In the Role of Brie Hutchens...

In the Role of Brie Hutchens...
Author: Nicole Melleby
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Total Pages: 214
Release: 2020-06-30
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1643750623

When strong-willed, theatrical eighth grader Brie Hutchens tells a lie because she isn’t quite ready to come out to her mother, she must navigate the consequences in her relationships with her family, friends, and faith in this own-voices LGBTQ novel from the acclaimed author of Hurricane Season.

Winnie Nash Is Not Your Sunshine

Winnie Nash Is Not Your Sunshine
Author: Nicole Melleby
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Total Pages: 177
Release: 2024-04-02
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1523527455

In this powerful novel by an award-winning author, 12-year-old Winnie Nash is forced to live with her grandma for the summer and finds herself torn between her family’s secrets and the joy of celebrating Pride. Winnie Nash never used to have so many secrets. But then she agreed to stay with her grandma for the summer so her mom can take care of her health during her latest pregnancy. Now Winnie plays card games with Grandma’s friends (boring), joins the senior citizen book club (fine, even if no one thinks she’ll read the books), and absolutely does not talk about her mom’s sad days (she never used to be so sad…). The biggest secret is that her parents asked Winnie not to mention she’s gay to Grandma. And there’s a really cute girl who also hangs out with the senior citizens. What happens if Grandma notices just how much Winnie likes Pippa? The longer Winnie hides the truth, the more she longs to be surrounded by her LGBTQ+ community and the more she feels like the only place she can be herself is at New York City’s Pride celebration. Winnie decides she’ll get to Pride, one way or another. But is this just one more secret she has to keep?

A Million Quiet Revolutions

A Million Quiet Revolutions
Author: Robin Gow
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Total Pages: 298
Release: 2022-03-22
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
ISBN: 0374388423

Robin Gow's A Million Quiet Revolutions is a modern love story, told in verse, about two teenaged trans boys who name themselves after two Revolutionary War soldiers. A lyrical, aching young adult romance perfect for fans of The Poet X, Darius the Great is Not Okay, and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Universe. For as long as they can remember, Aaron and Oliver have only ever had each other. In a small town with few queer teenagers, let alone young trans men, they’ve shared milestones like coming out as trans, buying the right binders—and falling for each other. But just as their relationship has started to blossom, Aaron moves away. Feeling adrift, separated from the one person who understands them, they seek solace in digging deep into the annals of America’s past. When they discover the story of two Revolutionary War soldiers who they believe to have been trans man in love, they’re inspired to pay tribute to these soldiers by adopting their names—Aaron and Oliver. As they learn, they delve further into unwritten queer stories, and they discover the transformative power of reclaiming one’s place in history. Further reading on trans history is included in backmatter.

Ode to My First Car

Ode to My First Car
Author: Robin Gow
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Total Pages: 453
Release: 2023-06-20
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
ISBN: 037438844X

By the critically praised author of A Million Quiet Revolutions, this YA contemporary sapphic romance told in verse is about a bisexual teen girl who falls in and out of love over the course of one fateful summer. It’s a few months before senior year and Claire Kemp, a closeted bisexual, is finally starting to admit she might be falling in love with her best friend, Sophia, who she’s known since they were four. Trying to pay off the fine from the crash that totals Lars, her beloved car, Claire takes a job at the local nursing home up the street from her house. There she meets Lena, an eighty-eight-year-old lesbian woman who tells her stories about what it was like growing up gay in the 1950s and ’60s. As Claire spends more time with Lena and grows more confident of her identity, another girl, Pen, comes into the picture, and Claire is caught between two loves–one familiar and well-worn, the other new and untested.

Big Questions Book of Sex & Consent

Big Questions Book of Sex & Consent
Author: Donna Freitas
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Total Pages: 324
Release: 2020-09-15
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 1646140192

What this book is NOT: The fear-based How-To on sex and consent, oversimplified and focused on technicalities, that represents so much of our sexual education today. What this book IS: A journey into the Big Questions that will turn you into a thinking person about sex and consent, with the ability to wrestle towards the answers that work for YOU and continue to wrestle towards them for the rest of your life. What is the meaning and purpose of sex? How does it intersect with who I am? Why are people so afraid of it? What does a healthy and joyful approach to sex look like for me? Why is consent so much more than a yes or no question? Who this book is FOR: Everybody!! No matter your sexuality, gender, religion, or race. What could be more essential?

Sir Callie and the Dragon's Roost

Sir Callie and the Dragon's Roost
Author: Esme Symes-Smith
Publisher: Yearling
Total Pages: 433
Release: 2024-07-30
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 059348584X

The battle is won, but the war is far from over. In this thrilling sequel, a twelve-year-old nonbinary hopeful knight fights for the heart of their kingdom in a magical medieval world filled with dragons, shape-shifters, and witches. Thanks to Callie and their friends, Helston seems to be changing for the better: Boys are allowed to explore their magic, and girls are permitted to train as warriors. Callie is an official Helston page, Willow in on track to become king, and Elowen and Edwyn are finally safe and free of their father. Everything is…perfect. Except it isn’t. Not in Helston, where every step forward is accompanied by a storm of opposition. Even Queen Ewella and Sir Nick are struggling against the wave of fear and anti-magical sentiment growing daily, while the encroaching threat from across the bridge looms. Callie isn’t foolish; they notice the suspicious glances thrown Neal’s way and hear the doubtful murmurs following Willow. They know what people think about them, too. Tolerance is not the same as acceptance, and when the fragile peace finally shatters, Callie and their friends have no choice but to leave their home and run. On the other side of the bridge, old secrets are revealed and new allegiances are formed that will throw into question everything Callie thought they knew about their world. Including what it means to be a hero.

Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston

Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston
Author: Esme Symes-Smith
Publisher: Yearling
Total Pages: 417
Release: 2023-08-08
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 0593485807

In a magical medieval world filled with dragons, shape-shifters, and witches, a twelve-year-old nonbinary hopeful knight battles for the heart of their kingdom. A thrilling middle-grade series opener that explores identity and gender amid sword fights and magic, and proves anyone can be a hero. “These heroes come in all shapes and skills—I cheered for them throughout their exciting journey.” —#1 New York Times bestselling author Tamora Pierce When their ex-hero dad is summoned back to the royal capital of Helston to train a hopeless crown prince, Callie lunges at the opportunity to finally prove themself worthy to the kingdom’s "great and powerful." Except the intolerant great and powerful look at nonbinary Callie and only see girl. But Callie has always known exactly what they want to be, and they’re not about to let anything stand in their way. Trapped in Helston’s rigid hierarchy where girls learn magic and boys train as knights, Callie discovers they aren’t alone—there’s Elowen, the chancellor’s brilliant daughter, whose unparalleled power is being stifled; Edwyn, Elowen’s twin brother desperate to win his father’s approval; and Willow, the crown prince who was never meant to be king. In this start to an epic series packed with action, humor, and heart, Callie and their new friends quickly find themselves embedded in an ancient war—and their only hope to defeat the threats outside the kingdom lies in first defeating the bigotry within. "Everything you could possibly want from a middle grade fantasy." —The Nerd Daily

How to Become a Planet

How to Become a Planet
Author: Nicole Melleby
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Total Pages: 288
Release: 2021-05-25
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 164375162X

In this acclaimed novel, which received two starred reviews, Pluto tries to figure out how to go back to being the person she was before her depression and anxiety diagnosis. With the help of a hotline (the Hayden Planetarium Hotline, that is), a new tutor, and a new friend, Pluto discovers that there is no old or new Pluto, there’s just Pluto, growing up.

Camp QUILTBAG

Camp QUILTBAG
Author: Nicole Melleby
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Total Pages: 264
Release: 2023-03-21
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1643753665

From the acclaimed authors of Hurricane Season and Ana on the Edge, an unforgettable story about the importance of and joy in finding a community, for fans of Alex Gino and Ashley Herring-Blake. Twelve-year-old Abigail (she/her/hers) is so excited to spend her summer at Camp QUILTBAG, an inclusive retreat for queer and trans kids. She can’t wait to find a community where she can be herself—and, she hopes, admit her crush on that one hot older actress to kids who will understand. Thirteen-year-old Kai (e/em/eir) is not as excited. E just wants to hang out with eir best friend and eir parkour team. And e definitely does not want to think about the incident that left eir arm in a sling—the incident that also made Kai’s parents determined to send em somewhere e can feel like emself. After a bit of a rocky start at camp, Abigail and Kai make a pact: If Kai helps Abigail make new friends, Abigail will help Kai's cabin with the all-camp competition. But as they navigate a summer full of crushes, queer identity exploration, and more, they learn what's really important. Camp QUILTBAG is a heartfelt story full of the joy that comes from being and loving yourself.

The House on Sunrise Lagoon: Halfway to Harbor

The House on Sunrise Lagoon: Halfway to Harbor
Author: Nicole Melleby
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Total Pages: 195
Release: 2024-05-07
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1523528729

In the third book set at The House on Sunrise Lagoon, oldest sibling Harbor must navigate spending half a summer away from her beloved home, the pull between her two families, and a growing crush on a girl on her basketball team. If you want to get to know Harbor Moore, you need to know three things: 1. Sometimes she signs her name Harbor Ali-O’Connor to match her siblings. 2. She misses her dad a lot, but she doesn’t want to be away from her moms and siblings, either. 3. She just might have her first crush. Harbor is excited to spend the summer working on her jump shot in an elite basketball league. But the games take place near her dad's house—hours away from her beloved Sunrise Lagoon. Suddenly, she’s spending every weekend at her dad’s and getting to know Quinn, a girl whose smile makes her feel warm inside. Still, Harbor can’t help wondering what’s going on at home. Why is Sam hanging out with Harbor's best friend? Has Marina’s friend Boom taken her place in the house? What have the twins “borrowed” this time for one of their disastrous scientific experiments? When it comes time to decide whether Harbor will stay and play basketball with her team—and Quinn—all year round, or continue to live on Sunrise Lagoon, Harbor thinks she knows what to do . . . but is it the right decision?