3 New Queer-Inclusive Middle Grade Novels of Growth and Change
These three recent queer-inclusive middle grade novels variously explore personal growth, friendship, crushes, gender, and more. Share them with the young people you know (and read them yourself to marvel at the great stories being told today).
"Pasta Girls," by Stonewall Award Honor author Taylor Tracy (Quill Tree), is a modern-day reimagining of Romeo and Juliet with queer, neurodiverse leads (and a chance for a different ending). Tracy gives us a fresh take on the story beats, however, with lively original characters and loving descriptions of New York Italian-American family life and food. The book also offers nuanced and affirming insights into Ro and Jules' neurodiverse identities (Ro has ADHD; Jules is autistic), along with gentle but clear examples of what supporting a neurodiverse child should (and shouldn't) look like. It's an absolutely delightful read and highly recommended. One word of warning: It will make you hungry.
"The Brightest Star," by Meg Grehan (Little Island), is the novel-in-verse sequel to her The Deepest Breath. Thirteen-year-old protagonist Stevie still gets anxious, but is learning to trust herself and is mostly excited about starting secondary school (junior high), along with her friend Andrew and her crush Chloe. Stevie is thrilled that Chloe seems to reciprocate her feelings and also wants to join the school's Rainbow Club for LGBTQ+ students and allies. Andrew, however, is reluctant to join as an ally, and seems not even to want to hang around with Stevie and Chloe anymore. Is there still a place for him as the two of them grow closer? And who is he, really? Grehan carefully and compassionately shows us the shifting sands of tween friendships and "like likes" and the importance of giving each other—and ourselves—patience and space. The book underscores the value of queer community and safe spaces both for queer youth and, importantly, for those who are still figuring themselves out.
"North of Tomboy," by Julie A. Swanson (Spark Press), is set in 1970s rural Michigan, where 9-year-old Jess Jezowski opines, "They might have named me Jessica, but I was supposed to be a boy. I'm way more boy than girl." Jess's mother has very traditional views about gender roles, however; her father is prone to sudden rage; and her Catholic upbringing has her overly focused on avoiding sin. Jess finds comfort in taking a doll that was intended to be a girl, cutting its hair, and renaming it Mickey. Mickey becomes Jess's alter ego, and she speaks through him to let her true voice, brash and bold, be heard. But can she figure out how to do so on her own? The book shows us the harm of everyday sexism and microaggressions against girls and women and one child's creative path to expressing her real self. Although it seems from the opening and various other passages that Jess might be trans, that remains an open question; she could also be read as a gender creative girl. I have the feeling that many readers of various identities may find the story resonant.
Dana Rudolph is the founder and publisher of Mombian (mombian.com), a two-time GLAAD Media Award-winning blog for LGBTQ+ parents plus a searchable database of 1,800+ LGBTQ+ family books.