Whether you're a teen or an adult, here are 15 lgbtq books for tweens that you need to add to your tbr list. No matter your age, you'll want to read these lgbtq middle grade books over and over again!
This post contains affiliate links. That said, I won’t ever recommend a book I haven’t read and loved myself.
When it comes to books, middle grade fiction is seriously underrated. There is something so fun about lgbtq middle grade books even if you're an adult. They are beautifully written and no space is wasted. To his day, some of my all time favourite books are middle grade novels.
So I browsed the r/suggestabook subreddit and polled Instagram users to round up a list of the absolute best lgbtq books for tweens. I've also read and loved each of the books recommended on this list!
Whether it's an lgbtq middle grade graphic novel or a middle grade novel with non-binary characters - this post has got you covered. Plus for each book I've included:
- Good Reads Rating
- Content warnings
- Summary
- The vibe of the book
- Positives and negatives
But if you want a quick summary keep reading to find a handy comparison chart ( includes content warnings and tropes for each book.
Let's see the best lgbtq books for tweens
What are the best lgbtq books for tweens?
Image | Name & Author | Good Reads rating | Representation | Trigger warnings | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Not your Sidekick by C.B.Lee | 3.90 | Chinese-Vietnamese main character, Bisexual main character, F/F romance, Black side character, Trans side character, Latine side character | Kidnapping, Racism, | |
  | The Lumberjanes by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Brooklyn A. Allen and Noelle Stevenson | 4.03 | Representation: wlw romance, sapphic main charcters | Drowning, minor blood depiction, phsycial injury | |
  | The Tea Dragon Society by Kay O'Neill | 3.93 | Queer main characters, disabled MC, POC characters | Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, ableism, chronic illness | |
  | The Deepest Breath by Meg Grehan | 4.29 | Anxiety, queer main character | anxiety, panic attacks | |
  | Mooncakes by Wendy Xu and Suzanne Walker | 3.85 | Chinese-American main characters, queer, non-binary, disability (hearing impairment) | Kidnapping, Confinement, Violence, grief, death of a parent | |
  | Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake | 4.39 | Lesbian main character |
The Best lgbtq books for teens
There are so many incredible lgbtq books for tweens. These are the lgbtq middle grade books I really recommend. Many of these books are my absolute favourite lgbtq books. They're quick and easy to read. And can be binge read in under an hour.
1. Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee
Not Your Sidekick is a queer middle grade novel about superheroes. It features a bisexual Chinese-Vietnamese protagonist, a trans character and a wlw enemies to lovers romance. And it’s written by an own voices author.
It follows Jessica Tran, a bisexual high school student who is resigned to a life without superpowers and decides to start an internship to improve her college applications. However, she quickly discovers it’s for a supervillain with her crush Abby.
Not Your Sidekick is a light, fluffy and fun read. It takes superhero tropes and gives a really refreshing take on a superhero story. If you enjoy urban fantasy books or ya contemporary then you should definitely read this one. The superhero storyline is woven seamlessly into modern everyday life.
It also manages to tackle a lot of issues while still staying fun. There is a whole series of these and I’ve already added Not Your Villain to my TBR list as I really loved Bells in Not Your Sidekick. (For more incredible queer books about superheroes and supervillains try Nimona by Noelle Stevenson or Dreadnought by April Daniels)
I also love how the cover of this book is really discreet. You wouldn't know it's an lgbtq book from the cover. If you're looking for subtle lgbtq books then I have a whole blog post on this. You can check out my article on lgbtq books with discreet covers here.
Good reads Rating:
3.90
Vibe:
urban fantasy, light-hearted, dystopia, teen sitcom/Sky High vibes
Content warnings:
Kidnapping, Racism,
Violence, biphobia
POSITIVES
- Touches on important topics
- Great character development
- Diverse characters
- Great worldbuilding
NEGATIVES
- Occasional pacing issue
2. The LumberJanes by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Brooklyn A. Allen and Noelle Stevenson
The Lumberjanes series is an adorable lgbtq middle grade graphic novel. It features a diverse lgbtq cast of characters. And it's set at a summer camp and is filled with beautiful forest imagery.
The graphic comic book series follows five pals at a summer camp. They are determined to have an incredible summer and not let supernatural critters or quests get in their way.
The incredible drawings instantly gave me an emotional connection to the characters in the books. The story is well paced and I love the adventure story.
The first novel opens with a bang and the plot really engaged me. The graphic novel format and short length make them really easy to read. If you’re looking for light-hearted lgbtq books for tweens then you should pick this up. (For more incredible lgbtq middle grade graphic novels try The Backstagers or Mooncakes.)
You can read this on Scribd. If you haven't used it before, Scribd is a digital library with podcasts, books, audiobooks and even sheet music. They offer a free trial for 30 days. And you can read an unlimited amount of books with their subscription - check it out here
Good reads Rating:
3.95
Vibe:
forest imagery, found family, summer camp, light hearted adventure story
Content warnings:
Drowning, minor blood depiction, phsycial injury
POSITIVES
- Found family trope executed well
- Engaging adventure story
- Diverse characters
- Beautiful artwork
NEGATIVES
- Each book in the series is quite short
- Some people really didn't like the artwork
- Some readers were expecting this to be for an older audience and were disappointed.
3. The Tea Dragon Society by Kay O’Neill
If you're looking for diverse lgbtq middle grade graphic novels then you need to read some of Kay O'Neill's work. They are insanely cosy and heartwarming. And the artwork is absolutely stunning.
The Tea Dragon Society is about dragons who grow leaves you can make tea from. But the tea is infused with memories.
We follow Greta a blacksmith apprentice. One day she finds a lost tea dragon in the marketplace. Greta learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking from the kind tea shop owners.
This book is adorable, impossibly cute and heart-warming. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and painfully adorable.
Not only is it a beautiful book with a lovely message. But it stars people of color, people with disabilities and LGBTQIA+ characters. (For more of Kay O'Neill's work you could try Princess Princess Ever After, Aquicorn Cove or The Tea Dragon Tapestry)
Good reads Rating:
3.93
Vibe:
Cottagecore, small town, wholesome, light hearted
Content warnings:
Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, ableism, chronic illness
POSITIVES
- Diverse characters
- Beautiful artwork
- Loveable characters
- Cute and wholesome
NEGATIVES
- Some readers wanted more of a storyline or more character development.
4. The Deepest Breath by Meg Grehan
I am OBSESSED with The Deepest Breath. It's such an underrated queer middle grade book. It's a middle grade book told in verse. And it follows an 11 year old girl dealing with anxiety. She is also trying to figure out what love is.
It follows Stevie. She loves reading and sea creatures. She lives with her mum and has been friends with Andrew since forever. Her mum jokes that one day they'll get married.
But Stevie knows that won't ever happen. There's a girl at school that she likes more. A lot more. Stevie needs to find out if girls can like girls. But it's hard to get any information and she's too shy to ask out loud.
This book is so beautifully written. It's emotional, heartwarming and the writing flows really well. It deals with anxiety, panic attacks and self identify. And I wish I'd had a book like this when I was younger.
If you're looking for lgbtq books for tweens, then this would be a great choice. (For more lgbtq novels in verse you could also try The Black Flamingo)
Good reads Rating:
4.29
Vibe:
emotional, character development, reading, libraries
Content warnings:
anxiety, panic attacks
POSITIVES
- Great character development
- Excellent depiction of anxiety and panic attacks
- Wholesome and heartwarming
NEGATIVES
- Some readers might struggle with the verse format
5. Mooncakes by Wendy Xu and Suzanne Walker
If you're looking for lgbtq books for tweens with with cute. light-hearted romance then you need to read Mooncakes. It's a cute Romance about a witch and a non-binary werewolf.
It follows teen witch Nova. She works at her Nana's magical bookshop. And she helps them loan out spell books. But she also investigates supernatural occurrences in her local town.
One day, she is tasked to investigate reports of a white wolf in a nearby forest. She then discovers her childhood best friend, Tam, fighting a demon werewolf. Together they investigate the demon and rekindle their feelings towards each other.
This is such a comfort read. The artwork is insanely beautiful. I really loved the illustrations of the magic and magical creatures living in the forest. The romance is also really adorable.
The story isn't fast-paced and action packed. We also don't find out much about the characters background. But it's such a quick, cute and light-hearted read that I don't think it matters. It also deals with serious topics like loss and difficult family relationships really well. (For even more incredible fantasy books about witches read this blog post)
Good reads Rating:
3.84
Vibe:
friendly witch, small town, wholesome, autumnal imagery
Content warnings:
Abuse (parental, mentioned), Adoption., Betrayal., Body horror., Captivity., Cultist rituals., Dead parents Expand. One of the main character's parents appear as spirits and speak with her regularly., Kidnapping.
POSITIVES
- Diverse cast
- Disabled (Hard of Hearing) main character
- Wholesome
- Beautiful artwork
NEGATIVES
- Could have more information on the magic system
- It's more character focused and some reviewers felt that it lacked a plot.
6. Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the world by Ashley Herring Blake
Ivy Aberdeen's letter to the world is such an emotional read. Ashley Herring Blake writes some of the absolute best lgbtq middle grade books. And I couldn't write a post on lgbtq books for tweens without mentioning her work.
This queer middle grade novel follows Ivy Aberdeen. Her house is destroyed by a hurricane. In the aftermath, someone steals her notebook full of secret drawings of her crush (A girl)
Oh, I wept buckets when I read this one. It made my heart swell, my eyes water. And at the end made me smile like a loon. Ashley Herring Blake is a literary genius. The writing is sublime. Vivid and beautiful.
The plot is paced exceptionally well. And all the characters were well developed and nuanced. It's a great take on realizing you like girls. The character starts feeling distanced from friends who obsess over boys. And the panic about coming out. It's both heart-breaking and heartwarming (Keep on the Ashley Herring Blake train with their other lgbtq middle grade books The Mighty Heart of Sunny St James and Hazel Bly and the Deep Blue Sea)
Good reads Rating:
4.39
Vibe:
artwork, emotional, school, heartwarming, small town
Content warnings:
Ableism, Coming out themes, Cancer, mentioned, Physical injury, Tornado, Blackmail, Homelessness
POSITIVES
- Great character development
- Emotional
- Great depiction of lgbtq issues in a small town
- well paced plot
NEGATIVES
- Some people felt that the characters acted younger than they actually were
- Some people felt that Ivy was pressured to come out and it wasn't made clear that this is wrong
7. The Backstagers by James Tynion IV and Rian Sigh
Okay, this is such a wholesome LGBTQ+ middle grade graphic novel. If you're a fan of Heartstopper, The Tea Dragon Society or the LumberJanes then you'll probably enjoy this one. It's a graphic novel featuring a mlm romance and the found family trope.
It follows Jory. He transfers to an all-boys private high school. But at first he's not happy at the school. Until he's taken in by the only ones who don't treat him like a new kid - the lowly stage crew known as the Backstagers.
The Backstagers are a group of students who help backstage at plays. He makes great, lifetime friends. But he is also introduced to an entire magical world that lives beyond the curtain.
This is such a light-hearted, easy read. It's fairly short and the graphic style makes it easy to read pretty quickly. The romance was a bit insta-lovey. But it's such a wholesome read that it doesn't really matter. If you have a train journey this would be the perfect length read. (For more wholesome LGBTQ+ Middle Grade graphic novels like this one try Mooncakes or The Tea Dragon Society)
Good reads Rating:
3.91
Vibe:
LGBTQ+, wholesome, found family, hidden world
Content warnings:
violence, blood
POSITIVES
- Quick and easy read
- found family trope executed well
- cute graphics
NEGATIVES
- Insta-Love
8. Love Frankie by Jacqueline Wilson
If you're looking for an easy to read lgbtq book for tweens then you should definitely check out Love Frankie. It's about a teenager struggling with her identity and falling in love for the first time. And it also deals with chronic illness.
If you were a British teen in the 90s or early 00s then you you will definitely have read some of her work. Jacqueline Wilson has written over 100 books. And she's the most borrowed author from libraries.
Love Frankie follows Frankie. She is struggling to cope with her mum’s MS diagnosis when she meets Sally. Problem is Sally is perfect when it’s just them. But she ignores her at school
If you’re familiar with Jacqueline Wilson’s work, you will find this super comforting to read. Jacqueline Wilson’s distinctive writing style very easy to read.
Wilson has never been one to avoid controversial topics. And Love Frankie is no different. It explores mental health and coming out in teens. Yet, it still balances mental health issues with cute, light hearted first love. (For even more Jacqueline Wilson books check out this post on Jacqueline Wilson recommendations by Julia's Bookcase)
Good reads Rating:
3.98
Vibe:
lgbtq+, first love, school, contemporary
Content warnings:
Chronic illness, Bullying, Homophobia, outing, alcohol, vomiting, body shaming, eating disorder
POSITIVES
- Great character development
- Realistic depiction of mental health issues
- Writing style is easy to read
NEGATIVES
- Some people felt that the characters acted younger than they actually were
- It's quite long in length and some readers felt it was repetitive.
9. Princess Princess Ever After by Kay O’Neill
I couldn't resist including another Kay O'Neill book on this list. However, they write the most wholesome, beautiful and cosy lgbtq books for tweens.
Princess Princess ever after is about two princesses who fall in love. We follow Sadie who is locked in a tower. She is rescued by another princess -Amira. Also, Amira rides a pink unicorn. It’s just as queer and lovely as it sounds.
This is such a comforting book to read. It deals with some really important topics such as feminism, equality and abusive relationships. But it does it in such a light-hearted way.
This is insanely adorable and a really quick read. It has cosy, cottagecore vibes. And even though it includes the insta love trope, it's so wholesome that it works perfectly. (For more of Kay O'Neill's work you could try Aquicorn Cove or The Tea Dragon Tapestry)
Good reads Rating:
4.03
Vibe:
lgbtq+, first love, cottagecore, fairytales
Content warnings:
Ableism, fatphpobia
POSITIVES
- Cute and cosy
- Beautiful artwork and illustrations
- Lighthearted
NEGATIVES
- A lot of readers preferred Tea Dragon Society
- It is aimed at a younger middle grade audience and some people thought it was immature.
10. Pepper's Rules for Secret Sleuthing by Brianna McDonald
I was recommended this book on Instagram. And I'm so happy I read this - it's such an underrated lgbtq middle grade book. It's a cute middle grade mystery book which also deals with LGBTQ+ issues.
It follows Pepper. She's an amateur detective. And her first rule is to stay loyal to the case. Even if that means pushing people away.
But when her latest case costs her any hope of the girl she likes returning her feelings -she decides to lay out.
But them her aunt passes away under mysterious circumstances. And she can't ignore rule fourteen - trust your gut.
This is a really quick and easy read. The pacing is excellent and I was pleasantly surprised at how engaging I found the mystery. Plus, I really like that the mystery takes centre stage. While LGBTQ+ themes run throughout the book - they're not the focus. And I find that very refreshing in an lgbtq middle grade book.
Good reads Rating:
3.96
Vibe:
small town, cosy mystery, old mansion,
Content warnings:
POSITIVES
- Cute and cosy
- Engaging mystery
- Fast pacing
NEGATIVES
- Some people didn't like the depiction of police in this book
Top Picks
That’s concludes my list of the best lgbtq books for tweens
Here’s a quick summary of my top picks:
Best LGBTQ Middle Grade Novel in verse - The Deepest Breath
Best LGBTQ Middle Grade superhero book - Not your sidekick
Best LGBTQ Middle Grade Mystery Book Pepper's Rules for Secret Sleuthing
Best LGBTQ Middle Grade Fantasy Book - The Tea Dragon Society
Best LGBTQ Middle Grade First romance - Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World
This post was all about lgbtq books for tweens
Other posts you might like
