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Books featuring gay boys appropriate for middle grades

Discussion in 'For Parents and Family Members of LGBT People' started by Adoniana, Jun 21, 2017.

  1. Adoniana

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    My son, age 12, "thinks" he is "probably gay" and has asked for books featuring gay boys. All the searches I've done have characters in high school, frequently aged 17-18, and sound like they're pretty advanced for such a young reader. Are there book suggestions appropriate for middle grades or middle school featuring gay youth? Thanks in advance!

    (The quotes are his words. I've been pretty certain he's gay for pretty much his whole life. We regularly remind ourselves that people like what they like and that's okay even if it's not what's expected.)
     
  2. Renegades

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  3. Koizee

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    The Percy Jackson series has a gay kid,
    Percy Jackson is of course right in your son's age range and is definitely appropriate
    The only problem is that the kid's coming out doesn't come until late into the series
     
  4. Adoniana

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    Thanks! I'll check that list out!
     
  5. Adoniana

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    Oh, we even have that series on the shelf, but he's avoided it. Maybe I can get him too read it now. Thanks!
     
  6. Koizee

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    Just remember that the gay kid doesn't really come until the Heroes of Olympus series, which is basically just a continuation of the Percy Jackson series.
     
  7. B a r e f o o t

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    A very good place to do a search is Goodreads; goodreads.com is a book review place and literary social network of sorts. They don't sell books but they have links to sites that do. I know there are some books of the type you are looking for.
     
  8. Gamer4now

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    Hello! It's so exciting to see you do something like this for your son. As a fellow book reading maniac I can tell you a few I have been interested in and hope it helps!
    --Will Grayson Will Grayson, has been hiding on my shelf forever but when I saw it at B&N I found it intriguing immediately.
    --Hero, also looked like a very good book very fantasy-ish, which is literally like everything on my shelf and I've been looking for it everywhere but I'm sure you could find it online.
    --At the Edge of the Universe, has also caught my attention and seems to be a suspense fantasy and doesn't seem inappropriate at all.

    (Just FYI those are all fiction and YA/YA fantasy and adventure type books.)
    Hope this helped!! :slight_smile:
    Ik ik some of those descriptions are just opinions lol
     
    #8 Gamer4now, Jun 23, 2017
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2017
  9. kenn

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  10. WanderingMind

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    It's not out until September, but you REALLY want to get your hands on Alan Cole is Not a Coward by Eric Bell. It's brilliant.
     
  11. WanderingMind

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  12. Sadmama

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    Carry On by Rainbow Rowell has a gay main character who discovers himself and falls in love with his roommate. The couple winds up living happily ever after. It's fantasy kind of like Harry Potter, so there's lots of action too. It's very age appropriate for middle school and a great read.
     
  13. brainwashed

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    I'll second that. It is exciting to see a mom who cares and actually gives me the shakes. It gives me the shakes because here is a mom who cares deeply about her son. Enough so she sets up an account on ECs to basically empower herself. Way cool.

    And books that address gay youth. Really? I had no idea. This is just so cool.
     
  14. AlexJames

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    I've never delved into the LGBT side of books, i just watch youtubers. There're some LGBT youtubers too. I don't think i can add anything else tbh i just think its great that you're going this far for your son. Lol if my mom knew i was gay she'd yell and throw insults and kick me out, so seeing accepting parents on here is great. Its just mind blowing when they say their biggest worry is that their kid will be judged or bullied or whatever. Like really, that's really what your head goes to? Totally up and over the gay issue? Its just crazy but in a good way. Your son's lucky to have you.