Our very first guest for my Celebrate Contemporary project is Shelly, one of the wonderful co-bloggers over at Read.Sleep.Repeat. I am so excited to have her as my very first guest. For today's post, she sent me recommendations of her very favorite diverse contemporary reads! She will also explain why she loves the contemporary genre. These books could be diverse in any way shape or form so she also included how they are diverse, which you'll see. These recommendations will be split into two parts. The first part is going to be the LGBTQIA+ recommendations and the other part will be all of the books that do not fit into that category.
Shelly (Read. Sleep. Repeat.)
Shelly reads a lot and writes a little. When she's not reading, she can be found blogging at Read.Sleep.Repeat. and working part-time at her local library. She likes diverse books, pizza and making lists. You can find her ramblings on Twitter at @shellysrambles.
Shelly's LBGTQIA+ Recommendations
Under the Lights by Dahlia Adler & Everything Leads To You by Nina LaCour:
Shelly recommends because she said that they are both awesome F/F LGBT books that involve Hollywood in one way or another.
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli:
Shelly recommends because she said it's such an amazing book and also so fun and cute!
(This one has a not so openly gay teenage boy.)
None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio:
Shelly recommends because it has an awesome theme of self discovery and it is also an intersex novel.
Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan:
Shelly recommends because like None of the Above, this one also has an awesome theme of self discovery.
Better Nate Than Never by Tim Federle:
Shelly recommends because it's a wonderful and cute middle grade series. She also believes that the main character is so lovable!
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz:
Shelly recommends because she said this is a beautiful novel and her favorite book of all time. It also has a racially diverse cast of characters as well as the author.
I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson:
Shelly recommends because it's one of her absolute favorite young adult novels.
(One of the main characters is gay.)
More of Shelly's Recommendations
**These are all of Shelly's diverse recommendations that are diverse for reasons other than LGBTQIA+ aspects. Some of these still have LGBT aspects but we decided to divide them up as best as we could. Two Boys Kissing and Boy Meets Boy are LGBT for example.**
Alex As Well by Alyssa Brugman
Shelly recommends this because she said it is a beautiful book about self-discovery and acceptance. She loved it very much.
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina
Shelly recommends this one because it is an important Latino young adult novel that more people need to read.
Don't Fail Me Now by Una LaMarche
Shelly recommends this one because it is amazing and it features characters of color.
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Just like the prior book, Shelly recommends this one because it is also amazing and also features characters of color.
Bright Lights, Dark Nights by Stephen Emond
Shelly recommends this book because she said it's a new release that is so important. It discusses race relations in the United States which is an important topic and discussion to have and it's not seen too often in YA literature.
Boy Meets Boy & Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
*These are two that are actually LGBT books! Either way, they're still diverse. ;)*
Shelly recommends because she said they are practically prerequisites for any LGBT contemporaries.
Why Does Shelly Love Contemporary?
I asked Shelly why she loves contemporary and she said,
"I love YA contemporary because while the genre seems all-encompassing, the stories are anything but. Contemporary allows so many unique stories to be out there and no one book is exactly the same. It encompasses everything from a straight up romance to a journey of self discovery and growth, it's brilliant."
Thanks so much to Shelly for being a wonderful guest here!
Have you read any of Shelly's recommendations? If so, which ones? Any diverse YA contemporary recommendations you would have added?
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