Young Adult Books for Pride Month

Here are some of my favorite picks for Pride Month. Happily, we are seeing more and more books that could fit into this list with every year that passes. What are some of the favorites on your list?

Contemporaries:

Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram (featured here)
A book about connection to family and friends. In Iran Darius meets Sohrab, who becomes the first really close friend he's ever had, and with that relationship Darius begins to understand himself. 

I'll Give You the Sun (featured here)
I really loved this story about twins Noah and Jude, who have become estranged. This book has some big issue-type topics in it, but they never overwhelmed the story. The themes of finding oneself, finding one's family, and being honest were my big takeaways.   

Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whalen (featured here)
This is the story of Solomon, who hasn't left his house in three years, Lisa, the girl who believes she can fix him, and Clark, Lisa's charming boyfriend. This book is incredibly entertaining and thought-provoking with endearing characters.
 
Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann
This book about Alice, whose girlfriend breaks up with her when she finds out she is asexual, is a great summer read. It balances the cute and serious and has great friendships. 

Historical Fiction:

The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein (featured here)
This book is a prequel to Code Name Verity. I love the vivid descriptions of Scotland, the mystery, and how much I learned about Scotland during this time period from this novel. 

The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee
This book is really more of an historical fantasy novel. Both books in Lee's Montague Siblings series would work well for this list, but the second is my favorite of two because it is so charming and smartly feminist.

Fantasy:

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
All of the novels in the Wayward Children series are fantastically diverse. The first book in the series involves a mystery at the boarding school, and I always love a good mystery/ fantasy combo. Also, I love learning more about the imaginative worlds the children visited with each additional book in the series.

Graphic Novel:

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
This book has such a cute story. It's about a prince who hires a dressmaker to help him dress how he really feels. The understanding between the two main characters is really lovely, and I really loved the art.

Memoir:

Spinning by Tillie Walden
This graphic memoir is the story of the author's days on the ice as a competitive figure skater and synchronized skater. Tillie is keeping so many things to herself: her desire to quit skating, her romantic feelings toward girls, her unhappiness. It's a story about wanting to be yourself but not knowing how to make the changes needed to do so.

Nonfiction:

A Queen History of the United States for Young People by Michael Bronski
Adapted for a younger audience from Bronski's 2011 text, this book contains brief bios of LGBTQ+ people from all eras of United States history. 

Caper:

Death Prefers Blondes by Caleb Roehrig 
Caleb Roehrig's first two books are intense thrillers. This one is a caper involving a teen socialite turned cat burglar and her drag queen sidekicks. What's not to love?