Friday 28 March 2014

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LGBT Reading Challenge Discussion: LGBT YA Covers

This week I signed up to the LGBT Reading Challenge, hosted by Cayce of Fighting Dreamer. One of the cool things about this challenge is there are discussion topics each month, and March's discussion is on LGBT YA covers.

I don't pay any more particular attention to LGBTQ covers than I do for covers of other books. I don't necessarily need a cover of an LGBTQ book to shout out, "This is an LGBTQ book!" I don't think it's particularly necessary for the cover - or title, for that matter - to differentiate from other books by saying it's an LGBTQ novel (unless people are specifically looking for LGBTQ novels, in which case... I don't know.).

Of the LGBTQ novels I've read, here are my favourite covers - because they're all eye-catching! (Golden Boy is published as an adult book, but it's about a teenager, so I consider it cross over, and I'm including it.)

Coda by Emma Trevayne

Coda by Emma Trevayne

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth

Ash by Malinda Lo

Ash by Malinda Lo

Quicksilver by R. J. Anderson

Quicksilver by R. J. Anderson

Every Day by David Levithan

Every Day by David Levithan

Far From You by Tess Sharpe

Far From You by Tess Sharpe

Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin

Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin

The Summer I Wasn't Me by Jessica Verdi

The Summer I Wasn't Me by Jessica Verdi

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

I know this last book doesn't fit in with what I said at the beginning about it not being necessary for LGBTQ novels to have a cover or title that says it's an LGBTQ novel, but for Two Boys Kissing, it's important. It's making a statement, or rather the story is about two gay teens making a statement, and it's important that the cover - especially with the title it has - reflects that. I think it's bold and brave, and highly important. I'm not sure we would have seen a cover or title like this perhaps even ten years ago. It shows how far we've come, and I love that! :)

I think I've shown enough covers for one post, but I'm not particularly keen on the new UK covers for David Levithan's novels from Egmont. They're not the kind of covers that would have me picking up a book, LGBTQ or not. I think they're a little on the plain side. Not that eye-catching, except for the colours. I think you should be able to say more about a cover than that the background colour is bold.

How about you? What are your favourite covers?

In July 2013, I held LGBTQ YA Month. Check it out.

8 comments:

  1. Great post! My favorites are the same as yours: The Miseducation of Cameron Post, Two Boys Kissing, and The Summer I Wasn't Me. I also love the cover for Far From You, which I don't think I've seen before. One you didn't list that I love is Beautiful Music for Ugly Children.

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    1. They are awesome covers, right? Love them! I've not seen Beautiful Music for Ugly Children, I'll have to look it up!

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  2. Coda!!! <333 that cover.
    And I also love the cover of The Summer I Wasn't Me, Far From You (especially the gif version) and while I'm normally not one for kissing covers I really like Two Boys Kissing too :) And yeah, those new covers are pretty meh~

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    1. Coda's cover is amazing! I've not seen the gif version of Far From You, but I'm sure it's beautiful! Yeah, not a fan of Levithan's UK cover :/

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    2. I can't seem to find any cover reveal posts, but you can see the gif cover here: http://booksandwritersjnr.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/book-review-far-from-you-by-tess-sharpe/

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    3. Aww, that's really beautiful! :) Thanks for the link!

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  3. I love the cover for Far From You. It's one of my favourite ever books. I also love A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner...

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    1. I've not read that, nor do I remember the cover well... title is a sign of lights? Is there a trailer? I do love the cover of Far From You, and such an awesome story!

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