11/30/2021 0 Comments Books to uplift lgbtq+ teensEmbracing your identity and sexuality is takes courage in a world that would prefer you not to. These stories highlight courageous characters that express themselves in different ways, but all stay true to themselves. Below are also some resources if you are a teen of the LGBTQ+ community in search of some assistance. What are the chances of having the last name Love, but not actually be able to experience it. Well, Felix Love knows all too well. He desperately wants to know what it’s like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. And although he is proud of who he is, being Black, queer, and transgender can make a person feel like they’ll never find true love. On the other hand, Felix starts receiving hateful and transphobic messages from an anonymous student, and begins to plot revenge. What he didn’t count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi–love triangle....But as he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself. Felix Ever After is such a great story about identity and learning how to deeply fall in love with yourself before anyone else. Through a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson explores their childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. From the memories of getting their teeth kicked out by bullies at age five, to flea marketing with their loving grandmother, to their first sexual relationships, this young-adult memoir weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer youth. Both a primer for teens eager to be allies as well as a reassuring testimony for young queer folks of color, All Boys Aren't Blue covers topics such as gender identity, toxic masculinity, brotherhood, family, structural marginalization, consent, and Black joy. Johnson's blunt and honest writing is relatable and is a great chance for other young adults to see themselves. For Liz Lighty, high school has not held the best memories. She has always felt she’s too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed Midwestern town. But she’s created a solid plan; attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor. But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz’s plans come crashing down. That is, until she’s reminded of her school’s scholarship for prom king and queen. Although the last thing Liz wants to do is endure social media trolls, catty competitors, humiliating public events, and face her fear of the spotlight, this might be her last chance to get to Pennington. The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She’s smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams...or make them come true?
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In a world that holds impossible beauty standards, it's important to remember how beautiful every body is. These books remind people to embrace every bit of them, even in the face of rejection. Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked . . . until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back. Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all. High school finally behind her, Winnie is all set to attend college in the fall. But first she's spending her summer days working at her granny’s diner and begins spending her midnights with Dallas—the boy she loves to hate and hates that she likes. Winnie lives in Misty Haven, a small town where secrets are impossible to keep—like when Winnie allegedly snaps on Dr. Skinner, which results in everyone feeling compelled to give her weight loss advice for her own good. Because they care that’s she’s “too fat.” Winnie dreams of someday inheriting the diner—but it'll go away if they can't make money, and fast. Winnie has a solution—win a televised cooking competition and make bank. But Granny doesn't want her to enter—so Winnie has to find a way around her formidable grandmother. Can she come out on top? An intersectional, feminist young adult anthology from some of today's most exciting voices across a span of genres, all celebrating body diversity and fat acceptance through short stories.Fat girls and boys and nonbinary teens are: friends who lift each other up, heroes who rescue themselves, big bodies in space, intellects taking up space and bodies looking and feeling beautiful. They express themselves through fashion, sports and other physical pursuits, through food, and music, and art. They are flirting and falling in love. They are loving to themselves and one another. With stories that feature fat main characters starring in a multitude of settings and written by authors who live these lives too, this is truly a unique collection that shows fat young people the representation they deserve. RESOURCES
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January 2022
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