Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: LGBTQ: What I've Read and What I Want to Read

Of course I love diverse books, and books that cover difficult topics just as many readers do. Books that explore themes of gender and sexual identity have become more prevalent in the YA book world- which is a great thing. So today I've got five of my favorite LGBTQ books, and five that I really want to read. Leave me your recommendations down below!
Hosted by: The Broke and the Bookish 

Books I have loved:
 

1. Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
This book is so weird, so good, and not talked about enough! I love Smith's writing as it sounds so natural and real and I love how he tackles multiple important themes in each of his novels. This one tackles defining your sexuality and how humans record and think about history.

2. Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
Levithan is the King of gay YA fiction! His books are so funny and his characters are so real. I love how many of his books are about gay kids who have already come out and are happy with themselves and their lives. Most of the time LGBTQ books have an sad element to them, but his books are about people who love themselves finding love, and it's so refreshing.

3. Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becki Albertalli 
This is the most swoon-worthy book I have ever read! I had a huge goofy smile on my face the entire time I read this book. I loved the characters, I loved the romance, and I loved the humor.

 

4. I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
This is still my favorite book I have read all year, and there is no way I will ever stop talking about it! Nelson's writing is beyond beautiful and the characters in this novel (Noah in particular) are just as beautiful and have found a permanent place in my heart.

5. Great by Sara Benincasa
The concept of this book is really cool. It's a YA retelling of The Great Gatsby, but where our Gatsby and Daisy characters are both girls. This one was a really fun read as I love Gatsby and the spin on this retelling.

Books I want to read (and then love): 

 

6. Ask the Passengers by A.S. King
I need to read more A.S. King, and I have had this one on my Nook forever! I trust King with the important topics, and I have heard this novel is really good.

7. Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
I also have this one on my Nook and would love to get to it soon! As I said above, I love Levithan's novels. And I also love the fact that he was writing fiction with gay characters in a time where that was a rarity!

8. The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson 
This is a 2015 release about being transgender, and it looks like it is well done! I really want to get my hands on this one!

 

9. Luna by Julie Anne Peters
This is somewhat of a YA classic, and one of the first popular YA books about being transgender. I would love to give this ground-breaking book a read.

10. Fans of the impossible Life by Kate Scelsa
This is also a 2015 release, that sounds like it will be both poignant and funny. It's about a girl who is in love with her gay best friend. 

22 comments:

  1. So many books I love on this list. Boy Meets Boy. Two Boys Kissing. I'll Give You the Sun. Grasshopper Jungle. I also have Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda on my shelf right now, waiting to be read.

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    1. I think you will love Simon! Such an enjoyable read!
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. Great list! Luna is such a good book. There are so many here that I need to read. Happy reading.
    Top 10 @Libby Blog

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    1. Glad to hear you loved Luna! I need to pick it up soon!
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. I think I just added most of your list to my TBR pile. :)

    My TTT

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  4. I am going to look fro GREAT. I love retellings. Anne's Top Ten

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  5. Ask the Passengers is a really great title. It was the first A.S. King book I read and I never looked back. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is high up there on my TBR along with Grasshopper Jungle.

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    1. I think you will love both Simon and Grasshopper Jungle! I've read one King (Everybody Sees the Ants) and I really enjoyed it, so I am eager to read more King.
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  6. I absolutely adored Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda. Such a good book! I want to try and read Grasshopper Jungle soon. My TTT!

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    1. It was such a sweet read! Grasshopper Jungle is bizarre but so good. Hope you enjoy!
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  7. Great list! I'd like to read Ask the Passengers, too - in fact I'd like to read anything by A.S. King, because I still haven't gotten to her books yet. I'd like to check out Grasshopper Jungle and Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda, too. :)

    P.S. I love your blog's new design!

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    1. I read Everybody Sees the Ants by King and loved it. It's a great example of magical realism. I think you would love Simon!
      Thanks for noticing the new design!
      Thanks for stopping by Jess!

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  8. Grasshopper sound amazing and I haven't heard of it before. Awesome Picks Check out my Top Ten Tuesday

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    1. It's a really great read! Hope you enjoy!
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  9. I've read three of these! I didn't like Great very much, but I did love both Simon and I'll Give You the Sun. I really want to read Ask the Passengers! I've read one of the author's other books (Reality Boy) and it was fantastic.

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    1. Glad to hear you liked Reality Boy! I'm really eager to read more A.S. King!
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  10. Great list. I really like David Levithan's writing so am looking forward to Boy Meets Boy and Two Boys Kissing. I loved the Art of being Normal. My TTT

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    1. I enjoy Levithan's writing too! Glad to hear you enjoyed The Art of Being Normal!
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  11. What a great list! Thanks for posting! I've seen Great around, but I don't think I've ever read the synopsis before today. Sounds really interesting! I have one of David Levithan's books, but I haven't gotten around to reading it. It appears his books offer a lot of diversity.

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    1. His books are great for diverse and real reads! His books always make me laugh when I read them. Hope you enjoy!
      Thanks for stopping by!

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