Representation matters.

Gay YA maintains a wiki where they are attempting to put together a masterlist of LGBTQ titles, so that is more comprehensive. This is a handout that I’ve done for workshops and panels on LGBTQ YA fiction.

Classics

These novels have stood the test of time and are often recommended.

Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger

2001 | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers | 9780689841545

In this title, a boy becomes friends with falls in love with a lesbian and struggles with accepting that she will never return his affection in a romantic or sexual way. The sequel, Love and Lies, is from her point of view.

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

2003 | Alfred A. Knopf | 9780375832994

Luna by Julie Anne Peters

2004 | Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | 9780316011273

Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden

1982 | Farrar Straus Giroux | 9780374400118

Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez

2003 | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers | 9780689857706

Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block

1989 | HarperCollins | 9780060736255

Realistic (Contemporary and Historical)

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by emily m. danforth

2012 | Balzer + Bray | 9780062020567

If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan

2013 | Alqonquin Young Readers | 9781616202514

Brooklyn, Burning by Steve Brezenoff

2011 | Carolrhoda LAB – 9781467716253

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

2012 | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers | 9781442408920

Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg

2013 | Arthur A. Levine Books | 9780545509893

Freakboy by Kristin Elizabeth Clark

2013 | Farrar Straus Giroux | 9780374324728

Winger by Andrew Smith

2013 | Simon & Schuster | 9781442444928

Personal Effects by E. M. Kokie

2012 | Candlewick Press | 9780763655273

Cinders & Sapphires by Leila Rasheed

2013 | Disney-Hyperion | 9781423171171

Ask the Passengers by A. S. King

2012 | Little, Brown Books For Young Readers | 9780316194686

The Sin-Eater’s Confession by Ilsa J. Bick

2013 | Carolrhoda Books | 9780761356875

Pretty Little Liars (series) by Sara Shepard

2006 (ongoing) | HarperTeen | 9780060887322

Jumpstart the World by Catherine Ryan Hyde

2010 | Knopf Books for Young Readers | 9780375866654

Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kristin Cronin-Mills

2012| Flux | 9780738732510

Speculative (Fantasy and Science Fiction)

More Than This by Patrick Ness

2013 | Candlewick | 9780763662585

Hero by Perry Moore

2009 | Disney-Hyperion | 9781423101963

Pantomine by Laura Lam

2013 | Strange Chemistry | 9781908844378

Adaptation by Malinda Lo

2013 | Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | 9780316197984

Proxy by Alex London

2013 | Philomel | 9780399257766

Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey

2011 | Flux | 9780738725956

2014 Releases

Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour

2014 | Dutton Juvenile| 9780525425885

Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

2014 | Dutton Juvenile | 9780525426035

Far From You by Tess Sharpe

2014 | Disney-Hyperion | 9781423184621

Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis

2014 | Amulet Books | 9781419709289

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

2014 | Dial | 9780803734968

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

2014 | Simon Pulse | 9781481422345

Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

2014 | Harlequin Teen | 9780373211333

Nonfiction

Some Assembly Required by Arin Andrews

2014 | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers | 9781481416757

Rapture Practice by Aaron Hartzler

2014 | Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | 9780316094641

QUEER: The Ultimate LGBT Guide for Teens by Kathy Belge and Marke Bieschke

2011 | Zest Books | 9780981973340

It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living by Dan Savage and Terry Miller
2012 | Plume | 9780452297616

A Positive View of LGBTQ: Embracing Identity and Cultivating Well-Being by Ellen D.B. Riggle and Sharon S. Rostosky
2014 | Rowman & Littlefield Publishers | 9781442212824

October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard by Lesléa Newman

2012 | Candlewick | 9780763658076

Graphic Novels

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

2012 | GRAPHIX | 9780545326995

Rat Queens by Kurtis J. Wiebe and Laura Tavishati

2014 | Image Comics | 9781607069454

Batwoman: Elegy by Greg Rucka

2011 | DC Comics | 9781401231460

Kevin Keller by Dan Parent

2012 | Archie Comics | 9781879794931

Runaways by Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona

2004 | Marvel | 9780785113799

Wandering Son by Takako Shimura

2011 (ongoing) | Fantagraphics | 9781606994160

Adrian and the Tree of Secrets by Marie Caillou

2014 | Arsenal Pulp | 9781551525563

A + E 4ever by i. merey

2011 | Letha Press | 9781590213902