In 2024, more than 23% of Generation Z identified as nonheterosexual, according to a Gallup poll. This may represent a new social norm, but we’re also experiencing a backlash to it. The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom released sobering data on 2025 book bans: The 4,235 unique titles targeted constitute the second highest number that the ALA has ever recorded, and 40% of them “represent the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ people and people of color.”
Because sales to schools and libraries are so important for young readers’ books, these challenges take a substantial toll on the demand for books with queer themes, something Surina Venkat explored in a story for The Hill. Venkat spoke with insiders who reported that some editors are explicitly rejecting books with LGBTQ+ content due to concerns about marketability. This hurts not only marginalized authors and the publishers who are standing up to censorship but also the kids who deserve inclusive literature that reflects the world they inhabit. All the more reason, then, to shine a spotlight on books like the following, which amplify a diverse array of voices.
One Word, Six Letters by Adib Khorram (Henry Holt, March 17): White Missouri ninth grader Dayton is in trouble for shouting a homophobic slur during a presentation at school. His Iranian immigrant classmate, Farshid, is a Bahá’í boy who’s questioning his sexuality. Through effective use of the second person, Khorram—who was inspired by a similar incident that he experiencd during a school visit—offers readers an insightful, nuanced story that allows readers to fully understand each boy’s struggles, although they seem worlds apart.
Shapes of Love by L.V. Peñalba (Wednesday Books, May 19): Everyone needs love, but when you’re aromantic and asexual, the world can feel lonely. Sasha, the 19-year-old protagonist of Peñalba’s debut, is a pop star who’s forced to hide her true self for the sake of popularity. After all, fans love to speculate about the real identities of the boys she sings about—and now her manager has engineered a fake-dating scheme to boost her career. This sincere story offers a thoughtful deep dive into love and authenticity.
Bad Queer by Gayathiri Kamalakanthan, illustrated by Chi Nwosu (Faber & Faber, June 2): This intense debut, an illustrated verse novel, centers on nonbinary Londoner Surya, the grandchild of Sri Lankan immigrants who’s in their last year of school. The story presents coming-of-age themes that will feel relatable to many teens, including first love, intergenerational family dynamics, and asserting selfhood: “Power can look like: / stepping away, choosing / a restful self, without guilt.” References to books that Surya finds uplifting point to further treasures for readers to explore.
Where You’ll Find Us by Jen St. Jude (Bloomsbury, June 2): “My parents disowned me via text at the beginning of spring break.” So begins this resonant and emotional story of a dating couple, nonbinary Cal and lesbian Ramona, who leave their prom in present-day Indiana and stumble across a farmhouse that shelters queer kids from across the decades. Whether they came from 1920s Harlem or survived a Japanese American internment camp in the 1940s, these teens share a deep bond.
Laura Simeon is a young readers’ editor.
