Scarleteen

Hello All!
I work as an Advocate and facilitate a teen group that discusses issues such as consent, healthy sexuality/relationships, inequity, gender/identity, BC, disability etc. The teen group gives presentations to the community about these topics. We are working with our local library to create a "tough topics" section for young adults. I would love ideas/suggestions for some books that tackle these topics in sex-positive and equitable ways. We are also creating a locker at the Library which will have free condoms, feminine hygiene products, etc. Thank you for any and all suggestions!

Hi Gigi976,

What a cool idea! Are you looking for non-fiction, fiction, or a mix of both? And what would you say the age range in the group is?

Hey Sam,
Thanks! Looking for a mix of both-age range is 13-17. We do have S.E.X. by Heather Corinna on order-which looks fantastic.

Got it!

I have a few recommendations, and other staff and volunteers might have ones to add. I'd recommend ordering "Wait, What?" along with S.E.X; it's aimed at middle school readers, but can also be good to have on hand for teens with learning disabilities, who have English as a second language, or are looking to help a little sibling with this stuff.

For other nonfiction:
-Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski
-Yes Means Yes edited by Jaclyn Friedman
-The Trans Self-Care Workbook by Theo Lorenz
-The Genderquest Workbook by Deborah Coolhart
-The Body is Not and Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
-Feminist AF: A Guide to Crushing Girlhood
-Life Isn't Binary: On Being Both, Beyond, and In-Between, by Meg-John Barker and Alex Iantaffi

Fiction:

-Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag (I like how this both shows queer and trans identities and offers magic related plot lines that deal with identity struggles and family expectations)
-Mariko Tamaki's books in general
-Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell contains some of the most realistic depictions of trying to escape an abusive adult AND of teen sexual desire I've seen.

Thank you-this list is amazing! I am excited to read these for my own self. Also very cool recommendation with " Witch Boy". We have a pretty good sized gamer community, which intersects deeply with our LGBTQIA community. So I love recommendations for books like that. I really appreciate your help!

You're so very welcome! And hopefully a few other folks will have some they can add here so you can make this section even more awesome.