By Emma Tippen
I know you aren’t supposed to judge a book by its cover, but sometimes I can’t help it! I wanted to recommend a comic that correlates with each color of the rainbow!
Go with the Flow by Karen Schneemann and Lily Williams
This incredibly meaningful middle grade book follows a group of high school girls on a mission to end period inequality. When their principal dismisses their request to put free menstrual products in the bathrooms, they must take matters into their own hands. I love how the authors made sure to depict the diversity of experiences when it comes to menstruation. It’s so important to see yourself represented in the media
Flamer by Mike Curato
Mike Curato tells the devastatingly beautiful story of Aiden, a closeted teen spending his final days of summer at a sleep away camp. Other boys make fun of him, call him gay, and treat him differently from the others. Elias, his close friend, seems to be the only one at camp who cares for him. Aiden spends these days discovering who he loves, what he values, and who he is. This is a story of resilience that has burned a flame in my heart, I couldn’t recommend it enough.
The Times I Knew I Was Gay by Eleanor Crewes
In this memoir, Elanor recounts all the times in her life that she should have known she was gay but didn’t. From falling in love with Willow and Tara from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to never quite understanding why her friends were so obsessed with boys. When she finally comes out, all the puzzle pieces come together for her to live true to herself and authentically queer!
The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen
I have yet to read another graphic novel with art nearly as beautiful as the illustrations in The Magic Fish! Young Tiến, a second generation Vietnamese American, is starting to notice that he is different from many of his peers. His friends support him, but his school is very unaccepting of queer students. He uses the stories he reads with his mother to express himself and help her understand his identity. I am a sucker for a queer coming of age story, and The Magic Fish is definitely my favorite!
All Princesses Die Before Dawn by Quentin Zuttion
Not all love stories end in perfect harmony. Lulu dreams about being with his best friend, Cam hides a secret relationship with an older boy, all while their mother fights to save her dying marriage. They will all experience passion, longing, and heartbreak all within the span of a single day. An interesting device used to tell time in this novel is the reporting of Princess Diana’s death in Paris. Lulu is too young to understand why this was such a historical event, so Cam describes Diana’s profound impact on the world. All Princesses Die Before Dawn is like nothing I’ve read before, and its uniqueness has earned a special place in my heart!
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
Raina Telgemeier was my absolute favorite author when I was little. Her stories introduced me to the world of graphic storytelling! Drama reminds me all too well of my theatre days, it accurately captures what goes down in school stage productions. Callie, the protagonist, prefers to work behind the scenes while all of her friends prefer the spotlight. Everyone is starting to discover who they are and what it means to be authentically themselves. I am a strong believer that you are never too old to read middle grade and bonus points: it’s a banned book!
Catboy by Benji Nate
What would you do if one day you woke up and your cat had become human? Olive must teach her cat, Henry, how to live in the real world. Henry discovers that he loves parties, making friends, and most importantly, anchovy pizza! Benji Nate will always deliver when it comes to comedy, art, fashion, and relatable characters (even if they aren’t human!)