The 8 LGBTQ Children's/Young Adult Finalists For the Lambda Literary Awards Are Announced

And the 2017 finalists (for significant LGBTQ character/theme books published in 2016) are:

Beast, Brie Spangler, Alfred A. Knopf

Girl Mans Up, M.E. Girard, Harper Teen

Gravity, Juliann Rich, Bold Stroke Books

Highly Illogical Behavior, John Corey Whaley, Dial Books

Not Your Sidekick, C.B. Lee, Duet

Our Chemical Hearts, Krystal Sutherland, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Symptoms of Being Human, Jeff Garvin, Balzer + Bray

The Midnight Star, Marie Lu, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers




It's a great reading list! Congratulations and good luck to all!

Beast - A High School Re-Imagining of Beauty and The Beast. And Beauty is Trans.

Beast by Brie Spangler

Tall, meaty, muscle-bound, and hairier than most throw rugs, Dylan doesn't look like your average fifteen-year-old, so, naturally, high school has not been kind to him. To make matters worse, on the day his school bans hats (his preferred camouflage), Dylan goes up on his roof only to fall and wake up in the hospital with a broken leg--and a mandate to attend group therapy for self-harmers.

Dylan vows to say nothing and zones out at therapy--until he meets Jamie. She's funny, smart, and so stunning, even his womanizing best friend, JP, would be jealous. She's also the first person to ever call Dylan out on his self-pitying and superficiality.

As Jamie's humanity and wisdom begin to rub off on Dylan, they become more than just friends. But there is something Dylan doesn't know about Jamie, something she shared with the group the day he wasn't listening. Something that shouldn't change a thing. She is who she's always been--an amazing photographer and devoted friend, who also happens to be transgender. But will Dylan see it that way?

Add your review of "Beast" in comments!