Imogen, Obviously

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli is a college visit that leads to a self discovery. 

Imogen Scott may be hopelessly heterosexual, but she’s got the World’s Greatest Ally title locked down.

She's never missed a Pride Alliance meeting. She knows more about queer media discourse than her very queer little sister. She even has two queer best friends. There's Gretchen, a fellow high school senior, who helps keep Imogen's biases in check. And then there's Lili—newly out and newly thriving with a cool new squad of queer college friends.

Imogen's thrilled for Lili. Any ally would be. And now that she's finally visiting Lili on campus, she's bringing her ally A game. Any support Lili needs, Imogen's all in.

Even if that means bending the truth, just a little.

Like when Lili drops a tiny queer bombshell: She's told all her college friends that Imogen and Lili used to date. And none of them know that Imogen is a raging hetero—not even Lili’s best friend, Tessa.

Of course, the more time Imogen spends with chaotic, freckle-faced Tessa, the more she starts to wonder if her truth was ever all that straight to begin with. . .

Albertalli is great author of YA literature. Imogen, Obviously is a sweet coming out story.

Albertalli, Becky. (2023). Imogen, Obviously. New York: Balzer + Bray.

Gender Queer: A Memoir

Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe is a beautiful book - both visually and in the story.

Written about eir path to identifying as nonbinary and experiences about gender and sexuality through childhood. Maia wrote this book both as a master's project for eir MFA in Graphic Novels and as a way to explain nonbinary to parents and extended family. 

This is a beautiful memoir. One that will fill a hole in the stories about people with different experiences. It will give young people who may be genderqueer the gift of seeing themselves in a book - an experience that is much needed for everyone. 

There is no book quite like it. E does not shy away from any of the often difficult things that led em to identify as eir true self today. 

For a much more eloquent post about why this book is so amazing and important, click here. In the meantime, please make sure your local library owns a copy, both for people trying to understand a family member and those trying to communicate themselves to others. Thank you Maia for this gift.

Kobabe, Maia. (2019), Gender Queer: A Memoir. Portland: Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Aline Sienz is a beautiful book about friendship and love.

Aristotle usually spend his time alone. He feels like he doesn't need friends. But one day at the pool, while he is practicing floating, a boy offers to teach him to swim. Dante is a great swimmer and spends as much time in the water as possible.

As Ari and Dante become friends they discover many things about each other, their similarities and differences. Dante doesn't think of himself as Mexican because he doesn't speak the language. Ari is proud to be Mexican American. Dante is an only child, Ari has three older siblings. Dante likes to read poetry which Ari has never tried before. But through their differences they learn about each other and begin to appreciate each other.

Saenz has written a wonderful book that deserves the four awards it won (Printz Award, Stonewall Book Award, Pura Belpre Award, and the Lambda Literary Award). It is a beautiful book that will make readers fall in love with the characters. Buy a copy today!

Saenz, Benjamin Alire. (2012). Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. New York: Simon and Schuster.

Sparks

Sparks: the Epic, Completely True Blue, (Almost) Holy Quest of Debbie by S.J. Adams is a young adult coming of age novel.

Debbie Woodlawn has done everything with her best friend Lisa since sixth grade. Now a junior in high school, it is time for Debbie to come to terms with the fact that she is in love with Lisa. But Lisa just got a boyfriend. Now Debbie has to either find new friends or come out to Lisa in the hopes that she secretly feels the same way.

When a classmate suggests she speak to Emma, Debbie does so reluctantly. Emma and her best friend Tim have created their own religion. It is called the Holy Church of Blue. As Blueists, Emma and Tim has written commandments go on holy quests when necessary. It is necessary for Debbie to go on such a quest now.

With the help of her new friends, Debbie will confront Lisa and hope for the best. But along the way, the quest will take her on a wacky journey of discovery reminiscent of a Libba Bray novel. Adams has created a quirky and lovable story that will inspire readers to be more open-minded and go after what they seek.

Adams. S.J. (2011). Sparks. Woodbury, MN: Flux.

Pink

Pink by Lili Wilkinson is a novel about discovery.

Ava is about to change schools. She wants to change her image and feels the only way she can try out a new look and try to find out who she really is is to start over somewhere else. Her parents and her girlfriend have different reactions. Her parents are happy that she will be attending a high school for smart kids. Her girlfriend is not happy about it.But Ava wants to go from an goth, politically radical lesbian to trying to be "normal." Plus she secretly likes the color pink. So now she can wear pink and meet different people.

The Billy Hughes School for Academic Excellence in Melbourne is about to put on a musical. Her new friend convinces Ava to try out for a part. When she doesn't make it into the play she joins stage crew as a way to still hang out with her new friends in the play. But stage crew, or the screws, are not friends with the actors.

The screws are people who know who they are and are themselves in spite of being in high school. Ava will have to decide who she is and if she is willing to let others meet the real her.

Wilkinson has written a coming of age novel filled with many different types of people. Great read for all teens, including GLBTQ youth who are still figuring out where they fit.

Wilkinson, Lili. (2009). Pink. New York: HarperTeen.

Almost Perfect

Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher just won the 2011 Stonewall Book Award - awarded for the best GLBT books of the year.

Logan Witherspoon is a high school senior in a small town in Missouri. He has been adrift since his girlfriend of three years broke up with him. But when the new girl, Sage Hendricks, walking into his biology class his focus changes.

Sage is not like the other girls at the school. She is outgoing and bold - the opposite of how a new student usually acts - and she is beautiful. Logan immediately stops thinking about his ex and starts thinking about Sage.

When he asks her out to a movie in the college town 30 minutes away, Sage says she would love to but cannot. She is not allowed to date. She has been home schooled since seventh grade and is only in public school now because she is 18 and her parents couldn't really stop her.

By sneaking out and meeting Logan, Sage and Logan start to date. But when Logan tries to kiss her, Sage runs away. Because Sage has a secret. Although she is a girl, she was born in the body of a boy. After an initial freak out when he finds out, Logan attempts to understand what Sage is telling him.

Katcher has created a realistic story of one woman's difficult journey to becoming who she was meant to be. There are definitely painful parts of this novel, but there would have to be for the story to be authentic. Katcher's book is beautiful and raw and an important piece of literature for our time.

Katcher, Brian. (2009). Almost Perfect. New York: Delacourte Press.