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This title is a bit of a misnomer. Am I gonna tell you the best LGBTQ middle grade fiction I read? Yes! I am also going to tell you the things that were just ok and the things that I didn’t really care for from a LGBTQIA+ inclusion and affirmation stand point. As with all my book reviews, I will be referencing my foundational principals for how to include books with LGBTQIA+ representation, that post is entitled “LGBTQ Children’s Books: Four Types You Need for Better Diversity.”
LGBTQ Middle Grade Fiction Books I loved:
Too Bright To See by Kyle Lukoff
If you have never read anything Kyle Lukoff has written, run, don’t walk. This novel is no different. It is a ghost story, a coming of age story, and a story about dealing with grief. Somehow it is all those things in 188 page of middle grade fiction perfection.
Plot Summary: It is the summer before middle school. Bug is eleven and dealing with the recent passing of an uncle that lived just one bedroom over. Bug’s best friend Moira thinks both of them should be focusing on make up, cute boys, and learning how to be middle schoolers. Bug, however, has bigger things to think about like perhaps being haunted by the ghost of Uncle Roderick.
I will not dig deeper into the plot because I want you to experience the magic for yourself. Too Bright To See is spooky in a way that makes it a perfect fall or winter read (even though the books itself is set in the summer). I don’t think it would be too scary for most middle schoolers, but if someone is particularly sensitive to spooky themes they might should wait until they are a little older.
I loved this book, and I think you and the middle grade readers in your life will too.
Type of book: Exploratory/Self Discovery
Redwood and Ponytail by K.A. Holt
Holy middle school meet cute, this book is just so refreshing! Redwood, a tree-tall middle school volleyball player meets Ponytail the perfect soon to be cheer captain and both their worlds get shaken. This novel in verse nails the angsty middle schooler persona and tells the story of these two girls realizing that what is between them is something special.
Plot Summary: Redwood, also know as Tam, is a stand out athlete and the girl everyone wants to be friends with. Ponytail, also know as Kate, is a cheerleader and the girl who everyone kinda fears. They keep running into each other and sparks begin to fly. As they get to know each other, they realize that there is more to both of them than others realize. Can they shake off what is expected of them and be courageous enough to be their true selves?
My best description is if a Hallmark holiday movie were a middle grade book it would be this book, and I love Hallmark holiday movies. This one is probably appropriate for ages 10 and up.
Type of book: Self Exploratory/ Self Discovery with a dash of Overcoming Adversity
The Deep and Dark Blue by Niki Smith
This graphic novel turns a well known fantasty troupe into a tale of self realization. I love this graphic novel for it’s beautiful art work and strong characters regardless of gender. There is no anti-LGBTQ+ bullying in this book and a transgender girl is a main character who is integral to the story.
Plot Summary: Solstice celebrations bring a coup attempt to House Sunderlay. It is up to siblings Hawke and Grayce to stop it, but will they be able to before their wicked cousin Marielle become head of their House? They hatch a plan to hide in plain sight as initiates into the magical, mysterious, women’s religious order, the Communion of the Blue. While in hiding Hawke and Grayce must discover who is behind the coup and how to stop Marielle before she gets initiated as head of House Sunderlay.
The Deep and Dark Blue would be great for teaching about individuality and how individual strengths can work together towards a common goal. Adults should be advised this book begins with a murder and there is some continued violence throughout the novel. Overall, this is a great fantasy read for kids and adults a like. Depending on the child, this book would be appropriate for ages 8 and up.
Type of Book: Overcoming Adversity and Self Discovery
LGBTQ Middle Grade Fiction Books that I recommend with a caveat:
The Moon Within by Aida Salazar
Becoming a woman, menstruation, and finding your voice are the heart of this beautifully written novel in verse. Intricately woven with Black Puerto Rican and Indigenous Mexican tradition, The Moon Within tells the story of Celestina Rivera, an 11 year old Oakland girl who is half Puerto Rican and half Mexican. Celi’s best friend, Marco, is a gender nonconforming human who is featured prominently in the text. Unfortunately, Mar’s plot line in the book involves a lot of bullying and is used as a device to help the cisgender main character find her voice.
Plot Summary: Celestina Rivera (also known as Celi) is dealing with a lot in this novel in verse. Her mother is hyper fixated on celebrating Celi’s developing body against Celi’s wishes. Celi’s crush Ivan is a jerk to her best friend, Marco. Marco comes out as xochihuah (a Nahuatl word describing a person who bears both flowers), and Celi is torn between supporting her friend and her crush.
Overall, I do think this book is worth reading. It has such beautiful, culture rich depictions of Black Puerto Rican and Indigenous Mexican traditions. From a LGBTQ+ point of view, The Moon Within depicts and gives historical context to, Indigenous Mexican dual spirit identity.
Conversely, I do not love how Celestina’s mother ignores her repeated pleas to not talk about Celi’s body. It is also made me uncomfortable how elevated menstruation as celebrated mark of womanhood with no comment that people other than women menstruate. In a book that prominently features of nonbinary character this stuck out as awkward.
This book would probably be appropriate for ages 11 and up.
Type of book: Overcoming Adversity. I would classify this as an overcoming adversity book and think because of the focus on LGBTQ+ bullying it should be paired with a book about lgbtq+ folks being exemplary or simple living as a way to combat that narrative that gender identity based bullying is inevitable and normal.
LGBTQ Middle Grade Fiction Books I didn’t like:
The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag
Aster is supposed to be a boy and in his family that mean he is supposed to be a shapeshifter. The problem is Aster really only wants to learn magic like the girls, and he’s good at it. There is a lot of bully in this book. The girls bully Aster for eavesdropping on their lessons. The boys bully Aster for not having shape-shifted yet and not really being interested in doing so. Aster’s parents are frustrated that he doesn’t want the things he should. Lots of bullying. While Aster does end up saving the day, there is too much bullying for my taste to get us there.
Plot Summary: Aster is from a magical family where boys are shapeshifters and girls do magic. Aster doesn’t really care about shapeshifting. Aster wants to do magic and spies on the girls’ magic lessons trying to learn. When boys start going missing during shapeshifting practice, Aster knows he can help, but in order to do so he will need to break tradition, risk his life, and use magic.
The art in this graphic novel is beautiful, and I almost always enjoy stories about magic. This one was different, because of all the bullying at the beginning and middle of the book it was difficult for me to get into.
Type of Book: Overcoming Adversity. I would only recommend this book to be read in the company of adult who can counter act these messages in a book group for example. I also think it would be helpful to pair this book with one where LGBTQ+ folks are exemplary or just living life to show different windows of possibility.