Celebrating LGBTQ+ Stories: New Titles for Pride Month and Beyond

Presented by: Mad Cave Studios, Yen Press, Lorimer Children & Teens, and School Library Journal
Event Date and Time: Tuesday, May 6, 2025 | 2:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM PT

Join SLJ and leading publishers as we look forward to Pride Month with a vibrant collection of new titles for children and teens that beautifully explore diverse stories and characters. From heartwarming tales of love and identity to powerful narratives of resilience and self-discovery, you'll discover new books that LGBTQ+ patrons will resonate with, and will offer all readers a deeper understanding of LGBTQ+ perspectives and life experiences.

Don't miss this opportunity to expand your collection with impactful new titles that promote love, acceptance, and the power of diversity. Register now and join us in fostering a more inclusive and understanding world through the magic of storytelling!

Featured Title:

Hotblood! Vol. 1: The Land of Promise by Toril Orlesky

In the red days of the West, centaurs and humans coexist. The desolation of the American West, burning bridges, true love, and ancient mythologies--find all of this and more in the pages of Hotblood! Vol.1: The Land of Promise, a re-imagining of the popular webcomic!

The year is 1871 and the centaur Evander Rook finds himself at rock bottom, working for would-be robber baron Asa Langley--a human! As the unlikely pair get closer, romance and conspiracy run wild and Rook finds himself caught up in Asa’s ambitions as they are both forced to face the ghosts of their interwoven pasts.

The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't a Guy at All, Vol. 1. by Sumiko Arai

Fashionable and upbeat high schooler Aya loves listening to rock, but no one else seems to share her interest…until she meets a cool, stylish employee at a CD shop. Dressed in black from head to toe, he has this air of mystery about him, and his taste in music is impeccable. Aya falls hard for him—not knowing her crush is actually her female classmate Mitsuki! For her part, Mitsuki generally keeps to herself and avoids standing out at school. But given that she sits right next to Aya, Mitsuki’s all too aware of the other girl’s feelings, and she’s afraid to reveal the truth. So why does she find herself talking with Aya more and more…?

Not Not Normal by Peter E. Fenton
It can be hard to see in ourselves the good things others see in us. Not Not Normal shows readers that if we let our friends in, the love they have for us can help us grow our self-confidence.

Jordan and Nathan couldn’t be more different, but when order and chaos collide, opposites attract. Jordan is a bit of an oddball at school. He likes rules, routine, old sci-fi novels, and is often the victim of his bully’s torment. When new student Nathan joins the school, he wears down Jordan’s walls and, with his love, empowers Jordan to stand up for himself.

Nathan’s parents are going through divorce, and at a new school in a new city Jordan provides him with the stability he can’t find at home. Through their friendship and eventually their romance, Jordan embraces his newfound self-confidence and proclaims his love for Nathan in front of the school. Each is just what the other needs.

Not Not Normal shows readers that sometimes the qualities we need most can be found in and learned from the friends around us. We just need to let them in. Embracing your differences and facing the unknown can be scary, but with true friends and support, you can handle just about anything.

Presenters:

Geoffrey Lapid, Associate Sales Manager, Mad Cave Studios

Morgana Santilli, Sales & Marketing Coordinator, Yen Press

David Glover, Digital Sales Specialist, James Lorimer & Company, Publishers

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