Recommended by: Kavi Nielsen & Aurelia Preskill
Genre(s): Romance, horror
Age Range: 13-18
Trigger Warnings: blood, gore, child abuse, medical abuse, abelism, eating disorders, murder, body horror
Hazelthorn by CG Drewsfollows Evander, who lives in the house of his reclusive guardian, Byron Lennox-Hall. Mr. Lennox-Hall gave him two rules when he was little: never go to the gardens, and never interact with Laurie. But when Mr. Lennox Hall is murdered, Evander must work with Laurie to track down the murderer before he's killed next. Hazelthorn has the most gorgeous writing ever, which makes the marvelous overlords very jealous. You will never be the same again.
Recommended by: Kavi Nielsen & Aurelia Preskill
Genre: Regency Retelling
Age Range: 13-18
Trigger Warnings: frequent deadnaming/misgendering, intense gender & body dysphoria, transphobia
Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Nova is a Pride and Prejudice retelling where Darcy is gay and Elizabeth's real name is Oliver. It's super cute and silly and has a happy ending, which is rare and nice.
Recommended by: Alexa Grospe
Genre(s): literary fiction (queer literature), modernist fiction, tragedy
Age Range: 15+ (or reading grades 11-12)
Trigger Warnings: Homophobia, death/murder, abuse, transphobia, alcohol abuse
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin is a tragic novel set during the 1950s in Paris, France. The story follows a young American man who struggles with his hidden sexuality and internal shame while being caught between his engagement to a woman and his deep love with an Italian bartender who he has a passionate affair with. Although it was published all the way back in 1956, this novel explores many different themes that are significant to queer literature today. James Baldwin's writing is very profound and displays a deep emotional intensity that is rare to find in many literature novels. Would 100% recommend!
Recommended by: Kai Cann
Genre: young adult (YA) fantasy,
Age range: 13+
Trigger warnings: graphic violence, severe trauma, some gore, substance use
Six of Crows follows six teenagers attempt to pull off an impossible heist. They steal a person from the most guarded prison in the realm. This novel includes:
1. A gambling addict who is good with his guns
2. An innocent boy with a pampered, traumatic childhood
... and 4 other people.
(Also included in the Movie/TV Show section)
Recommended by: Alexa Grospe
Genre(s): romance, bildungsroman (coming of age), literary fiction
Age range: No specific age range- around 12 grade reading level
Trigger warnings: sexually explicit content, disturbing imagery, homophobia
Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman is set in 1980s Italy, about an intensely passionate and transformative summer romance between a boy and a young research assistant. Although this novel/film is seen by most as merely a love story, this story was personally meaningful to me because it explores the nature of youth and identity that come from the experience of knowing what love is.
Many people know of this story through the film sharing the same name, starring Timothée Chalamet, but I believe the novel should get the same amount of love and attention.
"Is it better to speak or to die?" (one of the best quotes ever)
Recommended by: Kai Cann
Genre(s): YA contemporary fiction, coming of age
Age range: 14-18 (9-12 grade level)
Trigger warnings: physical violence/assault/abuse, rape, suicide, transphobia, strong language
Symptoms of Being Human follows a gender-fluid teen named Riley, who is navigating a new school and the bullies that it houses. They also have to live with a politician for a dad and his publicity. Riley starts writing an anonymous blog online to vent their feelings and find a sense of self acceptance and expression.
Recommended by: Kai Cann
Genre(s): epic/historical fantasy
Age range: 14-17
Trigger warnings: graphic violence, torture, murder
Dark Rise is set in 1800s London, following Will, a young man who discovers he is part of an old magical world whose descendants have resurfaced and are fighting in a centuries-long war. After discovering his destiny, he is forced to join the fight and enter a dangerous world of magic and betrayal.
(manga series: written + illustrated by a transgender artist!)
Recommended by: Kai Cann
Genre(s): coming of age, slice of life, drama
Age range: 13+
Trigger warnings: some transphobia + gender dysphoria
Boys Run the Riot is a manga series that follows Ryo, a trans boy who is keeping his identity a secret from his family and classmates. Ryo runs into a rough-looking transfer student named Jin, and they decide to team up to launch their own indie clothing line called "Boys Run the Riot", which calls for fashion to be used as a form of defiance against societal norms and assumptions. Ryo and Jin provide each other with someone to rely on, and find authentic self expression through their shared passions.
Recommended by: Aurelia Preskill
Genre: historical comedy
Rating: rated R (we are unsure why)
Trigger Warnings: strong language, homophobia (slurs & verbal abuse), violence, smoking, drinking, light drug use
Pride is a heartwarming movie based on the true story of the UK miner strikes of 1984-85, and LGSM (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners) an organization started to support the striking miners. The film is funny, heartfelt, and made me cry. 100% recommend. For anyone who might be deterred by the R rating, the movie is intense, and deals with themes of AIDS and LGBTQ discrimination, but it's not overtly explicit.
Recommended by: Kavi Nielsen & Aurelia Preskill
Genre: fantasy
Rating: 7+
Trigger Warnings: parental abandonment, emotional manipulation, anxiety, possession, a little body horror, emotional trauma
Platform: Disney+
The Owl House is a TV show that follows Luz as she enters a new, magical world, and all her challenges fitting in and going home. It's really cute, but it gets fairly intense in season 2. Despite the age rating, it's actually for traumatized gay teenagers, not just children :)
Recommended by: Alexa Grospe & Vida Ray
Genre(s): horror, romance
Rating: rated R (because of the violence, mostly)
Trigger warnings: Severe depictions of violence, gore, religious trauma, abuse, some sexually explicit material, strong language
Leviticus is a psychological + supernatural horror movie set in a conservative Christian community, following two teenage boys as they attempt to escape from a violent entity that takes the form of the person they desire the most– each other. In addition to the amazing storyline, the cinematography in this film is absolutely beautiful. Leviticus is for all of the horror lovers who crave a mix of both romance + terror. Would also recommend this title to those who don't watch a lot of horror- this film blends many different genres.
(more description + details in the Books section)
Recommended by: Alexa Grospe
Rating: rated R
Trigger warnings: explicit sexual content, substance use, some language
Although I will always suggest reading the novel before any film adaptation, I think that seeing Call Me by Your Name on a screen gives you an experience that you won't get while reading the novel. The cinematography in the film, released in 2017, is just absolutely gorgeous. (Other than the cinematography and dialogue, it might also just be the influence of a young Timothée Chalamet that makes this movie so wonderful).
And yes, this film is highly controversial for many reasons, and might not be for everyone, but at the same time carries lots of meaning to anyone who is young and trying to explore their identity through the existence of love.
"Is it better to speak or to die?" (one of the best quotes ever)
Girls by Girl in Red
King Princess (artist)
Sofia by Clairo
Sailor Song by Gigi Perez