When the world has decided that people are supposed to be a certain way, but you’re living proof to the contrary, then hiding your differences is just helping everybody else erase who you are. - Cat Sebastian’s You Should Be So Lucky
Every reader their book. Every book its reader. - Two of S. R. Ranganathan’s Five Laws of Library Science
Please note: All opinions expressed in this blog are my own.
No human being should ever be erased. Everyone’s story deserves to be told. Not everyone wants or needs to hear every story: everyone has the right to choose which stories they want or need to hear, as well as how and when to listen to them; just as each person has the right to choose which of their stories to tell to whom, as well as how and when to tell them. This is what the right to read is all about, and it is under fire. So too are the rights of LGBTQIA+ people around the world, but especially in the United States–whence discriminatory laws and censorship playbooks are being exported to other countries.
I applaud the North American publishing industry, my fellow librarians, knowledge workers, and booksellers for maintaining their ethical and professional commitments to storytelling, truth telling, allyship, accessibility, and continuous improvement.
I am human and my life has contained trauma, drama, joy, and wonder. All the experiences comprising the human condition are contained within young adult literature: to help teens heal, deal, understand, process, explore, empathize, celebrate, and belong. No one has the right to erase the stories they need to read. Not all stories are for everyone. Each reader knows what is for them and what is not. I have a certain way that I like to curate my list of what to read. You have a certain way that you like to curate your list of what to read. Each certain way must be decided by each person for themself, not dictated by strangers. It is your right to make your own life–and reading–choices: this much is certain.
In the mood to read this PRIDE month? Check out some of these great books in graphical format, which may just be your cup of tea, from Westchester Library System! Click on any title to view it in the library catalog.
- The girl from the sea
- Snapdragon
- Witch boy
- The prince and the dressmaker
- The best of Assigned Male
- Always human (If you read this beautiful story on Webtoon, you can read it while listening to its soundtrack!)
- Bloom into you (manga)
- Heartstopper
- Love me for who I am (manga)
- Goldie Vance (ebook)
- Tomboy
- Given (manga)
- Check, please
- Boyfriends
- I think our son is gay (manga)
- Our dreams at dusk (manga)
- My love mix-up (manga)
- Blue flag (manga)
- A tropical fish yearns for snow (manga)
- Boys run the riot (manga)
- Whisper me a love song (manga)