Elle Gonzalez Rose
Caught in a Bad Fauxmance
A witty, low-stakes rom-com that uses theater tropes to explore identity without the heavy angst of typical YA; perfect for readers who want a laugh but still need some character growth.
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Kings of B'more
by R. Eric Thomas
Young adult · ages 14–18 · 850L · 2022
Funny, smart, and emotionally generous—Thomas gives queer Black teens a protagonist who feels like a real person, not a representation, with a Baltimore neighborhood that's as vivid as the characters.
A Place Apart
by Paula Fox
Young adult · ages 12–16 · 820L · 1980
A quiet, unsentimental novel about the discomfort of belonging—Paula Fox's restrained prose and refusal to comfort the reader make this stick long after the final page.
The Field Guide to the North American Teenager
by Ben Philippe
Young adult · ages 14–18 · 820L · 2019
A genuinely funny coming-of-age novel that uses humor to make immigrant alienation feel lived-in, not preachy—and the voice is so specific it'll probably reach kids who've never felt like outsiders.