The graphic novels on this list were published between March 1, 2020 and April 30, 2021. Titles were nominated by teens and library staff in Oregon. OYAN members voted to select the 19 titles on the list and worked to create a balanced list that includes a variety of genres and diverse titles. Learn more about the annual Graphic Rave and access past lists on the OYAN website.
The graphic novels on this list were published between May 1, 2019, and April 30, 2020. Titles were nominated by teens and library staff in Oregon. OYAN members voted to select the 19 titles on the list and worked to create a balanced list that includes a variety of genres and diverse titles. Learn more about the annual Graphic Rave and access past lists on the OYAN website.
Guest writer: Danielle Jones
For the past six years, Portland Public Schools has hosted a summit for their schools Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), Queer-Straight Alliance (QSA). and Straight and Gay Alliance (SAGA) groups. I have had the opportunity to attend most of these, and present a booktalking session with teen volunteers from my branch. After our first year presenting, we decided it would be great to curate a booklist to take to the event. One of the teens had the great idea to create multiple booklists, each focusing on a unique identity, and then we could print them in different colors to represent the rainbow flag.
We just presented our fourth iteration of the booklists, and each year, we hone our process on creating them. This is just one kind of content that the teens have created to have in the library. Having teen-created booklists facilitates a multitude of outcomes. I have often found that it is easier to sell a book to a teen if they know another teen recommends it, and staff at my branch have also appreciated having teen created book lists on hand when they are doing reader’s advisory for teens. For the teens creating the booklist, they get to create something for the community, get to be an expert, and learn collaboration skills.
Having teens create booklists for the library is a great way to get a new teen council or teen advisory group off the ground, as it can be a great icebreaker. It is also a way to get started in having other teen led activities at your library.
Our processes for our lists have varied, but generally there are three key components:
Before brainstorming, we define our focus: what is our goal, who is the list for, and how will the list be used after we complete it. Then we do a wild brainstorm. Often teens will be googling other lists for inspiration. We know we might not use every title that gets mentioned, but it is good to have more content than not enough. For our LGBTQIAP lists, we have master lists of titles that would fit into different identities, and we move onto the next section – discussion.
During discussion, we have a variety of conversations. These have ranged from the importance of diversity, and how to prioritize titles that explore intersectionality to looking at problematic books, and how some titles haven’t aged well. Sometimes we have done this as a large group discussion, and sometimes they have broken up to groups. For each of the LGBTQIAP lists, if they have broken up into groups, there is importance placed on someone that identifies as one of the list’s focus is part of the group. They have been having great discussions to also try to have a variety of genres and formats for each list.
Keeping this as teen led is also important. Let them own the list and the process as much as possible. I am there as a gentle guide, but even more so as their secretary. It will often be on me to take the lists that they create to get published, so I need to confirm their selections and reasonings.
Here are this year’s LGBTQIAP book lists for teens. Please feel free to share, or inspire your library’s teens to create their own!
Danielle Jones is a Teen and Youth Librarian at Multnomah County Library’s Hollywood Branch.
The graphic novels on this list were published between May 1, 2018, and April 30, 2019. Titles were nominated by teens and library staff in Oregon. OYAN members voted to select the 21 titles on the list and worked to create a balanced list that includes a variety of genres and diverse titles. Learn more about the annual Graphic Rave and access past lists on the OYAN website.
The Teen Council at Multnomah County Library’s Hollywood Branch updated their LGBTQIAP booklists. These lists are created by teens and for teens, with one list for tweens.
Lesbian Characters in YA Books
Bisexual Characters in YA Books
Transgender, Non-binary, and Genderqueer Characters in YA Books
Queer Anthologies and Nonfiction YA Books
Intersex, Asexual, Aromantic, Demisexual, or Pansexual Characters in YA Books
LGBTQ Characters/Families in Tween Books
reviewed by Elvira Sanchez Kisser, Woodburn Public Library
Alix Banks lives a privileged teenager’s life: she goes to a premiere private school, she is a top student, she spends her time going shopping and talking about boys with her friends, watching after her mischievous brother, while her father works too much and mother worries too little. Then a mysterious intense activist, Moses, steps into her life and accuses her father of killing others through his company and her life gets turned upside down. Alix must discover the truth about her father, Moses, and the world she lives in.
A contemporary thriller that is filled with conspiracy facts based on headlines, action sequences, hacking intrigue, security dodging and even a bit of romance. The most notable scene from a librarian’s perspective is when Alix begins to do her own research in order to make up her mind and at first sees nothing unusual when she does a cursory search. Then she begins to dive in deeper in verifying the sources of the information and the web of intrigue grows.
The story is fast paced and focused on exposing the reader to the idea of how misinformation is used in our society. At times the narrative stalls while information is laid on the reader all at once and could have been handled better by incorporating the information throughout the novel. On the other had I liked the use of real companies and situations that can be easily verified with a bit of research. As for the characters, they are shallow and stereotypical so as not to lose focus on the plot. Overall an entertaining way of looking at a heavy and controversial subject
OYAN - Oregon Young Adult Network 