Middle-grade books with LGBTQ+ characters
All children deserve to see themselves and their type of family set-up depicted in books - but for many middle-grade readers, finding stories with LGBTQ+ characters can sadly be difficult.
Here, we've picked out our favourite middle-grade books which show, and celebrate, LGBTQ+ characters and families.
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Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend
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Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend
Vivi must use her newfound powers to stop a ruthless tyrant from destroying the human world. This enthralling magical adventure se…
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The Swifts
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The Swifts
When Arch-Aunt Schadenfreude is attacked during a family reunion, Shenanigan Swift and her sisters must work together to identify …
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The Last Firefox
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The Last Firefox
A funny, enchanting adventure about a scared boy, a magical fox, a monstrous shape-shifting beast and finding the courage to prote…
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Cross My Heart and Never Lie
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Cross My Heart and Never Lie
Tuva is torn between two friendship groups – those who fall in love and those who don’t. But where does she fit? Charming and refl…
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The Secret Sunshine Project
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The Secret Sunshine Project
How will a sleepy village react when Bea attempts to bring the glitter and rainbows of Pride to their doorstep?
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The Amazing Edie Eckhart
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The Amazing Edie Eckhart
Edie Eckhart is a feisty, funny 11-year-old who has cerebral palsy. She has to make some new special relationships when she moves …
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Glitter Boy
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Glitter Boy
James is being bullied at school, while dealing with grief and normal Year 6 worries. Can James find the sparkle in his life again…
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Sleepover Takeover
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Sleepover Takeover
Otis and his mate Jagger are the class weirdos, so they're surprised to get an invite to cool-kid Rocco's sleepover party! When th…
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Nothing Ever Happens Here
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Nothing Ever Happens Here
Nothing ever happens in Littlehaven... at least, that is, until Izzy's Dad comes out as trans. A gentle, timely and warm story abo…
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Proud of Me
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Proud of Me
A beautifully written and everyday story of LGBTQ family life that’s perfect for any middle grade reader, especially for chil…
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Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow
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Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow
Archie’s mum and dad are splitting up because Archie’s dad is gay. Can a Pride parade give Archie’s family a way of coming togethe…
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The Accidental Diary of B.U.G
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The Accidental Diary of B.U.G
An illustrated diary-style novel in the mode of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Tom Gates, with a sparky narrator who…
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The List of Things That Will Not Change
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The List of Things That Will Not Change
Bea’s dad is gay and he’s marrying his boyfriend Jesse, who Bea loves. Bea lives half of her week with mum, half of the week with …
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To Night Owl From Dogfish
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To Night Owl From Dogfish
Told entirely in emails and letters, this sensitive, often funny book examines what it means to be a family, and what happens when…
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Max Kowalski Didn’t Mean It
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Max Kowalski Didn’t Mean It
When Max meets Tal and his two dads, he learns that there are lots of different ways to be a man, and that his own dad’s expectati…
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