Friday, April 18, 2014

Some of my favourite LGBT YA #LGBTApril




Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan


One of the first books I remember reading with LGBT characters was Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan.  I really love this book when I read it and I will continue to look back on it and remember the wonderful feelings it made me feel when reading.  I loved this community that  Paul lives in which gay characters are embraced and supported in a way that exists absolutely no where in reality. It made me really happy when I was reading it of the possibility that we could work towards something like this though (and this is balanced out by Tony's experiences with ultra-religious parents).  I thought Paul's relationship with Noah was incredibly sweet and I loved Infinite Darlene.

This was the first book by David Levithan that I picked up to read and I have since read many of his others and have three books of his that I would like to read on my April TBR pile!



Pantomime and Shadowplay by Laura Lam


Pantomime and Shadowplay are relatively recent additions to my list of favourites and it would appear not only on my list of favourite books with LGBT characters but also my list of favourite books in general!  Micah Grey is one of my favourite ever characters. I really love witnessing the exploration of identity that goes on with Micah and witnessing Micah's journey and the relationships that are formed in both of these books. I really enjoyed both Micah's relationships with the aerialist, Aenea and the white clown, Drystan and how Micah's feelings for both a female and male character progress throughout both of these novels.

The author, Laura Lam, is planning on released some self-published novellas/short stories based in the fantasy world of Ellada over the summer and I for one am very much looking forward to reading them! 


Far From You by Tess Sharpe


I recently re-posted my review of Far From You and I am definitely not yet finished absolutely raving about this beautiful book.  I love it so wholly and completely.  Not just because of the strength of feelings between the two (female) characters, or because the main character identifies as bisexual but also that this story is written in such a way that all of the strong and complicated feelings of guilt and grief are so apparent that it was hard not to be pulled into this story and to feel all of these emotions as the reader. 

I love that this book is about addiction as well. I thought that aspect of the story was really well done.  It's really amazing that this book is the author's debut as well and I'm hugely excited to read more by Tess Sharpe.


A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner

I really loved this story. It's a story about love and friendship as well as grieving and finding a place to belong.  It contains a crazy road trip and I loved the fiery relationship between Cass and her arch-nemesis, Heather, but also the exploration of Cass's feelings for her dead best friend, Julia.

I love how much ground this book covers, from being okay with yourself and moving on from events in the past, looking forward to the future and the celebration of both friendship and love.  I've not seen that many reviews of this book around but would definitely for it to reach more readers!


Keeping You A Secret by Julie Anne Peters


Keeping You A Secret is a book that I read only a few weeks before the start of #LGBTApril but I really loved it.  I felt very emotional when it came to reading Holland's story.  She is a person who has it all, great grades, popularity, a good boyfriend. Until Holland falls for a new girl at school and her world quickly crumbles. I think that Holland's relationship with her mother is the most heart-breaking aspect of the story but I also loved witnessing the unexpected support that Holland receives from the other people in her life.


And special mention goes to the awesome character that is Tiny Cooper in Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan. 

What are some of your favourite YA novels with LGBT characters?

6 comments:

  1. I've only read a couple of these - Boy Meets Boy and Pantomime - but I really want to read Shadowplay and I bought a copy of Far From You a couple of days ago which I cannot wait to read! A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend (great title!) and Keeping You a Secret both sound really good too, so I'll be keeping an eye out for them. Thanks for the recommendations!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooh, sorry if I've spoiled anything for you :( I completely MEANT to write that there would be spoilers ahead and then forgot to do that! Sorry! I really hope that you enjoy Far From You and Shadowplay :)

      Delete
  2. Boy Meets Boy was one of my first YA LGBT books too! And I'm really happy to see the Pantomime books on your list :) I haven't heard of those novellas/short stories - so thanks for the great news! Can't wait~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm really looking forward to seeing more from these characters and more of Ellada :) I've really fallen in love!

      Delete
  3. Pantomine and Shadowplay are two of my favourites! Haven't read the rest of the books on your list yet but plan to soon. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you enjoy the others as much as I did :) Really glad you enjoyed Pantomime and Shadowplay so much! x

      Delete

HI! Thank you for leaving a comment, you've just become my new best friend :)