Morgan has a secret: She can't wait to escape the perfect little island where she lives. She's desperate to finish high school and escape her sad divorced mom, her volatile little brother, and worst of all, her great group of friends...who don't understand Morgan at all. Because really, Morgan's biggest secret is that she has a lot of secrets, including the one about wanting to kiss another girl.
Then one night, Morgan is saved from drowning by a mysterious girl named Keltie. The two become friends and suddenly life on the island doesn't seem so stifling anymore.
But Keltie has some secrets of her own. And as the girls start to fall in love, everything they're each trying to hide will find its way to the surface...whether Morgan is ready or not.
A coming-out story—with a selkie. That pretty much sums this graphic novel up. The story is relatively simple and sweet (and enjoyable). Morgan has realized she’s gay, and she has a plan: she’ll come out once she goes away to college and avoid all the messiness of having to deal with her friends’ reactions (not to mention everyone else’s in their small town). But when a strange girl named Keltie shows up after saving Morgan from drowning, Morgan’s plans are thrown into disarray. Turns out, Keltie’s a selkie, and she challenges Morgan to be herself right now. There’s also an ecological subplot that comes into the story later, but it’s relatively minor. Not gonna lie, I bought this book mostly for the illustrations (and the presence of a selkie, who I may or may not have originally thought was going to be a mermaid), and I was not disappointed. I mean, just look at the gloriousness below. If you want a quick, LGBTQ+ affirming read with lovely pictures, this is the graphic novel for you!
Mighty Red Riding Hood by Wallace West Illustrator: Wallace West
Published by Little Brown Books for Young Readers on May 10, 2022
Genres: Fairy Tales Legends & Mythology, LGBTQ+, Picture Book
Pages: 40
Source: The Publisher
My rating:
In this clever twist on a traditional tale, a boy who loves his frilly, swishy riding hood turns the tables on a big, bad, bullying wolf!
Better not mess with Little Red when he's got on his favorite frilly red riding hood! It makes him feel happier than a pig in mud, more special than a birthday cake, and mighty as a firecracker. Nothing's gonna stop him from being himself...Not even a big ol' bully of a WOLF! With admirable spunk and a heaping helping of southern humor and hospitality, Little Red finds a way to crack the shell of the closed-minded wolf's perception of frills and bows.
This refreshingly spirited version of the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood explores the challenge of staying on your path when confronted by strangers who don't want to understand you.
A delightful tale of a little boy who knows what he wants and isn’t about to let a silly, opinionated wolf change his mind. This story is a fun twist on Little Red Riding Hood, where the hood-wearer is a little boy named Leroy off to bring some (not-so-yummy) goodies to grandma’s house. Along the way, he meets a wolf who takes it upon himself to critique Leroy’s outfit and tell him it’s too frilly for a boy. Leroy basically just lets everything the wolf says slide right off his back. He never gets upset or pays much attention to the pesky wolf, but instead recognizes the wolf for what he is—a closed-minded creature who has no idea what he’s talking about. The ending of the story is actually super sweet. It may not come off as the most realistic, but it’s perfect for a children’s picture book and reminds kids that we can all get along if we just give each other a chance. And that’s a message worth spreading!
Oh, and I just have to mention the cute, cartoony illustrations. Love these!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher so I could provide an honest review. No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
The Pants Project by Cat Clarke Published by Sourcebooks Young Readers on March 7, 2017
Genres: Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Middle Grade
Pages: 272
Source: The Publisher
Cover Artist: Kristin Logsdon
My rating:
"My name is Liv (Not Olivia)... I'm not technically a girl.
I'm Transgender. Which is a bit like being a transformer. Only not quite as cool as cool because I probably won't get to save the world one day."
Liv knows he was always meant to be a boy, but with his new school's terrible dress code, he can't even wear pants. Only skirts.
Operation: Pants Project begins! The only way for Liv to get what he wants is to go after it himself. But to Liv, this isn't just a mission to change the policy--it's a mission to change his life. And that's a pretty big deal.
The Pants Project is a story of standing up for what you believe in and being yourself, even when those around you can’t see you for who you are. Liv is both excited and scared to head to middle school, but there’s one aspect of the school he hates—the fact that girls have to wear skirts. Liv doesn’t like the way skirts feel—they’re itchy and annoying, and worst of all, they make Liv feel like everyone looks at him and sees a girl, which is not who he knows he truly is. But he hasn’t told anyone that, and he isn’t sure he’s ready to. Tackling the skirt issue is a first step, though, so Liv begins The Pants Project. The story features quite a bit of diversity (Liv’s got two moms and he eventually learns his best friend has a hidden disability) and it unfortunately shows the bullying that can go along with being different. Liv has to deal with comments about his moms and doesn’t want to face the idea that he might be bullied even more if he comes out as transgender. The book also shows how friendships can deteriorate during middle school (an unfortunate fact), but Liv makes new friends that fill the gap. Liv’s family relationships and friendships are wonderful, especially her budding friendship with Jacob, which we get to see as it develops. This book will help kids see that differences don’t have to be scary and that everyone has a right to feel safe and secure in who they are!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher so I could provide an honest review. No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
I read and loved The Pants Project. Liv made a wonderful middle grade POV character. I adored Liv’s moms and was so happy the author made them so loving and supportive. This book sits on my favorites shelf.
I have not read any of these, but I like the look of all of them. It’s so important for kids so read books like these.
Great review. These all sound really good. I’ve read The Girl from the Sea which I thought was cute.
Lauren
Great reviews! The Girl from the Sea is on my order list for my school library next year. Thanks for sharing these!
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