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For Pride History Month 2019, you sent in your reading ruts – whether you were after books to share with children or new perspectives to pick up – and Juno picked five to answer. All five Caboodlers received a £15/€20 National Book Token, a signed copy of Proud and an enamel pin. Got a bookish bothering of your own? Send your questions in – if we pick yours for the attention of our future Book Doctors, you’ll get a National Book Token!
Hello Sarah. When I was a teacher, I was lucky enough to be part of a project that matched literature to each year at primary school. For younger children I would heartily recommend Todd Parr’s The Family Book, Introducing Teddy by Jessica Walton and the timeless classic And Tango Makes Three by Justin Parnell. Books like Something Else by Kathryn Cave are also great for discussing how it’s OK to be just whoever you are!
Hi Adele. I'm so glad you asked. Bi representation is somewhat lacking and this gives me a great opportunity to plug my somewhat under-loved 2015 novel All of the Above, which was my love letter to all the pan and bi youth who I meet at school events. Outside of my own work, can I also recommend Glasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith, which is one of my all-time faves. Far From You by Tess Sharpe is also wonderful.
Hello Daniel. I think this is something Patrick Ness did really well in The Rest of Us Just Live Here and More Than This. My Hollow Pike would also fit the bill. Of course Cassandra Clare nailed this with the very tasty Magnus in her Mortal Instruments series too.
Hi Hetty. For sure! There are some really ace memoirs out there from Alex Bertie, Lucy Sutcliffe and (soon) Amrou Al-Kahdi. Jazz Jennings even did her memoir as a picture book! I wrote a memoir called The Gender Games but it’s aimed at adult readers, so you could also try What is Gender? How Does it Define Us? And Other Big Questions for Kids.
Oh Shane. You need new friends! I know it’s not as easy as that, but my ‘friends’ made my life miserable for years too. Eventually I found new friends who totally accepted me for who I was and the things I liked. Books are so great because you can share them and discuss them with your friends. Does your school have a library or Book Club? I think that would be a good place to start. Rest assured that reading is very, very cool, and your so-called friends are absolutely missing out. I loved books when I was at school and look how my career turned out!
Proud is a stirring, bold and moving anthology of stories and poetry responding to the broad theme of pride. Each piece of writing has an accompanying illustration by an artist identifying as part of the community. Proud is out now and published by Stripes, £7.99.Need urgent book advice? Why not visit your local bookshop where the booksellers will be happy to recommend your next read – find your nearest.
Don't miss out on this month's giveaways! Win signed books, National Book Tokens, and even more fantastic prizes for book lovers.
Browse quizzes, reading lists, and recommendations from our guest booksellers.