All Boys Aren’t Blue – The Bookish Mutant

🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈The Bookish Mutant’s Books for Pride Month (2025 Edition)🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Posted on June 2, 2025June 6, 2025 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Happy Monday, bibliophiles!

Here in the U.S., June is Pride Month! I usually start off these posts with something about how the world is slowly getting kinder to queer people, but that, as always, the shadows of homophobia and transphobia loom large. Well…Christ, it sure is looming larger than ever. Misinformed voters have decided that they’re perfectly content to return us to an administration that has already required passports to revert to the carrier’s assigned gender at birth and has been emboldened to toy with the idea of repealing the right to same-sex marriage. Of course, here I am sitting on my comfy couch in my comfy blue state of Colorado that thankfully has a) a gay governor (shoutout to Jared Polis), and b) enshrined the right to same-sex marriage in the constitution, but that doesn’t mean that my heart doesn’t constantly ache. All of us in the queer community are deeply interconnected. What hurts one of us hurts all of us.

Book banning across the country has disproportionately targeted queer books, deeming the presence of such subjects in children’s, middle grade, and YA literature as pornography and grooming. And god forbid that a drag queen commits the incredibly sexual and predatory act of…[checks notes] reading picture books to kids at libraries. Republicans have their priorities twisted. That’s old, old news by now. Books and libraries were never meant to be war zones, but fascists have made it their mission, then and now, to declare the right to information and new ideas as the most dangerous threat to their power. This goes for books both queer and non-queer. But the power of queer books can’t be overstated. Even I, who grew up in an incredibly supportive, accepting environment (biggest thank you imaginable to my wonderful family for being that way), was enlightened and comforted when, in the short period when I was closeted, I found bisexual characters in books that reflected my story and my feelings. Queer literature is revelatory, and it saves lives. For queer people, it gives them the comfort that they aren’t alone. For others, it gives them a glimpse into perspectives that they might not have otherwise considered, and compels them to empathize with people who are different than them.

So this pride month, and all year round (as always), when you think of what you can do to support the LGBTQ+ community, consider picking up a book. Support queer authors. Buy from queer-owned bookstores, because they tend to be pretty cool places. Support your local library (because they need it now more than ever)—checking out queer books shows them that they’re in demand, and that encourages librarians to keep on shelving them. For us book bloggers and other social media-oriented folks: keep on reviewing and shouting out books. And for all of us: no president, no government, and no legislation can take away your queerness. No one has that power but you. Your queerness is revolutionary and beautiful. Keep on being queer.

So here is my annual list of great LGBTQ+ reads from all sorts of genres, backgrounds, and identities. If I’ve mistakenly identified something about a book’s representation, please let me know! I’ve mixed YA and Adult books here, and I’ve also added a nonfiction section for the first time, as I’ve done with my other recommendation lists.

A refresher on my key:

MC: Main character

LI: Love interest

SC: Side character(s)

For my posts from previous years, click below:

Let’s begin, shall we?

🌈THE BOOKISH MUTANT’S BOOKS FOR PRIDE MONTH (2025 EDITION)🌈

FANTASY:

Includes paranormal, magical realism, horror, and genre fusion(s)

The River Has Roots – Amal El-Mohtar | Adult | queer MC, gender nonconforming LI | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The Water Outlaws – S.L. Huang | Adult | sapphic MC, gender nonconforming MC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The Library of the Unwritten – A.J. Hackwith | Adult | pansexual MC, bisexual SC, sapphic SC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The Nightward – R.S.A. Garcia | Adult | Queer MC, queer and trans SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Lost Story – Meg Shaffer | Adult | bisexual MC (x2), asexual MC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Someone You Can Build a Nest In – John Wiswell | Adult | sapphic/asexual MC, sapphic LI | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Freshwater – Akwaeke Emezi | Adult | gender nonconforming/sapphic MC |⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
To a Darker Shore – Leanne Schwartz | YA | demisexual MC, lesbian SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The Sun and the Void – Gabriela Romero Lacruz | Adult | sapphic MCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Girl, The Ring, & The Baseball Bat – Camille Gomera-Tavarez | YA | bisexual MCs (x2), asexual MC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Death’s Country – R.M. Romero | YA | polyamorous MCs (f/f/m), bisexual SCs |⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Sixteen Souls – Rosie Talbot | YA | gay MC, trans LI, several queer SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Gwen & Art are Not in Love – Lex Croucher | YA | bisexual MC, gay MC, gay & sapphic SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Patricia Wants to Cuddle – Samantha Allen | Adult | bisexual MC, lesbian SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SCIENCE FICTION:

Includes dystopia, speculative fiction, & genre fusion(s)

Ocean’s Godori – Elaine U. Cho | Adult | queer MC, queer, polyamorous SC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Last Gifts of the Universe – Riley August | Adult | nonbinary MC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
You Sexy Thing – Cat Rambo | Adult | queer MC, nonbinary LI, various queer SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The Seep – Chana Porter | trans woman/lesbian MC, several sapphic & queer side characters | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
The Stardust Grail – Yume Kitasei | Adult | nonbinary MC, asexual SC, polyamorous SC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Vela – Becky Chambers, Yoon Ha Lee, S.L. Huang, and Rivers Solomon | Adult | trans woman/lesbian MC, nonbinary MC, sapphic SCs, nonbinary SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Floating Hotel – Grace Curtis | Adult | nonbinary MC, lesbian SC, bisexual SC, pansexual SC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Stars Too Fondly – Emily Hamilton | Adult | bisexual MC, lesbian LI, trans woman SC, nonbinary SC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Why on Earth: An Alien Invasion Anthology – edited by Rosiee Thor and Vania Stoyanova | YA | various queer/trans MCs and SCs (anthology) | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Countess – Suzan Palumbo | Adult | lesbian MC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Catherine House – Elisabeth Thomas | Adult | bisexual MC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
A People’s Future of the United States – edited by Victor LaValle and John Joseph Adams | Adult | various queer/trans MCs and SCs (anthology) | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Finna – Nino Cipri | Adult | queer MC, nonbinary MC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Hammajang Luck – Makana Yamamoto | Adult | agender lesbian MC, lesbian LI, trans man SC, trans woman/lesbian SC, lesbian SC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Time and Time Again – Chatham Greenfield | YA | lesbian MC, nonbinary lesbian LI, several queer SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

REALISTIC FICTION

Roll for Love – M.K. England | YA | bisexual MC, lesbian LI, asexual SC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Desert Echoes – Abdi Nazemian | YA | gay MC, gay LI, several queer SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Love Letters for Joy – Melissa See | YA | panromantic asexual MC, pansexual LI, bisexual, lesbian, and gay SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
If You Still Recognize Me – Cynthia So | YA | bisexual MC, lesbian, sapphic, bisexual, gay, and nonbinary SCs
Ander & Santi Were Here – Jonny Garza Villa | YA | nonbinary MC, queer LI, bisexual, grey-ace, and lesbian SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Can’t Take That Away – Steven Salvatore | YA | genderqueer MC, bisexual LI, gay, lesbian, and pansexual SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Some Girls Do – Jennifer Dugan | YA | bisexual MC, lesbian MC, trans, pansexual, and gay SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Stars in Their Eyes – Jessica Walton and Aśka | YA | bisexual MC, nonbinary LI | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Navigating With You – Jeremy Whitley and Cassio Ribeiro | YA | lesbian MC, bisexual MC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oye – Melissa Mogollon | YA | lesbian MC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Between Perfect & Real – Ray Stoeve | YA | transmasc MC, lesbian, bisexual, gay, trans, and nonbinary SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Bánh Mì for Two – Trinity Nguyen | YA | bisexual MC, sapphic LI | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

NONFICTION:

All Boys Aren’t Blue – George M. Johnson | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches – Audre Lorde | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Stonewall Reader – edited by the New York Public Library | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Welcome to St. Hell: My Trans Teen Misadventure – Lewis Hancox | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bi: The Hidden Culture, History, and Science of Bisexuality – Julia Shaw | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gender Queer: A Memoir – Maia Kobabe | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic – Alison Bechdel | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Strong Female Character – Fern Brady | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Fire Never Goes Out: A Memoir in Pictures – N.D. Stevenson | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK! Have you read any of these books, and if so, what did you think of them? What are some of your favorite queer books that you’ve read recently? Let me know in the comments!

Today’s song:

lindsey…please tell me this is a sign that you’re cooking something…

That’s it for this year’s pride recommendations! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!

Books

A Reading List for the Coming Four Years | Books for Rising, Resisting, and Keeping the Hope

Posted on January 20, 2025 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Happy Monday, bibliophiles…sort of. We’re in for a long four years.

It’s already been said what a slap in the face it is to have Trump sworn in on the day we normally set aside to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr., one of America’s preeminent champions of civil rights. (I’m sure the administration will find some way to spin it in their favor, the same way that Trump spun the Women’s March. Eurgh.) I’m grieving. I will continue to grieve, so long as our country is once again helmed by a tyrant who uplifts the wealthy and bigoted while the marginalized are squashed underfoot. My processing this won’t end until we get him out of office (because I refuse to believe that this is the end), and that’s okay.

But today, as with most of the activity on this blog, I’d like to talk about books.

Anyone who has even had a semblance of a pulse on the news in the last five years or so has seen the increased hateful rhetoric surrounding books—particularly those concerned with promoting diverse voices. Mass book bans have swept the country, with everything from the most innocuous picture books to critical feminist knowledge being stricken down across the board, all in the name of “protecting the children.” The process of objecting to a book is frighteningly simple and straightforward, leading to bans on the basis of misinformation—just look at the time Amanda Gorman’s The Hill We Climb was challenged after a single complaint…and attributed to Oprah Winfrey (ah, yes, because all Black women are the same person, apparently). Apologies for the strong language here, but to quote a great button that I have on one of my jackets, “you know these fuckers banning books don’t read shit.” It’s true. Rarely do those in charge of banning, especially those in the highest offices in the country, consider the actual contents of the books—they simply get a whiff of anything that smells to them of D.E.I. or the “woke groomer agenda” and try to smite it out of the public consciousness.

It was never about the children. The majority of the books that are being banned to “protect children” aren’t even aimed at children. And even if they are, it’s only for superficial reasons—inclusions of, god forbid, diverse perspectives (LGBTQ+, POC, disabled, etc.) or acknowledgments that maybe, just maybe, America is not perfect and has never been perfect. It truly is dangerous. We’ve seen how the Trump campaign was built on twisting and exaggerating lies about this country, feeding its supporters that we must go back to some nonexistent, golden age. Of course it never existed, but the way that they do it is by blocking off access to information on all levels—perpetuating lies and attacking those who spread the truth. Book bans are how this is done at the largest level; it starts with the very youngest, and they claim to “protect the children” as they restrict their access to learning about how this country—and the world—truly is. The regimes that put blinders on its populations—especially the ones banning or burning books—never land on the right side of history.

I believe that the best way that you can combat this deliberate shielding of the truth is to read. In a world where the ruling class relies on you being complacent enough to accept their lies as fact, reading is the ultimate form of rebellion. We read to learn: about other kinds of living, other kinds of people, and possibilities in the imaginations of people you know nothing about. Literature is the site of change because it shows us this possibility—if you can imagine an alternative world, you can put it into action. When you feel powerless, remember that you have boundless knowledge at your fingertips.

So I’ve compiled this reading list for anyone looking to rebel. I’ve gathered books of all age levels and from all kinds of diverse voices that Trump and his cronies would have you believe neither matter nor exist. Whether your stance is to directly fight the power or quietly rebel by imagining a way out, there are books here for you. Fiction and nonfiction, here are the tools you need to combat misinformation, bigotry, and hatred—and have a great read, too.

A READING LIST FOR THE COMING FOUR YEARS | Books for Rising, Resisting, and Keeping the Hope

FOR THE FIGHT:

These are the books about resistance, in the real world and in imagined worlds. If you need the motivation to stand up and fight for your rights and the encouragement to not pull punches when doing so, these are the books for you.

A People’s Future of the United States – edited by Victor LaValle (anthology) | Adult, LGBTQ+, Sci-fi/fantasy
Squire – Sarah Alfageeh and Nadia Shammas | MG, fantasy
Can’t Take That Away – Steven Salvatore | YA, LGBTQ+, fiction
Your Plantation Prom is Not Okay – Kelly McWilliams | YA, fiction
The Luis Ortega Survival Club – Sonora Reyes | YA, LGBTQ+, fiction
We Are Not Free – Traci Chee | YA, historical fiction
Parable of the Sower (Earthseed, #1) – Octavia Butler | Adult, sci-fi
This Book Won’t Burn – Samira Ahmed | YA, fiction
The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea – Maggie Tokuda-Hall | YA, LGBTQ+, fantasy
To Shape a Dragon’s Breath – Moniquill Blackgoose – YA, LGBTQ+ fantasy
Iron Widow – Xiran Jay Zhao | YA, LGBTQ+, sci-fi
Warrior Girl Unearthed – Angeline Boulley | YA, fiction

FOR A BETTER TOMORROW:

Here is something I want to emphasize going forward: it’s important to fight, but not all of us have the strength to do so—and that’s okay! Plenty of people aren’t ready to get out into the streets, and we need to respect that perspective. (This is coming from someone who isn’t quite ready either.) What we need the most in these times is hope, and though there is injustice in these books, they present stories where, despite hardships, joy prevails. They also present vital alternatives to the now—one of the most powerful ways of resisting, in my opinion, is to have the ability to imagine a better tomorrow, whether it’s alternate history, the distant future, or simply a kinder present.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet – Becky Chambers | Adult, sci-fi
Brooms – Jasmine Walls and Teo DuVall | MG, LGBTQ+, fantasy/alternate history
Meru – S.B. Divya | Adult, LGBTQ+, sci-fi
The Stardust Grail – Yume Kitasei | Adult, sci-fi
The Reckless Kind – Carly Heath | YA, LGBTQ+, historical fiction
A Phoenix Must First Burn – edited by Patrice Caldwell (anthology) | YA, sci-fi/fantasy
Navigating With You – Jeremy Whitley and Casio Ribeiro | YA, LGBTQ+, fiction
Floating Hotel – Grace Curtis | Adult, LGBTQ+, sci-fi
Chameleon Moon – RoAnna Sylver | Adult, LGBTQ+, sci-fi
A Psalm for the Wild-Built – Becky Chambers | Adult, LGBTQ+, sci-fi
Stars in Their Eyes – Jessica Walton and Aśka | MG, LGBTQ+, fiction
The Sound of Stars – Alechia Dow | YA, LGBTQ+, sci-fi

FOR KNOWLEDGE:

The best way to combat misinformation is to inform yourself. Here are some of my favorite nonfiction books about resistance and feminism and its many facets—race, sexuality, gender, ability, and more. Ranging from revered feminist scholars to more contemporary perspectives, I hope there is something for everybody here.

Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches – Audre Lorde | Adult, nonfiction
The Stonewall Reader – edited by the New York Public Library | Adult, nonfiction
The Trouble with White Women: A Counterhistory of Feminism – Kyla Schuller | Adult, nonfiction
Our Stories, Our Voices: 21 YA Authors Get Real about Injustice, Empowerment, and Growing Up Female in America – edited by Amy Reed (anthology) | YA, nonfiction
Our Stories Carried Us Here – edited by Julie Vang (anthology) | Adult, nonfiction
Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the 21st Century – edited by Alice Wong (anthology) | Adult, nonfiction
How to Argue With a Racist: What Our Genes Do (and Don’t) Say About Human Difference – Adam Rutherford | Adult, nonfiction
Year of the Tiger: An Activist’s Life – Alice Wong | Adult, nonfiction
March, Book One – John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell | Adult, nonfiction

A SELECTION OF GREAT BOOKS BANNED FOR RIDICULOUS REASONS:

Here in the U.S., we’ve seen a deeply disheartening uptick in book bans for a number of reasons—none of them valid. Standing up to book bans is essential in these times, and through it, you can discover some excellent literature, whether they’re classics like Maus and The Bluest Eye or newcomers like The Poet X.

Gender Queer – Maia Kobabe | Adult, LGBTQ+, nonfiction
The Poet X – Elizabeth Acevedo | YA, fiction
Maus – Art Spiegelman | Adult, nonfiction
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic – Alison Bechdel | Adult, LGBTQ+, nonfiction
Drama – Raina Telgemeier | MG, LGBTQ+, fiction
The Bluest Eye – Toni Morrison | Adult, historical fiction
The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood | Adult, sci-fi
All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir Manifesto – George M. Johnson | YA, LGBTQ+, nonfiction
Juliet Takes a Breath – Gabby Rivera | YA, LGBTQ+, fiction

RESOURCES FOR FIGHTING AGAINST CENSORSHIP:

PEN America – if you’ve been paying attention to efforts against book banning, you’ve likely seen PEN America come up, and for good reason—they are one of the foremost organizations fighting for the rights of authors and journalists, as well as the freedom to read and write.
Authors Against Book Bans – self-explanatory, but this organization has a variety of resources on how you can fight against book bans around the country.
M.K. England (Substack) – although my list didn’t end up containing any of their books (sorry 😬), England has provided a comprehensive list of ways you can fight back against the potential threat of Project 2025 in terms of queer literature for younger (MG and YA) audiences.
SUPPORT! YOUR! LOCAL! LIBRARY! Wherever you are in this country, use as many of your library’s resources as you can! Whether you’re checking out books physically or digitally, or using their non-book services, libraries need all the support that they can get in these coming years.

That being said, this list is by no means exhaustive! I encourage you to look beyond this list to find even more books you love that live up to these principles. Scour the internet and your local library, and you are sure to find many more examples. Let me know in the comments what your favorite books about making change, resisting, and keeping hope are!

Today’s song:

it’s a relevant song for this post, but also, I did just listen to Humanz for the first time over the weekend. Not their best, but this was one of the highlights; as much as I despise Oasis, I do find it poetic that Albarn and Noel Gallagher sang together on this one after having the most ridiculous, decades-long rivalry. (To say nothing of Liam…)

That’s it for this post! Have a wonderful day, and…I know I put this at the end of every post, but please take care of yourselves. I love you.

Monthly Wrap-Ups

June 2024 Wrap-Up 🐻

Posted on June 30, 2024 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Happy Sunday, bibliophiles!

Halfway through 2024…no! No we aren’t 😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀

Let’s begin, shall we?

GENERAL THOUGHTS:

After how busy and hectic my sophomore year of college was, June has been a time to recharge in more ways than one. I went on a quiet vacation at the beginning of the month (Ouray and Black Canyon of the Gunnison—the latter is a very underrated national park, I highly recommend it!), and I’ve taken the rest of the month to…well, rest. I’ve tried to be on social media less and focus on art, writing, and generally nourishing my creativity. In preparation for Camp NaNoWriMo (I only ever do the July camp these days because November and April are both abysmally busy times for me now that I’m in college), I’ve decided to round out my sci-fi trilogy and write the first draft of book three; at this point, I’ve beefed up the outline like a grizzly bear before hibernation, so at least I’ll have some sense of direction…wish me luck!

My reading month started out slower, and it’s had some dips, as always, but I ended up reading loads of fantastic queer books for pride month! Predictably, one of my vacation souvenirs wasn’t something related to where we went…no, I bought a copy of The Familiar at a local bookstore (support ’em!) knowing that it would take eons for my hold to arrive at the library. Worth it. I also figured it was as good a time as any to re-read my favorite series from when I was a kid—the WondLa trilogy. My verdict? It healed my soul and reinvigorated my creativity. Some kid’s books don’t age well, but WondLa never gets old.

Other than that, I’ve just been making art, playing guitar, going to pride (so much fun!), watching Hacks, Succession (nearly finished with season 1, and all it’s done is made me fear business majors even more than I already do), and…morbidly, Apple TV+’s new show that they decided to call WondLa. I’m three episodes in, and it’s like watching a train wreck. Expect a retrospective on the WondLa trilogy and possibly a review of…whatever that show is that definitely isn’t WondLa.

On a lighter note, photos from my vacation and pride:

(The bear on the title of the post is in honor of a bear we saw crossing the road in Black Canyon. Could also represent bears in general? Happy pride.)

READING AND BLOGGING:

I read 18 books this month! It’s been another relaxed reading month, and although I had a slump towards the end of the month, I read several incredible books for pride month!

1 – 1.75 stars: