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Never Too Old (formerly YARLI) meets the 1st WEDNESDAY of the month to share the diversity, depth, and relevance of Young Adult & Juvenile books. All ages are welcome. For more information, contact beth@lopezlibrary.org |
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The evolution of Calpurnia Tate
by Jacqueline Kelly
In central Texas in 1899, eleven-year-old Callie Vee Tate is instructed to be a lady by her mother, learns about love from the older three of her six brothers, and studies the natural world with her grandfather.
This one is also available as an ebook on Overdrive, and an audiobook (with CDs) in the library.
If you've read this already, try the sequel:
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The curious world of Calpurnia Tate
by Jacqueline Kelly
A follow-up to the Newbery Honor-winning The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate finds Callie working with a visiting veterinarian and discovering her life's calling in spite of societal expectations that limit her options.
Available as downloadable audio on both Overdrive and Hoopla (no waiting), in addition to the paper library copy.
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Answers in the pages
by David Levithan
When his mother rallies other parents to pull the book hes reading from the district curriculum because it depicts a relationship between two boys, Donovan must speak up and stand out to stop this book from being banned.
A wonderful contribution to the growing Middle Grade LGBTQIA+ genre. The reader loved the format, from multiple viewpoints: Donovan, two of his schoolmates, and that of The Adventurers novel with Rick and Oliver. Features a very accurately portrayed book challenge at an elementary school.
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Darius the Great is not okay
by Adib Khorram
Clinically-depressed Darius Kellner, a high school sophomore, travels to Iran to meet his grandparents, but it is their next-door neighbor, Sohrab, who changes his life.
The LGBTQ content is subtle enough that you could even miss it in this title. There are a lot of other things going on, and it is very well-written, never feeling like anything was added to check a box. Several readers highly recommend this title.
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Darius the great deserves better
by Adib Khorram
Darius Kellner is having a bit of a year. Since his trip to Iran, a lot has changed. He's getting along with his dad, and his best friend Sohrab is only a Skype call away. Between his first boyfriend, Landon, varsity soccer practices, and an internship at his favorite tea shop, things are falling into place. Then, of course, everything changes. Darius's grandmothers are in town for a long visit, and Darius can't tell whether they even like him. The internship is not going according to plan, Sohrab isn'tanswering Darius's calls, and Dad is far away on business. And Darius is sure he really likes Landon . . . but he's also been hanging out with Chip Cusumano, former bully and current soccer teammate--and well, maybe he's not so sure about anything after all. Darius was just starting to feel okay, like he finally knew what it meant to be Darius Kellner. But maybe okay isn't good enough. Maybe Darius deserves better.
This one is definitely an LGBTQ romance, but with other things going on too. A solid sequel, and a good read.
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Light from uncommon stars
by Ryka Aoki
To reclaim her damned soul, a gifted, but cursed violinist must take on seven students and try to entice each to trade their soul for fame while a starship captain races to stop the end of existence.
The reader struggled with this book, mainly because of the scifi, curse, and soul-trading content, but wanted to persevere and finish it. The transgender teen character is escaping a difficult past due to trans-phobia. But did we mention the retired starship captain serving donuts and coffee?
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The girls I've been
by Tess Sharpe
When seventeen-year-old Nora O'Malley, the daughter of a con artist, is taken hostage in a bank heist, every secret she is keeping close begins to unravel.
This book is a thriller combining mystery and LGBTQ romance. The reader said it was fast-paced and she especially enjoyed the psychological aspects.
Also soon to be a Netflix film.
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The inexplicable logic of my life
by Benjamin Alire SƔenz
Having believed he was happy with his place in the loving Mexican-American family he shares with his adoptive gay father, Sal turns angry and uncertain when his senior year arrives and he realizes that he wants to know more about his biological origins. By the author of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.
Sal has two close friends, also having tough senior years: Samantha (Sam) whose single mom is a distant addict, and Fito who holds down two jobs while trying to help keep his dysfunctional family together and solvent. All three are dealing with difficult (sometimes devastating) situations, yet there is much wisdom, kindness, and humor in this book. The three friends, with the help of Sal's amazing father, help each other through everything, and the writing is so good that it is ultimately an uplifting book.
Highly recommended.
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Gender queer / : A Memoir
by Maia Kobabe
In 2014, Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, thought that a comic of reading statistics would be the last autobiographical comic e would ever write. At the time, it was the only thing e felt comfortable with strangers knowing about em. Then e created Gender Queer. Maia's intensely cathartic autobiography charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gayfan fiction, and facing the trauma and fundamental violation of pap smears. Started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer is more than a personal story: It is a useful and touching guide on gender identity--what it means and how to think about it--for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere.
Highly recommended.
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The 57 bus
by Dashka Slater
Documents the true story of two Oakland high school students, a white trans teen from a privileged private school and a black youth from a school overshadowed by crime, whose fateful interaction triggered devastating consequences for both, garnering national attention and raising awareness about hate. By the author of The Sea Serpent and Me.
It is the sort of story that might be criticized as too contrived if it wasn't true. It brings up good discussion points about both hate crimes and the discrimination inherent in our justice system. Recommended.
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Last night at the Telegraph Club
by Malinda Lo
When Lily realizes she has feelings for a girl in her math class, it threatens Lily's oldest friendships and even her father's citizenship status and eventually, Lily must decide if owning her truth is worth everything she has ever known.
Historical fiction covering attitudes towards both lesbians and Chinese-Americans in 1950's California. The Chinese-American community's attitudes towards women's roles further complicated Lily's life. As you can see, this book won lots of awards, and for good reason - recommended.
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To Night Owl from Dogfish
by Holly Goldberg Sloan
A laugh-out-loud tale of friendship and family, told entirely in emails and letters, follows the experiences of two 12-year-old girls--one bookish and fearful, the other fearless and adventuresome--who are sent to camp to bond when their fathers fall in love. By the author of Counting by 7s.
This is a fun read for summer or any time, with several unexpected twists. Written for a juvenile audience (10+), the only LGBTQ content is about the fathers. Both girls think it is pretty cool to have a gay dad, and like most children of a single parent, they both also think they should get to decide who and when their parent does or doesn't marry. Things don't often go according to their plans!
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Bitter
by Akwaeke Emezi
After a childhood in foster care, Bitter is thrilled to have been chosen to attend Eucalyptus, a special school where she can focus on her painting surrounded by other creative teens. But outside this haven, the streets are filled with protests against the deep injustices that grip the city of Lucille. Bitter's instinct is to stay safe within the walls of Eucalyptus but her friends aren't willing to settle for a world that's so far away from what they deserve. Pulled between old friendships, her artistic passion, and a new romance, Bitter isn't sure where she belongs--in the studio or in the streets. And if she does find a way to help the revolution while being true to who she is, she must also ask: at what cost?
There are lesbian and trans characters, and they do need protection, but primarily this is a very good BLM novel written as a mixture of current reality and fantasy.
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Pet
by Akwaeke Emezi
In a near-future society that claims to have gotten rid of all monstrous people, a creature emerges from a painting seventeen-year-old Jam's mother created, a hunter from another world seeking a real-life monster.
Jam has been transgender from an early age, and that is an important part of this story, and yet not the main thing the story is about.
This book was written first, but I would actually suggest reading Bitter first. Bitter is Jam's mother and that book happens before Jam is born, in a past Jam knows little about. Similar to how many of us were not taught much of substance about our own country's history. They are meant to be companion novels, but this cautionary tale may make more sense when you know the back-story from Bitter. On the other hand, part of the point is that Jam doesn't know the back story.
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Just your local bisexual disaster
by Andrea Mosqueda
In need of a date for her sister's quinceaƱera, Maggie Gonzalez confronts new and old feelings for her best friend Amanda, her ex-boyfriend Matthew, and Dani, a new girl with her own romantic baggage.
This story is centered around bisexual romance, but contains much more. Maggie is the middle sister of 3, raised by a single mother because her father died when she was quite young. The sisters bicker sometimes but also are very supportive of each other and their mother, all working in the family store. Maggie is a junior in HS with college dreams, and struggles with confusion about where she wants to go and whether she can talk to her family about this. Her friend group felt very realistic, sometimes supportive, sometimes splintered by new romances or hurt feelings between friends. Her small town was not nearly as small as ours, but still familiar in some ways. Highly recommended.
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When you look like us
by Pamela N. Harris
When his sister Nicole disappears, Jay Murphy must take up the search for her when the police department won't investigate her case.
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Lopez Island Library 2225 Fisherman Bay Rd Lopez Island, Washington 98261 360-468-2265www.lopezlibrary.org |
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