We’re now entering the dog days of summer, and what better time to take up a reading challenge? Our library is participating in Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge, which encourages you to read more broadly. It’s never late to join us! June is also LGBT+ pride month, a commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall riots and recognition of the impact of LGBT people on society. In honor of pride month, here are a few books that work for task 21: A comic by an LGBTQIA creator. Note, the creators here may not identify under the specific LGBTQIA acronym, but within an expanded LGBT+ acronym.
Nonfiction & Memoir:
Queer theory and history is an endlessly complex topic even for the most academic-minded reader; where should one start? Meg-John Barker and Julia Scheele’s “Queer: A Graphic History” does a good job at condensing some of the central arguments and tenets about sex, gender, and sexuality from thinkers like Judith Butler, Adrienne Rich, and many more.
“A Quick & Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns” is a comic that is exactly what it sounds like. The book reads as a conversation/Q&A session between the author Archie (genderqueer, they/them pronouns) and artist Tristan (cisgender, he/him pronouns) as they explain the basics of gender terminology beyond the binary.
A recent publication, Maia Kobabe’s memoir “Gender Queer” is an excellent personal telling of gender-identity and discovery. Maia uses Spivak pronouns (e/em/eir) and has used this memoir to explain eir process of self-identity to family, friends, and readers, and as a form of catharsis.
Fiction:
Our summer reading theme here at DBRL this year is “A Universe of Stories”, and if you’re in the mood for something set in space, “On a Sunbeam” might be the graphic novel for you! Mia is the newest member of a space-faring renovation crew searching the universe for her long lost love.
In addition to reading, summer is often synonymous with camp. Lumberjanes is a fun-for-all-ages series that follows the adventures of five best friends and their supernatural activities at Miss Quinzilla Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s camp for hardcore lady types. Friendship to the max!
A book I recently read for this task that also deals with themes of friendship is “Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me” by Mariko Tamaki. Protagonist Freddy is dating the cool high school girl Laura Dean who (surprise!) keeps breaking up with her and is just a terrible girlfriend in general. Freddy is so wrapped up in this toxic relationship that she is oblivious to important developments in her friends’ lives, but ultimately comes to embrace those who are most important to her.
If you’re looking for more options, check out the library’s list of comics by LGBT+ creators. Happy Pride Month!
