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Books for Gender Identity & Expression for Ages 12–18 – Wonderlit | Wonderlit

Browse → Ages 12–18 → Life Moments → Gender Identity & Expression → Ages 12–18

Books for Gender Identity & Expression for Ages 12–18

As your teenager navigates the complex landscape of who they are and how they want the world to see them, finding stories that mirror their internal journey can be a lifeline. This collection of 220 titles offers older children the space to explore nuanced themes of identity and self-expression through characters who face these same profound questions with courage. We hope these books provide both the language and the comfort your teen needs during this pivotal season of self-discovery.

220 books

Cover of Symptoms of Being Human

Symptoms of Being Human

Riley Cavanaugh starts an anonymous blog to process life as a gender-fluid teenager, balancing the safety of the interne

Cover of Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester, The

Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester, The

For the teenager seeking a sense of belonging while navigating neurodivergence, gender identity, and the weight of a pai

Cover of Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix

Remixed Classics #5

Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix

Anna-Marie McLemore

For the teen exploring the intersections of identity and heritage while longing to find where they truly belong in a wor

1...6 7 8 9 10

Cover of Act Cool

Act Cool

Tobly McSmith

August leaves everything behind to escape a restrictive home, hoping a prestigious performing arts school is the stage w

Ages 14–18

Cover of This is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them and Us

This is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them and Us

Katherine Locke and Nicole Melleby, Eds.

For the child exploring their identity or looking for their community, this inclusive anthology offers 16 stories that c

Cover of All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens throughout the Ages

All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens throughout the Ages

Saundra Mitchell

For the teen seeking to see themselves in the tapestry of time, this collection proves that queer joy and identity have

Cover of The Civil War of Amos Abernathy

The Civil War of Amos Abernathy

For the child who feels invisible in what they're learning at school or looking for their place in history while navigat

Cover of Queerstory: An Infographic History of the Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights

Queerstory: An Infographic History of the Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights

Bold infographics and colorful timelines map out a century of landmark events, key figures, and statistics in the fight

Cover of And Round Me Rings

And Round Me Rings

For the young reader exploring their own identity or navigating the complexities of finding where they truly belong in a

Cover of Under Shifting Stars

Under Shifting Stars

Alexandra Latos

For siblings navigating the heavy silence of loss while finding the courage to embrace their neurodivergence and true ge

Cover of The Letter Q

Bella Swan is torn between her vampire love and her shape-shifter friend while a string of mysterious attacks terrorizes

Cover of Pride

Robin Stevenson

For the child curious about LGBTQ+ history and seeking a sense of community through the joyful celebration of identity a

Cover of Hopepunk

When a sister flees to avoid a conversion camp, Hope starts an activist rock band to find her and fight for a world wher

Cover of Stay Gold

Pony and Georgia navigate a spark of attraction complicated by hidden identities and the risks of opening up about the p

Cover of Skating on Mars

Skating on Mars

Caroline Huntoon

Veronica wants to be known as Mars, but finding a place on the ice becomes a challenge when figure skating competitions

Cover of Queerceañera

Joaquin prepares for his eighteenth birthday celebration and his first date in this joyful story of family, identity, an

Cover of The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives

The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives

Two lives collide on an Oakland bus in this gripping account of a real-life crime that forced a community to reckon with

Cover of Transmogrify!: 14 Fantastical Tales of Trans Magic

Transmogrify!: 14 Fantastical Tales of Trans Magic

Magic, horror, and science fiction collide in these stories where trans and nonbinary characters claim their identities

Cover of Troublemakers in Trousers: Women and What They Wore to Get Things Done

Troublemakers in Trousers: Women and What They Wore to Get Things Done

Meet twenty-one bold women throughout history who defied laws and customs by donning trousers to lead armies, explore wo

Cover of Parrotfish

Ellen Wittlinger

For the teenager navigating the complex waters of gender identity, this story follows Grady as he transitions and finds

Cover of Dreadnought

Danny Tozer is inherited world-class superpowers just as she is finding her true self, forcing her to defend the planet

Cover of Jess, Chunk, and the Road Trip to Infinity

Jess, Chunk, and the Road Trip to Infinity

Kristin Elizabeth Clark

For the teenager navigating the intersection of identity and long-term friendship while facing complex family reunions a

Cover of Splinter & Ash

Splinter & Ash #1

Marieke Nijkamp

Princess Ash returns to a palace full of danger, finding an unexpected ally in Splinter, a girl determined to become a s

Cover of The Power of Style: How Fashion and Beauty Are Being Used to Reclaim Cultures

The Power of Style: How Fashion and Beauty Are Being Used to Reclaim Cultures

Christian Allaire

Stunning photography reveals how marginalized communities use hair, makeup, and clothing to honor their heritage and cha

More Ages 12–18 Books

Books for Potty Training for Ages 12–18(3)Books for Food Allergies for Ages 12–18(12)Books for Wearing Glasses for Ages 12–18(32)Books for LGBTQ+ Families for Ages 12–18(34)Books for Sharing with Siblings for Ages 12–18(67)Books for Bedtime Struggles for Ages 12–18(68)Books for Visiting the Doctor for Ages 12–18(74)Books for New Sibling for Ages 12–18(90)

Gender Identity & Expression for Other Ages

Books for Gender Identity & Expression for Ages 4–7(67)Books for Gender Identity & Expression for Ages 8–11(137)

Also by Format

Chapter Books(49)Young Adult(43)Graphic Novels(19)Middle Grade(7)