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.

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Identity: Gender

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Indian Literature, LGBTQ

A Burning by Megha Majumdar is a contemporary fiction novel that explores issues of tribalism, community, social media, and how we get ahead in a harsh world. Although the book takes place in India, its reflections on hope, humanity, and society are recognizable to all readers. The novel follows the interconnected narratives of Jivan, Lovely, and PT Sir after a terrorist attack in India. Jivan and Lovely’s chapters are narrated in first person with dialect... Read A Burning Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, LGBTQ, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2014

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Language, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Society: Immigration

Tags LGBTQ, Gender / Feminism, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Biography

A Cup of Water Under My Bed is Daisy Hernández’s 2014 coming-of-age story that centers the intersection of race, class, gender, and sexuality. The book received Lambda Literary’s Dr. Betty Berzon Emerging Writer Award in 2015. Hernández was also awarded the IPPY Award (Independent Publisher Book Award) for best coming-of-age memoir, and the book was a finalist for the Publishing Triangle Award. This memoir highlights the complicated dynamics that shape race, class, gender, and sexual... Read A Cup of Water Under My Bed Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Gothic Literature, LGBTQ, Addiction / Substance Abuse


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, LGBTQ, Sports, Relationships, Children's Literature


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Disability

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Drama / Tragedy, Relationships, LGBTQ, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Depression / Suicide, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Aging

Tags Realistic Fiction, Relationships, LGBTQ, Modern Classic Fiction


Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality, Self Discovery, Relationships: Family, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags LGBTQ, Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction, Biography


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Midlife, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Family

Tags Gender / Feminism, Modern Classic Fiction, LGBTQ, Humor


Publication year 2004

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Romance, LGBTQ

Almost, Maine is a play in two acts, and is comprised of a prologue, a four-scene first act, an interlogue, a four-scene second act (one of which has two different versions one can choose from), and finally an Epilogue. The title refers to an imagined town in Northern Maine, named Almost, that the playwright, John Cariani, writes, “doesn’t quite exist” (11). Each scene consists of at least two main characters, and, aside from the Prologue... Read Almost, Maine Summary


Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, LGBTQ, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Religion / Spirituality

A Map of Home is a 2008 coming-of-age novel by Randa Jarrar. The novel follows the life of Nidali, a girl of Palestinian, Greek, and Egyptian descent who grows up between Kuwait, Egypt, and the United States. The novel contains three parts, each of which correspond to Nidali’s time in these three different countries. During her childhood, Nidali navigates extreme circumstances, grappling with violence, family conflict, and the backdrop of war, all while exploring her... Read A Map of Home Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Edwardian Era


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Identity: Race

Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, LGBTQ, History: World


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: War

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Mystery / Crime Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Sexuality, Self Discovery

Tags Romance, Holidays & Occasions, LGBTQ


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fame

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing is a 2018 novel by American video blogger Hank Green. Told in the first and second person, this speculative fiction follows a young woman after her video of what she believes to be a robot art installation goes viral. Her addiction to attention and the revelation that the Carl is an alien examines the consequences of fame and the nature of humanity when faced with the presence of aliens.Plot Summary While walking... Read An Absolutely Remarkable Thing Summary


Publication year 1987

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Community

Tags Health / Medicine, Science / Nature, Sociology, History: World, LGBTQ, Politics / Government

And The Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic is a work of investigative reporting by Randy Shilts, a reporter with the San Francisco Chronicle. Shilts covered the AIDS epidemic from 1982 for the only newspaper willing to give its full attention to the epidemic. Shilts examines the roots of AIDS beginning in 1976 to two events and focuses on the mysterious illness of a Danish physician working in Africa, Dr. Grethe Rask. Before... Read And The Band Played On Summary


Publication year 1993

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Play: Drama, LGBTQ, History: U.S.

Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes by the American playwright Tony Kushner is an epic story that spans two plays – Millennium Approaches, first produced in 1991, and Perestroika, which debuted in 1992. The entire two-part work premiered on Broadway in 1993. Angels in America is Kushner’s most well-known work and is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most significant American plays of the 20th century. Angels in America... Read Angels in America Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger

Tags Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ

Mark Oshiro’s 2018 debut novel Anger Is a Gift is a work of contemporary fiction for young adults exploring the realities of police brutality and racist oppression people of color experience in America. This study guide uses the 2018 edition published by Tor (ISBN: 978-1-250-16702-6). Oshiro is a queer author of color, and this novel seeks to highlight the racial divide in America. He shows through this book that there is no universal American experience... Read Anger Is a Gift Summary