Groundbreaking LGBT Novels

Posted August 29, 2018 by Brin in Memes, Top 5 Wednesday / 1 Comment

Top 5 Wednesday was created by Lainey @GingerReadsLainey on Youtube and is now hosted by Sam @ThoughtsOnTomes

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There’s a new topic every Wednesday, and you then list your Top 5 books related to the particular topic.

Groundbreaking LGBT Novels

I really had to wrack my brain trying to think up a topic for this week but I finally settled on groundbreaking LGBT novels as a potential reading list for a class on LGBT Studies.

There are a lot more books to choose from in recent years but I am going to delve back into books that broke the mould; that were groundbreaking in some way with a focus on YA novels of yesteryear!

Now, a bit of a disclaimer – some of these titles have some problematic and/or outdated elements that wouldn’t fly in today’s world. Still, I believe they still have a great deal of merit and should be looked upon as a product of their times.

1. I’ll Get There It Better Be Worth the Trip by John Donovan

One of the first, if not the very first, young adult LGBT novels. I haven’t actually read this one however, it is on my TBR pile. This was originally published all the way back in 1969!

2. Annie On My Mind by Nancy Garden

Not the first lesbian young adult book but definitely one of the most popular (with a happy ending, no less!) This is one of these books that you have to read at some point in your life. This was originally published in 1982 and it has never been out of print since.

3. Dance On My Grave by Aidan Chambers

Also published in 1982, Aidan Chambers is considered one of the most innovative young adult writers of that decade. This is perhaps his best-known book.

4. Happy Endings Are All Alike by Sandra Scoppettone

This is a groundbreaking book for me personally as it was the very first LGBT book I ever read back when I was a young preteen. Originally published in 1978 this is an oldie but goodie.

5. Trying Hard To Hear You by Sandra Scoppettone

Alright, each and every one of Sandra Scoppettone’s young adult books (of which there are too few, sadly) is worth reading and like a snapshot to a time when things were both simpler and a whole lot more complicated. This one dates back to 1973 – scary!