I call upon all Americans to observe this month by fighting prejudice and discrimination in their own lives and everywhere it exists.” President Barack Obama, May 31, 2011

President Obama spoke these words during his address to the nation recognizing LGBTQ Pride Month, which occurs every June. Here at San Jose Public Library we are celebrating the achievements of our LGBTQ community and continue to support equality for all. Some of your local branches may have Pride Month book displays and organizations around the city will be hosting dances, parades, and other events. Stay tuned to our blog for more Pride Month information in the coming weeks.

I want to share some of teen books we have recently added to our collection which feature LGBTQ characters. This is a small portion of the amazing books we have to offer. These books are great reads no matter how you identify. Step into another’s shoes or find a character you can relate to; we would love to see your reviews in our Catalog! 

My Awesome/Awful Popularity Plan by Seth Rudetsky

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth

In the early 1990s, when gay teenager Cameron Post rebels against her conservative Montana ranch town and her family decides she needs to change her ways, she is sent to a gay conversion therapy center.

Tessa Masterson Will Go to Prom by Brendan Halpin

Feeling humiliated and confused when his best friend Tessa rejects his love and  reveals a long-held secret, high school senior Luke must decide if he should stand by Tessa when she invites a female date to the prom, sparking a firestorm of controversy in their small Indiana town.

It’s Our Prom (So Deal With It) by Julie Anne Peters

Told in separate voices, Azure, who is a lesbian, and Luke, who is bisexual, help plan an inclusive senior prom while Luke is writing and producing a musical about his life, both are working through the crush they have on their friend Radhika, and all three are dealing with problems at home.

Gone, Gone, Gone by Hannah Moskowitz

Struggling with the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and sniper shootings throughout the Washington, D.C. area, Craig and Lio consider a romantic relationship that is complicated by Craig's ex-boyfriend, Lio's broken family, and the death of Lio's brother.

Happy Families by Tanita S. Davis

Kiss the Morning Star by Elissa Janine Hoole

The summer after high school graduation and one year after her mother's tragic death, Anna and her long-time best friend Kat set out on a road trip across the country, armed with camping supplies and a copy of Jack Kerouac's Dharma Bums, determined to be open to anything that comes their way.

37 Things I Love (in No Particular Order) by Kekla Magoon

Fifteen-year-old Ellis recalls her favorite things as her mother's desire to turn off the machines that have kept Ellis's father alive for two years fill the last four days of her sophomore year with major changes in herself and her relationships.

Silhouette of a Sparrow by Molly Beth Griffin

During the summer of 1926 in the lake resort town of Excelsior, Minnesota, sixteen-year-old Garnet, who dreams of indulging her passion for ornithology, is resigned to marrying a nice boy and settling into middle-class homemaking until she takes a liberating job in a hat shop and begins an intense, secret relationship with a  daring and beautiful flapper.

Adaptation by Malinda Lo

In the aftermath of a series of plane crashes caused by birds, seventeen-year-old Reese and her debate-team partner, David, receive medical treatment at a secret government facility and become tangled in a conspiracy that is, according to Reese's friend, Julian, connected with aliens and UFOs.

Ask the Passengers by A.S. King

"Astrid Jones copes with her small town's gossip and narrow-mindedness by staring at the sky and imagining that she's sending love to the passengers in the airplanes flying high over her backyard. Maybe they'll know what to do with it. Maybe it'll make them happy. Maybe they'll need it. Her mother doesn't want it, her father's always stoned, her perfect sister's too busy trying to fit in, and the people in her small town would never allow her to love the person she really wants to: another girl named Dee. There's no one Astrid feels she can talk to about this deep secret or the profound questions that she's trying to answer. But little does she know just how much sending her love and asking the right questions will affect the passengers’ lives, and her own, for the better." -- Provided by publisher.

Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirstin Cronn-Mills

"Gabe has always identified as a boy, but he was born with a girl's body. With his new public access radio show gaining in popularity, Gabe struggles with romance, friendships, and parents--all while trying to come out as transgendered. An audition for a station in Minneapolis looks like his ticket to a better life in the big city. But his entire future is threatened when several violent guys find out Gabe, the popular DJ, is also Elizabeth from school." -- Provided by publisher.

The Sin-Eater’s Confession by Ilsa J. Bick

While serving in Afghanistan, Ben writes about incidents from his senior year in a small-town Wisconsin high school, when a neighbor he was trying to help out becomes the victim of an apparent hate crime and Ben falls under suspicion.

The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door by Karen Finneyfrock

Fourteen-year-old Celia, hurt by her parents' separation, the loss of her only friend, and a classmate's cruelty, has only her poetry for solace until newcomer Drake Berlin befriends her, comes out to her, and seeks her help in connecting with the boy he left behind.

When Love Comes to Town by Tom Lennon

Neil Byrne, a teenager in Dublin, Ireland, in the 1990s, comes to terms with the fact that he is gay and seeks acceptance from his friends and family.

Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg

Tired of being known as "the gay kid", Rafe Goldberg decides to assume a new persona when he comes east and enters an elite Massachusetts prep school but trying to deny his identity has both complications and unexpected consequences.

The library is a safe place where you can come and be yourself. For anyone struggling with bullying or harassment, remember It Gets Better! If you want book recommendations or referals to local LGBTQ organizations talk to your local librarian today.