Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball by Jason June

5 stars I went into this expecting a simple, easy-going romance read, but was pleasantly surprised. It tackled a lot of issues with insight and humor. The fabulous femme teen, Riley Weaver knows joining the Gaybutante Society will help him on his journey to podcast stardom. But when he makes a bet with Skylar, who…

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Payden’s Pronoun Party by Blue Jaryn

Illustrated by Xochitl Cornejo 5 stars A delightful picture book that normalizes questioning one’s gender identity, surrounding yourself with supportive friends and family, and finding a good fit for you. Payden doesn’t quite feel like a boy and sets out to talk to friends and community members about how they found their pronouns. The books…

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In Transit: Being Non-Binary in a World of Dichotomies

by Dianna E. Anderson 3 stars Overall, an interesting read. Anderson tackles quite a few topics in this book, mostly centering around the language of trans identity and gender-nonconformity, and the issues of a world that seeks binaries. The book is a bit tricky to pin down because it’s a little bit of everything. Part…

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What’s The T? by Juno Dawson

Illustrated by Soofiya 5 stars A fantastic read that is educational, supportive, affirming, and inclusive. What a great book. Dawson brings a touch a humor to a topic that can often be scary, stressful, and frustrating. She also offers advice and support along the way. While the book is targeted toward teens and young adults…

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It Feels Good to Be Yourself

A Book About Gender Identity by Theresa Thorn Illustrated by Noah Grigni 4 stars Informative and encouraging. A sweet book presenting a variety of gender identities through its characters. It discusses being a girl, a boy, both, and neither. A great place to start having conversations with young children about gender identity and expression. Through…

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Dungeon Critters by Natalie Riess and Sara Goetter

5 stars Action, adventure, mystery, drama, humor, and a bit of adorable romance. This Dungeons-and-Dragons-style book has it all! Enter the fantasy world of an unnamed kingdom and join a group of friends on their quest to discover the truth behind an odd plant. This book was so much fun. Filled with supportive friendships, action…

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Heartstopper: Volume Four (Heartstopper #4) by Alice Oseman

5 stars Another fantastic volume in the Heartstopper series. This one is heavier than the previous volumes. While the others tend to be sweet with a hint of hardship, this one really focuses on the hardships of life and relationships. It deals with some serious topics including mental health, specifically eating disorders and references to…

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I Am Not Starfire by Mariko Tamaki

Illustrated by Yoshi Yoshitani 3 stars A fun spin on the Titans. Nice mix of daily life and superhero escapades. Works well for those who are at least vaguely aware of the DC characters and are accepting of changes to the universe. The story follows Mandy, who sees herself as the opposite of her mother,…

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The Heartstopper Yearbook by Alice Oseman

4 stars While I love the Heartstopper series, I wasn’t sure a companion art book would live up to it content-wise. I’m so glad I was wrong. I enjoyed this more than I initially thought I would. The book contains profiles of the characters, family trees, mini-comics, and themed artwork for different holidays and seasons….

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Nick and Charlie: A Heartstopper Novella by Alice Oseman

4 stars The Heartstopper boys are back! Loved catching up with Nick and Charlie. In this novella, Nick is excited to head off to university, but that enthusiasm makes Charlie feel left behind. A fun story in which we get a bit of an update on the Heartstopper characters including Tao, Elle, Tori, Aled, Harry,…

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