Pride Month: What We’re Reading

From expanding our policy fight to becoming a more inclusive and belonging organization, Food Bankers always seem to have our noses in books, blogs, and articles that help us be more effective in our work. Below is a list of recommendations that some Food Bankers have found helpful (or just really liked). We hope you find them helpful, too.

Please consider supporting one of our amazing local bookstores!

Bandung Books
Oakland

Moe’s Books
Berkeley

Pegasus Books
Berkeley & Oakland


What we’re reading for Pride Month – June 1-30

The Great Belivers
Rebecca Makkai

“Rebecca Makkai’s The Great Believers is a page turner… among the first novels to chronicle the AIDS epidemic from its initial outbreak to the present—among the first to convey the terrors and tragedies of the epidemic’s early years as well as its course and repercussions…An absorbing and emotionally riveting story about what it’s like to live during times of crisis.” — Michael Cunningham in The New York Times Book Review. Learn more.

The 57 Bus
Dashka Slater

Slater artfully unfolds a complex and layered tale about two teens whose lives intersect with painful consequences. This work will spark discussions about identity, community, and what it means to achieve justice. – School Library Journal, starred review

Maiden & Princess
Dashka Slater

In this modern fairy tale, a strong, brave maiden is invited to attend the prince’s royal ball. Not interested in the prince at all, she decides to go anyway and falls instantly for the princess! The king and queen welcome her to their family and kingdom rejoices in their love.

Fun Home
Alison Bechdel

Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic is a graphic novel memoir of the author’s childhood, particularly focused on her relationship with her closeted gay father Bruce.

The Witch Boy; The Hidden Witch; The Midwinter Witch Series
Molly Ostertag

In thirteen-year-old Aster’s family, all the girls are raised to be witches, while boys grow up to be shapeshifters. Anyone who dares cross those lines is exiled. Unfortunately for Aster, he still hasn’t shifted, and he’s still fascinated by witchery, no matter how forbidden it might be. When a mysterious danger threatens the other boys, Aster knows he can help – as a witch. It will take the encouragement of a new friend, the non-magical and non-conforming Charlie, to convince Aster to try practicing his skills. And it will require even more courage to save his family, and to be truly himself.

Against Equality: Queer Revolution Not Just Inclusion
Ryan Conrad (Editor)

These queer thinkers, writers, and artists are committed to undermining a stunted conception of “equality.” In this powerful book, they challenge mainstream gay and lesbian struggles for inclusion in elitist and inhumane institutions.

That’s Revolting! Queer Strategies For Resisting Assimilation
Matt Bernstein Sycamore (Editor)

It is both a blueprint and a call to action, bringing the post-identity politics of a new generation of pissed-off queers to a wider audience.

The Prince & The Dressmaker
Jen Wang

Prince Sebastian is looking for a bride―or rather, his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret life from everyone. At night he puts on daring dresses and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia―the hottest fashion icon in the world capital of fashion!

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous
Ocean Vuong

At once a witness to the fraught yet undeniable love between a single mother and her son, it is also a brutally honest exploration of race, class, and masculinity.

Nobody Passes
Matt Bernstein Sycamore (Editor)

Nobody Passes is a collection of essays that confronts and challenges the very notion of belonging. By examining the perilous intersections of identity, categorization and community, contributors challenge societal mores and counter-cultural norms.

Prince & Knight: Tale of the Shadow King
Daniel Haack

A sequel to “Prince & Knight.” Our brave and dashing heroes are happily married and their kingdom is prospering, but soon, a fog of darkness that blocks the sun spreads across their land. They get word that the cause of this is a dark and mysterious Shadow King, and they rush off to find and stop him, but encounter many obstacles along the way. Will they be able to restore the light to their kingdom?

Snapdragon
Kat Leyh

Snap’s town had a witch. At least, that’s how the rumor goes. But in reality, Jacks is just a Crocs-wearing, internet-savvy old lady who sells roadkill skeletons online. It’s creepy, sure, but Snap thinks it’s kind of cool, too. Snap needs a favor from this old woman, though, so she begins helping Jacks with her strange work. Snap gets to know her and realizes that Jacks may in fact have real magic—and an unlikely connection to Snap’s family’s past.

The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You
S Bear Bergman

With humour and grace, these essays deal with issues from women’s spaces to the old boys’ network, from gay male bathhouses to lesbian potlucks, from being a child to preparing to have one; throughout, S. Bear Bergman shows us there are things you learn when you’re visibly different from those around you.

Cannonball
Sacha Cotter

As one Maori boy searches for the secret to executing the perfect cannonball, it’s only by listening to his own voice that he finds his unique style and pulls off a truly awe-inspiring CANNONBALL.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post
Emily Danforth

“With echoes of Rita Mae Brown’s Rubyfruit Jungle emily m. danforth’s debut novel The Miseducation of Cameron Post is perceptive, nuanced, and beautiful. Or maybe it’s enough to just call it a new coming-of-age classic.”— The Boston Globe.

The Deep & Dark Blue
Niki Smith

After a terrible political coup usurps their noble house, Hawke and Grayson flee to stay alive and assume new identities, Hanna and Grayce. Desperation and chance lead them to the Communion of Blue, an order of magical women who spin the threads of reality to their will.

The Gender Quest Workbook for Teens: A Guide for Teens and Young Adults Exploring Gender Identity
Rylan Jay Testa, Deborah Coolhart and Jayme Peta

This one-of-a-kind, comprehensive workbook will help you navigate your gender identity and expression at home, in school, and with peers.
This fun, engaging workbook is designed specifically for teens like you who want to explore the concept of gender and gender identity and expression—whether you already identify as TGNC or are simply questioning your gender identity. The activities in this book will help you explore your identity internally, interpersonally, and culturally. And along the way, you’ll learn how to effectively express yourself and make informed decisions on how to navigate your gender with family, friends, classmates, and coworkers.

Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal
Jeanette Winterson

Witty, acute, fierce, and celebratory, Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? is a tough-minded search for belonging—for love, identity, home, and a mother.

The First Rule of Punk
Celia C. Pérez

The First Rule of Punk is a wry and heartfelt exploration of friendship, finding your place, and learning to rock out like no one’s watching.
There are no shortcuts to surviving your first day at a new school–you can’t fix it with duct tape like you would your Chuck Taylors. On Day One, twelve-year-old Malú (María Luisa, if you want to annoy her) inadvertently upsets Posada Middle School’s queen bee, violates the school’s dress code with her punk rock look, and disappoints her college-professor mom in the process. Read more.

Exile and Pride
Eli Clare

Eli Clare’s revelatory writing about his experiences as a white disabled genderqueer activist/writer established him as one of the leading writers on the intersections of queerness and disability.

10,000 Dresses
Marcus Ewert

10,000 Dresses shares the story of a trans girl, Bailey, who is trying to make her dreams a reality. Each night, Bailey dreams of a different mystical dress, which she in turn asks each of her family members if they can help her find the next morning. Despite her best efforts, Bailey’s family members are not willing to help her find the dress of her dreams, saying that boys can’t wear dresses, and that Bailey should stop asking them such questions.

Surpassing Certainty
Janet Mock

Surpassing Certainty is a portrait of a young woman searching for her purpose and place in the world–without a road map to guide her. This memoir “should be required reading for your 20s”.

My Rainbow
DeShanna Neal and Trinity Neal

A dedicated mom puts love into action as she creates the perfect rainbow-colored wig for her transgender daughter, based on the real-life experience. With powerful text by Trinity and DeShanna Neal and radiant art by Art Twink, My Rainbow is a celebration of showing up as our full selves with the people who have seen us fully all along.

Redefining Realness
Janet Mock

“Redefining Realness is a classic American autobiography. Like Richard Wright and Maya Angelou, Janet Mock brings us into a world we may not know and with breathtaking insight, courage, and masterful craft makes her story universal.” – Barbara Smith.

They He She Me: Free to Be!
Maya Christina Gonzalez

The authors have succeeded in creating a gorgeous and much-needed picture book about pronouns and gender fluidity. Rich watercolor artwork, done in a spectrum of blue and green jewel tones, depicts a line of smiling people, each with a different skin color and all sporting a unique style; the abundance of visual detail is sure to provoke audience participation. Minimal text complements the lush illustrations: a solid-color strip runs along the bottom of each spread and indicates the pronoun (“She, “He,” “They,” “Ze,” etc.) of the figure above (some figures appear twice, emphasizing that people can use multiple pronouns to describe themselves).

Queer Ecologies: Sex, Nature, Politics, Desire
Janet Mock

This lively collection asks important questions at the intersections of sexuality and environmental studies. Contributors from a wide range of disciplines present a focused engagement with the critical, philosophical, and political dimensions of sex and nature.

Untamed
Glennon Doyle

Untamed is both an intimate memoir and a galvanizing wake-up call. It is the story of how one woman learned that a responsible mother is not one who slowly dies for her children, but one who shows them how to fully live.

Broken Horses
Brandi Carlile

The critically acclaimed singer-songwriter, producer, and six-time Grammy winner opens up about faith, sexuality, parenthood, and a life shaped by music in “one of the great memoirs of our time.”

Glitter Up the Dark: How Pop Music Broke the Binary
Sasha Geffen

From the Beatles to Prince to Perfume Genius, Glitter Up the Dark takes a historical look at the voices that transcended gender and the ways music has subverted the gender binary.

One Life
Megan Rapinoe

Guided by her personal journey into social justice, brimming with humor, humanity, and joy, Megan Rapinoe urges all of us to ask ourselves, What will you do with your one life?

Who Are You? The Kid’s Guide to Gender Identity
Brook Pessin-Whedbee

This brightly illustrated children’s book provides a straightforward introduction to gender for anyone aged four and up. It presents clear and direct language for understanding and talking about how we experience gender: our bodies, our expression, and our identity.

ACE: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex
Angela Chen

“Ace” delves into the lives of those who identify using the little-known sexual orientation of asexuality and shows what all of us can learn-about desire, identity, culture, and relationships-when we use an asexual lens to see the world.

It Feels Good to Be Yourself
Theresa Thorn

This sweet, straightforward exploration of gender identity will give children a fuller understanding of themselves and others. With child-friendly language and vibrant art, It Feels Good to Be Yourself provides young readers and parents alike with the vocabulary to discuss this important topic with sensitivity.

Detransition, Baby
Torrey Peters

The lives of three women–transgender and cisgender–collide after an unexpected pregnancy forces them to confront their deepest desires.

Julian is a Mermaid
Jessica Love

Julián is a Mermaid is Jessica Love’s award-winning debut picture book, published by Candlewick Press. Julián is a Mermaid is a story about a boy and his Abuela. It is a story about being seen for who we are by someone who loves us.

Jacob’s New Dress
Sarah & Ian Hoffman

Jacob loves playing dress-up, when he can be anything he wants to be. Some kids at school say he can’t wear “girl” clothes, but Jacob wants to wear a dress to school. Can he convince his parents to let him wear what he wants? This heartwarming story speaks to the unique challenges faced by children who don’t identify with traditional gender roles.

Roller Girl
Victoria Jamieson

Twelve-year-old Astrid has always done everything with her best friend Nicole. So when Astrid signs up for roller derby camp, she assumes Nicole will too. But Nicole signs up for dance camp with a new friend instead, and so begins the toughest summer of Astrid’s life. There are bumps and bruises as Astrid learns who she is without Nicole…and what it takes to be a strong, tough roller girl.

Nimona
Noelle Stevenson

Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren’t the heroes everyone thinks they are.

When Aidan Became A Brother
Kyle Lukoff

When Aidan Became a Brother is a heartwarming book that will resonate with transgender children, reassure any child concerned about becoming an older sibling, and celebrate the many transitions a family can experience.

Worm Loves Worm
J. J. Austrian

When a worm meets a special worm and they fall in love, you know what happens next: They get married! But their friends want to know—who will wear the dress? And who will wear the tux?

The answer is: It doesn’t matter. Because worm loves worm.

Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag
Rob Sanders

In this deeply moving and empowering true story, young readers will trace the life of the Gay Pride Flag, from its beginnings in 1978 with social activist Harvey Milk and designer Gilbert Baker to its spanning of the globe and its role in today’s world.

This Day in June
Gayle E. Pitman, PhD

In a wildly whimsical, validating, and exuberant reflection of the LGBT community, This Day In June welcomes readers to experience a pride celebration and share in a day when we are all united.

Also included is a Reading Guide chock-full of facts about LGBT history and culture, as well as a Note to Parents and Caregivers with information on how to talk to children about sexual orientation and gender identity in age-appropriate ways.

This Day In June is an excellent tool for teaching respect, acceptance, and understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

I Am Jazz
Jessica Herthel, Jazz Jennings

Jazz is humanized/normalized in this book as a child who enjoys things any other child would enjoy. She plays dress-up and bounces on trampolines with her best friends, Samantha and Casey.

Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution
Rob Sanders

A powerful and timeless true story that will allow young readers to discover the rich and dynamic history of the Stonewall Inn and its role in the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement–a movement that continues to this very day. In the early-morning hours of June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Inn was raided by police in New York City. Though the inn had been raided before, that night would be different. It would be the night when empowered members of the LGBTQ+ community–in and around the Stonewall Inn–began to protest and demand their equal rights as citizens of the United States.

Lumberjanes

ND Stevenson, Shannon Watters and Grace Ellis

Friendship to the max! Jo, April, Mal, Molly and Ripley are five best pals determined to have an awesome summer together…and they’re not gonna let any insane quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way! Learn more.

My Two Cool Moms

Kristine Ebona

Kendrick has two cool moms and his house is always filled with adventures! This book is a celebration of different types of families.

Pink is for Boys

Robb Pearlman

An empowering and educational picture book that proves colors are for everyone, regardless of gender.

Julián at the Wedding
Jessica Love

Julián and his abuela are going to a wedding. Better yet, Julián is in the wedding. Weddings have flowers and kissing and dancing and cake. And this wedding also has a new friend named Marisol. Learn more.

Born Ready: The Story of a Boy Named Penelope
Jodie Patterson

Penelope knows that he’s a boy. (And a ninja.) The problem is getting everyone else to realize it.

In this exuberant companion to Jodie Patterson’s adult memoir, The Bold World, Patterson shares her son Penelope’s frustrations and triumphs on his journey to share himself with the world. Learn more.

The Gender Wheel: a story about bodies and gender for every body
Maya Christina Gonzalez

This body positive book is a powerful opportunity for a supportive adult and child to see a wide range of bodies, understand the origins of the current binary gender system, how we can learn from nature to see the truth that has always existed and revision a new story that includes room for all bodies and genders. Learn more.

The Gender Identity Workbook for Kids
Kelly Storck

This body positive book is a powerful opportunity for a supportive adult and child to see a wide range of bodies, understand the origins of the current binary gender system, how we can learn from nature to see the truth that has always existed and revision a new story that includes room for all bodies and genders. Learn more.

Gender Identity Workbook for Teens
Andrew Maxwell Triska

Discover more about who you are and who you might want to become. Whether you’ve been pondering big feelings and questions about your gender, or you’re just a little curious about it, the Gender Identity Workbook for Teens is an interactive workbook that will walk you through what gender identity actually is. Learn more.