We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson LGBTQ+ Magical Realism Realistic Fiction Science Fiction Teen * * * * Stars (Great!) Henry Denton has been abducted by aliens countless times. They perform all kinds of experiments on him, then return him to Earth – naked and inconveniently far from home. He made the mistake of talking about it once, which earned him eternal bullying and the moniker “Space Boy.” Now the aliens have given … Read more
Felix Yz by Lisa Bunker LGBTQIA Science Fiction Teen * * * Stars (Pretty good) In an experiment gone horribly wrong, Felix simultaneously lost his father and was fused with an alien being from the fourth dimension. They communicate via keyboard – Zyx uses Felix’s fingers to type what vo (Zyx’s and Felix’s grandperson’s pronoun) wants to say. Now, Felix is about to undergo a kind of “surgery” to uncouple him from Zyx, and he’s … Read more
I’ll Be the One by Lyla Lee Funny LGBTQIA Romance * * * * Stars (Great!) Skye Shin is auditioning to be on a reality show where she’ll compete as a singer/dancer along with other contestants to showcase her skills and love for K-pop. The winners of the competition will get to continue their training/careers in South Korea. Skye has no doubts about her talent, but her mom is always making digs about her weight … Read more
You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour and David Levithan LGBTQ Realistic Fiction Romance Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) This book was really good in the aspect that the characters had depth and they simply didn’t have one role. The two main characters Mark and Kate are really dynamic and they are really just the characters that you want to be friends with. The characters also really change throughout the book and … Read more
If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan LGBTQ Realistic Fiction Romance Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) This book was really, really, really, really, really GOOD!!!! I actually had to read this book for school even though I read in the summer anyways, but I have a feeling that I would have stumbled onto it anyways. The story plot is a little straight forward when it is described, but it still really … Read more
Ask the Passengers by A.S. King LGBT Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) I really liked this book because it had a different story than other books I like to read. Astrid is falling in love with a girl and the only people who don’t judge her about it are the passengers in overhead airplanes. This book offers hope to those who are struggling. It shows them that they don’t have … Read more
Mooncakes by Wendy Xu and Suzanne Walker Fantasy Graphic Novel LGBTQ Romance * * * * Stars (Great!) Nova Huang is a young witch who is reunited with her childhood friend Tam Lang (pronouns: they, them), a young werewolf, when Tam returns to town in pursuit of a demon that can only be destroyed by her wolf magic. Nova’s grandmothers are able to temporarily bind the demon while Nova and Tam work out how to … Read more
How (Not) to Ask a Boy to Prom by S.J. Goslee Funny LGBTQ Realistic Fiction Romance * * * * Stars (Great!) Nolan Grant’s family loves him like crazy, but his slightly older sister takes her sisterly responsibilities a little too seriously and intensely sometimes. She wants to make sure Nolan is adequately prepared for life – particularly life after she goes away to college and can’t be there for him constantly. Her goals (for … Read more
The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang Graphic Novel Young Adult Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Frances is a young seamstress who finds a position as the Prince’s “dressmaker” when one of her designs – very risqué – debuts at a ball held in his honor. Prince Sebastian loves her ideas and wants her to make eye-catching, traffic-stopping gowns for him when he dresses up as Lady Crystallia. Together, they have the … Read more
My Heartbeat by Garret Freymann-Weyr Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Ellen, 14, is close to her older brother Link (short for Lincoln) and his best friend James. She’s had a crush on James for as long as she can remember, which both Link and James think is adorable. They often allow her to tag along on their adventures and be a part of their conversations. It’s not until Ellen starts high school … Read more