June is GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) Book Month and we are celebrating with some of our favorite reads. For a long time, GLBT stories were focused on the character’s sexual identity and the experience of coming out. While these stories are important, GLBT people are much more than that one piece of their identity and this is showing up in YA fiction. Here are some stories where this is a detail about the character, not the main focus of the story.

Proxy by Alex London
Every time Knox breaks the rules, Syd receives the punishment—literally. Syd has never met Knox, but he understands that taking his punishments is the only way to pay off his debts. The two were never supposed to meet.

Maplecroft by Cherie Priest
Lizzie Borden really did give her parents 40 whacks... but only because alien sea monsters took over their bodies.

Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
Austin and Robby are two best friends trying to survive the boredom of small town Iowa. They unwittingly unleash 6-foot tall praying mantises and must fight to save humanity from destruction, all while Austin battles his sex drive.

Ash by Malinda Lo
This Cinderella retelling is steeped deep in fairy folklore, but Ash could not be any less interested in Prince Charming. She must chose between a fairy tale ending and the King’s Huntress.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Simon Snow is a wizard at a magic school... but not THAT magic school. It’s his final year to defeat the nemesis and decide whether he loves or hates his vampire roommate Baz. (Psst, if you read Fangirl, this is Cath’s fanfic).

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
It’s Lord of the Flies meets Miss America when a plane full of beauty pageant contestants crashed on a deserted island. Adina only entered the pageant to expose it from the inside, but now she and the other contestants must figure out how to make it out alive.

For more GLBT book recommendations follow @nyplteens on Instagram for #30DaysofQueerYA!