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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Please help me find books for LBG teens

26 replies

ZebrasKnit · 23/11/2021 19:39

Hi. I'm looking for some teen novels which centre LBG characters but which are free from gender ideology. Can you help suggest some?

And second question, are there any I should be avoiding given I'm looking for gender critical novels?

Thanks for your help.

OP posts:
AnimalTheDrummer · 23/11/2021 19:56

Simon Vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (that's the first of the series and the characters come out in later books), Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz, Autoboyography by Christina Lauren, The Wicker King by K Ancrum, I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson.

AnimalTheDrummer · 23/11/2021 19:59

Sorry, didn't answer the second part of your question. I would avoid anything by Alice Oseman. If I can think of any others I'll let you know but that's all I can think of off the top of my head.

RedCarpetRebellion · 23/11/2021 20:03

House of Hollow.

Brilliant female characters, lesbian and bisexual women. Zero gender ideology.

Burn our bodies down. Lesbian protagonist. Zero gender ideology.

Broken things, as above.

All young adult, not strictly teen. (My guilty pleasure of reading is young adult novels).

Panic has lesbian couple as well iirc, it’s definitely teenage. Series is better than the novel strangely.

The pretty little liars series are old now, and I’d stay well away from the series, but the novels are pretty good for young teens. Solely centres girls and their friendships. Very lightweight story line, but the characterisation feels real and the bonds they have are representative of teenage all encompassing friendships. Their relationships grow. There’s a bisexual character, whose the heroine in the end.

I’d avoid Maureen Johnson’s novels (which sucks because truly devious first trilogy are great bar the super irritating ‘zir’ of one character, but the Firth instalment is awful and blah to her ripper series)

Avoid there’s someone inside your house. Truly brave and stunning transboy.

Not lgb but I adore the disreputable history of frankie landau-banks and the stags series. Great gnc female leads.

KeflavikAirport · 23/11/2021 20:29

Look at g-book.eu . Some of it is trans friendly but not all of it by any means.

RedCarpetRebellion · 23/11/2021 20:30

They’ll never catch us.

Lesbian protagonist. Other lesbian characters. Zero gender ideology. Coming of age story mixed in with a who done it.

Highly recommend this one if looking for a feminist slant. Definitely teen.

MsGoodenough · 23/11/2021 20:33

Drama by Rainer Teilgemaer (spelled wrong but hopefully you can find it!) Is a graphic novel with a teen lesbian love story within it. I haven't read it so can't guarantee it's free of gender woo, but my niece loved it and she has her head screwed on.

RedCarpetRebellion · 23/11/2021 20:43

Old but a classic -ruby fruit.

RedCarpetRebellion · 23/11/2021 20:46

Although actually just read her intro & that’s not the novel I recall from reading it as a teen…. Must go see if I still have my copy

Precipice · 23/11/2021 20:50

Holly Black's Ironside? 'Centre' is maybe overly generous - there is an m/f and an m/m couple, and the m/f one gets more development because the female character is the main and because the relationship continues from the first book, Tithe (it's not necessary to read in order), but I liked the m/m relationship all the same.

KleineDracheKokosnuss · 23/11/2021 20:55

Red, white and royal blue.
Geography club.

KleineDracheKokosnuss · 23/11/2021 20:57

The Hive Mind series by Janet Edwards has a gay couple.

Artichokeleaves · 23/11/2021 20:57

The Vanyel trilogy, fantasy novels by Mercades Lackey, the lead character is gay and several gay and lesbian couples scattered through. Loved those when I was a teen coming to terms with being L, although they're probably very old fashioned now!

bookworm14 · 23/11/2021 21:15

Depends on the age of the teen, but Call Me By Your Name is great and suitable for probably 15+. Patrick Gale’s novels are also great, particularly Friendly Fire for that age group. For a younger reader Kiss by Jacqueline Wilson is good.

MistandMud · 23/11/2021 21:29

Wildthorne [not sure if it has the e] by Jane Eagland? Victorian era or thereabouts, with much to be indignant about but a good ending.

MistandMud · 23/11/2021 21:30

Honestly, anything written pre-2004 is likely to be fairly free from gender ideology extremes.

ZebrasKnit · 23/11/2021 21:32

Thank you, everyone. Great suggestions here!

OP posts:
logsonlogsoff · 23/11/2021 21:33

Anything Malinda lo,

UpturnedUmbrella · 23/11/2021 21:41

Oh I love LGB YA books!
Simon vs Homo sapien as someone already mentioned - then you have her other books- Leah on the offbeat, What if it’s us, the upside of unrequited.
Then Casey McQuiston (although I’d say older teen) - Red, white and royal blue
Then Simon James Green- Noah series, Heartbreak boys
Only mostly devastated by Sophie Gonzales
Then Bill Konigsburg- Openly straight- although I think a minor character comes out in as transgender in a later book from the same ‘world’ but it’s a good stand alone book
Then also ‘Date me Bryson Keller’ and ‘it’s not like it’s a secret’

bookworm14 · 23/11/2021 21:43

Also for older teens, Tipping the Velvet and Fingersmith by Sarah Waters are brilliant.

RedCarpetRebellion · 23/11/2021 21:51

Completely off topic but went searching for my old copy of ruby fruit jungle in the book room (piles upon piles of books exist where furniture does not) to see why the fuck the intro got redone 2014.

Can’t find it but did have a box of very old books fall on my head- all Lois Duncan, Caroline b Cooney & Richie Tankersy Cusiuk!!

So going to have to search through the rest of my childhood books now my kids are old enough for them.

AnimalTheDrummer · 23/11/2021 21:53

@KleineDracheKokosnuss

Red, white and royal blue. Geography club.
There's a transwoman in Red, White and Royal Blue.
pashmina696 · 23/11/2021 23:00

The Miseducation of Cameron Post

They both die at the end

Simon vs the homosapiens agenda

Oranges are not the only fruit

Sugar rush

Never anyone but you


Hope that helps!

Ridiculousradish · 23/11/2021 23:02

My son has just bought the graphic novel 'The Girl from the Sea.'

bookworm14 · 23/11/2021 23:10

@RedCarpetRebellion

Completely off topic but went searching for my old copy of ruby fruit jungle in the book room (piles upon piles of books exist where furniture does not) to see why the fuck the intro got redone 2014.

Can’t find it but did have a box of very old books fall on my head- all Lois Duncan, Caroline b Cooney & Richie Tankersy Cusiuk!!

So going to have to search through the rest of my childhood books now my kids are old enough for them.

I adored Lois Duncan! Summer of Fear and Stranger With My Face were particularly good. She also wrote I Know What You Did Last Summer, which bears a very limited resemblance to the film!
TheMarzipanDildo · 23/11/2021 23:12

I liked Kiss by Jacqueline Wilson when I was a teenager.