Claire Gross says in her article “What Makes a Good YA Coming-Out Novel?” (from the Horn Book Magazine March/April 2013 special issue Different Drummers),
Since John Donovan’s groundbreaking 1969 I’ll Get There. It Better Be Worth the Trip, young adult novels featuring gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning teens have come a long way. Once few and far between, they have enjoyed a steady rise in numbers and prominence, particularly over the last decade . . . . There is ground yet to travel. Coming-out stories featuring teens of color are still few and far between, and representations of gay and lesbian teens far outpace depictions of bisexual and transgendered protagonists . . . . We’re getting there. It’ll be worth the trip.
Here are some other recommended books and Horn Book articles for reading on the way:
- “Reading About Families in My Family” by Megan Lambert
- “A Second Look: Annie on My Mind” by Roger Sutton
- “On Spies and Purple Socks and Such” by K. T. Horning
- “Too Gay or Not Gay Enough?” by author Ellen Wittlinger
- Recommended YA books with LGBTQ characters
- Review of The Letter Q: Queer Authors’ Notes to Their Younger Selves
About Katie Bircher
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