Task #15: Read a YA or middle grade novel by an author who identifies as LGBTQ+

[Liesl]

Just finished Boy Meets Boy (I know, late to the party), and it was a joy.

[Bonnie G.]

Karen wrote: "I've chosen Lizard Radio by Pat Schmatz. I do love her name. If she lost the z it would be brilliant. But I'm about 1/3 of the way through this book and so far I'm bored silly. I think I hate YA no..."

I am also not a YA fan. By definition these books are going to be simplistic straight on looks at a single primary conflict. That is developmentally appropriate for high school aged children. (It amazes me how many adults regularly read YA, but I recently binge-watched every season of Felicity so I am not pointing fingers.) That said, there is some good YA out there even grown-ups can enjoy. I really liked the audio (read by Lin Manuel Miranda) for Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. It is YA, so don't expect much moral complexity, but it is best in class.

[Megan]

I read George for this category.

[Terri R]

I liked Aristotle and Dante as an audiobook as well, better than most YA.

[Chinook]

I read Ash and loved it. It was actially suggested to me by a librarian friend when I was looking to fill a prompt for the Pop sugar challenge but it fit nicely into this prompt. I had something else in mind, but I'll read that one eventually.

[Fred]

One of the authors recommended by Book Riot for this challenge was Heidi Heilig (The Girl from Everywhere, The Ship Beyond Time), but in my research I can't find anything that says how she qualifies as an LGBTQ+ author. Isn't that the heart of this task? "An author who identifies as LGBTQ+", not just an author of LGBTQ+ YA/MG fiction? Please advise if I'm offbase on this, as the summary for both books mentioned does interest me.
As a back-up, I've ordered Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee from the library for the challenge.

[Elyse]

Fred wrote: "One of the authors recommended by Book Riot for this challenge was Heidi Heilig (The Girl from Everywhere, The Ship Beyond Time), but in my research I can't find any..."

Yes, the author has to be LGBTQ+. Not just write about it.

[Kari Ann]

All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders. Different, but interesting

[Annie]

Would Oscar Wilde be considered YA?

[Bonnie G.]

Annie wrote: "Would Oscar Wilde be considered YA?"

Oscar Wilde did write children's books, but he wrote nothing for or about teens.

[Stephanie]

Liz wrote: "On of my favorite books from this past year was Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. I recommend the audio book, read by Lin-Manuel Miranda."

I'd forgotten that I wanted to read this and was happy to discover it fit a category for the challenge. Thanks to your post I finally picked it up and finished it in a day, and went back and re-read certain parts again the next day.

[Rebecca]

Ashley wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "I'm having a hard time with this one. Would Charlie Jane Anders' All the Birds in the Sky count? I've seen some reviews that describe it as YA."

Hey Rebecca, go bac..." thanks. I read All the Birds and will eventually read a YA novel or maybe listen to one as an audiobook.

[Cheryl]

Rebecca wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "I read A Darker Shade of Magic. I know this is considered adult in the US, but if I recall correctly, it was marketed as YA in the UK. And after readi..."

In the US, price also helps to label it correctly, YA hardcover's typically run less than $20, while adult books run higher. Even Schwab's books do that. Hope that helps too. I've been working in public libraries for 8+ years.

[Rebecca]

I wound up listening to A Monster Calls on Audio and enjoyed it, though it did not specifically have any themes related to sexuality or sexual identity.

[Elyse]

Rebecca wrote: "I wound up listening to A Monster Calls on Audio and enjoyed it, though it did not specifically have any themes related to sexuality or sexual identity."

It doesn't have to! And A Monster Calls was so good.

[Lucy]

Recently finished Far From You by Tess Sharpe and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Rachel]

I'm just about finished with History Is All You Left Me

[[deleted user]]

I read Drama by Raina Telgemeier

[Cristy]

If I Was Your Girl

and

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, which I enjoyed immensely via audiobook.

[Tammy]

A while back, I put We the Animals on a list of possible books for this task, but now that I've read it I realize that it might not qualify as a YA or middle grade novel, and I can't figure out where I originally got the suggestion from! At any rate, it's a good, gritty book. If anyone else read this or can comment on the age level, I'd love to hear your opinion.

[Bonnie G.]

We are the Animals is definitely not YA.