Author Spotlight: Queer, POC & Proud
By Lily Buffington
Reading is a favorite pastime for many people of all communities, so equal representation is important. The following will list notable queer authors, authors of color, and their works.
Queer Authors:
Adam Silvera (He/Him)
Adam Silvera was born and raised in New York and is best known for his books containing LGBTQ and youth themes. His most popular books are They Both Die at the End and History is All You Left Me, in which a teen named Griffin loses his first love, Theo, in an accident. From there, he has to navigate life without Theo, making for a heart-wrenching novel. Both of these novels are available at Barnes & Noble for $9.99 and $10.99.
Meryl Wilsner (They/Them)
Meryl Wilsner is an American author born in Michigan, best known for their works about queer, female love stories. Their most popular book is Something to Talk About, in which a celebrity and her assistant spark romance rumors when photographed laughing together on the red carpet. As the story goes on, they find a bit of truth in these rumors. This novel is available on Amazon for $11.95.
Leah Johnson (She/Her)
Leah Johnson is an American author born and raised in Indiana, now residing in Brooklyn, New York. Her debut novel, You Should See Me in a Crown, won a Stonewall Book Honor. The book follows Liz Lighty, who plans to leave her “rich, prom-obsessed hometown,” as she feels she is “too black, poor, and awkward” to live there. The novel also represents queer female relationships when Liz starts secretly dating Amanda. It is available at Barnes & Noble for $9.99.
Authors of Color:
James Baldwin (He/Him, Queer)
James Baldwin was an American author and activist, who embraced his complex sexuality. Baldwin grew up in Harlem, New York, in poverty. He knew he was smart, so he read and found his love for writing. The plot of Giovanni’s Room follows David, an American in Paris who is discovering his true identity. He proposes to a woman, then has an affair with an Italian bartender, causing him to question his feelings as he travels between the two. The novel was controversial when first published in 1956, but its message is still relevant. It is on Amazon for $11.71.
Nic Stone (She/Her, Bisexual)
Dear Martin follows Justyce McAllister, a Black student at the top of his class. After being arrested, he starts writing to Martin Luther King, Jr., looking for hope. Later, after losing his best friend to a police shooting, the media sparks controversy. In the sequel, Dear Justyce, an incarcerated teen writes to Justyce while awaiting trial. Both books are available on Amazon for $10.79 and $12.71.
Nadia Hashimi (She/Her)
In The Pearl That Broke its Shell, Rahima and her sisters can rarely attend school while under the care of their drug-addicted father. The ancient custom of Bacha Posh allows Rahima to dress and live as a boy until she is of age to be married. Living like this allows her to attend school and go out in public more often. Her great-aunt, Shekiba, did this as well but lived as a man for her whole life. Overall, Rahima has to question what will happen when she is of age, and if she will live as a man as well. The novel is available at Barnes & Noble for $16.99.
How Can I Help the LGBTQIA+ Community?
In addition to reading these books, you can support local LGBTQ+ and POC-owned businesses like Reverie Books just right down the road from Crockett!
Black Pearl Books is a Black-owned local bookstore driven to serve the community & provide knowledge through books! You can find them at 7112 Burnet Road.
Top Drawer Thrift is a very queer-friendly thrift store with a nostalgic atmosphere. I’ve been here before, and I loved it! Visit them at 4902 Burnet Road.
