Is it weird to simultaneously feel over the moon about a book’s release and also a bit sad? Like, on the one hand I’m just overjoyed that there will be a LGBTQIA+ anthology for middle-graders out there in the world to explore and on the other, I’m so sad that this hasn’t been around when I was a kid, when things were a lot murkier for me (and many of my queer friends) and that this book could have changed our lives. Alas, I’m not going to focus on the latter and instead celebrate the many lives this fantastic anthology will impact! What an incredible era to be witnessing children’s literature grow more inclusive, not only with every single standalone but with this jam-packed proud anthology! What an emotional journey to think of young readers picking this book up and finding themselves represented in here!
Within these pages, you’ll find short stories and comic strips for every letter of the acronym that you might be proudly calling yourself a part of. While I’m not going to spoil any story for you, let me just give you a taste of what you’re in for: there’s a story in here in which a young witch turns herself into a puppy to win over her new neighbour and secret crush. Did someone mention perfect premise? Because that surely is one. There’s also a story about a boyband fandom being the reason for someone coming out and hoo boy, if that didn’t hit home, I don’t know what will. Another chronicles two online friends helping each other come out to their parents while another follows someone trying to find a new inclusive sport after quitting gymnastics because of the assumptions people make about their gender. Beyond stories set in the contemporary world—albeit with magical elements—there are also stories of pirates and other fantastical elements that will make young readers be drawn in from the very first paragraph. Beyond being obviously queer, these stories are also incredibly inclusive and feature topics such as body diversity, bullying, identity struggles, friends standing up for each other, encouraging and uplifting support groups, and a sense of camaraderie not only between the characters themselves but with society at large.
It seems like a truth universally acknowledged that there are no perfect anthologies out there—rarely does a human ever like every single story in an anthology and that’s okay. With that being said, though, I have to admit that I wholeheartedly loved every story in this. Whether you come to this anthology because of an author you already love or because you want to try out someone’s work for the first time, you won’t be disappointed. Even the ones that perhaps weren’t my cup of genre or trope, I was still filled with so much warmth and excitement whenever I thought of what that story might evoke in younger readers’ hands. It’s an anthology that is based on hope, inclusivity, and camaraderie—and it is a must-read, no matter how old you are. Here’s to the future and to many more LGBTQIAP+ based anthologies!
Sure to become a staple in children’s literature, This Is Our Rainbow offers an uplifting and gripping collection of short stories for young readers. Whether you’re part of the LGBTQIAP+ community or an ally, you will devour this must-read anthology that is filled with magic and above all, immense love.
This Is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of October 19th 2021.
Will you be picking up This Is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
The first LGBTQIA+ anthology for middle-graders featuring stories for every letter of the acronym, including realistic, fantasy, and sci-fi stories by authors like Justina Ireland, Marieke Nijkamp, Alex Gino, and more!
A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former bully becomes a first-kiss prospect. One nonbinary kid searches for an inclusive athletic community after quitting gymnastics. Another nonbinary kid, who happens to be a pirate, makes a wish that comes true–but not how they thought it would. A tween girl navigates a crush on her friend’s mom. A young witch turns herself into a puppy to win over a new neighbor. A trans girl empowers her online bestie to come out.
From wind-breathing dragons to first crushes, This Is Our Rainbow features story after story of joyful, proud LGBTQIA+ representation. You will fall in love with this insightful, poignant anthology of queer fantasy, historical, and contemporary stories from authors including: Eric Bell, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Ashley Herring Blake, Lisa Bunker, Alex Gino, Justina Ireland, Shing Yin Khor, Katherine Locke, Mariama J. Lockington, Nicole Melleby, Marieke Nijkamp, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro, Molly Knox Ostertag, Aisa Salazar, and AJ Sass.
