Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

Use this space to discuss books you're reading or that might fit the 21st Read Harder task.

If you are totally lost, this might get you started:

Spell on Wheels by Kate Leth
The Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag
Nimona and Lumberjanes #1 by Noelle Stevenson
Phonogram, Vol. 1: Rue Britannia or The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 1: The Faust Act by Kieron Gillen
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Vol. 1: The Crucible by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
and a million different books by Phil Jimenez

Thanks! I have lumberjanes already so will defo be reading that.

Manhunter, Vol. 1: Street Justice
Archie Meets Glee

Any of Alison Bechdel’s books will work for this task. I think I’m finally going to cross Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic off my list for this one; I even own a copy already!

Kieron Gillen has written some excellent Marvel and Star Wars comics. I would have picked one of them, but I've read pretty much everything he's written in those areas.

If you are interested in comics by trans or non-binary creators, check out:

Kim & Kim Vol. 1 by Magdalene Visaggio
Wet Moon Vol. 1: Feeble Wanderings by Sophie Campbell
As the Crow Flies by Melanie Gillman
A + E 4ever by I. Merey
Queer: A Graphic History by Meg-John Barker

Some collections
(not positive if they include trans or non-binary creators)
No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics
Beyond: the Queer Sci-Fi & Fantasy Comic Anthology

Nimona has my highest recommendation. What a funny, warm, deeply tender book. I also enjoyed As the Crow Flies a great deal.

I loved Strong Female Protagonist. Book One, so I think I'll pick up The Witch Boy, also by Molly Ostertag.

If you like superheroes, Roxane Gay's Black Panther: World of Wakanda will work.

I strongly recommend Nimona and Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy! I read both this year and they're wonderful. I could gush forever about Nimona especially. I'm doing Lumberjanes, Vol. 2: Friendship to the Max for this task since I enjoyed the first one and it's free to read with Kindle Unlimited.

Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me works for this prompt and also deals with a lot of mental health stuff.

Nimona is on sale today for e-readers.

America, Vol. 1: The Life and Times of America Chavez
As the Crow Flies
Beyond: the Queer Sci-Fi & Fantasy Comic Anthology

I'm not into comics, but maybe I'll give Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy a shot.

Stina wrote: "I'm not into comics, but maybe I'll give Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy a shot."

You and me both, but this is free so I can work with that. Thank you.

Great ideas so far -- I'll add My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness and My Brother's Husband, Volume 1

Both are also manga, so you can use them for task 11 too.

I have Julia Kaye's Super Late Bloomer: My Early Days in Transition in my home library waiting to be read.

Any suggestions for a comic in this category for elementary and middle school readers?

I'm part way through a couple of graphic novels by Lucy Knisley (Relish and Something New) and discovered that she identifies as bisexual. Her work tends to be autobiographical and she's got several titles to choose from.

Therese wrote: "Stina wrote: "I'm not into comics, but maybe I'll give Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy a shot."

You and me both, but this is free so I can work with that. Thank you."

Lumberjanes is so fun! I'm looking forward to reading Lumberjanes: The Infernal Compass this year.

I have read The Tea Dragon Society for this challenge. It was beautiful and has a great lesson.

Does anyone know if Jen Wang, the author of The Prince and the Dressmaker, is LGBTQ+? I've read a couple interviews with her & I think she is, but I haven't seen it explicitly stated.

Hi Theresa! Ive been trying to find this out myself . Finally, looking on yapride.org, it appears she is.

Candace wrote: "Hi Theresa! Ive been trying to find this out myself . Finally, looking on yapride.org, it appears she is."

Thank you!

Happy to see so much Nimona love, which I read this year. It's cute and fun.

This year I'm planning to read Bingo Love for this part of the challenge.

Yuna wrote: "Happy to see so much Nimona love, which I read this year. It's cute and fun.

This year I'm planning to read Bingo Love for this part of the challenge."

I read it as part of my challenge last year. It's fantastic!

I would highly recommendRock and Riot by Chelsey Furendi - cute 1950's gang v gang chock full of LGBT characters - and Sharp Zero: Phase 1 by robotsharks - superhero/fantasy/religion with gay protagonist, and many other lgbt characters, author is non-binary

Hi there! I'm compiling lists of everyone's suggestions for the challenges in case that's easier for people (I know it is for me!) c:

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

You can't go wrong with anything from Mariko Tamaki.

Lucia wrote: "Hi there! I'm compiling lists of everyone's suggestions for the challenges in case that's easier for people (I know it is for me!) c:

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1......"

Thank you!

For Fans of V.E. Schwab and her series A Darker Shade of Magic, she has a comic series and identifies as bi: Shades of Magic Vol. 1: The Steel Prince

Angie wrote: "Any suggestions for a comic in this category for elementary and middle school readers?"

Lumberjanes, The Tea Dragon Society, and Aquicorn Cove are all elementary/middle grade friendly.

Princess Princess Ever After, which is by the same author as The Tea Dragon Society and Aquicorn Cove, is as well.

I haven’t read Witch Boy or Space Battle Lunchtime Vol. 1: Lights, Camera, Snacktion but I’ve heard those are both appropriate for all ages.

Taproot: A Story About A Gardiner and a Ghost by Keezy Young is a charming and quirky paranormal love story.

Rebecca wrote: "For Fans of V.E. Schwab and her series A Darker Shade of Magic, she has a comic series and identifies as bi: Shades of Magic Vol. 1: The Steel Prince"

This looks good, I've been wanting to read this author, thanks for the suggestion!

When I saw Black Panther: World of Wakanda, I have decided to jump on the chance to read it!

Wakanda was always one of my favorite fictional countries, even years before the movie existed.

Does anyone know if Roz Chast who wrote Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant? is LGBTQIA? I want to read this and it could fit here or in humor book.

Roz Chast is married to a man and has children.

Karen wrote: "Does anyone know if Roz Chast who wrote Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant? is LGBTQIA? I want to read this and it could fit here or in humor book."

Honestly, I'm not sure it could count as humor, either. But I suppose technically it is.

A woman who is married to a man/has children with a man does not necessarily mean they aren’t LGBTQIA. Many bisexual/pansexual/trans/queer/intersex/asexual women are married to men and have children with men.

But specifically, in this case, I would say no, Roz Chast doesn’t fall under the LGBTQIA umbrella as there’s no information anywhere explicitly saying that she identifies as such.

I just finished reading M.F.K.: Book One; Magruder is ace, the oft-forgotten A of LGBTQIA. It's an enjoyable middle-grade secondary world fantasy story. I liked it, but it feels almost like a prologue, and I don't know that a second volume is forthcoming anytime soon.

Dana wrote: "Great ideas so far -- I'll add My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness and My Brother's Husband, Volume 1

Both are also manga, so you can use them for task 11 too."

Was just coming to see what people thought about My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness qualifying! Will give it a shot!

Angie wrote: "Any suggestions for a comic in this category for elementary and middle school readers?"

The Phoebe and Her Unicorn series by Dana Simpson should qualify.

I'm going to bend this category a little and instead of a single creator, am going for an anthology - "No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics". Another one that's long been on my list but never got to read until now.

I saw someone list Strong Female Protagonist but can’t find any information to confirm whether the author and/or artist identify with the LGBTQ community. Does anyone know?

Never mind! Strong Female Protagonist’s artist (Molly) is engaged to Noelle Stevenson of Nimona fame! What a talented couple!

layla wrote: "Angie wrote: "Any suggestions for a comic in this category for elementary and middle school readers?"

My daughter is aged 10 and we have read and enjoyed The Tea Dragon Society, Aquicorn Cove, Princess Princess Ever After, Witch Boy, and The Hidden Witch (Witch Boy sequel). We didn't even read them for a challenge or anything, she just likes graphic novels!

One caveat, Witch Boy and the Hidden Witch do have some people changing into a demon type thing that is somewhat scary.

Nimona and Lumberjanes #1 by Noelle Stevenson

I'm reading Bingo Love Vol. 1: Jackpot Edition by Tee Franklin.

Lumberjanes, Vol. 2: Friendship to the Max by Noelle Stevenson - The first volume was filled with awesome and I can't wait to see more!

Another person to add to the Nimona list. I've been wanting to get it for a while so this was immediately my first choice. Really looking forward to getting into the story.