Pride 2020

The year: 1972. The place: Detroit. Elena Abbott is a hard-hitting journalist at the Detroit Daily, using her work to ask difficult questions and bring to light police abuses that some feel are best left unexplored. To make things more difficult, Abbott moves through this primarily white male world as a black bisexual woman, encountering both institutional and direct bigotry and discrimination. When following a series of strange killings and mutilations, Abbott finds her life threatened by something decidedly supernatural—possibly connected to the same forces that took her husband away many years prior.

Fans of detective stories, murder mysteries, horror, and the supernatural.

Some disturbing or gory content; use of drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes; depiction of racism and bigotry.

Sharona Ginsberg

Bea is running away, and Lou offers her a ride. As they drive through West Texas, they meet a cat who leads them into a surreal world.

Fans of Walden’s other works; fans of surreal works

Discussion of sexual assault.

Shira Pilarski

At a feminist Christian summer camp, Charlie, who is Black, feels hurt by the predominantly white counselors’ and campers’ microaggressions. She has a crush on one of the older girls and feels left out until she befriends Sydney, a trans girl who revels in being different from the pack.

Fans of the webcomic, kids who are balancing being queer with being religious, outdoorsy types.

Racist microaggressions.

Shira Pilarski

A former basketball star, overwhelmed by the pressures of the sport, quits playing and transfers to a quirky arts college . . . where she is approached about joining the school’s even quirkier newly-formed basketball team. Hijinks, friendships, and romance ensue.

Fans of Moonstruck and other comics that combine lighthearted humor and romance in an inclusive setting.

Nic Willcox

Kate Kane tracks down arms dealers to the island of Coryana, where she once spent a year and had a brief relationship with a woman there. The dealers are selling a serum that transforms people into monsters, but they aren’t the only dangers that await Kate, as familiar figures from her past lie in wait to entrap her and unleash mayhem across the globe.

Fans of navigating one’s mysterious, seductive past with combined nostalgia and military training.

Thomas Maluck

A wholesome love story of an older couple rekindling a love from their youth. Hazel and Mari fell in love in high school but separated because of pressure to marry men. Fifty years later, they find each other and realize they still love one another.

Fans of Steven Universe, readers looking for a sweet love story.

Sara Smith

Ari’s family runs a struggling Greek bakery. Ari wants to move to the big city with his band, so he hires and trains his replacement, Hector. As yeast blooms in the bakery, romance blooms between Ari and Hector.

Fans of baking/romance crossovers like Jenny Han’s Laura Jean series.

Grief (family member death), fire.

Shira Pilarski

Georgia native Eric Bittle joins the men’s hockey team. As a vlogging, baking gay man will he fit in? Things get complicated when he falls for the team captain. Check, Please! is a heartwarming coming of age story that you don’t want to miss! In addition to the print books, you can also read it online!

People who want a feel-good story or slice-of-life college adventure.

Some homophobia/discrimination; discussion of mental illness, copious alcohol consumption, drug use; college partying; language.

Megan Rupe

In a universe where princesses are handed over to the victors of mecha gladiatorial matches, Pan is frustrated with her life on a rundown planet where she fixes cars and endures bad treatment for setting her planet’s princess free. When she discovers one gladiatorial duo is setting princesses free, she runs away to help them.

Science fiction fans, particularly for people who like Cowboy Bebop and anyone who likes sci-fi stories that focus on underdogs and girl power.

Some blood and gore, some swearing.

Megan Rupe

Charlie Ellison has made a huge mistake that has placed a million-dollar bounty on her head in the Reapr app, a crowd-funding app for assassinations. She uses the Dfend app to hire a bodyguard, Vita, who can’t stand the obnoxious Charlie but will keep her safe during the 30 days of the assassination’s campaign.

Fans who like near-future worldbuilding, queer women solving a mystery on a dangerous roadtrip.

Violence, language.

Thomas Maluck

Barney, a Jewish trans teenage boy, gets a job at Dead End, a theme park that is beset by demons and time-traveling wizards. He and his friends, including the Norma (who is neurodivergent), Badya (who is Muslim), and Logan (who is gay), have to deal with a new paranormal adventure every day due to the park’s proximity to the gates between heaven and hell. Their personal issues and relationships, however, are the real tests for how long they all work together.

Fans of Noelle Stevenson’s Nimona and She-Ra, as well as past decade of Cartoon Network.

Transphobia (Barney leaves because his parents do not accept his gender).

Thomas Maluck

The mischievous pink Snagglepuss of Hanna-Barbera cartoon fame is reinvented as a gay Tennessee Williams-esque playwright during the 1950s. Compared to his depressed novelist friend Huckleberry Hound, Snagglepuss is a proud subversive, subjecting everyone to his sharp wit and insight. Challenging artists and queer citizens live in fear of their government and neighbors, but Snagglepuss is here to tell the ugly truth.

Readers imagining Chucking a brick at 50s-era McCarthyism and homophobia.

Adultery, homophobia, police violence.

Thomas Maluck

An all-boys fencing school, full of competition and romance, sees a prodigal new arrival. When he is able to best an elite member of the fencing team, a rivalry is born that will drive them both to sharpen their game.

Fans of Check, Please! and Yuri On Ice, people interested in seeing fencing in action.

Thomas Maluck

Space travel has been made more accessible, since it now costs $200. Each of the 19 stories depicts a different experience with space travel in this near-future science fiction anthology.

Sci-fi lovers, fans of other Iron Circus anthologies (Smut Peddler, The Sleep of Reason, etc.).

Suicide attempt; death, language.

Shira Pilarski

Maia (e/em/eir) uses the format of comic memoir to investigate eir childhood and eir evolving sense of gender queerness, from enjoying erotic gay fanfiction to imagining a similarly genderqueer twin for emself. Eir journey of self-discovery comes with several research citations, making eir personal journey an edifying one, as well. Frequent use of visual metaphors makes eir developing self-image and path along the blurred lines between gender categories a clear and satisfying representation.

Anyone wanting to learn more about the genderqueer experience, whether in young people or adults.

There is a single, brief sex scene that edges this out of a general teen recommendation, but the information in this book is SO GOOD, please do not rule it out.

Thomas Maluck

Nakamura has a crush on a guy at his school, Hirose… but they haven’t actually met and Nakamura’s too shy to say hello! Hirose has a bright, friendly personality, which only ensures that Nakamura nearly explodes with anxiety every time he approaches the otherwise perfect object of his desire.

Fans of quick reads, klutzy humor.

Thomas Maluck

In an alternate version of the 1960s without segregation, racism, or homophobia, spunky teen Goldie solves mysteries with the help of her girlfriend and best friend. This is one of several stand-alone follow-ups to the award-winning Goldie Vance series created by Hope Larson.

Fans of retro girl-detective stories like Nancy Drew.

Nic Willcox

Best friends Andy (trans, genderqueer) and Scout (lesbian) are gay disasters. They are always looking for a good scene to hang around, with equal odds of appreciating or hating on it. Andy is very outgoing and looking for hookups, while Scout is usually caught up in her feelings and unable to get over her ex-girlfriend. Together, they are an inseparable pair of cultural commentators and each other’s hilarious sounding board.

Nuances of queer experience.

Language.

Thomas Maluck

Charlie is an anxious, openly gay boy; Nicholas is a sweet, sensitive rugby player. When they end up in the same class, a relationship begins to blossom. It’s an ongoing webcomic, and it is also available to read online!

Readers who want a sweet romance that focuses on character dynamics and cuddles rather than sex (note: this series is not complete, so this may change).

Eating disorder; homophobia; bullying; emotionally abusive relationship.

Megan Rupe

Chris is (almost) 17, and thinks the biggest challenge in her life is figuring out who she is and wants to be. Little does she know what’s in store for her after-hours at her new job at the record store Vinyl Destination: a vigilante fight club ready to take on crime and the patriarchy as a whole. Chris’s first mission: to find and rescue the missing musician she absolutely idolizes, Rosie Riot.

Fans of lighthearted action and girl power, fans of early Buffy the Vampire Slayer, anyone with ‘90s nostalgia.

Sharona Ginsberg

A deaf student hires another student as his note-taker in class lectures in exchange for his yummy bento lunches. As they eat their bento lunches together, they fall in love.

Fans of yaoi/boys love manga.

Shira Pilarski

British college student Becka begins dating Kim, who has a part-time job as a grim reaper. Kim is a cutie, but is she worth getting swept up in all the drama of the grim reaper business?

Fans of Giant Days.

Death and mortality as themes, some scary moments.

Shira Pilarski

Amanda is trying to figure out kissing. Seven kisses were pretty bad, but Amanda is in no way ready for the fallout of kiss number eight. As she’s figuring out her sexuality, Amanda is also trying to figure out what’s going on with her dad.

Fans of love coming-of-age and stories of self-discovery.

Transphobia.

Megan Rupe

Teenager Freddy will have to make a tough choice between her friends and Laura Dean, her unreliable but attractive girlfriend.

Fans of Tamaki’s previous works; teens and older who like Raina Telgemeier and similar writers; LGBTQ people in relationships that are not good for them.

Teenage drinking and partying; pregnancy/abortion; some swearing.

Megan Rupe

Yarrow is passionate about cooking, particularly insect cuisine. She moves to a new city to pursue a job at Chanda Flores’ restaurant, which focuses on insect cuisine, but she quickly gets off on the wrong foot with Chanda. Can Yarrow get her dream job and win over her crush Milani? With its diverse cast centered on a budding relationship, this is a story you won’t want to miss!

Fans of cute, slow-burn romances; foodies.

Brief discussions of cultural erasure.

Megan Rupe

Apollo is a superhero powered by sunlight. Midnighter is the love of his life and a brawler with a supercomputer in his brain that allows him to read and predict enemies’ movements in combat. When Apollo is sent to the underworld by a demon, Midnighter will have to fight through Hell and back to save his one and only.

Fans of Midnighter’s solo series - this follows directly from it. Also, fans of bone-crunching violence.

Violence.

Thomas Maluck

Monstress follows the exploits of Maika Halfwolf, a not-so-typical brash and violent heroine, through a beautifully drawn matriarchal, steampunk world. Humans fight against Archanics, a hybrid race of humans and Ancients. Maika travels across the known world piecing together the history of her family, her ancestry, and her mysterious powers, all while being pursued by human witches and other Archanics.

Fans of Saga, The Wicked + The Divine, Fullmetal Alchemist.

Language, nudity, adult content, fantasy violence.

Sara Smith

Nova lives with her grandmothers, and the three practice witchcraft together. Tam, Nova’s childhood friend, is a werewolf who is being manipulated by a local cult. As Nova and Tam work together to stop the cult, they fall in love.

Fans of Lumberjanes and Moonstruck.

Light violence and kidnapping.

Shira Pilarski

A werewolf barista falls in love with another werewolf in a world where everyone is a mythical or magical creature.

Fans of Lumberjanes and Mooncakes.

Shira Pilarski

Bisexual heiress Violet Page exacts vigilante justice on the streets of Gotham as Mother Panic, targeting her upper-class peers for revenge regarding the trauma of her childhood. Clad in all white during her superheroics, Mother Panic appears to be a beacon of light at times, but her violent temper, combined with the warped influence of her mother, tends to send her into a gritty tailspin.

People who enjoy superheroes who aren’t role models.

Violence, language.

Thomas Maluck

Mia deeply loved her girlfriend, Grace, but, when Grace has to abruptly leave, Mia is heartbroken and directionless. After taking a job repairing reclaimed buildings, Mia finds herself a newfound family. When Mia realizes one of her new friends has a connection to Grace, Mia decides to undertake a risky mission.

Fans of contemplative science-fiction, surreal images, and star-crossed love.

Megan Rupe

A teen is outed at his school and begins to contemplate suicide, until he finds a support group for LGBTQ2IA+ people.

Fans of Wandering Son and My Brother’s Husband.

Suicidal thoughts, homophobic slurs.

Shira Pilarski

In his last fall working at the pumpkin patch, Josie is egged on by best friend Deja to finally ask out the Fudge Shoppe girl, so they traipse through the patch, eating all of the yummy, autumnal snacks along the way.

Anyone who loves food and autumnal pursuits, as well as fans of Rowell’s and Hicks’ previous work.

Shira Pilarski

Anthropomorphic snails educate each other on the definitions, spectrums, and best practices around queer and trans identities, including asexuality and navigating queer relationships.

Anyone looking for a manual of sorts for understanding queer and trans identities (the title does not lie!).

Thomas Maluck

After Snap finds some orphaned possums, she befriends Jacks, a mysterious elderly individual. As Jacks teaches her the finer points of animal anatomy, Snap discovers that she has a bit of her own magic. Snapdragon is a sweet and funny story of self-discovery and the rekindling of an old romance.

Fans of Raina Telgemeier and Molly Ostertag’s Witch Boy series; readers looking for a story about found family and self-discovery.

Implication of a bad boyfriend, but very little shown on the page.

Megan Rupe

In the 19th century in the New Mexico territory, a bandit teams up with a trans woman to steal Confederate secrets.

Historical fiction readers, fans of westerns.

Transphobia.

Shira Pilarski

Elysia Puente races into the New York subway system after her lost brother Angel during a terrible storm. Down there, she must face the ghosts of her past as well as actual monstrosities. Family history (including coming out as a lesbian and criminal ties), natural disaster, and the paranormal collide in this retelling of the Orpheus story.

Fans of mythology and horror.

Language, abusive parent.

Thomas Maluck

Valentina “Val” Resnick-Baker survived a mission to space and successfully saved the world. She should be a superstar, but instead, she is a recluse. Haunted by what happened on that mission as well as exploring cosmic powers she is only beginning to understand, Val’s scientific study has only begun. Luckily, she has a science team and a new girlfriend to help her out.

Fans of standalone narratives.

Thomas Maluck

Kindergarten friends Akira and Fumi reunite in high school, where they learn to lean on each other and perhaps take their friendship to the next level.

Readers who like gentle takes on adolescence, sweet narratives, and love triangles.

Thomas Maluck

Noshiro is a people pleaser who’s changed schools a lot and doesn’t want anyone to feel like an outsider. Sanada is a loner who wants to live his gay life without being hounded by classmates’ rumors and speculation. Their combined friendship is a slow-burn romance founded on acceptance and self-discovery.

Fans of sweet high school romances.

Sanada, 17, had a prior relationship with a 26-year-old man who comes back to meddle in his life; the meddling gives a sour taste to what is actually pretty good advice.

Thomas Maluck

Faith joins the soccer team in the hopes of hanging out with the most popular girl in school. While things do not play out quite as Faith imagines, she learns a lot about friendship.

Readers who are too young for Check Please; fans of Raina Telgemeier.

Brief reveal of a bra strap, but otherwise nothing serious.

Megan Rupe

The true story of a trans woman who found the man of her dreams. Part diary and part overview of transitioning in Japan, this cute little book focuses more on love and acceptance, with occasional explanations of social situations that can arise.

Those for whom My Brother’s Husband (a manga featuring gay characters and identity in Japan) was too dark..

Thomas Maluck

Vexana, a queer woman with the power to stir conflict between anyone wielded immense, chaotic influence… centuries ago. Today, a nautical exploration crew finds evidence of this mythical person’s history, creating a converging narrative between her rise to power in the past and return to power in the present.

Valiant universe readers.

Violence.

Thomas Maluck

Remember how in the cartoon, Korra and Asami had that kiss right before the show ended? Yeah, let’s revisit that world, there’s a lot more ground to cover. Korra and Asami take a brief vacation together in the Spirit World and return to find the same tension between humans and spirits, as well as between the powerful and powerless. Korra’s impulsiveness is balanced by Asami’s even-tempered nature. Between Korra’s element-bending powers and Asami’s inventiveness, there’s no obstacle they can’t overcome.

Natural extension of the Legend of Korra animated series and continued sequel to Avatar The Last Airbender.

Thomas Maluck

Cherry finds herself in a situation where she is both a prize and player in a cruel game between her husband and his friend. Her lover Hero supports her by telling stories to distract her husband’s friend. Greenberg’s illustrations give this feminist retelling of Arabian nights a strong fairy tale feel.

Fans of fairy tales and mythology--particularly retellings.

Discussion of sexual assault; brief lovemaking (although nothing terribly graphic); some violence.

Megan Rupe

Prince Sebastian secretly hires Frances to make stunning outfits for him to wear out on the town in Paris' social scene. This beautifully illustrated, affirming tale of a prince and his seamstress will inspire readers to discover their true selves.

Fans of Pumpkinheads, Mooncakes, Witchy

In the initial print runs, the King was identified as King Leopold II of Belgium and the fact that he was responsible for atrocities in the Congo was not referenced or acknowledged. The publisher and creator have changed the King and country's names to be fictional and thus no longer make the association in current and future editions. Also, this storyline features a forced, nonconsensual outing of a character.

Sara Smith

A fantasy universe where tea leaves come from adorable dragons and members of the Tea Dragon Society teaches the ancient art of tea dragon caretaking. There’s a tie-in card game!

Fans of Princess Princess Ever After and The Witch Boy series.

Shira Pilarski

Aster’s family of magic users have very specific expectations: men are shapeshifters while women are witches. Aster knows he’s a witch. Throughout the series, Aster comes into his own, and his unique perspective and talents solve problems.

Individuals looking for a sweet story of self-discovery and empowerment.

A few small terrifying moments; some bullying; family who initially doesn’t understand.

Megan Rupe

Inspired by the author’s experience, two caring women grapple with a difficult pregnancy and the loss of their child. With only small amounts of dialog, the art creates a visceral look at grief, how we carry on, and the love that sustains us along the way. Translated from French by Edward Gauvin.

Fans of memoirs and anyone who’s faced loss.

Themes of pregnancy complications, infant loss, and depression.

Sunny Carito

A woman with cat ears arrives at the countess’ castle, but she’s not prepared for what she finds there. With atmospheric, erotic illustrations and fairy tale elements, you don’t want to miss this latest horror work from Emily Carroll.

Fans of Emily Carroll’s previous horror works, fans of Neil Gaiman’s Snow, Glass, Apples.

Violence/gore, scary scenes.

Shira Pilarski