Pride Month is almost over, but I wanted to share some great middle grade LGBTQ+ reads for all year long!
TWELVE MG LGBTQ+ I’VE READ AND RECOMMEND
(Click on the links for full reviews, if I’ve posted them.)
Ollie in Between by Jess Callans
This book follows an almost-13-year-old student as they navigate the complexities of gender norms and puberty figure out how to be content knowing they don’t have it all figured out.
The Flicker by H.E. Edgmon
A dystopian adventure set in a world that’s been devastated by a solar flare. Kids will love the high stakes and exciting story, but they’ll also be exposed to themes of gender identity and indigenous heritage.
The Curse of Eelgrass Bog by Mary Averling
This book is fantastical and creepy in all the best ways! And it features the budding of a sweet romance between the MC and her first true friend.
Murray Out of Water by Taylor Tracy
This wonderfully lyrical verse novel with a touch of magical realism features an MC who finds a safe space to talk about (and think about) the questions she’s had about gender when she’s temporarily displaced because of a hurricane.
Crushing It by Erin Becker
This MG sports story features a popular romance trope: two girls who fall for each other online, not realizing that in real life they’re friends-turned-rivals! I also loved the subplot in this one that dealt with family stresses.
Bea Mullins Takes a Shot by Emily Deibert
Another romance for kids who love sports–this one centers on hockey! It also deals with a topic that many MG readers will be able to relate to: not wanting to stand out or look bad in front of peers. The MC in this book needs step out of her comfort zone and learn to take chances, in life and with her crush!
How to Become a Planet by Nicole Melleby
This book tackles depression in a deeper way than you often see in middle grade, and it’s a really compelling story. The MC is also crushing on her new friend and dealing with changing older friendships.
Thanks a Lot, Universe by Chad Lucas
Another book that tackles tough topics. Brian, one of the MCs, is dealing with anxiety that worsens after a major life change–being put into foster care. The other MC, Ezra, finds himself crushing on Brian. The romance element of this book isn’t resolved, which I actually sort of liked, since Brian was dealing with so much. There’s a follow-up book, though, so the crush might be explored more in that one!
Snapdragon by Kat Leyh
This graphic novel is perfect for kids who like a paranormal storyline. It’s about a (trans) girl who unwillingly befriends the town’s witch and ends up finding magic within herself. The art style is utterly gorgeous and the element of saving wild animals will draw kids in (I would have loved this story in my MG years–and I loved it now!).
The Golden Hour by Niki Smith
This gorgeous graphic novel focuses much more on the after-effects of a school shooting than on LGBTQ+ themes, but a budding romance between the two main characters is implied, and sometimes it’s nice to have a book that doesn’t spell everything out for the reader, even in MG.
The Civil War of Amos Abernathy by Michael Leali
This book delves into the historical existence of LGBTQ+ people (and how those histories have often been ignored). The facts that the MC digs up about the Civil War are intertwined into his own personal journey in many meaningful ways.
Ellie Engle Saves Herself by Leah Johnson
In this fun twist on a superpower story, the MC discovers she can bring things back to life. But learning how to control the power and figuring out the consequences are harder than she imagines. Ellie struggles with many things when people find out about her power–including her crush on her best friend.
MORE I PLAN TO READ
Click on my Bookshop.org widget to see a more complete list of LGBTQ+ middle grade reads, including these books, a couple others I’ve enjoyed, and several I’ve heard great things about but haven’t managed to read yet!
(The bookshop list has affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission that supports my blog–and my writing!–if you make a purchase.)
What are your favorite MG LGBTQ+ books? I wanna know!
Since I don’t read middle grade books much these days, these are all new to me. But a few sound like ones I would want to read, plus I will share your recs with my middle school librarians. Great reviews!