13 Books About LGBT Experiences for Parents, Kids and Teens

These narratives range from coming-of-age to anthology.

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Family-Friendly LGBT Books - A diverse narrative has the power to spark important discussions and illustrate complicated issues. In honor of LGBT Pride Month, we’ve rounded up a selection of children’s and young adult books featuring lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender characters and LGBT-related themes and experiences, as well as informative books for parents interested in initiating family conversations. — Patrice Peck with reporting from AP(Photo: Tyler Edwards/Getty Images)

Beautiful Music for Ugly Children, by Kirstin Cronn-Mills - Beautiful Music for Ugly Children follows junior high student Gabe — born Elizabeth Williams — who anxiously looks forward to his gender transition despite being bullied by his peers and unsupported by his family. "My parents think I’ve gone crazy and the rest of the world is happy to agree with them, but I know I’m right, I’ve been a boy my whole life,” Gabe says.(Photo: AP Photo/Flux Books)

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Beautiful Music for Ugly Children, by Kirstin Cronn-Mills - Beautiful Music for Ugly Children follows junior high student Gabe — born Elizabeth Williams — who anxiously looks forward to his gender transition despite being bullied by his peers and unsupported by his family. "My parents think I’ve gone crazy and the rest of the world is happy to agree with them, but I know I’m right, I’ve been a boy my whole life,” Gabe says.(Photo: AP Photo/Flux Books)

It's Okay to Be Different, by Todd Parr - A great book for children just learning to read, It's Okay to Be Different celebrates not only LGBTQ people, but diversity as a whole. The importance of acceptance, understanding and confidence are all delivered by way of bright colors and happy faces.(Photo: AP Photo/Penguin Young Readers Group)

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It's Okay to Be Different, by Todd Parr - A great book for children just learning to read, It's Okay to Be Different celebrates not only LGBTQ people, but diversity as a whole. The importance of acceptance, understanding and confidence are all delivered by way of bright colors and happy faces.(Photo: AP Photo/Penguin Young Readers Group)

And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell and Henry Cole - A male-male penguin couple in New York City’s Central Park Zoo inspired this award-winning book that illustrates the meaning of family. And Tango Makes Three received a wave of backlash from a number of conservatives who deemed it a political agenda, but Richardson told the New York Times that “it's no more an argument in favor of human gay relationships than it is a call for children to swallow their fish whole or sleep on rocks.”(Photo: AP Photo/Simon & Schuster)

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And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell and Henry Cole - A male-male penguin couple in New York City’s Central Park Zoo inspired this award-winning book that illustrates the meaning of family. And Tango Makes Three received a wave of backlash from a number of conservatives who deemed it a political agenda, but Richardson told the New York Times that “it's no more an argument in favor of human gay relationships than it is a call for children to swallow their fish whole or sleep on rocks.”(Photo: AP Photo/Simon & Schuster)

A Little Gay History: Desire and Diversity Across the World, by R.B. Parkinson - In A Little Gay History, curator R.B. Parkinson offers a cultural and historical look at same-sex experiences through close readings of art objects from the British Museum’s far-ranging collection, including David Hockney’s prints, Grecian urns and ancient Egyptian papyri. This book was awarded a Stonewall Book Award in 2014.(Photo: AP Photo/Columbia University Press)

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A Little Gay History: Desire and Diversity Across the World, by R.B. Parkinson - In A Little Gay History, curator R.B. Parkinson offers a cultural and historical look at same-sex experiences through close readings of art objects from the British Museum’s far-ranging collection, including David Hockney’s prints, Grecian urns and ancient Egyptian papyri. This book was awarded a Stonewall Book Award in 2014.(Photo: AP Photo/Columbia University Press)

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Raising My Rainbow: Adventures in Raising a Fabulous, Gender Creative Son, By Lori Duron - The winner of a Stonewall Book Award and LAMBDA Award in 2014, this book chronicles popular parenting blogger Lori Duron’s often challenging, but never dull journey raising a gender nonconforming son.(Photo: AP Photo/Random House)

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Raising My Rainbow: Adventures in Raising a Fabulous, Gender Creative Son, By Lori Duron - The winner of a Stonewall Book Award and LAMBDA Award in 2014, this book chronicles popular parenting blogger Lori Duron’s often challenging, but never dull journey raising a gender nonconforming son.(Photo: AP Photo/Random House)

Rethinking Normal: A Memoir in Transition, by Katie Rain Hill - This young adult book that hits shelves in September 2014 details the true story of 19-year-old Katie Rain Hill’s gender reassignment, her suicide attempt at the age of eight and the ongoing pressures and bullying she faced at home, school and beyond. Rethinking Normal focuses on redefining the parameters of normalcy to accept and celebrate one’s true self.(Photo: Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc)

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Rethinking Normal: A Memoir in Transition, by Katie Rain Hill - This young adult book that hits shelves in September 2014 details the true story of 19-year-old Katie Rain Hill’s gender reassignment, her suicide attempt at the age of eight and the ongoing pressures and bullying she faced at home, school and beyond. Rethinking Normal focuses on redefining the parameters of normalcy to accept and celebrate one’s true self.(Photo: Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc)

Some Assembly Required: The Not-So-Secret Life of a Transgender Teen, by Arin Andrews - At the age of 17, Arin Andrews penned this true memoir about his gender reassignment as a high school junior. He shares the challenges he faced as a girl, his expulsion from private school and his relationship with Katie, a young transgender woman.(Photo: Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc)

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Some Assembly Required: The Not-So-Secret Life of a Transgender Teen, by Arin Andrews - At the age of 17, Arin Andrews penned this true memoir about his gender reassignment as a high school junior. He shares the challenges he faced as a girl, his expulsion from private school and his relationship with Katie, a young transgender woman.(Photo: Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc)

The Letter Q: Queer Writers' Letters to Their Younger Selves, by Sarah Moon and James Lecesne - In this jam-packed anthology, 63 award-winning authors, such as Michael Cunningham and Amy Bloom, reflect on their coming-of-age experiences as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered people through stories and pictures.(Photo: Arthur A. Levine Books)

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The Letter Q: Queer Writers' Letters to Their Younger Selves, by Sarah Moon and James Lecesne - In this jam-packed anthology, 63 award-winning authors, such as Michael Cunningham and Amy Bloom, reflect on their coming-of-age experiences as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered people through stories and pictures.(Photo: Arthur A. Levine Books)

The Miseducation of Cameron Post, by emily m. danforth - A finalist for the YALSA Morris Award and a staple on numerous “best” lists, this powerful coming-of-age novel set in the 1990s centers on young Cameron, a teen who falls in love with her best friend before being outed and sent to a “conversion” camp.(Photo: AP Photo/HarperCollins)

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The Miseducation of Cameron Post, by emily m. danforth - A finalist for the YALSA Morris Award and a staple on numerous “best” lists, this powerful coming-of-age novel set in the 1990s centers on young Cameron, a teen who falls in love with her best friend before being outed and sent to a “conversion” camp.(Photo: AP Photo/HarperCollins)

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The Misfits, by James Howe - Perfect for middle schoolers and junior high students, The Misfits follows Skeezie, Addie, Joe and Bobby, a group of bullied seventh-grade friends who learn about politics, popularity, love, loss and what it means to be a misfit.(Photo: Atheneum Books for Young Readers)

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The Misfits, by James Howe - Perfect for middle schoolers and junior high students, The Misfits follows Skeezie, Addie, Joe and Bobby, a group of bullied seventh-grade friends who learn about politics, popularity, love, loss and what it means to be a misfit.(Photo: Atheneum Books for Young Readers)

Trans Bodies, Trans Selves, Edited by Laura Erickson-Schroth - Taking a note out of the seminal feminist health resource Our Bodies, Ourselves, this encyclopedic, yet conversational book includes social history, gender politics and wide-ranging advice on law, health and relationships — all penned by transgender contributors.(Photo: AP Photo/OUP USA)

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Trans Bodies, Trans Selves, Edited by Laura Erickson-Schroth - Taking a note out of the seminal feminist health resource Our Bodies, Ourselves, this encyclopedic, yet conversational book includes social history, gender politics and wide-ranging advice on law, health and relationships — all penned by transgender contributors.(Photo: AP Photo/OUP USA)

Tricks, by Ellen Hopkins - Informed and inspired by Las Vegas’s large teen prostitution scene, Tricks weaves together five moving stories about five teenagers — four straight, one gay — making life-altering choices, taking leaps of faith, falling down and growing up.(Photo: Simon & Schuster)

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Tricks, by Ellen Hopkins - Informed and inspired by Las Vegas’s large teen prostitution scene, Tricks weaves together five moving stories about five teenagers — four straight, one gay — making life-altering choices, taking leaps of faith, falling down and growing up.(Photo: Simon & Schuster)

Weetzie Bat, by Francesca Lia Block - Weetzie Bat became one of the most discussed books of the decade when it was published in 1989. Praised for captivating readers of all generations with its poetic sophistication, this narrative tells the story of Weetzie and her best friend Dirk as they navigate issues like blended families, premarital sex and AIDS.(Photo: Harper Collins)

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Weetzie Bat, by Francesca Lia Block - Weetzie Bat became one of the most discussed books of the decade when it was published in 1989. Praised for captivating readers of all generations with its poetic sophistication, this narrative tells the story of Weetzie and her best friend Dirk as they navigate issues like blended families, premarital sex and AIDS.(Photo: Harper Collins)