Task 6: Read a middle grade book with an LGBTQIA main character

[Mary Beth]

Here is a thread to discuss books you’re considering or suggesting for Task 6: Read a middle grade book with an LGBTQIA main character.

[Casey]

if anyone needs a suggestion Star-Crossed is a middle grade book about two girls who are playing romeo and juliet in their middle school play

[Elizabeth]

I think I'm most interested in finally reading Hurricane Child for this, but I'm definitely going to be keeping my eye on the suggestions for this one.

[Lindsay]

I really enjoyed Too Bright to See, which is a perfect fit for this category.

[Rebecca]

Melissa

[Teresa]

Pepper's Rules for Secret Sleuthing or Rez Dogs. I miss that show by the same name.

[Ginger]

Rick Riordan's The Sun and the Star: A Nico di Angelo Adventure would fit this.

[Joanna]

Here's a few that I read this year for a local book award. Only one made the shortlist, but they're all pretty good.
A-Okay
Different Kinds of Fruit
The Girl from the Sea
How to Become a Planet
Obie Is Man Enough

[Amy]

I absolutely loved all of the following:

Hurricane Child or anything by Kacen Callender

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

The Prince & the Dressmaker by Jen Wang (graphic novel)

Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake

[Bella]

Amy wrote: "I absolutely loved all of the following:

Hurricane Child or anything by Kacen Callender

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

The Prince & the Dressmaker by Jen Wang (graphic novel)

Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to th..."

I loved Pet by Akwaeke Emezi, so I was thinking of maybe reading Bitter for this challenge. Have you read it, do you know if it has an LGBTQ character?

[Lucilla]

I'm going to read The Insiders by Mark Oshiro for this one.

[Leanne]

I'm going to read "Proud of Me" by Sarah Hagger-Holt

[Regan]

I think I'm either reading Candidly Cline or Flight of the Puffin for this one

[Carole]

I read Hurricane Child for this task. I have mixed feelings about this book. Unlikable characters, a lot of subplots. And triggers. Abandonment, sexual identity, bullying. It’s a lot. Might be too much for a tween who isn’t exposed to these themes in literature.?

[Sally]

I recommend Every Bird a Prince by Jenn Reese.

[Aquaria]

Lindsay wrote: "I really enjoyed Too Bright to See, which is a perfect fit for this category."

My choice as well.

[Erin]

Read & Recommend
The Deathless Girls Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Want to Read
King and the Dragonflies Kacen Callender
Zenobia July Lisa Bunker
Every Bird a Prince Jenn Reese
The Ship We Built Lexie Bean

[Hannah]

Does anyone know if "House in the Cerulean Sea" would work? Not sure if there is an LGBTQ main character. I'm flexible on it being middle grade since I don't read a ton of YA

[Lindsay]

Hannah wrote: "Does anyone know if "House in the Cerulean Sea" would work? Not sure if there is an LGBTQ main character. I'm flexible on it being middle grade since I don't read a ton of YA"

House in the Cerulean Sea works for LGBTQ, but not for MG

[Hannah]

Lindsay wrote: "Hannah wrote: "Does anyone know if "House in the Cerulean Sea" would work? Not sure if there is an LGBTQ main character. I'm flexible on it being middle grade since I don't read a ton of YA"

House..."
Thank you! I may read it anyways since it's been on my list for a few years now.

[Regan]

I think I'm either going to read Candidly Cline or Flight of the Puffin for this one. Ann Braden's other book made me cry, so I'm trying to decide if I'm prepared for that again, haha.

[Amy]

Re: Bella’s comment about Bitter - I think the main character identifies as LGBTQ+. It looks like a great choice!

[Kat]

Just finished reading Pet. It's good and has an LGBTQIA main character, but I don't think it's counts as MG. The main character is at least 16 and it hit me as YA.

[Mandie]

Lindsay wrote: "I really enjoyed Too Bright to See, which is a perfect fit for this category."

This was a great suggestion for this prompt. Thank you!

[Sherri]

I read Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy: A Modern Graphic Retelling of Little Women. I was going to use it for prompt 13 a comic that has been banned but it works well for prompt # 6. I really liked it & it sticks close to Little Women.

[Hannah]

I read Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson and loved it. It's a coming-of-age story, but not exactly middle grade. I loved the way the characters' sexuality wasn't the main focal point but rather, just a small part of who they were amidst a complex backdrop. The prose is sort of a mix of lyric/ poetry and dialogue, so I would only recommend it to people looking for something a bit "weird."

[Ancilla]

Teresa wrote: "Pepper's Rules for Secret Sleuthing or Rez Dogs. I miss that show by the same name."

I read Rez Dogs and there was no LGBTQIA main character. Unless I grossly missed something?

[Teresa]

I haven't read Rez Dogs. It was either on a list or I mixed it up with another prompt. I don't remember.

[GailW]

I read Pet by Akwaeke Emezi, thinking the character was a bit younger.

[Denise]

Thanks to the above recommendation, I read Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy: A Modern Graphic Retelling. I enjoyed it