Biblio File, Stuff for the Teen Age, LGBTQ at NYPL
The Bi YA We're Reading after Watching Janelle Monae
Janelle Monae’s latest video Make Me Feel has us in a bi state of mind here at The New York Public Library.
To celebrate, here are some of our favorite young-adult books featuring bisexual characters. (To be clear, these characters define themselves in a variety of ways—and not all of them use the word “bisexual” to describe themselves—but they’re attracted to multiple genders.)
What's your favorite bi YA? Let us know in the comments!
Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
This is the saucy victorian era romp you didn’t know you needed. Henry Montague—"Monty"—was bred to be a gentleman, but his tastes run decidedly rouge. As he goes on a grand tour of Europe with his best friend Percy and they encounter one adventure after another, he starts to acknowledge his lustful feelings may be obscuring a real love for Percy.
Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova
Witch, please. When Alex decides she doesn’t want to own her bruja status, she accidentally sends her family into Los Lagos—a magical, underworld full of strange and mysterious beings, including an intensely evil bruja. Along the way, Alex finds herself into the very-sexy-but-definitely-bad-boy Nova while also exploring her growing attraction to her loving best friend, Rishi.
Little and Lion by Brandy Colbert
Recently a Stonewall Award Winner, this book is all about families and how complicated life can be. Suzette is home in LA trying to manage her brother’s bipolar disorder. Meanwhile, she has to balance her crush on a cheerful Emil with her feelings for the pansexual Rafaela, all while constantly confronting homophobia and the stigma around mental illness that her brother faces.
More Happy than Not by Adam Silvera
Aaron Soto’s trying to be happy in the wake of his father’s suicide, and his girlfriend Genevieve is definitely helping. That said, Aaron can’t help but feel attracted to Thomas as the two boys get closer. Aaron considers using a memory-altering procedure to erase the feelings he thinks he shouldn’t have.
Not Your Sidekick by CB Lee
Jessica Tran’s parents are superheroes—literally—but Jessica’s just a normal nobody. She accidentally ends up interning for a pretty intense supervillain but, more importantly,working with her secret crush, Abby.
Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy
Ramona Blue is 6 feet tall, rocks a bright blue ponytail, and has to deal with the challenges that come with living in a small trailer with your dad and pregnant older sister (spoiler: there are a lot of them). Ramona defines herself as a lesbian, but she falls for a straight guy, Freddie. Not only is this a sweet book about falling in love and sexual fluidity, it’s about sisterhood and what we are willing to do for our families.
Run by Kody Keplinger
Bo Dickson is known to be a little wild, thanks to her good-for-nothing family. Agnes Atwood has never broken a rule in her life, but she and Bo are best friends—so when Bo decides she needs to run away, Agnes is right there with her. Although this is a book about friendship, Bo’s bisexuality is refreshingly named and adds depth to her identity.
Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore
The Nomeolvides women are magical: They are cursed in that anyone they love disappears, but they’re also blessed in that they can grow beautiful flowers with their bodies that beautify their estate, La Pradera. Estrella—and all the girls—are in love with the boyish girl named Bay Briar, but when a mysterious boy rises from the dirt, Estrella must uncover the secrets that the land holds and sort through her shifting emotions as well.
Coda by Emma Trevayne
In a dark dystopian future, music is everything. It’s also deadly, addictive, illegal, and completely controlled by an authoritarian Corporation. Anthem—a “conduit” who helps power society with his energy—is also involved with both a man and a woman. His bisexuality is just one feature of his personality amid the chaos and fast-paced sci-fi adventure.
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Have trouble reading standard print? Many of these titles are available in formats for patrons with print disabilities.
Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you'd recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!
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