In and Out of the Closet: Fiction and Nonfiction about GLBTQ Teens

Article Index
In and Out of the Closet: Fiction and Nonfiction about GLBTQ Teens
Part II
Part III
Part IV
All Pages

Fiction and Nonfiction about Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Teens

 

Fiction

Bantle, Lee F.. David Inside Out. 2009. (YA Fiction Bantl.L)Cover Art

David a member of the track team, is in denial. Every time he has 'inappropriate' thoughts about his teammate Sean, he snaps a rubber band on his wrist. However, when David's best friend comes out, he finds it harder to keep running from his true feelings.

 

 

 

Block, Francesca Lia. Weetzie Bat. 1989. (YA Fiction Block.F 1999)Cover Art

This unique story follows hip L.A. flower-child Weetzie bat and her gay best friend, Dirk, as they seek true love in the fast world of Hollywood.

 

 

 

 

Burd, Nick. The Vast Fields Of Ordinary. 2009. (YA Fiction Burd.N) Cover Art

The summer after graduating from an Iowa high school, eighteen-year-old Dade Hamilton watches his parents' marriage disintegrate, ends his long-term, secret relationship, comes out of the closet, and savors first love.

 

Cart, Michael, ed. How Beautiful The Ordinary : Twelve Stories Of Identity. 2009. (YA Fiction Stories Cart.M)Cover Art

Presents twelve stories by contemporary, award-winning young adult authors, some presented in graphic or letter format, which explore themes of gender identity, love, and sexuality.

 

 

 

Cart, Michael. My Father's Scar : A Novel. 1998. (YA Fiction Cart.M)Cover Art

In his freshman year at college, Andy begins his first gay relationship and recalls the tragedies of his past, growing up the son of an alcoholic father and passive mother in a homophobic community.

 

Cruse, Howard. Stuck Rubber Baby. 2003. (741.5973 Cruse.H)Cover Art

Visuals and a storyline combine seamlessly in this graphic novel about a young man caught in the thick of the civil rights movement and a small-town community that is outwardly homophobic.

 

Crutcher, Chris. Ironman. 2004. (YA Fiction Crutc.C)Cover Art

After troubled teen athlete Bo is placed in an anger management class, he meets Shelly, a woman with a penchant for physical challenge, and learns what it is to live at the heart of a struggle, standing up even after being knocked down.

 

Dijk, Lutz van. Damned Strong Love : The True Story Of Willi G. And Stefan K. : A Novel. 1995. (JrHigh Dijk.L)Cover Art

Based on a true story of forbidden romance, readers meet a Polish boy who falls in love with a German soldier during World War II and the era of Nazi persecution of homosexuals.

 

Dole, Mayra L. Down To The Bone. 2008. (YA Fiction Dole.M)Cover Art

Laura, a seventeen-year-old Cuban American girl, is thrown out of her house when her mother discovers she is a lesbian, but after trying to change her heart and hide from the truth, Laura finally comes to terms with who she is and learns to love and respect herself.

 

Donoghue, Emma. Kissing The Witch : Old Tales In New Skins. 1997. (YA Fiction Donog.E)Cover Art

Thirteen tried and true tales are recast from a lesbian perspective – this time, Cinderella makes off with the fairy godmother.

 

Ferris, Jean. Eight Seconds. 2000. (YA Fiction Ferri.J)Cover Art

Eighteen-year-old John must confront his own sexuality when he goes to rodeo school and finds himself strangely attracted to an older boy who is smart, tough, complicated, gorgeous, and gay.

 

Freymann-Weyr, Garret. My Heartbeat. 2002. (YA Fiction Freym.G)Cover Art

As she tries to understand the closeness between her older brother and his best friend, 14-year-old Ellen finds her relationship with each of them changing.

 

Frost, Helen. Keesha's House. 2003. (YA Fiction Frost.H)Cover Art

Seven teens facing such problems as pregnancy, closeted homosexuality, and abuse each describe in poetic forms what caused them to leave home and where they found home again.

 

Garden, Nancy. Annie On My Mind. 2007. (YA Fiction Garde.N 2007)Cover Art

Liza and Annie are two teenage girls who fall in love with each other. But when someone discovers their relationship, Liza begins to doubt her feelings for Annie, only to realize later that their love trumps what others think of them.

 

Green, John & David Levithan. Will Grayson, Will Grayson. 2010. (YA Fiction Green.J)Cover Art

Two characters, one gay and one straight, meet accidentally and discover they share a name, and that's not all. Their worlds become intertwined as one begins dating the other's best friend, who produces a high school musical that's really a celebration of life and young people figuring out what's important.

 

 

Harmon, Michael B. The Last Exit To Normal. 2008. (YA Fiction Harmo.M)Cover Art

Yanked out of his city life and plunked down into a small Montana town with his father and his father's boyfriend, seventeen-year-old Ben, angry and resentful about the changed circumstances of his life, begins to notice that something is not quite right with the little boy next door and determines to do something about it.

 



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