LGBTQ Literature

From Christopher Isherwood's enduring 20th-century classic Goodbye to Berlin to contemporary titles like Janet Mock's Redefining Realness, the titles in this study guide collection explore a range of ideas, issues, genres, and forms that speak to the LGBTQ community.

Ink Blood Sister Scribe

by Emma Törzs

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, LGBTQ, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction

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In Memoriam

by Alice Winn

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ, Military / War, WWI / World War I

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In the Dream House

by Carmen Maria Machado

Publication year 2019

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags LGBTQ, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Relationships, Love / Sexuality, Arts / Culture, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Biography

Carmen Maria Machado’s memoir In the Dream House chronologizes her experiences in an abusive relationship with a woman. In the Dream House was published in 2019 and won the 2021 Folio Prize and the 2020 Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ Nonfiction. The memoir discusses potential modes for queer representation through the use of multiple narrative techniques. As of 2022, Machado lives in Pennsylvania with her wife and works at the University of Pennsylvania.Other work by... Read In the Dream House Summary

In the Lives of Puppets

by T. J. Klune

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ, Fairy Tale / Folklore

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In West Mills

by De'Shawn Charles Winslow

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Identity: Race, Identity: Mental Health

Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Race / Racism, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Gender / Feminism, African American Literature, Post-War Era, Southern Literature, History: World, LGBTQ

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Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting

by Clare Pooley

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Midlife, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Romance, Humor, LGBTQ, British Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

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Iron Widow

by Xiran Jay Zhao

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Historical Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ

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Jonny Appleseed

by Joshua Whitehead

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Gender, Self Discovery

Tags LGBTQ, Modern Classic Fiction

The novel Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead was originally published in 2018 by Arsenal Pulp Press. Whitehead, a queer Indigenous writer from Peguis Frist Nation, uses the auto-fictional character of Jonny to explore the intersections of LGBTQ+ and Indigenous identity. The novel was a 2021 Canada Reads Winner and the winner of a Lambda Literary Award. It was also a Globe and Mail Best Book of the Year and longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize.This... Read Jonny Appleseed Summary

Juliet Takes a Breath

by Gabby Rivera

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Gender / Feminism, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, American Literature

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Kaikeyi

by Vaishnavi Patel

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags History: World, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mythology, LGBTQ, Indian Literature

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King and the Dragonflies

by Kacen Callender

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags LGBTQ, Realistic Fiction, Magical Realism, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

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King of Scars

by Leigh Bardugo

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Fantasy, Gender / Feminism, Romance, LGBTQ, Action / Adventure

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Kiss of the Fur Queen

by Tomson Highway

Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Colonialism

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Animals, Love / Sexuality, LGBTQ, History: World, Historical Fiction, Canadian Literature

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Kiss of the Spider Woman

by Manuel Puig

Publication year 1976

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Latin American Literature, Education, Education, LGBTQ, Classic Fiction

In Manuel Puig’s 1978 novel Kiss of the Spider Woman, Luis Alberto Molina, a window dresser, and Valentin Arregui Paz, a Marxist revolutionary, are roommates in a Buenos Aires prison from September to October 1975. Puig uses dialogue, prison reports, and stream-of-consciousness to tell the story, exploring themes of The Fluidity of Gender and Orientation, The Meaning and Value of Liberation, and The Power of Language. The novel is also notable for its use of... Read Kiss of the Spider Woman Summary

Kitchen

by Banana Yoshimoto

Publication year 1988

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship

Tags Asian Literature, Japanese Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, Romance, LGBTQ

Kitchen is the debut novel of Japanese writer Banana Yoshimoto. This short book is a riveting narrative about relationships and how they are tested by extreme circumstances. Kitchen is comprised of two separate stories that are unrelated aside from their focus on interpersonal relationships and the ordeals people endure while on journeys of self-discovery. The overall narrative addresses the themes of death, isolation, and self-forgiveness. By placing its characters in tragic circumstances, the novel investigates... Read Kitchen Summary

Land of Milk and Honey

by C Pam Zhang

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Language, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Food, Natural World: Place, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Food, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, LGBTQ

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Last Night at the Telegraph Club

by Malinda Lo

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Race, Identity: Gender, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Masculinity, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Romance, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Love / Sexuality, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Modern Classic Fiction, History: World

... Read Last Night at the Telegraph Club Summary