GLBTQIA Fiction Anthologies

Short story collections dealing with topics of gender and sexuality for young adults. Most focus on gay and lesbian protagonists, with a few transgender stories and a very few intersex, bisexual or other protagonists. Some of these are more general collections that include sexuality as one or more of the topics.

The fiction/nonfiction lines are often somewhat blurred, as many of these collections are clearly autobiographical in nature.

How Beautiful the Ordinary: Twelve Stories of Identity edited by Michael Cart

• Ages 15-18
• Includes: MtF, FtM, Gay, Lesbian
• No of Stories: 12
• Authors: Michael Cart, Francesca Lia Block, David Levithan, Ron Koertge, Eric Shanower, Julie Anne Peters, Jennifer Finney Boylan, William Sleater, Emma Donoghue

How They Met, and Other Stories by David Levithan

• Ages 15-18
• Includes: Gay, Straight, Lesbian
• No of Stories: 18
• Themes: love and relationships

Love & Sex: Ten Stories of Truth edited by

• Ages 15-18
• Includes: Straight,  Lesbian, Gay
• No of Stories: 10 (mostly heterosexual)
• Themes: love, sex, relationships

OMGQueer edited by Katherine E. Lynch & Radclyffe

• Ages 15-18, 18+
• Includes: Lesbian, Gay, Intersex, Transgender
• No of Stories: 18
• Themes: love, sex, relationships, identity
• Heavy emphasis on lesbian stories. Some are quite adult in style, including a bit of erotica, and a interesting mix of approaches. Generally good quality.
• Reviews: Good Lesbian Books, Barefoot Medical Student

On the Fringe edited by Donald R. Gallo

• Ages 15-18
• Includes: Straight,  one story of sexuality
• No of Stories: 11
• Themes: outsiders, geeks, bullying, school shootings
• Authors: Jack Gantos, Chris Crutcher, Francess Lantz, Joan Bauer , M.E. Kerr, Angela Johnson and others

Revolutionary Voices edited by Amy Sonnie

• Ages 15-18
• Includes: Lesbian, Gay, Intersex, and more.
• Themes: Pride, identity, coming out, growing up, acceptance
• Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, artwork, interviews, resources and other miscellaneous content. 
• Authors: 50+ contributors, aged 14-26

13: Thirteen Stories That Capture the Agony and Ecstasy of Being Thirteen edited by James Howe

• Ages 12-15
• Includes: Straight,  two stories of sexuality
• No of Stories: 13
• Themes: growing up, coming out, crushes, childhood, family
• Authors: Ellen Wittlinger, Alex Sanchez, Meg Cabot, Ann Martin, Bruce Coville, Todd Strasser, Rachel Vail, Stephen Roos, Ron Koertge, Lori Aurelia Williams, Laura Goodwin

Liar

Larbalestier, J. (2009). Liar. New York: Bloomsbury Children’s Books. 

• Genre = Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Thriller
• Age group = 15-18 
  
• Liar on Amazon.com

Liar is a well written and disturbing novel, that starts off as a mystery, but swiftly turns into either a psychological thriller or an urban science fiction/fantasy novel. I can’t tell you which, because I don’t know which is the truth. Our narrator, a seventeen year old girl called Micah, is a compulsive liar and entirely unreliable, so we can’t tell if the stories are getting wilder, or the truth is slowly emerging.
There a couple of violent scenes, but it’s quite suitable for young adults. Micah suffers from excessive pain and bleeding during her periods (which is either the basis for some of her lies, or an excuse to hide what’s really going on, but either way, is a significant part of the story). This is unusual in young adult characters, and would be both worthy of discussion and help raise awareness of similar conditions, as well as being topical because of her use of birth control.

Liar is very easy to read, and includes a wide range of issues that teens will identify with, and are worth analysing. It acts as a good starting point for discussions on racism, unusual medical disorders, bullying and high school cliques, transgenderism (being in the wrong body was a strong theme throughout the book), bisexuality, science and mythology, and of course, unreliable narration.

It can't be easily categorised into any particular label, partly because most of the GLBTQIA aspects are metaphorical or unreliably narrated, but it is very easy to find these issues within the story.

• Liar on Amazon.com

Cross-dressing (Transvestitism)

Fiction about boys who like dressing up as girls (but not vice versa!). Mostly for younger readers, these books tend to be gentler, humorous, introductions to the concepts of gender, acceptance and identity.

Boy2Girl by Terence Blacker

• Ages 12-15

A serious story dressed up with humour, Boy2Girl follows the adventure of new boy Sam, who is dared by his cousin to attend his new school as a girl. Only he turns out to be really good at it. Sam's stunt becomes a long term thing with all kinds of consequences on the people around him (and Sam himself). Throw in a violent father that he desperately wants to avoid, and a narration that switches through every character but Sam, and this ends up being a fun ride through gender expectations and growing up.

The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams

• Ages 9-12
• Illustrated by Quentin Blake

Dennis has a miserable home life, a secret love of fashion and a major part in the school football team. When his friend Lisa discovers his love of fashion, she convinces him to head to school in a dress, which leads to hijinks as "Denise". Unfortunately, he ends up in a lot of trouble! A humorous, sensible story with a happy ending.


Crossing Lines by Paul Volponi

• Ages 12-15

Adonis is a school jock, and popular, and gets caught up in harrassing the lipstick wearing new kid - until it goes too far, and he has to decide where he stands.A great book for straight kids struggling with acceptance, a good look at bullying, but not one that GLBTQIA kids will identify with much.

The Death-Defying Pepper Roux by Geraldine McCaughrean

• Ages 15-18

Set in early 1900s France, this is a madcap adventure of a young boy who decides to run away and become someone else in a series of wild adventures, rather than wait around for his prophesised death at age 14. He is accompanied by his 'guardian' cross dressing steward. Surreal, whimsical, and serious by turns, this story might be a bit complicated for the average teenager, but is a fantastic book for older readers and adults.

Debbie Harry Sings in French by Meagan Brothers

• Ages 15-18

Johnny has a troubled teenage life, a drinking problem, and a fixation on the lead singer of Blondie. When he goes to live with his uncle, Johnny explores his identity, with the help of his girlfriend, and celebrates his transvestism. A powerful novel that covers a lot of issues, from bullying, drinking, suicide and family, as well as love and crossdressing. Unlike the other stories available, this book has an older protagonist who is quite clearly straight, dodging the ambiguousness of younger people's sexualities.

Transgender Fantasy, Scifi & Historical YA Books (MtF & FtM)

Non-contemporary (fantasy, scifi, dystopian and historical) fiction featuring transgender characters.

The Bone Doll's Twin by Lynn Flewelling

• MtF
• Fantasy
• Ages 15-18

The first book in the Tamir trilogy, this is a fantasy story of magic and war and politics, in a world were a girl is transformed into a boy for her childhood, to keep her safe, but must eventually take on her true form and become queen. Technically an adult book, it's fine for older teens and the main character is also a teenager.

The Butterfly and the Flame by Dana De Young

• MtF
• Dystopian science fiction
• Ages 15-18

Set in a dystopian future where technology has reverted, and an oppressive, very gay-unfriendly, theocracy rules, our heroine is forced to flee, when it is decreed that she must wed the son of her family's landlord. The only problem is, she was born physically male and that is not going to end well. Both social commentary and a personal drama, Emily escapes across future America pursued by bounty hunters with her brother.



The End by Nora Olsen

• FtM
• Dystopian Fantasy
• Ages 15-18

Set in the future, this is a mixed bag of LGBTQ characters, five teens who have to work together to save the world from the apocalypse (basically WW3) with magic and time travel and friendship.

What I Was by Meg Rossoff

• FtM
• Historical
• Ages 15-18

Set in 1960s England, this historical novel follows the growing friendship between a bored student and the mysterious Finn, that he discovers living wild in a fisherman's hut.

Asexual Teen Fiction

Asexuality is increasingly recognised as a valid sexual identity. Unfortunately books containing a major asexual character are still extremely rare (or not explicitly identified). None of these books feature a completely central asexual character, but they all play significant roles in the story.

The Fire's Stone by Tanya Huff

• A straightforward and enjoyable fantasy that both me and my younger brother read about five times between the ages of 13 and 20, with three main characters who end up in a polyamorous relationship; a bisexual prince, a repressed gay thief and an asexual princess. The girl is in her late teens, isn't quite the most important character, but does have a very major role. 
• Generally suitable for ages 15-18.

Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

• A highly original fantasy horror story. Set in New Zealand, thus is a high school murder mystery that becomes a unique tale involving Maori mythology, and immortality. The protagonist is a straight girl, but a minor supporting character is an asexual boy, who our protagonist has a crush on, and who comes out during the story. 
• Again, suitable for ages 15-18.

Quicksilver by R. J. Anderson

• A slightly surreal science fiction story, following the outwardly perfect Tori, an asexual teen girl, as she tries to escape unscrupulous geneticists and an alien heritage. Well reviewed, and enjoyable, with an asexual main character.
• The sequel/companion book to Ultraviolet (no LGBTQIA content).
• And again, suitable for ages 15-18.

Shades of Gay by Stephanie Silberstein

• A contemporary coming out story. The main storyline follows the falling in love and coming out of two 17 year olds The main character is gay and the love interest is bisexual, but a major supporting character is one of their best friends, an asexual girl called Emily. 
• Generally suitable for ages 15-18.
• The Shades of Gay Kindle eBook is listed separately and a lot cheaper
• The author is asexual and has written a page about Emily.