Sunday, May 26, 2013

What I'd Like To See More of in YA ...

In interviews with other book bloggers that I host on this blog, I'm constantly asking other people what they would like to see more or less of within YA.  And I've realised that I've never answered that question. So in a series of monthly posts I will try to answer as fully as I can something that I would like to see more of in YA... To start us off with, I'm choosing: 

LGBT characters

I really want to see more lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender characters within the pages of YA.  I'd like to see stories revolving around these characters either focusing on the main issues ... of acceptance, coming out, how people react to the fact. But I'd also really to see more of these characters who populate YA that are okay and open with their sexuality and aren't in a place of struggle.  They're just there for no other reason but to be there.  I think what we need are more of these stories and also to see all sides of the story in order. 

Less emphasis on heteronormative pairings, please! Love is love.

What I really love lately is that there have been plenty of other bloggers supporting and promoting LGBT storylines with dedicated read-a-thons, themed weeks and months that have been widely accepted and celebrated. More of this!

Books with LGBT characters I've read and loved and recommend, just off the top of my head:

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
Ash and Huntress by Malinda Lo
A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner
Kissing Kate by Lauren Myracle
Empress of the World by Sara Ryan

What is your favourite YA LGBT story?

10 comments:

  1. I haven't read any LGBT stories, not because I'm avoiding them but because I can never find any. I think it's a great idea to have more of these in YA, because it is a big part of growing up and entirely relevant to many teens

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    1. It really is and it makes me sad that there aren't more of them around.

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  2. Totally agreed with you here! I'd like to see more LGBT characters too, preferably in books with lots of action/dead people. Just romance/coming out/identity isn't all too interesting for me, I like my normal dose of action too. Thanks for the recs. Er, my favourite LGBT story is probably Pantomime by Laura Lam or Ash by Malinda Lo.

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    1. I loved Pantomime by Laura Lam. What a fantastic book that is... and I think Malinda Lo is fantastic at writing wonderful relationships between her characters!

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  3. Well other that a couple of the ones you mentioned, I also really liked Between Mom and Jo by Julie Anne Peters.

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    1. Julie Anne Peters is definitely an author I'd like to read more of!

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  4. Completely agree!

    The Miseducation of Cameron Post is an LGBT that absolutely bowled me over when I read it a year or so ago. It's utterly gorgeous and eye-opening.

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    1. That's a great recommendation, I shall add it to my list :)

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  5. have to totally agree with you! I loved Pink by Lili Wilkinson and Pantomime by Luara Lam.
    The Miseducation of Cameron Post which Sophie mentioned is soooo high on my wishlist becuase of how it sounds like it handles LGBT, I really want to read that one :)

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    1. I still have Pink by Lili Wilkinson on my TBR shelves. I've had it for AGES and still haven't yet gotten around to reading it. Soon!

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