The representations of LGBTQ themes and individuals in non-fiction young adult literature

Purpose – Social justice themes permeate the social studies, history, civics, and current events curricula. The

purpose of this paper is to examine how non-fiction trade books represented lesbian, gay, bisexual,

transsexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals and issues.

Design/methodology/approach – Trade books published after 2000 and intended for middle grades (5-8)

and high school (9-12) students were analyzed.

Findings – Findings included main characters’ demography, sexuality, and various ancillary elements, such

as connection to LGBTQ community, interactions with non-LGBTQ individuals, the challenges and contested

terrain that LGBTQ individuals must traverse, and a range of responses to these challenges. Publication date,

intended audience, and subgenre of non-fiction – specifically, memoir, expository, and historical text – added

nuance to findings. Viewed broadly, the books generally engaged in exceptionalism, a historical

misrepresentation, of one singular character who was a gay or lesbian white American. Diverse sexualities,

races, ethnicities, and contexts were largely absent. Complex resistance structures were frequent and detailed.

Originality/value – This research contributes to previous scholarship exploring LGBTQ-themed fiction for

secondary students and close readings of secondary level non-fiction trade books.