10 Queer Books That Have Been Banned

Published on 16 March 2023 at 13:36

...And Where to Find Them

Books by queer authors or with LGBTQ2IA+ content are being banned across the United States every day. It's getting harder and harder to find books with queer content at local libraries or in public schools. In this post, I've assembled a list of books that have been banned either recently or in the past due to queer content or bias against an LGBTQ+ author.
 
Wherever possible, I have included a link to a location where you can read that book for free. Fair warning: Most online libraries focus on Western classics and books that have entered the public domain, so it's hard to find queer content on these libraries. Most openly queer literature has been published to recently to fall into either of these categories.
 
Google Books has been a particularly useful resource during this research. It includes previews for many books, including banned and challenged queer literature. It also includes lists of libraries near you that have the book you're looking for in stock. If you're having trouble finding a book at your local library, it's definitely worth checking. You may find that you are able to sign up for another library, such as your state or county library.
 
Disclaimer: Writing is hard work! When possible, I encourage you to purchase books from your favorite authors so that they can keep writing stories you love! I've included links to buy the books below as well.

Image Description: Brightly colored, second-hand books interlock to form a rainbow wall.

Photo Credit: Robert Anasch/Unsplash via Webador

10 Banned Queer Books

  1. A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo (Jill Twiss, illustrated by E.G. Keller): a children's picture book about a boy bunnies who fall in love. Read the book for free on Google Books or watch/listen to the book read aloud on YouTube through the East End Children's Centre. Buy the book here. Ages 2-7.
  2. All Boys Aren't Blue (George M. Johnson): a heavy and emotional memoir by the author about homosexuality, racism, and sexual assault. Read the book for free through Fierce Reads or listen to a virtual reading with George Johnson on YouTube, hosted by Fitchburg State University. Buy from Macmillan Publishers here. Suitable for ages 16 and up.
  3. Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out (Susan Kuklin): I couldn't find a copy through one of the free libraries, but you can learn about the author and her children and young adult books on her website, http://www.susankuklin.net/. The book is also available for purchase on the website. Listen to an excerpt on YouTube, courtesy of Libro.fm. Suitable for ages 14 and up.
  4. Gender Queer (Maia Kobabe): The author's memoir is presented in comic book form and covers topics of sex, sexuality, and queer gender identities. You can find it for free at Read All Comics. Listen to Maia Kobabe discuss eir book on YouTube, courtesy of Charis Circle. Buy the book from Simon and Schuster here. Suitable for ages 18 and up.
  5. Melissa (Alex Gino): Previously published as George, Melissa is a story about a transgender girl in 4th grade. Google Books offers a preview and shows you the nearest libraries stocking the book. You can learn more about the author, buy the book, or access the audiobook here. Suitable for ages 9-12.
  6. I Am Jazz (Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas): I couldn't find this book in an online library, but Google Books shows you the nearest libraries where this book is available. Listen/watch the book read aloud on YouTube by YogiSquad. Buy the book from Penguin Random House. Suitable for ages 4-8.
  7. Lawn Boy (Jonathan Evison): A coming of age story about a young man, recently fired from his job as a lawn boy, this book is hard to find for free. Google Books will show you the nearest library carrying the book. Listen to Jonathan Evison introduce the book on YouTube, hosted by University Book Store. You can buy the book on Amazon. Suitable for ages 12-18.
  8. Prince & Knight (Daniel Haack, illustrated by Stevie Lewis): This book is about a prince who finds true love. Read the book on Epic. Listen or watch the book read aloud on YouTube, recorded by the Key West Public Library. Learn about the author and the book here. Buy the book on Amazon. Ages 2-8.
  9. Sex is a Funny Word (Cory Silverberg, illustrated by Fiona Smyth): This children's comic book includes characters of diverse orientations and identities. I couldn't find it through an online library, but check Google Books to see if it is stocked by a library near you. Watch and listen to the book read aloud on YouTube, hosted by Puberty: The Wonder Years. Learn about the book and its author here. Buy the book on Good Reads. Ages 8-10.
  10. This Book is Gay (Juno Dawson): Read an excerpt for free on Google Books. This book is available on Overdrive and Hoopla, so if you are able to join a library network that uses one of these apps, you can read the book for free. Listen to an excerpt on YouTube from Libro.fm. Ages 14-17.

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