Uplifting LGBQ+ Reads

These books highlight stories of self-discovery, friendship, love, and courage. From heartwarming middle-grade tales to emotional YA journeys, each book celebrates identity and connection while offering engaging and memorable stories.

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Rating Summary

🟢 Green – Fully clean, kid-friendly, no graphic content; light and safe for all readers.

🔵 Blue – Mild emotional intensity or deeper themes; best for older children or confident middle-grade readers.

🟣 Purple – Moderate emotional depth or realistic situations; still fully clean and non-explicit, good for readers who can handle heavier themes.

All books are checked for strong language, graphic violence, and on-page sexual content, with additional content notes included when relevant.

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🟢 1. Bloom – Kevin Panetta & Savanna Ganucheau

Series: Standalone

A sweet graphic novel about first love, friendship, and working together in a family bakery. Full of warmth, humor, and relatable teen emotions. Written for Middle Grade / Teen readers.

Heads Up: There is a fire, themes of bullying, anxiety and depression.

🟣 2. The Red Ribbon – Lucy Adlington

Series: Standalone

Set in Auschwitz during World War II, young women working in a fashion workshop find resilience, hope, and unexpected connections amid unimaginable circumstances. Written for Teen readers.

🔵 3. Heartstopper (Vol. 1) – Alice Oseman

Series: Heartstopper Graphic Novel 1 - 6+

A gentle, hopeful story about friendship turning into first love, told with warmth, humor, and emotional honesty. Written for Teen / YA readers.

Heads Up: Bullying, anxiety, depression, Later Volumes: self-harm , eating disorder, Romantic content (fade-to-black).

🟢4. Boy Meets Boy – David Levithan

Standalone

A light, idealized coming-of-age story set in a supportive community where friendship, relationships, and identity are treated with optimism. Written for Teen / YA readers.

Heads Up: Religious conflict, Alcohol use.

🔵 5. Carry On – Rainbow Rowell

Series: Simon Snow, Book 1 of 3 (Complete)

A fantasy novel featuring magic, prophecies, and rivalry that slowly shifts into an unexpected romantic connection between two male characters. Fantasy battles. Written for Teen / YA readers.

Heads Up: Mild language (bloody, hell, damn), Fantasy violence. Later books (2-3) are NOT Shelf Safe and include explicit sexual content and stronger language.

🔵 6. Star-Crossed – Barbara Dee

Standalone

When Mattie, a book-loving middle schooler cast as Juliet in the school play, develops a crush on the girl playing Romeo, she begins to wonder if she might like girls too. Upper Elementary to Middle Grade

Heads Up: Mild anxiety.

🔵 7. Riley’s Ghost – John David Anderson

Standalone

When Riley Flynn is accidentally locked in her middle school overnight, she finds herself facing more than creaky hallways — she encounters actual ghosts, and deeper still, the ghosts of her own fears and isolation. In a suspenseful, emotionally rich story, Riley's long night becomes a journey of self-discovery, courage, and healing. A Chilling read written for Middle Grade readers.

🟢 8. Princess Princess Ever After – Katie O’Neill

Standalone

A kid-friendly fairy tale about two princesses who rescue each other — and fall in love along the way. Lighthearted, empowering, and fully clean. Written for Elementary readers and beyond.

🔴 Not Shelf Safe

After further review, this title does not meet the Shelf Safe Books standards. It is included here for transparency.

🟣 9. Like a Love Story – Abdi Nazemian

Standalone

Set in 1989 New York City, this poignant YA novel follows three teens — a closeted Iranian boy, an outspoken girl, and her best friend — as they explore art, AIDS activism, and first love. written for Middle grade / YA readers.

Heads Up: Grief, identity questioning, historical trauma, Strong Language f--k, sh-t, b--ch, dick, as well as homophobic and racist slurs. While it authentically portrays the AIDS crisis era, this book does not fit the standards set by Shelf Safe Books.

🟣 10. How It All Blew Up – Arvin Ahmadi

Standalone

When a closeted gay teen flees to Rome after a school scandal, he finds queer community, unexpected freedom, and a new sense of self in this lyrical and heartfelt YA novel.

Heads Up: Mild language (hell, damn, crap) with occasional stronger language (sh*t), Being outed, Family conflict/homophobia, Running away, Alcohol use (teen), Romantic content (fade-to-black).

Thanks for stopping by. May your shelves be full, your stories clean, and your day sprinkled with a little magic.