By Kathryn Harry

And so we enter June, a month filled with sunshine and energy. As the sixth month of the year, we find ourselves in the throes of summer, and for many, it means the beginning of a celebration of identity. Pride Month officially began in 1970, dedicated to the acknowledgment and uplifting of LGBT+ individuals and their history as a community that continues to this day. While it is important to provide the space for individuals to speak up about their experiences throughout the year, Pride Month places a specific highlight on LGBT+ identities to share their stories. So, in celebration of queer voices this upcoming month, here are five impactful novels that highlight LGBT+ identities; one book, potentially, for each week of Pride Month. 

“Light From Uncommon Stars” by Ryka Aoki

 

Starting off with this transporting sci-fi fantasy novel, “Light From Uncommon Stars” focuses on the adventures of Shizuka Satomi, a violinist who captures the souls of prodigies for success, and Katrina Nguyen, a transgender teen who might just be the final target for Shizuka to free herself from this damning contract. In between donut shop visits and redefining a soul’s true worth, Aoki’s novel is a great read if you’re interested in exploring queer fiction. 

“This is How You Lose the Time War” by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

At 198 pages, “This is How You Lose the Time War” is a beautiful work of fiction that blends philosophy and prose like no other. The novel is written in the form of correspondence between Red and Blue, two women employed by opposing post-apocalyptic organizations seeking ultimate control of the timeline. While only 198 pages, the story spans a millennia, and provides insightful exploration into the true meanings of love, identity, and free will. 

“Sister Outsider” by Audre Lorde

On a different note, “Sister Outsider” is a collection of essays and speeches written by Audre Lorde, and is considered a classic volume of the poet’s most influential non-fiction works. With fifteen different essays and speeches from the years of 1976 to 1984, Lorde explores her identity as a self-proclaimed “Black woman, lesbian, poet, activist, cancer survivor, mother, and feminist” and the oppression she has faced under the United State’s patriarchal system while still presenting messages of hope for a better tomorrow. 

“Young Mungo” by Douglas Stuart

“Young Mungo” follows the story of Mungo Hamilton, a teenage boy growing up in a housing estate in 1990s Glasgow. The coming-of-age novel explores the challenges of a young gay teen, as Mungo falls in love and learns to grapple with the homophobia, class struggles, religious conflicts, and toxic masculinity of his upbringing. This deeply moving and beautifully written story will be a hard one to put down. 

“One Day I Will Write About This Place: A Memoir” by Binyavanga Wainaina

In this compelling and thoughtful debut memoir, Wainaina recounts his middle-class Kenyan childhood as he came to terms with his own identity while also exploring shifts in politics that became crucial in his understanding of family and nationhood. After coming out as gay in 2014 in response to a wave of anti-LGBT policies passed in Africa, Wainaina also released an essay entitled “I’m a Homosexual, Mum,” describing it as this memoir’s “lost chapter.” With both emotional and political impact, “One Day I Will Write About This Place” cements itself as an insightful and intricately written memoir.