Juvenile Fiction Lists

"A middle schooler navigates an overprotective mother, growing apart from her best friend, and her first girl crush-all while her recent Crohn's diagnosis puts a knot in her stomach"-- Provided by publisher.

"This is a high concept story of one boy's journey to self-discovery through his mental wrestling on the page. He is gay and terrified of rejection from his family, friends, and overall community" (Description from School Library Journal)

"When Kingston's white friend Sandy came out to him a few months ago, Kingston's older brother, Khalid, told him to stay away from Sandy because King wouldn't want people to think he was gay too. And then Khalid died. But King knows that his brother is not really gone: Khalid "shed his skin like a snake" and is now a dragonfly. Complicating King's grief over the sudden loss of his brother is the fear that Khalid would not still love him if he knew the truth—King is gay. Every day after school King walks to the bayou searching for Khalid, wondering if he can ever share who he is. When Sandy goes missing, King must come to terms with the true cost of shame." (description adapted from Kirkus)

"After dedicated soccer player Will is sidelined from the season--and his friend group--due to complications from his newly diagnosed Crohn's disease, he finds himself figuring out who he really is on the inside in this heartfelt and thoughtful middle grade novel that's perfect for readers who love books by Maulik Pancholy and Christine Day"-- Provided by publisher.

"When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl. George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part . . . because she's a boy. With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all" (description provided by publisher)

"Middle school student Sam is comfortable with their nonbinary identity, and their family has accepted it too (as long as they do their homework and chores), so when their history teacher assigns as a project coming up with a proposal for the new statue honoring a historical Staten Islander (there is a contest involved) they and their friend TJ decide to focus on Alice Austen, a lesbian photographer, whose house on Staten Island is a museum--but they have to overcome the presumption on the part of their teacher that only straight males are eligible." (description from catalog)

"After the death of his best friend and the only other trans boy at school, Noah starts writing letters expressing his feelings to the humanoid creature Mothman and risks everything when he treks into the woods to prove Mothman's existence." (description from catalog)

"Izzy’s family is under the spotlight when her dad comes out as Danielle, a trans woman. Izzy is terrified her family will be torn apart. Will she lose her dad? Will her parents break up? And what will people at school say? Now all eyes are on Izzy. Can she face her fears, find her voice, and stand up for her family and what’s right?" (description from publisher)

As twelve-year-old Ellie Engle navigates seventh grade and her changing relationship with her best friend, a freak accident occurs and gives Ellie the ability to bring things back to life through touch. (description from catalog)

"Elle Campbell is a non-binary seventh-grader who is excited their hero non-binary star Nuri Grena is coming to their town for a book signing--it was Nuri's story that inspired Elle to declare themselves and they are not about to let detention stop them and their friends from meeting Nuri." (Description from catalog)

"Amos volunteers as a reenactor at the Living History Park along with his best friend, Chloe. There they meet Ben, who becomes a fast friend to the duo and a burgeoning romantic interest for Amos. But their relationship faces some challenges, including Ben's religious family. Amos tells his story from his own point of view interspersed with letters to Albert D.J. Cashier, a Civil War soldier who, in the present day, might have identified as a trans man. Amos learns about Albert while he is researching LBGTQIA+ Americans throughout history, seeking representation of people like him from the past and hoping to win the Living History Park's exhibition competition." (description from School Library Journal)

"11-year-old Bug, a transgender boy, is having a difficult summer. His beloved uncle Roderick, a former drag queen who lived with Bug and his single mother for years, has just died after a long illness, and Bug’s remote Vermont house, which has always been haunted, has gained a new ghostly resident—one that seems intent on sending Bug a message. As Bug’s mother struggles to pay bills and hold onto the white family’s home, Bug’s best and only friend, Moira, grows intent on giving Bug a feminine makeover before middle school starts, something that Bug grows increasingly uncomfortable with. As he investigates the ghost, he grows closer to the truth of his own identity." (from Publisher's Weekly)

"When Annabelle learns that her father shares something big--and surprising--in common with her new nonbinary friend, she begins to see herself, and her family, in a whole new light" (description provided by publisher.)

"Told in two alternating narrative voices, the story follows Ash and Daniel, a pair of Ohio seventh graders who are on a shared mission to rescue an old dog the world doesn’t seem to have room for, a not-so-subtle metaphor highlighting the vulnerabilities faced by all abandoned souls. Throughout their growing kinship, Ash and Daniel struggle with the divergent expectations of those around them: Ash with shifting gender presentations and Daniel with his emotionality and sensitivity. Entering a new school and feeling pressured to pick and disclose a single gender, Ash’s conflicts begin with trying to decide whether to use the boys’, girls’, or gender-neutral bathroom. The school’s diverse Rainbow Alliance is a source of support, but Ash’s parents remain split by more than divorce, with a supportive mom and a dad who tries but fails to understand genderfluidity. Daniel, who has a talent for photography, is a passionate animal lover who volunteers at a local kennel and initially believes Ash is a girl." (description from Kirkus)

"Twelve-year-old Abigail is so excited to spend her summer at Camp QUILTBAG, an inclusive retreat for queer and trans kids. Thirteen-year-old Kai is not as excited. E just wants to hang out with eir best friend and eir parkour team. 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." (description from Novelist)

"Rahul Kapoor is heading into seventh grade in a small town in Indiana. The start of middle school is making him feel increasingly anxious, so his favorite person in the whole world, his grandfather Bhai, gives him some well-meaning advice: Find one thing you're really good at. And become the BEST at it. Those four little words sear themselves into Rahul's brain. While he's not quite sure what that special thing is, he is convinced that once he finds it, bullies like Brent Mason will stop torturing him at school. And he won't be worried about staring too long at his classmate Justin Emery. With his best friend, Chelsea, by his side, Rahul is ready to crush this challenge. . . . But what if he discovers he isn't the best at anything?" (description from goodreads)

Iris opens her eyes to hard truths and the power of her voice when her father dies of AIDS in 1987.-- Provided by publisher.

"Twelve-year-old figure skater Ana strives to win competitions while learning about gender identity--Ana's own and that of a new friend--and how to navigate the best path forward" (description provided by publisher)

"Ellen, an autistic thirteen-year-old, navigates a new city, shifting friendships, a growing crush, and her queer and Jewish identities while on a class trip to Barcelona, Spain" (description from publisher)

"Jake is just starting to enjoy life as his school's first openly gay kid. While his family and friends are accepting and supportive, the same can't be said about everyone in their small town. When Jake's dad hangs a comically large pride flag in their front yard in an overblown show of love, the mayor begins to receive complaints. A few people are even concerned the flag will lead to something truly outlandish: a pride parade. Except Jake doesn't think that's a ridiculous idea. Why can't they hold a pride festival in Barton Springs? The problem is, Jake knows he'll have to get approval from the town council, and the mayor won't be on his side. And as Jake and his friends try to find a way to bring Pride to Barton Springs, it seems suspicious that the mayor's son, Brett, suddenly wants to spend time with Jake" (description from publisher)

Trapped in a rigid hierarchy where girls learn magic and boys train as knights, twelve-year-old nonbinary Callie, who dreams of becoming a knight, and their new friends find themselves embedded in an ancient war, but in order to defeat the threats outsidethe kingdom they must first defeat the bigotry within. (description from catalog)

"While staying with his dad and uncle in a seaside cabin in Oregon, Jeremy meets and forms a friendship with local boy Evan that turns into something neither boy expected, but something they both wished for." (description from catalog)

"This collection of short stories delivers a spectrum of diversity in representation of both personal identities and genre. Whether the stories contain overt fantasy (like dragons, spells, the undead, and time loops), subtle glimmers of the supernatural (like ghosts and magical letters), or realistic grounding in the everyday (like a new kitten, sports, and school), they capture with honesty and vulnerability the feelings that accompany events like the grief of losing a friend or facing rejection from a crush, the nervous thrill of new feelings for someone special, and the freeing, but sometimes still scary, power of self-discovery." (description adapted from Kirkus)

"It started with the Running-Away Game, but Aubrey never suspected Joel would actually run away. Neither Aubrey nor Joel fit in in their small, mostly Catholic Kentucky town. They would rather talk about different kinds of bugs and play pretend in the woods than follow the social rules of middle school. Middle school has also turned the class clown into the class bully, one who targets Joel for being gay—even though Joel’s not even sure that he is. Aubrey is also struggling with their identity; being a girl feels like a lie, but what else is there?" (description from Kirkus)

Simon, an eleven-year-old coming to terms with his gender identity, is convinced that his grandmother's house is haunted. -- Provided by publisher.

"In this fresh, sensitive, diary-style graphic novel, 12-year-old Tuva's questions about becoming a teenager are confusing—so when her first crush turns out to be on another girl, it feels absolutely wonderful--so why does it become so complicated?" (Description from NoveList)

"Fifteen-year-old Morgan has a secret: She can't wait to escape the perfect little island where she lives. Because really, Morgan's biggest secret is that she has a lot of secrets, including the one about wanting to kiss another girl. Then one night, Morgan is saved from drowning by a mysterious girl named Keltie. The two become friends and suddenly life on the island doesn't seem so stifling anymore. But Keltie has some secrets of her own" (description provided by publisher)

Shai, a thirteen-year-old nonbinary homeschooler, attempts to find a "new normal" post-pandemic as they start public school, meet new friends, and learn about their Jewish identity. Published from Catalog.

Twelve-year-old Korean American Emma uses her fickle witchy powers to keep her best friend's parents together so they do not move away.--Provided by publisher

Eighth grader Lizzie's study of asexuality in science class leads her to understand her own asexual identity as she embarks on a journey toward self-discovery and self-advocacy.--Description from catalog

"After a terrible political coup usurps their noble house, Hawke and Grayson flee to stay alive and assume new identities, Hanna and Grayce. Desperation and chance lead them to the Communion of Blue, an order of magical women who spin the threads of reality to their will. As the twins learn more about the Communion, and themselves, they begin to hatch a plan to avenge their family and retake their royal home. While Hawke wants to return to his old life, Grayce struggles to keep the threads of her new life from unraveling, and realizes she wants to stay in the one place that will allow her to finally live as a girl." (description provided by publisher)