To so many parents I meet I always ask “how do you inspire and educate your children to be open minded?” It’s a trick question really as all children are open minded. It’s the information we give them that shapes their minds and beliefs. One amazing way to do this is with books, but that’s not always as easy as we want. Walking into most high street book shops you can be overwhelmed when you see the children’s section, at least my sister and I were. We wanted to see how easy it was to find books on diversity, inclusion, race, sexuality and general books to inspire those little peop ..read more

by @BookishBlue_ Book Review This is probably going to be the hardest book review that I have ever written. Loveless by Alice Oseman is a book that I have been waiting for for a very long time. And in one way, it was everything that I had been excited for, which is why this book is a four star read for me, but, unfortunately, it is also a book that had a lot of issues and that if the ace rep hadn’t been so perfect for me, this book probably would have struggled to be given three stars from me. I want to promote this book to you but I also want you to be pr ..read more

by @BookishBlue_ Book Review Boy Queen is an inspiring, entertaining and heart-warming story that I have fallen in love with. I adored Robin so much and witnessing his journey in this book was just incredible. It is a definitely a coming-of-age book where the main protagonist learns more about himself and by the end of the book truly learns who he is and who he wants to be. The kind of feeling that we all aim for in life. Sure, he may still have more to learn about himself but for right now, he knows that he’s going to be okay.  Robin has always wanted to be an actor. He ..read more

Every February, people all around the world come together to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month. This is a time for us to reflect on our past and honour the generations of brave individuals who came before us, from activists to allies, who have made it possible for us to live openly and authentically today. Reading can be an important part of this engagement, allowing us to further understand our history and what it means for our present. Why Read During LGBTQ+ History Month? Reading is one of the best ways we can learn more about our history as a community. It allows us to engage with stories tha ..read more

by Grey Marlow Working at Queer Lit has shown me that independent bookshops are more important than ever, they are not just a bookshop but a community hub. Bookshops offer a space for people of different backgrounds to come together. For many of us, the lockdowns meant we turned to books as a place to hide away in but reading can be solitary without people to talk about the worlds you find yourself lost in. After such isolation, the bookshop is a place where people come together, give each other recommendations or join in with each other’s conversations. Often, we will see the beginn ..read more

Straight and cisgender history is taught in every classroom across the country and that leaves so many people’s stories ignored or silenced. Queer history teachers are teaching a history that doesn’t represent them. While more teachers are now comfortable being openly LGBTQ+ in schools, the syllabus has not largely changed to reflect this. This means students are often left to advocate for themselves to create pride clubs and this often happens only if there are supportive LGBTQ+ staff or dedicated allies. It is important for LGBT+ people to see themselves reflected in history and for our alli ..read more

We are having the wrong conversations about trans people. This is the crystal clear, monumental, and defining message of Shon Faye's new book, The Transgender Issue. Faye's work signals the birth of a new, healthier conversation about trans people. By making redundant the incessant reduction of trans people's humanity to headline fodder, The Transgender Issue is a manifesto for change, which succinctly, smartly, and with heartfelt candour, calls for the long-deserved justice for trans people. Despite making up less than one per cent of Britain's population, trans people are constantly subjecte ..read more

Saturday mornings as a kid were always spent in a bookshop. Dad ran errands, I tagged along, and then afterwards as a treat it was on to collect a new read. Tucked away, between shoe and card shops respectively, the shop was dark green on the outside and open brick walled on the inside. It had wiry green carpets, paled and thready beside the shelves with footfall. There were hand-drawn cards in the window advertising local authors signings and upcoming releases. It had a delicious smell; new paper and wafts of fresh coffee from the steaming mug next to the cashier. It was manned always by one ..read more

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Review by author Jayme Bean. The Bone Gate is an action-packed emotional roller coaster of a book, and a phenomenal follow-up and sequel to Lesser Known Monsters. All in all, Rory Michaelson’s storytelling shines in The Bone Gate. Continuing to follow the main character, Oscar, we get a taste for what the world has been like since he and his friends saved the world and closed the world parallax. Like Lesser Known Monsters, The Bone Gate takes us deeper into the imaginative and unique world Michaelson has created. Riveting action, tender and wholesome moments, hilarious dialogue, and ..read more