I’ve been a sensitive person for as long as I can remember, but crying over books? That’s not something I did when I was growing up. Truthfully, I never cried over a book until I was fully into adulthood and I read The Giver. Because it’s hard for me, still, to cry over a book, I am very intentional with the books I select to read and recommend. It takes a lot for me to feel that gut punch, and when I do, the payoff is tremendous. And if it’s making me cry, then it’s going to make many, many people cry.
“When the Stars Lead to You is a story about a girl with big dreams, and a boy who disappears.”
When Ashton broke Devon’s heart at the end of a magical summer, she thought she’d never heal. But over the following year, Devon managed to put the pieces back together for the sake of her dream to become an astrophysicist. Now it’s senior year, and she’s determined to enjoy it as she prepares for a future of studying the galaxies. Until Ashton shows up on the first day of school. Their chemistry is undeniable, but as the spark in his eyes grows dimmer, Devon wonders if he's the same person she fell in love with that summer. Will her feelings for him eclipse her love of the stars?
All The Bright Places is about a girl who learns she wants to live from a boy who wants to die. I love this book because it digs deeply into the reality of mental illness and how hard one must work when dealing with it. As someone who has depression, I could see myself in the main characters. I could relate to their struggles. And on top of that, it’s a powerful love story. There is a lot to feel with this book, and you will be shattered. But also put back together.
Darius the Great Is Not Okay also deals with depression, not only in the main character, but his father as well. It navigates the relationship between a son and a parent dealing with mental illness, while also dealing with family and the expectations and emotions around that. In addition, Darius is Persian and queer, which gives a different perspective on mental illness from a cultural standpoint. It’s a beautiful, well-written, and intentional story, and you will love it.
Darius Kellner speaks better Klingon than Farsi, and he knows more about Hobbit social cues than Persian ones. He's a Fractional Persian - half, his mum's side - and his first-ever trip to Iran is about to change his life. Darius has never really fit in at home, and he's sure things are going to be the same in Iran. His clinical depression doesn't exactly help matters, and trying to explain his medication to his grandparents only makes things harder. Then Darius meets Sohrab, the boy next door, and everything changes. Soon, they're spending their days together, playing soccer, eating…
The Dangerous Art of Blending In is about Evan, who is trying to figure out his place in the world. He has a strict (read: abusive) Greek immigrant mother, a father who works works works, and he is struggling with his sexuality and the boy he kissed over the summer. Evan’s been silent about so much all this time, that it’s now time for him to find and use his voice. And he does so in such a beautiful and inspiring way. This book will make you feel so many things.
~Lambda Literary Award finalist for the best LGBT YA novel of 2018~
A raw, powerful, but ultimately uplifting debut novel perfect for fans of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe from debut author Angelo Surmelis.
Seventeen-year-old Evan Panos doesn’t know where he fits in. His strict immigrant Greek mother refuses to see him as anything but a disappointment. His quiet, workaholic father is a staunch believer in avoiding any kind of conflict. And his best friend, Henry, has somehow become distractingly attractive over the summer.
Tired, isolated, scared—Evan finds that his only escape is to draw in…
Since Darius came back from Iran, he is getting along with his dad, his depression seems to be managed, he has a best friend, and he’s dating a cute boy. But of course, things start changing. He’s not sure if his family, who is important to him, accepts him as he is. His best friend is distant. He doesn’t know if his boyfriend is The One. This book is an exploration through a lot of feelings, and what I can’t stop thinking about is how often Darius talks about crying. Males crying should be normalized, as it’s a valid response, and seeing a male come to terms with that and being so outspoken about it is so refreshing and one of the reasons I love this book so much.
In addition, I know as a person with depression, my self-esteem isn’t the best. Sometimes I don’t feel like I deserve good things. Seeing a character with depression realizes he deserves more is a beautiful thing.
Darius Kellner is having a bit of a year. Since his trip to Iran this past spring, a lot has changed. He's getting along with his dad, and his best friend Sohrab is only a Skype call away. Between his first boyfriend, Landon, his varsity soccer practices, and his internship at his favourite tea shop, Darius is feeling pretty okay. Like he finally knows what it means to be Darius Kellner. Then, of course, everything changes. Darius's grandmothers are in town for a long visit while his dad is gone on business, and Darius isn't sure whether they even like…
The Giver is about Jonah, who lives in what he thinks is the perfect world. When children turn 12, they come of age, and are given the occupation they will be doing for the rest of their productive lives. Some become caregivers. Some do labor. But Jonah becomes The Receiver, the most important job, according to their society. But Jonah learns that things are not what they seemed, and the revelations are shocking.
When I tell you I wept the first time I read this book, I’m not lying. I had no idea of what was to come, but the revelations piled on and on and on, and wow. This is one of my all-time favorite books. It’s beautifully written and so visual. And it will definitely make you ugly cry.
THE GIVER is soon to be a major motion picture starring Jeff Bridges, Katie Holmes and Taylor Swift.
Now available for the first time in the UK, THE GIVER QUARTET is the complete four-novel collection.
THE GIVER: It is the future. There is no war, no hunger, no pain. No one in the community wants for anything. Everything needed is provided. And at twelve years old, each member of the community has their profession carefully chosen for them by the Committee of Elders.
Jonas has never thought there was anything wrong with his world. But from the moment he is…
I’m an avid reader of queer literary fiction not only because I write it but because I’m looking to see my life experience captured on the page. As a gay man, a father of two young boys, and one-half of an interracial married couple, I know the complexity of modern queer living firsthand. In recent years, I’ve been astounded by the breadth of great LGBTQ+ books that examine queerness fully and empathetically. I seek out these books, I read them feverishly, and I become a champion for the best ones. In an era of intense book banning, it’s so important to me to elevate these books and their authors.
The Birthright of Sons is a collection of stories centered around the experiences of marginalized people, namely Black and LGBTQ+ men. Although the stories borrow elements from various genres (horror, suspense, romance, magical realism, etc.), they are linked by an exploration of identity and the ways personhood is shaped through interactions with the people, places, and belief systems around us.
In each of these stories, the protagonists grapple with their understanding of who they are, who and how they love, and what is ultimately most important to them. In almost every case, however, the quest to know or protect oneself is challenged by an external force, resulting in violence, crisis, or confusion, among other outcomes.
The Birthright of Sons is a collection of stories centered around the experiences of marginalized people, namely Black and LGBTQ+ men. Though the stories borrow elements from various genres (horror, suspense, romance, magical realism, etc.), they're linked by an exploration of identity and the ways personhood is shaped through interactions with the people, places, and belief systems around us.
Underpinning the project is a core belief - self-definition is fluid, but conflict arises because society often fails to keep pace with personal evolution. In each of these stories, the protagonists grapple with their understanding of who they are, who and…
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