Pride Month is a time to celebrate diversity, identity, and the many ways people experience and express themselves. It’s also a powerful reminder that stories can do something important, they can help young people feel seen, understood, and a little less alone.
This year’s Pride Month reading guide brings together books that explore all kinds of emotional journeys you might connect with, from first crushes and friendships, to figuring out who you are, to bouncing back, growing stronger, and finding your own place in the world.
Hope you find a new favourite read!
Our Top Picks:
Heartstopper
by Alice Oseman
Friendship, first love, and finding your place
Heartstopper follows two school students as friendship slowly turns into something more. Told through a soft, easy-to-read graphic novel style, it explores identity, anxiety, and first love in a way that feels warm, safe, and super relatable.
It’s a great starting point if you’re just beginning to explore LGBTQIA+ stories – especially if you love visual storytelling.
Felix Ever After
By Kacen Callender
Identity, self-discovery, and self-worth
Felix is a Black trans teen trying to figure out who he is while navigating friendships, love, and what it means to truly be yourself.
This story dives into identity in a real, honest way and shows how important it is to feel seen and respected. It’s a powerful read for older teens and young adults who enjoy emotional, character-driven stories.
The Girl from the Sea
By Molly Knox Ostertag
Secrets, identity, and finding your voice
This graphic novel follows a teen who dreams of escaping her small island life – until she meets someone who completely changes how she sees herself and her future.
It’s a story about identity, family expectations, and learning to accept who you are, with a touch of magic that makes it extra engaging for graphic novel fans.
I Wish You All the Best
By Mason Deaver
Belonging, support, and starting over
After being rejected by their parents, a non-binary teen has to start over in a new home and figure out what life looks like next.
This story is about healing, friendship, and finding people who accept you for who you are. It’s emotional at times, but also really hopeful and uplifting.
Good Young Men
By Gary Lonesborough
Friendship, identity, and coming of age
A brilliant contemporary YA coming-of-age novel about three small-town Aboriginal friends finding their way towards adulthood, from the multi-award-winning author of The Boy from the Mish, We Didn’t Think It Through and I’m Not Really Here.
