Coming Together As We Come Out: Multicultural Teen Coming Out Stories, a guest post

Today’s guest post is by an Illinois youth services librarian known online as RAE, sharing her knowledge of queer YA coming out stories.

Juliet Takes a Breath

Latina Queer Lesbian Experience

“Juliet Takes a Breath” is a coming-of-age teen book that digs into the curtails of a Puerto Rican college student from the Bronx, as she takes a leap of faith and heads to a suburban like rural city: Portland, Oregon. Juliet is overly excited to summer intern with Harlowe Brisbane, an author and Savior to the feminist movement. Juliet, a new lesbian, finds peace, solace, and strength in the public library while conducting research. Juliet experiences heartbreak, cultural appropriation, and a new love.

All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir – Manifesto

Black Male Representation

For reviewing, “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” I was sure to check out the physical copy of the book from my local library. The author does an excellent job at ensuring that his Southern roots and family traditions pop off the page. The tone is neutral and inspiring to the ear, the analogy of sharing one’s experiences enables the reader to understand the struggle of the narrator and the feelings that he has towards feeling like the “world was not ready for him,” as a Black queer gay man. Johnson takes the reader on a journey from his childhood and beyond college. The audio book is impressive and narrated by Author George M. Johnson.

 Rise to the Sun

Black American Lesbian Representation

“Rise to the Sun,” a young adult novel centered on moving ahead in life, especially when there appears to be nowhere to escape the tumultuous transitions of post-graduation. Even during chaos, when friends come together, there is always a reason to celebrate! Teenagers may enjoy this young adult book due to them being able to relate with the stress and anxiety that comes with going to college. Teens will find it interesting to join in on the romantic journey of two young Black female ladies as they heal from heartbreak, explore adulthood, and share the growing pains of exploring a blossoming beyond friendship, queer relationship.

The Henna Wars

Muslim Lesbian Experience

“The Henna Wars,” displays the opportunity for friendship and romantic relationships to blossom through art, specifically henna. Nishat’s parents tell her, that as a Muslim young lady, she would bring shame on the family if she identities as “gay.” However, when an old childhood friend comes back into town, Flávia, the sparks fly! A little high school talent competition and the sultry attraction of forbidden fruit brings all the literary flavor. Learn about culture appropriation, humor, and a good old fashioned “lipstick” lesbian teen drama.

Small Town Pride

Caucasian Male Homosexual Experience

The title of the book is “Small Town Pride,” written by Phil Stamper, a coming of age, coming out story in which main character Jake has the support of his family and friends. However, his community as a collective is not fond of Jake, his flags, and most certainly not the town’s first Pride Parade. Follow Jake in his rural community setting with cornfields, great country cuisine, and the hope to connect with others in his small town. One of Jake’s suitors may have a conflict of interest with one of Jake’s most prominent oppressors.

Author Biography

RAE is a Teen & Youth Services Librarian serving in the South Suburbs of Chicago, IL for the Village of Lansing at the Lansing Public Library in the District of Lansing, Illinois. RAE provides extensive outreach to elementary schools, on behalf of the Lansing Public Library, reading to students and introducing STEAM activities for tweens. In the Lansing Public Library, RAE collaborates with a large team to provide after-school spaces for the District of Lansing’s middle and high school students. The Lansing Public Library offers culturally responsive teen programs and RAE enjoys activities with teens such as creating homemade soap, slime, and providing group craft projects that promote team building as well as increased self-esteem within a “Safe Place” environment.

The Lansing Public Library (LPL) is RAE’s third library, having tenure serving at Indianapolis Public Library – Martindale Brightwood (TEAM MAR), a historical, multicultural library branch of the Indianapolis Public Library System (Indy PL) located in the near northeast side of Indianapolis. RAE provided outreach and summer reading partnerships with the neighboring Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS). RAE increased literacy programming statistics in the Martindale Brightwood Community serving as the 2022 Summer Reading Program (SRP) Lead, collaborating with local news media to promote SRP. RAE managed the SRP Kick Off Event and served on the SRP Prize Budgeting and Inventory, as the Public Services Associate II- Juvenile.

Before joining LPL, RAE worked at the Gary Public Library and Cultural Center, an entity of the Gary Public Library System (GPL) of Gary, Indiana. As a Public Services Children’s Librarian, RAE participated in the Annual 2024 “Back to School Resource Fair”, hosted by the City of Gary at the Gary Southshore RailCats’s Steel Yard in Downtown Gary, Indiana. At this event, RAE promoted GPL’s MakerSpace Lab, a collaborative space enriched with technology, educational classes, modern 3D printing, logo, and STEAM friendly design machinery. RAE is proud to have worked on GPL’s infamous  TechMobile, a STEAM mobile bus exclusive for library residents, schools and businesses of Gary, Indiana. Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, a school within Indiana University Indianapolis, conferred RAE with a Master of Library and Information Science degree with a Specialization in Youth Services on August 9^th, 2021.

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