By Spencer Miller
North America is currently facing an unprecedented number of book challenges and ban attempts. Growing groups of parents, politicians, and educators are opposing the inclusion of books about gender and sexuality, antiracism, and anything that may cause “discomfort” in classrooms and libraries (Robert Bittner, Freedom to Read).
Books with LGBTQIA+ content are among the most frequently targeted. Of the Top 10 most challenged books recorded by the American Library Association in 2022, seven were challenged for including LGBTQIA+ content. Even when they occur in the United States, these challenges affect and harm Canadian authors, such as when Abdi Nazemian’s young-adult novel Like A Love Story was recently removed from school libraries in a Virginia school district.
Most instances of censorship will never be reported. For every challenge that makes the news, how many teachers and librarians simply choose not to include LGBTQIA+ books in their classrooms or libraries? This quiet exclusion of books is called soft censorship, and it happens every day.
Censorship grows out of silence. Counter censorship by speaking out and becoming an advocate for LGBTQIA+ books in your school.
Here are some tips for becoming an advocate for LGBTQIA+ books in your school:
- Include LGBTQIA+ books in your library for readers of all ages. See below for my book recommendations!
- Read LGBTQIA+ books with your students to show that LGBTQIA+ voices have a place in your school and that the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people are worthy of our close attention.
- Highlight LGBTQIA+ authors in posters and displays. In my classroom, I like to spotlight an author of the week or write a quote of the day on the whiteboard. I want my students to be inspired by the authors we read.
- Share your love of LGBTQIA+ books with your students. When I see a student reading an LGBTQIA+ book, I’ll say, “I loved that book” or “that author is a favourite of mine.” My best and simplest advice is to talk about the books you love.
- Celebrate Freedom to Read all year long. Find resources from Freedom to Read to help teach your students about book bans and challenges. Invite them to be a part of the conversation and have a say about what kinds of books are in the library.
We are lucky to have so many talented and dedicated authors and illustrators sharing diverse stories with young Canadian readers. Here is a list of recent LGBTQIA+ books selected from the Top Grade: CanLit for the Classroom program:
K-3
I Am Everything In Between is for kids who don’t fit into stereotypical gender ideals. This colourful picture book celebrates children of all genders by sending a positive message that it’s okay to feel like a girl, it’s okay to feel like a boy, and it’s okay to feel like “everything in between.”
Highlight: Full of feel-good messaging for young readers.
The Loudest Bark is a heartwarming story of family, friendship, puppies, and identity. A young child experiences the joys of self-expression and finds the confidence to share their true name with their parents.
Highlight: Perfect for teaching about respecting others’ chosen names.
Phoenix Gets Greater is a proud message of self-love and acceptance shared by Phoenix who, with the help of his supportive family, learns about Two Spirit/Niizh Manidoowag people in Anishinaabe culture.
Highlight: The first picture book I’ve ever read with representation of Two Spirit identity.
4-6
My Sister’s Girlfriend teaches young readers how to be an ally to their LGBTQIA+ friends and family. Fifth grader Talia worries everything will change when her big sister Jade starts dating a girl named Emily. With the help of her friends and family, Talia learns more about the coming-out process and how to support her sister.
Highlight: My Sister’s Girlfriend will answer so many questions for curious young readers.
Rabbit Chase is a graphic novel that takes Aimée, a non-binary Anishinaabe middle-schooler, on a journey to an alternate dimension populated by traditional Anishinaabe figures in a story inspired by Alice in Wonderland. This is a story of self-discovery, community, and finding one’s place in the world.
Highlight: Creatively combines elements from a classic story with elements from Anishinaabe culture.
Like A Hurricane is a novel in verse that takes a sincere look at the thoughts and feelings of a young teen anxious about coming out to his friends and family. His inner turmoil rises with the force of a hurricane.
Highlight: The text is given a unique typographical treatment—the words curve, embolden or shrink to reflect the narrator’s emotions, creating an engaging visual reading experience.
7-10
On The Line is a middle-grade novel that challenges harmful ideas and norms around gender and sexuality that persist in sports and athletics. Thirteen-year-old basketball star Jordan Ryker is shocked when his parents separate and his dad announces he’s gay. Jordie soon realizes that while some things change, other things never do.
Highlight: Uses the excitement of basketball to hook readers before diving into deeper themes of friendship, family dynamics, and divorce.
Wish Upon A Satellite is a young-adult novel that continues non-binary teen Ciel’s adventures attending high school in Montreal. It is an expertly written exploration of modern teenage identity and how to negotiate dating and relationships in the age of social media.
Highlight: I’ve never read a book that reminds me more of my students. Wish Upon A Satellite captures the modern teenage experience.
Baby Drag Queen (ages 12-18) is a coming-of-age story about responsibility and acceptance. Ichiro is a transgender teen who enters a drag contest with the hopes of winning the prize money to help support his mother. He must find the courage to take the stage.
Highlight: It’s very easy to cheer for Ichiro, a loveable protagonist with a worthwhile goal.
11-12
A House Unsettled is a haunted house story that explores how past hatred still haunts us in the present. In the story, Asha, a queer biracial teen desperate for a fresh start, moves into her late Aunt Aggie’s country home and starts to notice disturbing occurrences in the old house. Her hunt for answers uncovers secrets about Aunt Aggie’s identity and events from the past that give new meaning to her present circumstances.
Highlight: A House Unsettled brings important representation and discussion about race and sexuality to the horror genre.
The Queen of Junk Island follows a teenage girl as she navigates the suffocating expectations of everyone around her. With light paranormal elements, this young-adult novel is a fascinating exploration of bisexual identity and body image.
Highlight: The ghostly and atmospheric setting in Ontario during a humid summer in the mid-2000s.
Spencer Miller (he/him) is a teacher, writer, reader and basketball fan. He advocates for Canadian books in the classroom as the Editorial Coordinator of Top Grade: CanLit for the Classroom, a program of the Association of Canadian Publishers. You can follow more of Spencer’s passion for books on Instagram @YACanadaBooks.