Bibliography
Primary Texts
Bauer, Marion Dane, ed. Am I Blue? Coming Out From the Silence. New York: HarperCollins,
1994.
Includes a number of short stories about GLBTQ young adults. “Am I Blue” contributes to discussions about coming out, gay identity, and homophobia as well as stereotypes. “The Honorary Shepherds” brings up issues of religion, ethnicity, and self identity as gay along with identifying with family and culture.
Block, Francesca Lia. Weetzie Bat. New York: HarperCollins, 1989.
Novel portrays a positive friendship between a straight girl and a gay boy. Mixes genres of postmodern fiction, romance, and fairy tale. Connections to teen issues such as sex, drug and alcohol use, family dynamics, and loss of family members.
Donovan. John. I’ll Get There. It Better Be Worth the Trip. New York: Dell Publishing, 1969.
First YA novel to depict teens engaging in homosexual acts. Example of early writing style where character is revealed through plot. Deals with family issues in the loss of a loved one; a divorced, alcoholic mother; and a largely absent father.
Garden, Nancy. Annie on My Mind. Aerial Fiction, 1982.
First YA novel to depict a healthy homosexual relationship with a happy ending. The story of two girls who fall in love as they navigate their own personal issues in school and at home. Exemplary in its portrayal of two strong lesbian relationships—that between Annie and Liza, as well as that between Liza’s two teachers.
Kulger, Steve. My Most Excellent Year. New York: Penguin, 2008.
A comedy/ romance told in alternating perspectives between the three main characters, this novel documents T.C., Augie, and their new friend Alé’s Freshman year of high school. The plot focuses on the three characters’ future aspirations as well as how they navigate both their family situations and the rigors of high school life. Ultimately, the novel juggles how these three work towards their goals and start to discover their own individual identities and interests while falling in love—T.C. with Alé and Augie (who is the only one who doesn’t know he is gay) with the endearing Andy Wexler. Novel is also exemplary in its use of form and character voice.
Lackey, Mercedes. Magic’s Pawn. New York: Daw Books, 1989.
The tragic love story of Vanyel, a confused young man who is sent from his home by his homophobic father to live with his aunt in the magical capital of Haven. When he has all but given up hope of ever being accepted, he meets Tylendel and they fall in love. When Lendel is driven to suicide by the death of his brother, Vanyel’s own magic is awakened and what follows is his personal quest to learn how to use them to help the oppressed.
Levithan, David. Boy Meets Boy. New York: Alfred A Knopf, 2003.
A gay love story set in a utopian town where GLBTQ teens are free to express themselves without fear of violence or ostracism. Draws in many elements of art as well as confronting conservative religion and homophobic parents.
Recommended Texts
Chbosky, Stephen. The Perks of Being a Wallflower. New York: Pocket Books, 1999.
This novel includes a unique, first-person voice as well as a lesser-used form. Written in letters, it portrays the growth and development of Charlie as he makes new friends and learns about the world around him. Includes elements of teen culture such as drug and alcohol use, sexuality, child abuse, film, and art.
Dawson, James. This Book Is Gay. Naperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks Inc., 2015.
An “instruction manual” for a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender teen after coming out. Witty and humorous but also full of great factual information.
Hartinger, Brent. The Geography Club. New York: HarperCollins, 2003.
Kluger, Steve. Almost Like Being in Love. New York: HarperCollins, 2004.
A comedy/love story about two men, drawn out over 20 years. Travis and Craig meet in high school and fall in love, but after they move to separate colleges, they lose contact. 20 years later, Travis realizes he still has feelings for Craig and embarks on a crazy road trip to find his true love. Depicts both YA and adult gay relationships as well as GLBTQ rights activism and gay culture.
Levithan, David. Two Boys Kissing. New York: Ember, 2015.
---. How They Met and Other Stories. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2008.
Medina, Nico. The Straight Road to Kylie. New York: Simon Pulse, 2007.
Jonathan, an out and proud gay boy, agrees to have sex with a girl friend. When the school hears, everyone assumes he has turned straight. In order to hide her own lesbian leanings, the school sweetheart bribes Jonathan with tickets to see his idol if he will go back in the closet and pretend to be her boyfriend. Novel highlights teen relationships as well as portrayals of a gay community.
Papademetriou, Lisa and Chris Tebbetts. M or F? New York: Penguin, 2005.
A comedy about Franny and her best (gay) friend Marcus, full of mistaken identities and romance over the Internet. Both friends try to woo the handsome Jeffrey online, but a pack of surprises near the end jumbles partners but everyone ends up happy. Includes the sub plot of Marcus’s dilemma of coming out to his family.
Ryan, Sara. Empress of the World. New York: Penguin, 2001.
A more modern version of Annie on My Mind, two girls meet and fall in love at summer camp. Nicola and Battle come from very different family backgrounds, but despite their personality and other differences, they end up together. Novel deals with family issues, teen romance, and education.
Sanchez, Alex. Getting It. New York: Simon Pulse, 2006.
Carlos gets the idea to win the love of Roxy, the girl of his dreams, by getting a makeover à la Queer Eye For the Straight Guy via Sal, the school’s out gay student. In exchange, Carlos must help Sal form a GSA—something Carlos worries his friends won’t approve of.
---. The God Box. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2007.
---. So Hard To Say. New York: Simon Pulse, 2004.
Xio befriends Frederick, the cute new boy in school and welcomes him into her social circle. Frederick wishes he could return Xio’s affection, but realizes that the reason he can’t is because he’s in love with Victor, the soccer team captain.
Wolff, Virginia Euwer. True Believer. New York: Simon Pulse, 2002.
This story centers around LaVaughn and her struggle to decide what to do for her future career and schooling. She falls for Jody, the boy next door, but then one day finds him kissing another boy.
Yolen, Jane. Briar Rose. New York: Tom Doherty Associates, 1992.
While on her quest to learn about her grandmother’s fairy tail-like origins, Rebecca discovers the secrets surrounding Gemma in Nazi Germany. Relevant to the class are the references to Hitler’s persecution of homosexuals as well as testimony by Gemma’s friend who was persecuted as such.
Secondary Texts
Books:
Cark, Michael, and Christine A. Jenkins. The Heart Has Its Reasons. Lanham, Maryland: The
Scarecrow Press, 2006.
Useful as a quick reference for GLBTQ novels and their content.
---. Top 250 LBGTQ Books for Teens: Coming Out, Being Out, and the Search for Community. Chicago: American Library Association, 2015.
An updated version of Cart and Jenkins’ 2006 book.
Trites, Roberta Seelinger. Disturbing the Universe: Power and Repression in Adolescent
Literature. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2000.
Particularly useful in learning about the discourse surrounding sexuality in teen literature and how it has previously been approached by critics from an educator’s perspective.
Articles:
Benfer, Amy. “We’re Here! We’re Queer! We’re 13!” Salon.com. 24 Sept. 2009. Web. 25
Sept. 2009. <http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/feature/2009/09/24/gay_teens/index.
html>.
Denizet-Lewis, Benoit. “Coming Out in Middle School.” The New York Times.com. 23 Sept.
2009. Web. 25 Sept. 2009. <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/magazine/27out t.html?_r=1&em=&pagewanted=all>.
Jenkins, Christine. “Heartthrobs & Heartbreaks: A Guide to Young Adult Books with Gay
Themes.” Dynes, Wayne R. (ed.); Donaldson, Stephen (ed.). Homosexual Themes
in Literary Studies. (pp. 180-90). New York: Garland, xxii, 389 pp. 1988.
Lo, Malinda. “Young Adult Books Move Beyond the Coming-Out Story, But Still Face
Hurdles.” AfterEllen.com. 1 April, 2009. Web. <http://www.afterellen.com/print/2009/4/youngadultfiction>.
To Download as Word click here:
​
​
​
To Download as PDF click here: