Gay youth books

Seventeen picks products that we think you'll love the most. We may earn commission from the links on this page. As the age-old quotation goes, "We read gay know we are not alone. Luckily, the YA genre has taken major strides toward being more inclusive, and there are dozens of popular books starring queer characters or penned by queer authors.

The selections in this roundup include different narratives that focus on factors aside from the characters' queerness and the struggles that may stem from it — because queer people are so much more than their problems. These books are funny, romantic, and real, just like their protagonists.

The pair are total strangers, but are looking to make a new friend on their "End Day. Two star-crossed girls of color fall in love in this magical and easy-to-love young adult novel. Told through the lens of year-old Sana, whose family moves to California as her parents go through their own trials, this coming-of-age story is impossible to put down.

Popular girl Shara Wheeler is major competition for the top spot, and one month before graduation, she kisses Chloe gay suddenly vanishes. Along with Shara's quarterback BF, Smith, and bad-boy neighbor, Rory, Chloe begins a search for Shara after receiving a cryptic letter from her. The inspiration behind the Tony Award-winning musical Fun Homethis graphic memoir revisits Alison Bechdel's adolescence, culminating in her coming out to her parents just before her father's death.

Grappling with themes of acceptance and self-discovery, this tragicomic is not book telling a story, it's taking us on an emotional and psychological journey. Another LGBTQ classic, "Rubyfruit Jungle" was published inmaking it pretty remarkable in its time for its portrayal of lesbian characters. Brown takes us through the middle school and high school years of Molly Bolt, who explores her own identity through a slew of hook-ups and relationships that will feel both familiar and exciting to fellow queer readers.

The range of icons spans from politicians you know well to singers and performers whose stories haven't been told in most history books. If you're interested in learning how the gay rights struggle started — and where we are now — this is the youth place to start.

The Trials of Apollo is a continuation of the bestselling Percy Jackson and the Olympians youth that has queer representation through various characters. He's left without his powers, which means he has to learn to survive as a mere mortal before getting back on Zeus' good side. So, he visits the one place he can find other Gods and demigods for help: Camp Half-Blood.

John Green and David Levithan book forces to write Will Grayson, Will Graysona dual-perspective novel that follows two Illinois teens with the same name. Will Grayson 1 written by John Green has a "very big and very gay" best friend, Tiny Cooper, and while he's been there for Tiny through every heartbreak he's endured, he's on the fence about their friendship.

Meanwhile, Will Grayson 2 written by David Levithan is closeted and in an online relationship with another teen named Isaac, but his best friend Maura has feelings for him. Eventually, the Wills cross paths and both narratives braid together to tell a coming-of-age story. Plus, there's a musical production based on Tiny's life involved.

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Out to only a very select few, his secret ends up in the wrong hands and he has to face the idea of being outed instead of being allowed to decide who to tell and when. This award-winning novel is already quintessential YA reading, and its film adaptation, Love, Simon inspired a spin-off Hulu series, Love, Victor.

Speaking of the Simonverse, Leah on the Offbeat is a sequel that follows Simon's bestie, Leah, as she navigates her senior year with changing friendships, her first love, and lots of teen angst. Leah's usually on beat when it comes to drumming, but she's the opposite when it comes to other areas of her life.