Level identifier in parentheses at end of descriptions PB – picture book,
I – intermediate (most can be read to primary),
M – middle school,
H – high school.

Bait by Alex Sanchez. Deigo

a kind and responsible young man, explodes with anger when someone refers to him with a homophobic slur. He knows he isn't gay, but with the help of Mr. Vidas, his P.O., Diego reveals his deeply hidden shame, his step-father had sexually abused him for years. Simon & Schuster, 2009. H

Boyfriends and Girlfriends by Alex Sanchez

These four main characters are certain to keep readers involved. Sergio is openly bisexual. Lance is openly gay. Kimiko is Lesbian and questioning while Allie has completely into her boyfriend until she meets Kimiko. Lance and Allie have been best friends and Sergio and Kimiko are best friends. When Lance and Sergio meet, they are immediately attracted to each other; however, Lance thinks Sergio calls himself bi because he is afraid to accept he is really gay. Sanchez does a great job keeping all these story lines convincing while presenting a book that lets readers know that sometimes figuring out one's sexuality may take a little time. Simon & Schuster, 2011 (H)

Daddy, Papa, and Me by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Carol Thompson. “Me,” a voice of a toddler, tells what the day is like with two fathers. Simple language and colorful illustrations. Tricycle Press, 2009.(PB)

Mommy, Mama, and Meby Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Carol Thompson. A parallel book to Daddy, Papa, and Me, a toddler tells the story of a day with two mothers. Simple language and colorful illustrations. Tricycle Press, 2009.(PB)

Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite. Alyson Wonderland, 1990. Told in the first person, a young boy talks about his parents’ divorce and about Frank, his dad’s new roommate. The boy’s mother explains that being gay is just one more kind of love. (PB)

Freaks and Revelations by Davida Wilis Hurwin.

Little Brown, 2009. Told in two voices and in two time settings spanning several years. Doug is the angry, drug-involved kid who eventually turns hard core Punk. Jason, a gay kid, gets thrown out by his overly Christian mom. The two only meet twice in the book, once when a hate-filled, seventeen-year old Doug, beats up Jason, a fourteen-year-old kid who survives on the street as a prostitute. The second time is when both males are well into adulthood, and Jason recognizes Doug. Inspired by real lives of Matthew Boger and Tim Zaal. (H)

Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman, illustrated by Diana Souza. Heather starts school and learns there are many different types of families. (PB)

In Our Mothers' House by Patricia Polacco narrator tells the story of her loving mothers who adopted her and later, two other children to complete their happy family. Polacco’s books are always beautiful. Philomel Books/Penguin, 2009.(PB)

Jumpstart the World by Catherine Ryan Hyde

When Elle's mother chooses a new boyfriend over her 15-year-old daughter, she simply moves Elle into her own apartment in a new school district. On her first day alone, Elle meets her neighbor Frank who lives next door. Though Frank lives with his girlfriend, Elle crushes on him big time. At school, new kid Elle makes friends with kids who happen to be gay or accepting. When they visit her apartment, they meet Frank and realize he is transgender F2M. Though Elle refuses to believe it at first, she comes to understand that her friend is facing difficult times. Knopf/Random House, 2010 (H)

King & King by Linda de Haan & Stern Nijland. Tricycle Press, 2000. The Queen is tired of being the queen and wants her son to marry and take over the throne. The Prince is not interested until he meets Princess Madeleine’s brother, Prince Lee. (PB)

One Dad Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads by Johnny Valentine, illustrated by Melody Sarecky. Alyson Wonderland, 1994. Lou explains that though his two dads are blue, they can do everything that any other dad can do. (PB)

The Duke Who Outlawed Jelly Beans and Other Stories by Johnny Valentine, illustrated by Lynette Schmidt. Alyson Wonderland, 1991. This fairy tale collection has five stories, each contains at least one gay character.

Out of the Pocket by Bill Konigsberg

Senior year, Bobby Framingham, a very talented quarterback hopes to be picked up by Stanford-but he keeps questioning-- has there ever been a gay quarterback in the NFL? Bobby isn't out, but after he confides in one of his best friends, word spreads and the reporter for the school newspaper prints Bobby's story. During the smear that follows, Bobby's dad is diagnosed with Lymphoma and as he is waiting for treatment, he tells Bobby "You are the bravest person I have ever known." Dutton, 2008 (M/H)

Pinky and Rex and the Bully by James Howe. illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Aladdin Paperbacks, 1996. Pinky learns that even if pink is his favorite color and his best friend is a girl named Rex, the school bully doesn’t have any right to pick on him. (P/I)

Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy by Bil Wright.

Carlos/Carrlos Duarte might be in high school, but he is an amazing make-up artist, just ask him. After he gets an interview appointment for the make-up counter at Macy's New York, he has to hire a model--his sister, create a color palette, and learn everything about the specific make-up line he will be using. He gets the job but his skills create conflict with his insecure boss. A fun read. Simon & Schuster, 2011 (M/H)

Death by Eggplant by Susan Heyboer O’Keefe. Roaring Brook Press, 2004. Bertie Hooks spends his day ducking his tormentor, Nick Dekker and planning new recipes, until his math teacher gives him an assignment in responsibility. (I/M)

So Hard to Say by Alex Sanchez, Simon & Schuster, 2004. New to the school, eighth grader Frederick starts playing soccer with the other boys after school, and questions his attraction to one of them. The treasure of diversity in this book deals with the needed acceptance of one’s self and others. (M)

The Misfits by James Howe. Atheneum, 2001. Four social outcasts in seventh grade create a third political party and run for student council on a platform of “No Name Calling.”  (M)

Between Mom and Jo by Julie Anne Peters, Little Brown, 2006. Fourteen- year-old Nick introduces himself in memories that tell the story of his life with his two lesbian moms: Erin, his biological mother, and Jo, his heart’s mother. (M/H)

The God Box by Alex Sanchez. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2007. Paul, a Christian whose conservative church teaches that homosexuality is a sin, faces growing awareness that he may be gay, and does not know how to reconcile the two, particularly when Manuel moves to town, an openly gay Christian (M/H)

Absolutely Positively Not by David Larochelle. Arthur A. Levine Scholastic 2005. Steven does NOT want to be gay. He hangs girlie pictures all over his bedroom, has 28 dates in 26 days and tries to invade the football players table in the lunch room. But still under his bed, wrapped in rubber bands and locked in a suitcase covered with an old blanket, he has two men’s underwear magazines. (H)

Boy Girl Boy by Ron Koertge. Harcourt, Inc., 2007. Elliot, Hunkiest guy in the school, Teresa, strong independent and compulsive runner, and Larry, intelligent and out of the closet gay, are best friends and live in a small town that they hope to escape on the day after they graduate. One of the story lines is the harassment Larry faces from Billy, an angry and dangerous homophobe. (H)

Finding H.R. by Julia Watts. Alyson Books, 2001. H. F. (Heavenly Faith) and Bo (Pierre Beauregard) are trying to survive in Morgan, Kentucky where H. F. says “It may be hard for a tomboy but it is way harder for a sissy boy.” On a road trip to find H. F.’s mother, they discover they aren’t the only gay kids in America. (H)

Freak Show by James St. James. New York: Dutton Children's Books / Penguin, 2007. Billy Bloom lived with his mom in New York and he could dress any way he wanted - mostly in drag. But now he is living with his father in the Everglades and the students of Dwight D. Eisenhower Academy aren't as accepting of his over-the-top outfits. This book is humorous but the harassment Billy suffers is brutal. Even after a mob beating that hospitalizes him for weeks, he doesn't give up - in fact, he runs for homecoming queen!(H)

Getting It by Alex Sanchez. Simon & Schuster, 2006. Carlos Amoroso doesn’t have the confidence to talk to Roxy Rodriguez, but he notices Sal, the gay guy at school, has no trouble talking to girls. Inspired by tv’s Queer Eye, Carlos asks Sal for some help. (H)

Keeping You a Secret by Julie Anne Peters, Little Brown, 2003. Holland, one of the leaders of her senior class, is confident nothing could shake her from her earned position, but then she falls in love with Cece, a new girl at school. (H)

Luna by Julie Anne Peters. Little, Brown and Company, 2004. Regan and Liam share a secret most brothers and sisters don’t have, deep down inside, Liam is really a girl named Luna, and Luna needs to be freed. (H)

Rage: A Love Story by Julie Anne Peters

Johanna has never had a girlfriend but falls hard for Reeve Hart even with her violent behaviors. Johanna think she can love her out of the violence but quickly becomes tangled in an abusive relationship. Alfred A. Knopf/Random House, 2009. H

Shine bby Lauren Myracle

Amulet/Abrams, 2011. While Cat's close friend Patrick lies in a come, the victim of a violent hate crime, she decides to track down his attacker who she believes could not possibly be from her tightly-knit Southern town. (M/H)

A Tale of Two Daddies by Vanita Oelschlager, illustrators Kristin Blackwood and Mike Blanc.

Through a series of simple questions one little boy comes to understand one little girl who has two daddies. He is curious and she is proud. Bright, colorful, uncluttered illustrations add to the book.

The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd

The summer before college, Date Hamilton stops being used by a closeted star athlete and lets himself fall in love with Alex. A great coming of age and coming out story. Dial Books/Penguin, 2009. H

What Happened to Lani Garver by Carol Plum-Ucci. Harcourt, 2002. Claire McKenzie tells the story of her friend Lani Garver’s brief stay on Hackett Island, where most of the island is trying to decide if Lani is a he or a she. Told in flashbacks, Lani, wise, sensitive, and courageous, died at the hand of the island’s rednecks before the book opens. (H)

Who Am I by M.L. Rice

Bold Stroke Books, 2011. When her father dies before her senior year, Air Force brat Devin and her mom find an apartment on the edge of Beverly Hills. On Devin's first day of school, rich and privileged Jason starts harassing her, however, his sister Melanie comes to her rescue. A strong friendship quickly forms and Devin becomes aware she might be lesbian because of her attraction to Mel. (H)