Gay and Lesbian Characters in Young Adult Literature

The social landscape has changed dramatically for gay and lesbian people over the past twenty years.  Similar changes have occurred in the ways that gays and lesbians are represented in young adult literature.  Tune in to hear about the many different ways in which contemporary authors are including gay, lesbian, and transgender characters in their novels for teens, and listen for recommendations of new as well as classic gay, lesbian, and transgender titles. 

After listening to this episode, be sure to print out this list of recommended titles to take to the library or book seller.

Recommendations in this episode include

• Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden (Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux, 1982)
• My Heartbeat by Garrett Freymann-Weyr (Houghton Mifflin, 2002)
• Empress of the World by Sara Ryan (Viking, 2001)
• Rules for Hearts by Sara Ryan (Viking, 2007)
• Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan (Alfred A. Knopf, 2003)
• Freak Show by James St. James (Dutton, 2007)
• Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger (Simon and Schuster, 2007)
• Debbie Harry Sings in French by Megan Brothers (Henry Holt, 2008)
• My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins & Fenway Park by Steve Kluger (Dial, 2008)