Happy Pride Month, everyone!
If you’ve been following the blog for a while, you know my household is always on the lookout for great middle grade and YA SFF. We’re also always on the lookout for books that celebrate a wide variety of peoples, cultures, and identities, because we believe reading about others’ experiences is an amazing way to build empathy — something we could all probably use more of.
June has us thinking about LGBT titles, so it’s incredibly convenient that there’s actually a magnificent wave of queer-inclusive SFF hitting shelves right now!
The below titles range from award-winning powerhouse novels to brilliant hidden gems from independent presses and self-published authors. Whether your young reader is into competitive robotics, cozy high-fantasy alchemy, space travel, or epic battles against literal demons, you’re sure to find something here to add to their summer reading list.
The Trouble with Robots – Michelle Mohrweis
In classic Odd Couple fashion, Evelyn is a rule-following robotics whiz, while Allie is a chaotic, art-driven rule-breaker who only joined robotics to avoid suspension. Paired for a competition, their clash quickly turns into something more complicated. This is a warm, grounded middle grade about finding your people, with thoughtful neurodivergent and queer representation and a rivalry-to-friendship-to-crush arc that feels genuinely earned.
Grace Needs Space! – Benjamin A. Wilgus & Rii Abrego
Joining your mom on a journey to a distant moon? Sounds amazing! But as Grace learns in this graphic novel, the reality is far less exciting than she imagined. No spacewalks. No cinematic adventure. Just routines, drills, and a parent who’s always working. Plus, her parents are divorced, meaning she barely gets to see her other mom. Kids will love this visually rich, emotionally grounded story about family distance, growing expectations, and learning to see your parents as real people… while traveling through space.
Clementine H. Hopeful is Not a Hero – Noah Corey
Clementine is a boy who lives in a world of flashy heroes and destined saviors. But when the so-called heroes make a mess that threatens their community, Clementine has to step up on their own terms. A witty, fast-paced indie adventure that Kirkus called “Part Peter Pan, part Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, part Coraline,” Clementine has been said to flip the superhero trope on its head, with strong nonbinary and asexual representation and a focus on defining heroism for yourself.
Glitch Girl! – Rainie Oet
Glitch Girl! follows J—, a trans girl navigating the noise of middle school and the challenges of ADHD, where real life often feels like a glitch. In VR, she discovers she finally has control over her world and identity. This has been called a poetic, deeply empathetic indie novel that mirrors a neurodivergent inner world and explores how gaming can become a space for self-expression and safety.
A World Worth Saving – Kyle Lukoff
I’ve been hearing a lot about this one over the past few months, and I’m really excited to read it. The quick breakdown? When demons begin breaking into reality, a Jewish trans boy is chosen to protect his community using ancient lore and a conjured Golem — all while navigating middle school and real-world transphobia. This National Book Award Finalist has been called a fierce, emotionally grounded fantasy that blends action with deep empathy, urgency, heart, and mythic power.
Over to you: Have you or your middle graders read any of these yet? What SFF books are on your family’s radar for Pride Month?