Coming out in Kid Lit

Today is National Coming Out Day, which got me thinking about LGBTQIA+ representation in YA and children’s literature. While there certainly can be more stories featuring realistic, nuanced representations of LGBTQIA+ characters (protagonists! friends! heroes! parents! etc!), I’m heartened by the books young readers do have today, to let them know that their feelings are valid and that they can be the main characters of their own stories.

Which means that, of course, I need to share some of my recent favorite reads featuring LGBTQIA+ characters.

Girl Mans Up by M-E Girard: a great look at sexual identity and gender identity, as Pen struggles against her family and friends’ ideas of what it means to be a young woman. I also loved the minor characters in this. #teamblake

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown: a twist on the coming out story, as very out Jo hides her sexual identity when she moves to a small, conservative town.

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee: bi, gay, and asexual representation in this super fun and touching historical adventure. I’m psyched for the sequel, which will follow Felicity!

George by Alex Gino: one of the sweetest and most sensitive coming out stories, about a young trans girl who just wants to be Charlotte in her school’s production of Charlotte’s Web.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli: one of my new favorite contemporary YAs, about theatre and friendship and first love and figuring out who you are and how to share that with the world.

As I Descended by Robin Talley: in case you want some classically-inspired scares and intrigue with your representation, this one’s a female take on Macbeth, starring two young women at an elite boarding school.

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour: one of my new favorites full stop, this is a fantastic look at first love and friendship and loneliness and grief and reaching out to those we love.

If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo: a powerful and hopeful story about a young trans girl trying to make a new start for herself.

Other books you’d add to this list? Share ’em in the comments! In the meantime, remember–you are valid and you deserve love.

Friday Fifteen

Happy Friday, guys! I’m sorry I’ve been so MIA recently–things have gotten busy with work and life and Bodo the dog. One of the things that’s been keeping me busy has been a web design class, which is awesome and maybe means I’ll update this site sometime in the near future. In the meantime, here’s a look at what I’ve been reading, in fifteen words or fewer:

Chime by Franny Billingsley
Fun and creepy, with a great voice, while also being about gaslighting and abuse.

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
Interesting blend of contemporary MG and fantasy. Major middle school friendship feels.

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown
Sweet and touching story of family, religion, and coming out. Also manages to subvert expectations.

Links Galore

Lots of links I’ve been saving:

• Query critiques, signed books, Skype visits and more for Hurricane Harvey relief.
• An awesome post on Mary Sues and the pressure we put on female characters.
• The witty, wise, and whimsical E.B. White.
• On addiction and library services.
• As if Porter Square Books wasn’t already awesome enough, now they’re inviting you to a bookstore sleepover.
• A real plaque for a fictional person.
• Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these librarians from their patrons.
• How Harry Potter changed publishing.
• Revising the summer reading list.
• And speaking of summer reading lists, check out Lin-Manuel Miranda’s.
• Cultural appropriation is never appropriate.
• The miraculous act of reading.
• Take a literary road trip across the United States.
• Getting objective and creative with your revision.
• From one of my dearest friends, thoughts on growing up with Harry Potter.
• Twenty-five easy steps to be a contemporary writer.
• Margaret Atwood and Junot Diaz on dystopian societies and the contemporary landscape.
• Reason #482 why you should adopt a pet: to name it something inspired from literature.
• Love and lemonade.
• The calendar of book launch marketing.

Links Galore

Lots of links I’ve been saving:

• The YA book community should always prioritize young adults.
• The first Harry Potter covers around the world.
• I’d also like to go to a wizarding pub.
• Setting an artistic intention.
• Upping the game on commuter reading.
• Fictional bookstores are almost as awesome as real bookstores.
• Blueprinting your first pages.
• A hilarious glimpse into the writing process.
• I will read whatever Miyazaki recommends.
• Fascinating look at the history of The Joy Luck Club’s movie adaptation.
• Swanky school summer reading.
• As if I didn’t already have way too many podcasts to catch up on.
• Helpful info on fair use, permissions, and what you can quote in your own writing.
• I was just talking about first-page anxiety with a friend.
• Be patient with yourself.
• And keep going.
• Even when you don’t feel inspired.
• A fun character Q&A.
• Great tips for researching literary agents.
• Keeping your real life safe when you have an online persona.
• Outlining for non-outliners.
• Real teens don’t live in YA novels.

Friday Fifteen

Happy Friday, guys! This week has mostly been me hacking and sneezing and coughing, and walking around the house telling Bodo the Dog, “Bodo, I’m sick. I’m so sick,” and getting barely any sympathy from him. (He just get confused about why I’m not running around the house with him, squeaky toy in hand.)

But fortunately it’s Friday, which means a weekend of taking it easy. It also means book reviews in fifteen words or fewer!

All the Truth That’s in Me by Julie Berry
Not at all what I expected but in a good way. Berry’s writing is masterful.

Counting Thyme by Melanie Conklin
Sensitive and touching portrayal of childhood cancer, family dynamics, new friends, and change. Love!

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
Also not what I expected but awesome–sad and literary, combining text and art beautifully.

Kidlit for Cancer Research

This time next week, I’ll be running the Boston Marathon with the Dana-Farber team. I ran with Dana-Farner last year, too, and it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.

But for charity team runners like me, fundraising for a great cause is even more important than the race itself. On the Dana-Farber team, we raise money for innovative cancer research at the Claudia Adams Barr Program, where scientists use this seed money to fund creative and dynamic projects that could make major lifesaving changes for patients and families. I know way too many people whose lives have been affected by cancer in some way, and I’m so honored to be part of these efforts to support science and fight cancer.

Right now, you can help support science and fight cancer AND win some awesome writerly items. What more could you want? Check out Kidlit for Cancer Research, in which some fantastic writers and agents have donated signed books and query/first page critiques! There’s some seriously awesome stuff like:

• A signed copy of Star Wars: AHSOKA
• Six of Crows OR Crooked Kingdom, signed by Leigh Bardugo
• A gaggle of adorable/hilarious picture books
• Two signed books by Claire Legrand AND a 20-page agent critique
• AND MORE!

The auction closes tonight, so get your bids in now! 100% of funds raised go to groundbreaking research at the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Links Galore

Lots of links I’ve been saving:

• Librarians resist. And now libraries matter more than ever.
• I am so excited about another book in the His Dark Materials universe.
• Ian McKellen, Shakespeare, and immigration.
• One of my favorite college professors on turning to poetry in times when words otherwise fail us.
• Gender identity and sexuality and the next generation.
• A win for Team Oxford Comma.
• But sometimes it’s okay to bend the grammar rules.
• Death and Jane Austen’s unfinished novel.
• And then the murders began.
• They’re making the future.
• Pixar, tell me your secrets.
• Why we need national support for the arts and humanities.
• Great list of YA books about refugees.
• Maybe it’s time to break up with your agent.
• Parsing the helpful feedback from the not-so-helpful.
• What it actually looks like to write (and finish) a novel.
• Great suggestions for writing through the middle.

Friday Fifteen

Happy Friday, guys! Or more accurately, OH THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY WILL THIS WEEK NEVER END?! This week was cold and snowy and I want to curl up in a comforter with a giant cup of tea until it’s actually spring out there. Who’s with me?

In the meantime, here are a couple of book reviews in fifteen words or fewer:

Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett
Puberty’s hard when you also have to fight endless winter. Continue to love Tiffany Aching.

Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
Beautiful writing and atmosphere, but not sure it ultimately left me satisfied in Ruth’s story.

Friday Fifteen

Happy Friday, guys! How is it that this week’s felt so long and so short all at once? Also it snowed today and all I want to do is wrap myself in a comforter and not leave the house until April. Fortunately, in that scenario I could still read, so let’s get the weekend started with a few book reviews in fifteen words or fewer.

Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
Great collection of essays about race, sexism, education, media, and Scrabble.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
Wanted more from Oscar as a character, but Díaz’s writing is stellar.

Fish In A Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Wish I had a fifth grade class to share this with. Heart-wrenching and heartwarming.

Friday Fifteen

Happy Friday, guys! It’s been a week, so let’s head into the weekend with some book reviews in fifteen words or fewer:

George by Alex Gino
Hopeful story of a trans girl longing to play Charlotte in Charlotte’s Web class production.

Pieces of You and Me by Erin Fletcher
Charming story of a second-chance romance; Rylee and Chase’s chemistry feels so real. So needed this!

A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett
Full-steam-ahead on the Tiffany Aching books. Witchcraft, hard work, common sense and community!