The 2018 Reading Challenge - #12 - A Book with a LGBTQ+ Protagonist

Hello bookworms :)

How are you all doing?

Are you still on time with your reading challenge?

Almost three months are already over and today I already have the twelfth book for the category - A Book with a LGBTQ+ Protagonist...not too easy to find a book for this...I thought at first ^^

Then I started my research and found plenty...in the end I chose

Aristotle and Dante discover the Secrets of the Universe

by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a coming-of-age young adult novel by American author Benjamin Alire Sáenz which was first published February 21, 2012.

Set in El Paso, Texas in 1987, the novel follows two Mexican-American boys, Aristotle "Ari" Mendoza and Dante Quintana, their friendship, and their struggles with racial and ethnic identity, sexuality, and family relationships. Since its publication, the novel has received near-universal critical acclaim and numerous accolades.

Again a little summary from goodreads:

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"Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be."

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I´ll give it a 9 out of 10.

I really enjoyed reading this. I mean yes its more like a young adult book and all that but to be honest...why should I not read those ;) and I´ve always been a fan of coming of age novels ^^
I love the style it is written in and how easy and lovely it is to read. It was pretty hard to stop reading for me ;) not necessarily because its so thrilling or exciting but because you just want to know what happens next ;)
I love the whole story and the characters in it and I really think that this might me really helpful to many when it comes to relationships, either between parents and children and between partners, and all the other things bothering everyone especially when you grow up ^^
I loved this - highly recommended ;)

For a little more inspiration and some alternatives ^^

(all summaries are from goodreads and easily found when searching for the title):

Hero by Perry Moore

The last thing in the world Thom Creed wants is to add to his father's pain, so he keeps secrets. Like that he has special powers. And that he's been asked to join the League - the very organization of superheroes that spurned his dad. But the most painful secret of all is one Thom can barely face himself: he's gay. But becoming a member of the League opens up a new world to Thom. There, he connects with a misfit group of aspiring heroes, including Scarlett, who can control fire but not her anger; Typhoid Larry, who can make anyone sick with his touch; and Ruth, a wise old broad who can see the future. Like Thom, these heroes have things to hide; but they will have to learn to trust one another when they uncover a deadly conspiracy within the League. To survive, Thom will face challenges he never imagined. To find happiness, he'll have to come to terms with his father's past and discover the kind of hero he really wants to be.

Luna by Julie Anne Peters

Regan's brother Liam can't stand the person he is during the day. Like the moon from whom Liam has chosen his female namesake, his true self, Luna, only reveals herself at night. In the secrecy of his basement bedroom Liam transforms himself into the beautiful girl he longs to be, with help from his sister's clothes and makeup. Now, everything is about to change-Luna is preparing to emerge from her cocoon. But are Liam's family and friends ready to welcome Luna into their lives? Compelling and provocative, this is an unforgettable novel about a transgender teen's struggle for self-identity and acceptance.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised. With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

Some more inspiration?

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden

Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Ash by Malinda Lo

Sam Dorsey and His Sixteen Candles by Perie Wolford

and even more inspiration on these goodreads lists

or check out this list of books through the ages or a fantasy book for this category?

Which book did you choose for this category?

Did you read...

With lots of love

♥♥♥

Verena