LGBTQIA+ Middle Grade Novels

Happy Pride Month! One of the best ways to build empathy and learn about different identities is to read books (I may be a bit biased). As June comes to a close, extend your pride/allyship into the rest of the year by checking out some of these 37 queer middle grade novels.

This is an updated version of my LGBTQ+ Middle Grade Novels post from a few years ago, with 19 new books! Keep a lookout for my upcoming LGBTQ+ Young Adult Novels post. 

All summaries written by me!

This Is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us edited by Nicole Melleby and Katherine Locke

A charming, heartwarming, and inclusive anthology of middle grade short stories and comics centered around LGBTQIA+ kids, with stories from much-loved authors such as Molly Knox Ostertag, Alex Gino, Shing Yin Khor, and Justina Ireland. 

A non-binary kid discovers their unique sense of style--and some new friends along the way. An animated gollem thinks she can't feel human emotions--but ends up falling for the princess she is charged with rescuing. A witch girl transforms into a dog to find a way to form a deep friendship with her new neighbor. In these amazing stories, sixteen queer kids find a place for themselves to belong, find joy, and live their lives to the fullest.

 

Camp QUILTBAG by Nicole Melleby and A.J. Sass

When Kai (e/em/eir) and Abigail (she/her/hers) meet in the forest of Camp QUILTBAG, a summer camp for queer kids, neither of them is sure they should be there. Kai just wants to be at home, doing parkour with eir friends, and trying to forget about the incident that put eir arm in a cast. Abigail, though initially excited to meet more kids like her who won't laugh at her crushes on older actresses, is feeling out of place among a lot of other queer kids who seem like they have their identities all figured out. 

Soon, though, Abigail and Kai figure out a way they can help each other: if Kai helps Abigail make some friends at camp, Abigail will help competitive Kai's cabin win the camp-wide competition. But deals never go as smoothly as planned, and as both Kai and Abigail navigate crushes, new friendships, and insecurities, they will both have to figure out what matters the most to them before the summer ends.

TW: homophobia, transphobia (via flashbacks)

 

Drum Roll, Please by Lisa Jenn Bigelow

Melly Goodwin didn't expect to like the drums when her best friend, Olivia, made her join the school band. But surprisingly, introverted Melly fell in love with the powerful, rhythmic sounds that she can make when she's behind a drum set. So when she and Olivia sign up for music camp together, she's excited. Until her parents tell her that they're breaking up the morning before camp starts.

And Camp Rockaway isn't everything Melly expected. She and Olivia, who pride themselves as being close as BFFs can be, seem to be growing apart. Melly starts to develop feelings for one of her bandmates, Adeline, and she isn't sure if she has what it takes to be a real rock drummer. Will Melly be able to sort out her feelings before camp is over?

 

Candidly Cline by Kathryn Ormsbee 

Cline Alden dreams of becoming a big-name country star, akin to Dolly Parton or Emmylou Harris. The only problem? Her mother is absolutely opposed to the idea, saying that Cline needs to focus on something more stable that will be sure to give her a comfortable life. So when Cline hears about a young musicians' songwriting workshop a few towns over, she knows she'll have to pave her own way to get there. After a lot of money-saving and sweet-talking, she finds herself the tuition and a ride to take her to her musical dreams. 

But when she arrives at the workshop, she's intimidated by the older kids and their years of experience. Not only that, but she gets partnered up with Sylvie, a rock enthusiast who makes Cline's head full of love song lyrics. 

As she begins to write her own music, Cline realizes how much she's been hiding from her family, and from herself. She has to figure out what it means to be Cline, in her truest version, so that she can sing it to the world. 

TW: homophobia 

 

The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James by Ashley Herring Blake

After her heart surgery, Sunny St. James decides that she can use this opportunity to restart her life as well as her heart. On the top of her list for New Sunny are to make a new best friend after she fell out with her old one, do something new and exciting that her previous fragile self wouldn't be able to do, and kiss a boy. Meeting Quinn, who is visiting the island, accomplishes her first goal. And when Sunny's estranged mother makes an entrance and introduces Sunny to surfing, she's accomplishing goal number two. But even though she tells herself she wants to kiss a boy, as she gets to know Quinn better, she's not quite sure anymore. Will the new Sunny St. James be the person she wants to be? Or will she be someone different?

TW: homophobia 

The Lumberjanes, created by ND Stevenson 

April, Jo, Ripley, Mal, and Molly were looking forward to a relaxing summer in the woods away from the real world. What they didn't expect was for creatures from out of this world to appear all over Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady Types. From bear-women to sea serpents, three-eyed foxes to Greek gods, it appears that this summer is not going to be like any others.

Over 75 issues of this comic book series, the five girls of the Roanoke cabin (plus their frazzled counselor, Jen) adventure in the forest next to the Lumberjanes camp and discover dark secrets and new friends. And, possibly, a hole in the fabric of time itself... 

 

Hazel Bly and the Deep Blue Sea by Ashley Herring Blake

Hazel, her Mama, and her little sister Peach have been drifting from town to town for the past two years, trying to move on from the grief that overtook them after the death of Hazel's Mum. Hazel can't get the memory of the horrible kayaking trip out of her mind, and the anxiety that she has after the accident prompts her to have her Safety Pack on her at all times. Hazel wants nothing more than to go home to California, and for Mama to say Mum's name again, and for the three of them to try to be something whole. 

But when the family arrives in Rose Harbor, Maine, Mama runs into Claire, a childhood crush. Claire, and her daughter Lemon, prove to be a challenge to Hazel's plans. Not only that, but Lemon can't stop talking about the Rose Maid, the town myth of a mermaid who lives in the harbor. Hazel hasn't made a friend since Mum died, and she doesn't intend to let Lemon in. But as the legend of the Rose Maid draws her in, she realizes that she connects with Rose Harbor more than she could have expected. 

 

Cattywampus by Ash Van Otterloo

As the daughter of one of Howler's Hollow's two witch families, Delpha McGill longs to try her hand at some magic. Maybe it could help her and her mama out so that times aren't so hard for them. But ever since an accident from her past, Delpha's mother refuses to let her dabble in magic. But a silly old rule can't stop Delpha, so when she finds her grandmother's magic book she instantly starts practicing in secret.

Katybird Hearn is longing for a spellbook too. Her family practices magic in secret, but ever since discovering that she's intersex, Katy has been scared that there's something wrong with her magic. See, magic is supposed to go from mother to daughter, and even though Katybird knows she's a girl, what if the magic makes a mistake? Delpha's book could be the key to her troubles. But after a scuffle over the book, one of the girls accidentally casts a spell that awakens the Hearn and McGill ancestors--who have a deep rivalry against one another and will stop at nothing to destroy the other. 

 

The Ojja Wojja by Magdalene Visaggio and Jenn St-Onge  

Val and Lanie live in the small town of Bolingbroke, where being different is not really an option. Luckily for Val, who has autism, and Lanie, who's queer, they have each other, and a ragtag lunch group of other kids who don't fit in. Val's a ghost believer, and Lanie dapples in modern witchcraft, and both girls' interests lead them to a project searching for local ghosts. Though Lanie is skeptical at first, a run-in with an undeniable ghost convinces both girls that something is up in Bolingbroke. 

When the school bully goes too far, Val and Lanie decide to try a spell to curse her...and end up summoning an ancient demon, the Ojja Wojja, who possesses the bully and starts to take over the entire town. What happens next is not for the faint of heart, but be assured that there will be plenty of zombies, suspicious old people, and the power of friendship. 

TW: transphobia

 

Rabbit Chase by Elizabeth LaPensée and KC Oster

When the Indigenous students at Aimée's school go on a field trip to learn about Paayehnsag, the local water spirits, Aimée would rather focus on their video game, trying to drown out the memories of classmates who tease them after coming out as non-binary. With their head buried in their game, they accidentally separate from the rest of the group...and end up in an Alice in Wonderland-esque dimension, populated by Anishinaabe spirits and figures. To return home, Aimée must help Trickster track down some evil water spirits, while also trying to get past the land-thieving Queen of Hearts and her robot army.

TW: transphobia

The One Who Loves You the Most by medina

Gabriela has always felt a little out of place--in the way the world sees them as a girl, and as a Latinx adoptee in a white family. At home, they long to help with their mom's depression; but at school, where they don't have any close friends, they feel like they can't even speak up for themself. But Gabriela learns to feel less alone when they meet some supportive queer friends (and maybe even...a girlfriend?) who teach them about all the different ways they can identify outside of girl or boy.

TW: parent with depression

Hurricane Season by Nicole Melleby

Fig's pianist father's strange habits and unfortunate tendency to wander out into the middle of hurricanes don't take away from Fig's love for him and for the small beach town where they live. But Fig wants more than anything to be able to protect and understand her father, so she enrolls in an art class at school to see the world as he does: as an artist. But when Fig's dad shows up at school looking for her, and social services calls, Fig is positive that she alone can't protect her father forever. But she doesn't have anyone who can, until a surprisingly friendly neighbor takes charge and enters her father's life. Through the ups and downs of hurricane season, Fig finds her place in her family and comes to terms with herself and her father's identity. 

 

Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake

Ivy Aberdeen's small town is shaken when a tornado destroys her and many other families' homes. Her family moves temporarily into a hotel in the town, and as Ivy's parents struggle to take care of their five children in their new situation, Ivy feels ignored and misunderstood. What's more, her secret notebook full of drawings of girls holding hands disappeared when her house was destroyed. 

In the aftermath of the storm, Ivy becomes friends with June, the town doctor's daughter. As Ivy develops a crush on June, her drawings start appearing in her locker, along with mysterious notes that encourage her to tell someone her secret. As Ivy and her family struggle to recover from the disaster, and Ivy is conflicted with her feelings for June, will she be able to show everyone who she truly is?

 

Star Crossed by Barbara Dee

Mattie is excited about the eighth grade performance of Romeo and Juliet, and even more excited to perform with Juliet, aka Gemma Braithwaite, the new British girl who is funny and pretty and smart. Mattie struggles with her feelings as she develops a crush on Gemma: after all, Mattie has had crushes on boys before, too. Can she have crushes on boys and girls?

 

Ana on the Edge by A.J. Sass 

Ana's one true love is figure skating. The way she can express herself on the ice has always felt freeing and joyful. But Ana prefers pants and hoodies to dresses and frills, so when the annual skating program's princess theme is announced, Ana starts to feel out of place on the rink for the first time. 

When Ana befriends Hayden, a transgender skater, Ana begins to realize that there are options for her outside of the gender everyone thinks she is. But Hayden initially mistakes Ana for a boy, and Ana doesn't correct him. It feels good to hide in this boyish identity for a while. But as time goes on, Ana feels like she's lying not only to Hayden, but to everyone who thinks she's a girl, too. Will she have the courage to tell everyone the truth, even if it could risk her spot on the rink?

Melissa by Alex Gino

Melissa knows she's a girl. But everyone else sees her as a boy named George. When a performance of Charlotte's Web is announced at her school, Melissa is determined to try out as Charlotte. So that she can be seen as a girl for just a day, and then maybe she'll have the courage to tell everyone who she really is. But because she's seen as a boy, her teacher doesn't even let her try out for Charlotte. How will Melissa show the world who she truly is?

 

Gracefully Grayson by Amy Polonsky

Grayson has lived with her aunt, uncle, and cousins since an accident killed her parents. And while her aunt and uncle are loving and kind, Grayson can't tell them the secret that's burning a hole inside her: she may have been born in a boy's body, but she loves wearing dresses and she knows that she's a girl on the inside.

Grayson struggles to make friends at school, but a production of Persephone might be the escape she's looking for. If she can just land the role of Persephone, she can wear a dress onstage and be a girl in front of an audience. But will the school allow it?

 

Both Can Be True by Jules Machias

After moving to a new school, Ash makes a decision: to let everyone assume that Ash is short for Ashley, so that no one has to know about how their gender goes back and forth between girl and guy. But it becomes more complicated when Ash's crush, Daniel, who's always been told by the world that he's too sensitive, asks for Ash to help him save a dog who's about to be euthanized. As the dog, Chewbarka, lead Ash and Daniel grow closer together, Ash worries that Daniel won't like them if he figures out they're not always a girl. Will Ash reveal their true identity, or choose to let Daniel see them as "Ashley" forever?

Spin With Me by Ami Polonsky

Essie is disgruntled about having to move temporarily with her dad and start at a new school. She can't wait for the 110 days until her return home to be over. But when she meets Ollie, a nonbinary classmate who makes her stomach jolt, she's not so sure she wants the move to end.

Ollie feels the same way about Essie, but her stay in North Carolina is coming to an end. Will the two tell each other how they feel before it's too late?

Alice Austen Lived Here by Alex Gino

Sam and their best friend TJ are two happy nonbinary middle schoolers who live on Staten Island. But they're tired of their history teacher, who always teaches as if only Dead Straight Cis White Men have ever affected the world. When a contest opens for kids to choose a local hero for a new statue, Sam has a great idea that will oppose their teacher's expectations and give them something cool to learn about: they'll enter Alice Austen, a sapphic photographer from Staten Island who just so happened to have lived in Sam's own apartment long ago.

With help from TJ, and Sam's queer mentors/neighbors, Alice is well on her way to winning the competition...as long as their history teacher keeps an open mind. 

 

 

Go With the Flow by Lily Williams and Karen Schneeman

Sick and tired of the ever-empty pad dispenser in their high school's bathroom, and of a school administration that doesn't think of female health as a priority, Abby, Christine, Brit, and Sasha decide to do something. However, starting a menstruation revolution isn't easy when there's opposition from the school, reluctance from Sasha, and the usual high school drama to deal with. And when Abby goes too far, hurting Sasha and causing way more trouble than she intended, things between the four friends get a bit tense. But in the end, they'll always have each other's backs. 

Small Town Pride by Phil Stamper

When Jake comes out to his parents as gay, they take it well--maybe too well. Jake's dad hangs a giant pride flag in their front yard, which is a huge novelty for the small Ohio town where they live. Neighbors, including the mayor, start to get uncomfortable, and are afraid that this display of acceptance could even lead to a never-been-seen-before pride parade in Barton Springs. 

Instead of quelling Jake's pride, their fears turn into an idea for him. Why couldn't Barton Springs hold its very first pride festival? With the help of old and new friends--including the mayor's son, who Jake has a hard time trusting at first but slowly grows to like--Jake sets out to let all the residents of Barton Springs know that queer people are welcome there. But first, he'll have to convince the entire town council. 

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

Theater is Cassie's favorite thing in the whole world. Unfortunately, she can't sing or act. So she's happy being the set designer for her middle school's upcoming play. However, things get more complicated than she expected as the semester goes on--the school play is struggling, as ticket sales are down and the budget won't cover a complicated set. And then there's the drama that ensues after the cast is chosen, and when a set of cute brothers enter the scene, it gets even crazier!

 

The Breakaways by Cathy G. Johnson

Faith is excited when one of the popular girls in her new middle school urges her to join the girls' soccer team, but the team does more arguing than playing, and no one can make a single goal. Faith finds refuge in her drawings and the stories she creates in her head, and over time, she makes friends among the other girls on the team--each of which has more to her than meets the eye. In the end, the team's friendships and rivalries may be more important than actually winning a game. 

Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy by Ray Tercerio and Bre Indigo

A modern, diverse reimagining of Little Women. 

With Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy's father in the military and their mother working overtime, their Brooklyn family is struggling to keep their heads above the water. The sisters find comfort in each other, and in their new neighbor Laurie, who lives with his grandfather. Meg struggles with her shame of being poor, Amy has difficulties at school where she's bullied, Beth works hard to keep the family together, and Jo struggles with a secret. But when Beth falls terribly ill, and their father is injured overseas, their precarious world is thrown out of balance.

TW: racism 

 

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

Prince Sebastian spends his days meeting eligible young women his parents want him to marry. But he spends his nights as Lady Crystallia, a daring fashion icon who wears dresses of the like no one has ever seen before. Sebastian's secret weapon is Frances, a dressmaker ahead of her time. But while Frances loves making dresses for Sebastian, who has become her best friend, she wants more: she wants to become a famous fashion designer, and she can't do that while hiding in Lady Crystallia's shadow. Will Frances be able to make a decision that will protect Sebastian and help her follow her dreams?

 

The Tea Dragon Society by Kay O'Neill

Greta, a blacksmith apprentice, stumbles upon a tea dragon in the market and follows it home to its owners, Hesekiel and Erik, who are master tea makers. Greta also meets Minette, the tea makers' gentle ward who has lost her memory. As Greta learns more about the dying art of tea dragon caretaking, and about Minette's past, her small world grows. 

 

Where the Lost Ones Go by Akemi Dawn Bowman

When Eliot Katayama’s parents decide to move shortly after her grandmother’s death, Eliot just knows that they’re trying to get her to forget Babung. Just like Babung began to forget her. But Eliot is determined: she will prove that ghosts are real, because if they are, she could have a chance of seeing her grandmother again.

Eliot’s ghost hunt leads her to Honeyfield Hall, a spooky old house on the hill inhabited by an old woman and her granddaughter. And even better—Honeyfield Hall is full of ghosts. But these ghosts aren’t what Eliot expected—they’re losing their memories, and soon there will be no chance for them to be able to cross into the world beyond. With the help of Eliot’s new crush, who happens to be the granddaughter of the owner of Honeyfield Hall, Eliot must find a way to get the ghosts’ memories back, or risk losing sight of her grandmother forever. 

 

The Legend of Auntie Po by Shing Yin Khor

Mei's work as the daughter of the cook of a Sierra Nevada logging camp keeps her busy, and she spends her free time telling the younger kids stories about Auntie Po, the elderly Chinese woman version of Paul Bunyan. But life as a Chinese American in the years after the Chinese Exclusion Act can't be peaceful, and as trouble arises in the camp and Mei starts to feel a growing attraction towards her best friend, Bee, Auntie Po seems to come alive in a way that Mei never could have expected. 

 

¡¡Manu!! by Kelly Fernández

Manu goes to a magical catholic school for girls with her best friend, Josefina. Though the headmistress, who is also Manu's guardian, believes Manu has great magical potential, Manu can't help but lean towards trouble instead of  helping people with her magic. Josefina is loyal to her until a prank involving a mango has disastrous consequences. Josefina angrily wishes that Manu's magic would disappear...and it does! In an attempt to get it back, Manu's magic just gets more out of control. The consequences might be more than she and Josefina can handle...

Anne: An Adaptation of Anne of Green Gables (Sort Of) by Kathleen Gros

Anne has jumped around in the foster care system all her life. So she hopes that she's finally found a home at the Avon-Lea apartment complex with the Cuthberts. Unfortunately, the Cuthberts had wanted to foster a younger kid, but a mistake in the system led Anne to their doorstep. Luckily for Anne, the Cuthberts grow fond of her and decide she can stay. But how long will it last when Anne always finds herself getting into scrapes, from falling down a ravine to accidentally dyeing her hair? 

Diana Barry, Anne's neighbor in the Avon-Lea, becomes a comfort and a fast friend for her. They share misadventures and imaginative escapades, and Anne finds herself wondering if Diana could be more than a friend. Navigating a new home, family, and crush can be a lot to deal with, but with Diana and the Cuthberts by her side, Anne can deal with anything.  

Anne of West Philly by Ivy Noelle Weir and Myisha Haynes

Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert are a bit nervous about fostering a thirteen-year-old girl for the first time. And at first, it seems like the redheaded and impulsive Anne Shirley might be more trouble than she's worth. But as Anne's stay at Green Gables in West Philedelphia lengthens, she proves herself to be a girl with a big personality and a passion for the creativity and beauty in the world. In West Philly, Anne meets a new best friend, Diana, and a new rival, Gilbert. She joins the school robotics team, and though she makes mistakes along the way (such as accidentally intoxicating Diana with a box of liquor chocolates), she finds that she loves it in her newest home. But will she be able to stay at Green Gables forever? 

 

The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag

Aster's family has magic. For generations, boys have learned to shapeshift while girls learned witchcraft. But Aster can't shapeshift no matter how hard he tries, and he's truly happy when spying on the girls' magic lessons. Aster knows that there has been one witch boy in the past...but that he turned into a monster and was banished from the family. During a shapeshifting ritual, however, the other boys start to go missing, and Aster knows he can help them with magic. He meets Charlie, a non-magical girl who convinces him to use the powers he has to save his family, and stand up for himself. 

 

Rick by Alex Gino

Rick has always let everyone else figure out who he is for him: his dad, who jokes with him about what girls he might want to date (though Rick has never had any interest in that, ever); his best friend, Jeff, who can be a total jerk sometimes, but that's just the way things are. But when Rick starts middle school, and finds himself joining the Rainbow Spectrum Club, he might be able to finally figure out who he is on his own. 

TW: homophobia

 

Felix Yz by Lisa Bunker 

When Felix Yz was three, one of his father's science experiments went terribly wrong, killing Felix's father and melding Felix with a fourth-dimensional being, who he names Zyx. 

Zyx turns out to be a friend for Felix, but his presence isn't ideal. With Zyx inside him, Felix has difficulty talking and moving sometimes...and eventually, Zyx will make him stop growing, so that he'll never be able to reach adulthood. To prevent this, Felix's family schedules him for a risky Procedure, which will either separate him and Zyx forever or kill them both. Normal life--with his mom's changing girl and boyfriends in the house, worry about his crush, and dealing with an ableist bully at school--is hard enough without anxiety about the Procedure. When a chess Grandmaster shows up at their house, proving Zyx (or, on the outside, Felix) to be a record-breaking chess genius, things get even more strange. 

Beetle and the Hollowbones    

Beetle's best friend is Blob Ghost, who is exactly what they sound like. Blob Ghost can't leave the local mall, where they're stuck for their entire afterlife, but that's fine as long as Beetle can go and visit them. But when Beetle's old friend Kat Hollowbone shows up in town, Kat's aunt and mentor announces that she will be removing the mall entirely to make way for bigger and better things. Things with Kat aren't as simple as they used to be, since Kat has become an online icon whose magic skills far surpass Beetle's, and her antagonistic aunt isn't helping matters. Will Beetle be able to save Blob Ghost's home before it's too late?

 

Princess Princess Ever After by Kay O'Neill

Neither Sadie nor Amira expects to find a true friend when Amira rescues Sadie from her tower prison. After all, Amira is brave and quick-moving, while Sadie is gentle and kind. But as their paths lead them across the kingdom together, they grow closer, and when Sadie's life is threatened by an evil sorceress, Amira doesn't hesitate to step in. Eventually, the two princesses discover their own meaning of happily ever after. 

Cover images from Amazon, Goodreads, and Scholastic