Blog

The Stonewall Reader, published by Penguin Classics (Psychology, Classical Non-fiction, Bibliography, World History): For the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, an anthology chronicling the tumultuous fight for LGBTQ rights in the 1960s and the activists who spearheaded it, with a foreword by Edmund White.

Sister Outsider, essays and speeches by Audre Lorde (Non-fiction): In this charged collection of fifteen essays and speeches, Lorde takes on sexism, racism, ageism, homophobia, and class, and propounds social difference as a vehicle for action and change.

Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality by Sarah McBride (Political Figure Biographies & Memoires): Before she became the first transgender person to speak at a national political convention in 2016 at the age of twenty-six, Sarah McBride struggled with the decision to come out—not just to her family but to the students of American University, where she was serving as student body president. She’d known she was a girl from her earliest memories, but it wasn’t until the Facebook post announcing her truth went viral that she realized just how much impact her story could have on the country.

Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston (LGBTQ+ Fiction, Gay Romance, Romantic Comedy): When his mother became President, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. Handsome, charismatic, genius—his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. There’s only one problem: Alex has a beef with the actual prince, Henry, across the pond. And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex-Henry altercation, U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse.

The Tamir Triad by Lynn Flewelling (LGBTQ+ Fiction, LGBTQ+ Fantasy/Adventure): Under the rule of a usurper king, the realm of Skala has suffered famine, plague, and invasion. But now the time for the rightful heir has come, a return to the tradition of warrior queens. However, the destined queen has yet to retake her throne. That is because Prince Tobin carries a burden he cannot share with even his closest friend, Ki, his squire. He is to rule─not as he is but as he was born: a woman. Given the shape of a boy by dark magic, Tobin is the last hope of the people of Illior─those who desperately seek a return to the old ways, when Skala was ruled by a line of warrior queens.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians; The Heroes of Olympus; The Trials of Apollo; The Sun and the Star; Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard

By Rick Riordan (Historical fiction, Mythology, LGBTQ+ Youth, Young Adult, and Children’s Literature, Fantasy): What began as bedtime stories about heroes from Greek mythology for his son Haley who struggled with ADHD and dyslexia, the fan-named “Riordan-verse” has grown to an encompass several novels which highlight multiple cultures, LGBTQ+ characters, and plenty of adventure for all ages. Also, check out the “Rick Riordan Presents” line of books, which is a collection of novels by emerging and underrepresented authors.

Frog & Toad by Arnold Lobel (Children’s illustrated book series): The “Frog and Toad” stories, written and illustrated by now deceased queer author/illustrator Arnold Lobel, chronicle the heartwarming adventures of two anthropomorphic best friends, a frog and a toad, who face everyday situations with humor and a strong bond, emphasizing the importance of friendship and acceptance.

Goodnight Moon by queer author Margaret Wise Brown (Children’s illustrated book): In this classic of children’s literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day.

Keepers of the Stones and Stars by Michael Barakiva (Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary Fantasy): Reed is leading his best life: he’s just kissed the boy of his dreams, his band is finally taking off, and he’s a shoo-in to getting elected as next year’s Student Council president. But he’s ready to give it all up when his suspiciously aristocratic guidance counselor tells him he has been chosen to go on the adventure of a lifetime.

Tess of the Road and In the Serpent’s Wake by Rachel Hartman (Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy): In the medieval kingdom of Goredd, women are expected to be ladies, men are their protectors, and dragons get to be whomever they want. Tess, stubbornly, is a troublemaker. You can’t make a scene at your sister’s wedding and break a relative’s nose with one punch (no matter how pompous he is) and not suffer the consequences. As her family plans to send her to a nunnery, Tess yanks on her boots and sets out on a journey across the Southlands, alone and pretending to be a boy. Where Tess is headed is a mystery, even to her. So when she runs into an old friend, it’s a stroke of luck. This friend is a quigutl—a subspecies of dragon—who gives her both a purpose and protection on the road. But Tess is guarding a troubling secret. Her tumultuous past is a heavy burden to carry, and the memories she’s tried to forget threaten to expose her to the world in more ways than one.

The Night Listener by Armistead Maupin (Contemporary Gay Fiction, Mystery): Gabriel Noone forms a bond with a young, troubled listener to his late-night radio show. As Noone’s friendship with the dying boy grows, he feels he can unlock his innermost feelings. But troubling questions arise, and he is forced to confront all his relationships – familial, romantic, and erotic.

Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs (Memoir, Autobiography) The 2002 memoir by American writer Augusten Burroughs. The book tells the story of Burroughs’s bizarre childhood life after his mother, a chain-smoking aspiring poet, sent him to live with her psychiatrist.

The Celluloid Closet: Homosexuality in the Movies by Vito Russo (Non-Fiction, Film History): An examination of the history of depictions of homosexuality in film, particularly in Hollywood films, from queer coded to overt portrayals.

Novels by Christopher Rice (Suspense, Crime, Supernatural Thriller, Erotic Romance, Historical Fiction)

Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice (Adult Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Paranormal Thriller): This is the story of Louis, as told in his own words, of his journey through mortal and immortal life. Louis recounts how he became a vampire at the hands of the radiant and sinister Lestat and how he became indoctrinated, unwillingly, into the vampire way of life.