By Em Hunter
First crushes, new friends, figuring out who you are… the middle school years are full of self-discoveries, which is probably why they can feel overwhelming. And, speaking from personal experience, embarrassing. Figuring out who you are is difficult enough—why add pimples and awkward moments as well? In my last decade working in Canadian publishing, the rise of queer middle-grade books is apparent when you look at the amazing books with queer preteen protagonists published in recent years. As a Y2K preteen, I didn't have books like these growing up. Instead, books rarely featured queer adults, let alone kids. I remember being shocked to see lesbian moms in Kit Pearson’s Awake and Dreaming. This recent middle-grade boom seems to be a few years behind its YA counterpart, but all the same, there have never been more queer titles for young people to read and enjoy.
With book bans and challenges growing more rampant in recent years and Pride Month being here (hurrah!), I sometimes hear people claiming that Pride and LGBTQ+ stories aren’t appropriate for children, as if queer people suddenly become such the moment they turn 18. While some people discover their identity later in life, others know much younger: I know LGBTQ+ preteens and knew I was queer at about eleven. Queer kids exist, and their experiences are just like their straight counterparts: confusing, exciting and completely normal.
In that vein, this list is all about regular preteen life, featuring regular queer kids as they struggle with friendship, experience first crushes, disagree with their parents and discover things about themselves as they grow up.
Fiction
Asking for a Friend
written by Ronnie Riley
Scholastic Canada, 2024
Eden Jones has three friends and they’re all fake. Well, not exactly fake. They’re real kids at school, but none of them know Eden at all. As someone with social anxiety, this suits Eden just fine until their mom decides to throw them a birthday party and invite all of Eden’s friends. Now Eden is in a race to befriend Duke, Ramona, and Tabitha until the party is over. When Eden starts to become their friend for real, the lie that started everything gets harder to hide.
Full of queer joy and friendship, especially great for kids with social anxiety.
Bea Mullins Takes a Shot
written by Emily Deibert
Random House Books for Young Readers, 2025
Seventh grader Bea Mullins has always had bad luck with sports and that bad luck continues when PE is cancelled and she has to join a school sports team for credit. The Glenwood Geese are her middle school’s first all-girls hockey team and Bea finds herself enjoying being part of the team. While Bea develops a first crush on the team’s co-captain, the school's low funding puts Bea and the team on thin ice.
Hockey romance is popular these days, so it’s nice to have a younger version for middle-grade kids.
Ciel in All Directions
written by Sophie Labelle
translated by Andrea Zanin
Second Story Press, 2021
In the sequel to Ciel, nonbinary teen Ciel is in high school with their best friend Stephie. While busy with school projects and their growing YouTube channel, Ciel and their friends become involved with the LGBT Alliance.
Full of humour and charm, young readers can follow Ciel into the YA sequel Wish Upon a Satellite.
Like a Hurricane
written by Jonathan Bécotte
translated by Jonathan Kaplansky
Orca Book Publishers, 2023
Told in verse, a closeted teen struggles with his identity and coming out as gay to his friends and family. With his feelings for his childhood best friend that he’s certain are unrequited, inside of him is a whirlwind as strong as a hurricane.
Beautifully written and poignant, this is a quick read that will stay with you long after.
Noah Frye Gets Crushed
written by Maggie Horne
HarperCollins, 2024
After an amazing summer at camp, Noah is excited to come home to her best friends and to have her new camp friend Jessa start at her school in the fall. But a lot has changed during the summer and now Noah’s friends have gone boy-crazy. Not wanting to be left out and even left behind, Noah fakes a crush by picking a boy and hoping feelings eventually become real. But all the while Noah can’t stop thinking of Jessa.
Of all the books on this list, this was the one I found most relatable to my own experience.
Night of the Living Zed
written by Basil Sylvester and Kevin Sylvester
HarperCollins, 2025
In the sequel to The Fabulous Zed Watson!, Zed and their best friend Gabe are back with a new adventure: Every 25 years, Glyndebourne Manor hosts a challenge with a large cash prize as a reward. Glyndebourne Manor was home to an opera designer and is now considered to be haunted. To win, Zed and Gabe will have three days to solve an escape-room-like challenge in every room in the mansion. As lovers of puzzles, they’re up for the challenge.
Returning readers will love to see Zed and friends again.
You Owe Me One, Universe
written by Chad Lucas
Harry N. Abrams, 2023
In the sequel to Thanks a Lot Universe, best friends Brian and Ezra are back. While life is looking up for Brian, he still has anxiety and depression even though he thinks he should be better. Ezra wants to help Brian, but things get complicated when he befriends Victor, one of Brian’s former bullies, and starts to have a crush on him.
An honest depiction of life for two 13-year-olds that doesn’t shy away from difficult topics.
Graphic Novels
Carousel Summer
written and illustrated by Kathleen Gros
Quill Tree Books, 2025
Lucy is ready for a boring summer in the small town of Milforth, full of choirs and her dad bugging her about the way she dresses (too boy-like), with her best friend away at camp. When the community decides to revive an old carousel for the town’s anniversary, Anaïs and her artist dad Ray come to town. In Anaïs, Lucy finds someone who understands her and develops feelings that go beyond friendship.
A sweet summer story of self-discovery.
Crush
written by Tegan Quin and Sara Quin
illustrated by Tillie Walden
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2024
Inspired by the real lives of indie musicians Tegan and Sara, the sequel to Junior High follows the twins as they start eighth grade. A battle-of-the-bands contest to open for their favourite musician could lead to new opportunities for them musically, but at the same time both girls still have to get through middle school and everything that comes with it—from friendship problems to first crushes.
Fun and realistic with vivid illustrations, Crush could even lead young readers to finding some new (queer Canadian) music.
Finding My Spark
written by Isabelle Jameson
illustrated by Sylvain Cabot
translated by Ann Marie Boulanger
Orca Book Publishers, 2026
In this advanced picture book, Alex realizes that his whole life he’s been misgendered as a girl. Alex slowly makes changes (no more dresses) but is worried about what his family and friends will think when he fully comes out to them.
The format could also make this a great classroom read-aloud for older kids.
Non-Fiction
Growing Up Trans: In Our Own Words
edited by Dr. Lindsay Herriot and Kate Fry
Orca Book Publishers, 2021
A collection of essays, stories, poems and art by real trans young people, portraying their childhoods in ways only they can. Experts in trans youth also provide the reader with advice on being a trans ally and resources for cis and trans kids.
A powerful collection: the talent of the young contributors was awe-inspiring.
Em Hunter works at Simon & Schuster Canada as Digital Marketing Associate. They live in Barrie with their very fluffy cat.