8 Books From the Rainbow List

by SeoJin Ahn

The Rainbow List is a bibliography of books with significant

characters and content related to the LGBTQ youth and is created

by the Rainbow Book List Committee. The following are eight

books of varying lengths, projected demographics, and content.








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1. Newman, Lesléa. H​eather Has Two Mommies.​Written

by Lesléa Newman, illus. by Laura Cornell. 2015. 32p.

Candlewick, $16.99 (9780763666316). 3­7 yrs.

In which a child learns that not all families are alike, but love

each other the same nonetheless.

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2. *Silverberg, Cory. ​Sex is a Funny Word: A Book about

Bodies, Feelings, and YOU.​Written by Cory Silverberg;

illus. by Fiona Smyth. 2015. 159p. Seven Stories,

$23.95 (9781609806064). Gr. 3­6.

A sex­ed book that includes information about the gender binary

and different, “non­traditional” sexualities.

3. Brugman, Alyssa. ​Alex As Well.​2015. 224p. Henry

Holt, $16.99 (9781627790147). Gr 9­12.

A novel about an intersex teenager who decides to take her

gender into her own hands.

4. Dawn, Nyrae. ​The History of Us.​2015. 184p. Harmony

Ink, $14.99 (9781634761796). Gr. 9­12.

A gay jock on a roadtrip to document other LGBTQ people’s

experiences.

5. Koehler, Christopher. ​Poz​. 2015. 180p. Harmony Ink,

$14.99 (9781632163684). Gr. 9­12.

A former in­the­closet teen, newly HIV­positive teenager living

with the consequences of several casual flings.

6. Moskowitz, Hannah. N​ot Otherwise Specified.​2015.

260p. Simon & Schuster, $11.99 (9781481405959).

Gr. 8­12.

A novel about a girl who does not fit exactly into a sexuality or

any other label, but just floating somewhere in the middle.

7. *Stetz­Waters, Karelia. F​orgive Me If I’ve Told You

This Before.​2014. 299p. Ooligan, $14.95

(9781932010732). Gr. 9­12.

Written in lyrical language about life in 1992 Oregon when

homosexuality was definitely sin and the main character realized

she was definitely gay.

8. Hubert. ​Adrian and the Tree of Secrets.​Written by

Hubert, illus. by Marie Caillou, tr. by David Homel.

2015. 125p. Arsenal Pulp, $18.95 (9781551525563).

Gr. 8­12.

A French graphic novel about a gay boy with an oppressive

mother who sends him to a strict Catholic school.