Books About Contemporary Teen Girls' Lives

The collection

1. Girls Like Girls

   Hayley Kiyoko

   Girls Like Girls is a tender, authentic coming-of-age romance that explores the complexities of first love, grief, and self-acceptance through the lens of a queer teenage girl's journey.

   For: Teen readers and adults looking for heartfelt, LGBTQIA+ representation in YA fiction will appreciate this debut novel.

   Strengths: Kiyoko's writing is emotive and relatable, capturing the struggles and triumphs of her protagonist, Coley, with sensitivity and nuance. The story's themes of vulnerability, trust, and embracing one's identity resonate deeply.

   Skip if: Some readers may find the pacing slow, as the narrative builds a rich, character-driven story at a deliberate pace.

   Comparable: Fans of Emma Scott, Becky Albertalli, and Julie Murphy's queer YA romances will enjoy Hayley Kiyoko's emotional and romantic debut.

   “If Hayley Kiyoko is lesbian Jesus, Girls Like Girls is the Bible.”

   Buy on Bookshop.org

2. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

   Erika L. Sánchez

   I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is a powerful coming-of-age story that delves into the complexities of identity, family, and cultural expectations, offering a timely and authentic voice for Latinx youth.

   For: Teen readers, especially those from immigrant backgrounds, will deeply resonate with Julia's struggles and find inspiration in her journey towards self-discovery.

   Strengths: The novel excels at crafting a relatable and multifaceted protagonist, and its nuanced exploration of grief, family dynamics, and the challenges of balancing heritage and individuality.

   Skip if: Some readers may find the heavy emotional weight and the dense, poetic prose challenging to navigate at times.

   Comparable: Fans of contemporary YA like The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian or Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe will appreciate I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter's similar themes of cultural identity, family, and the search for one's place in the world.

   “A timely and must-have account of survival in a culturally contested world.”

   Buy on Bookshop.org

3. This One Summer

   Jillian Tamaki

   This One Summer is a poignant and nuanced coming-of-age tale that captures the complexities of friendship, family, and self-discovery in the fleeting moments of summer

   For: Teenagers and young adults will resonate deeply with this relatable and beautifully illustrated graphic novel

   Strengths: The Tamaki cousins' collaborative storytelling and Jillian's lush, evocative artwork bring to life a vivid summer world, exploring themes of identity, love, and the bittersweet passage of time with sensitivity and depth

   Skip if: Some readers may find the pacing slow or the storylines secondary to the character development, but these are minor quibbles in an otherwise masterful work

   Comparable: Fans of Raina Telgemeier's Smile and other graphic coming-of-age stories will appreciate the Tamakis' thoughtful exploration of the adolescent experience

   “A rare treasure of a book, like a summer caught and pressed between the pages.”

   Buy on Bookshop.org