Where is the L Word in LGTBQ YA Books? by Roy Jackson and Erinn Bentley

​Roy Edward Jackson was a teacher and librarian with the Atlanta Public Schools for over twenty years. Currently, he is a graduate student and teacher with the Northeast Ohio Master of Fine Arts program at Youngstown State University studying creative writing. 

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Erinn Bentley is a professor of English education at Columbus State University in Georgia and the co-editor of Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education.

Where is the L Word in LGTBQ YA Books? by Roy Jackson and Erinn Bentley

A curious, but not surprising, rise in challenging books in our schools has occurred recently. While most of these books are not mandatory reading in any class, isolated portions of these books are often deemed offensive by some concerned stakeholders who desire to have them removed from library shelves. It comes as no shock that many of these books are YA LGTBQ books. 

There is an ever pervasive misnomer that LGTBQ books are about sex, and not about identity. While some YA LGTBQ books, just like YA straight books, do contain an appropriate sexual exploration content, most titles center the story around identity and not any sexual act. But the muddling of identity and sexual acts by those who challenge these books is concerning as it may lead to erasing representation. Young readers need to not only see themselves represented in books, but all young readers need to read about people different from themselves to foster acceptance and understanding.

While the continued increase in YA LGTBQ published titles yearly is encouraging, there is a nuance that needs to be considered. Roughly 50% of all YA LGTBQ published books are centered around white, cis gendered, gay males. That number is concerning as the majority of YA LGTBQ titles seem to solely focus on one letter in the acronym of the community, along with one race. 

YA books published with a lesbian protagonist only account for approximately 25% of all YA LGTBQ titles. It begs the question; why the lack of diversity in race and gender in YA LGTBQ publishing? This could be attributed to the fact that the publishing industry workforce is comprised of almost 75% white, straight, cis gendered females. While this workforce may have led to a disproportionate focus on one letter of the LGTBQ community there is something to celebrate. In the last few years, a growing number of books that have a lesbian protagonist have not only included a much needed diversity in gender and race, but they have also transcended genre as well. In today’s post, we have focused on 6 noteworthy titles. ​

Radio Silence by Alice Osman centers on Frances, a high-achieving student in the United Kingdom obsessed with her academic success and Universe City, a science fiction podcast. She befriends Aled, a shy student, who also is the elusive creator of Universe City. When Aled asks Frances to illustrate his podcast, the two form a deep - platonic - relationship. Surrounded by other friends who are all struggling in a high-pressure education system, these characters discover that one’s true self is not defined by good grades, family expectations, or societal norms. 

Regarding LGBTQ representation, the five main characters identify as bisexual, lesbian, gay, pansexual, and demisexual. What is endearing about this novel is that it does not focus on a romantic relationship. Instead, it centers on a friendship between a boy and a girl who do not fall in love, but share a powerful connection. Regarding diversity, the characters are mixed race, White, and Korean. This may be one of the most diverse casts of characters in contemporary YA literature. 
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Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust is a feminist re-telling of “Snow White.” Set in a dark, fairy-tale world, the novel is told from the alternating perspectives of Princess Lynet (Snow White) and Mina (Lynet’s stepmother). Mina’s heart is replaced with glass, making her wonder if she is capable of feeling love. Princess Lynet is made from snow, making her wonder if she can feel human. Enter missionary.lds.org/clothing ​Nadia, the young court surgeon, whose friendship with Lynet evolves into a romantic relationship. Some familiar plot points are woven together with fresh twists. Ultimately, this is not a tale, but a portrayal of strong women who refute their fates and save themselves and one another.

For anyone tired of damsels in distress, this novel is refreshing. For any girl who has been told her worth lies in her physical appearance or in being “delicate,” these characters are empowering. Regarding LGBTQ representation, the romance between Lynet and Nadia, though sweet, plays a minor role. Instead, the novel predominantly focuses on family relationships, whether those families are forged in blood, through magic, or are found.
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Girl Mans Up by M.E. Girard portrays Pen, a lesbian teen in contemporary Canada. At home and at school, she is ridiculed for not looking or acting “like a girl.” Pen’s parents, who immigrated from Portugal, complicate her situation, as they hold traditional views of gender roles and constantly criticize her. Pen’s life changes when she becomes close with two classmates - Blake (her girlfriend) and Olivia (a platonic friend). Torn between her new relationships and loyalty to lifelong friends (who have been abusive), Pen bravely and fiercely fights to be understood, respected, and - ultimately - loved.

Regarding “L” representation, this novel squarely centers on a queer relationship and the struggles this teen faces due to her sexual orientation and presentation. Additionally, Pen is a first-generation immigrant. While Pen does experience some triumphs, much of the novel includes visceral descriptions of the verbal, emotional, psychological, and physical abuse she endures. It is by no means an easy read, but the characters are so real and raw, it is well worth spending time in their world. 

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Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake takes place during a tornado that destroys her  home, 12 year old Ivy only keeps one item when they seek safety, her sketchbook. But Ivy’s sketch book is more than just a place she draws. It is the place she holds her most private thoughts, and that includes her being a lesbian. When her sketchbook goes missing at the shelter, Ivy must face her sexual identity head on for fear of it getting out. Ivy’s story is universal, if the gender of just one character were to be changed it would read the same. All young adults have this fear of their innermost thoughts being public and because of this universal nature of the story makes this book accessible to all readers to see themselves and to see how much we are all alike. The “L” character in this story is one that is universal to all readers.

The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie is set in a fantasy, dystopian world. Skrutskie’s protagonist, Cas, is a late teen who, along with her parents, trains genetically engineered sea monsters that protect their territory. Cas boards a luxury cruise ship with her giant sea monster who is engineered to protect vessels from unfriendly fire. However, a pirate ship attacks the cruise ship and Cas is taken hostage. Swift, a member of the pirate ship, is Cas’ main captor. Over time the two form a romance. Eventually Cas and Swift escape the pirates to Cas’ family’s home. What makes this novel special is the genre. To have a queer romance, particularly a lesbian romance, set in a fantasy fiction YA novel is rare. Both Cas and Swift are smart, physically strong, and adept at survival. The novel makes no exception to the fact that the young women are lesbians, rather portrays them as a universal love story set in a sci-fi universe where survival is paramount. The “L” is prominent in the novel, but never fully exudes that they are “other” rather that they are in a budding romance in a complicated world.

The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar is the story of Nishat, a Bangladeshi teen living in Ireland who comes out to her family while they attend an arranged wedding ceremony. Nishat is fully realized as a character and one who in her late teens is comfortable with her sexual identity. Her experiences are universal to many LGTBQ teens, but ones that straight teens will relate to. Nishat faces bullying, and that bullying comes at the hands of her secret crush, a crush that is reciprocated. The story of LGTBQ teens who face bullying at the hands of their romantic partner, who is not out, is one that is a common experience, but not always told in books. Jaigirdar does this well. She paints Nishat with broad but fine strokes that are universal and unique to characterization and experience. With Nishat, readers are shown a representation of a “L” character that is diverse in gender, race, and religion. Nishat is truly a unique and important character for all to read. 

Gay male protagonists account for approximately twice as many portrayals in YA LGTBQ published works than lesbian protagonists. The majority of these gay male protagonists in YA books are also white. While this is concerning, there is a positive increase in representation of lesbian protagonists in recent works. Not only do these protagonists depict a lesbian main character, they also show an increase in representation in gender as well as in race, religion and even genre. These six books are a small sampling of the increasing diversity within the LGTBQ community and their representations of young adult depictions in books.