Set against backgrounds as diverse as Iran in the 1990s and the glamor of a Hollywood movie set, the following novels explore the blurring lines of sexuality. These poignant stories capture the teen protagonists’ coming-of-age, budding romances, and their absolute acceptance of their true selves.

Anonymous. The Book of David. 288p. S. & S./Simon Pulse. Jun. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781442489868; pap. $9.99. ISBN 9781442489851; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9781442489875.

Gr 9 Up –Growing up in the Midwest where football is king six days a week and church reigns on the seventh, David has it all as a star quarterback. He has a pretty cheerleader girlfriend and a best friend, Tyler, who also plays football. Life is sweet for David, until he meets the new kid at school, Jon, and Tyler gets seriously injured, putting him out for the season. David’s stardom rises with a streak of winning games that attract the attention of college scouts and media. Tyler becomes bitter, and David forms a friendship with Jon. Through his senior English class journal, David struggles with feelings for his new friend that he doesn’t know how to interpret. Jon evokes something in him like no one else has before, including his girlfriend. The narrative gives readers realistic insight into the often heartbreaking and confusing world of sexual identity and acceptance. David knows that by accepting that he is in love with Jon, he will seriously damage his relationship with friends, family, and the greater community. A list of resources for LGBTQ youth is included. This compelling story is good for young adults who are quietly struggling with their own sexual identity and need to know they are not alone.–Mindy Whipple, West Jordan Library, UT

Barakiva, Michael. One Man Guy. 272p. Farrar. May 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780374356453; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9780374356460.

Gr 6-10 –Fourteen-year-old Alek Khederian is horrified when his parents announce that he will be going to summer school in order to get him on the Honors track. This change of plans means no relaxation, no time with friends, no tennis camp, and no family vacation. He starts summer school grudgingly, only to have his spirits lifted when he meets Ethan, who is different from anyone Alek has ever known, and Alek is shocked when Ethan wants to be friends. Before long, their friendship deepens into a romance Alek definitely didn’t see coming. The events in this coming-of-age novel move a little too quickly to be fully realized, and some of the secondary characters are two-dimensional. However, Alek’s character is well developed. He’s a likable teen who remains true to himself throughout; he stands up for what he believes in, even if it means upsetting the people he cares about. The story will appeal to both young people who are just discovering their own sexuality and readers who enjoy a good budding romance.–Sarah Allen, Judson High School, Converse, TX

Carter, Caela. My Best Friend, Maybe. 304p. Bloomsbury. Jun. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781599909707; ebk. $17.99. ISBN 9781619632356.

Gr 10 Up –Colette and Sadie are former best friends who have not spoken in three years. Out of the blue, Sadie invites Colette to go with her family to Greece. The protagonist is supposed to go to Costa Rica with her boyfriend and members of his church but agrees to go change plans and go with her former friend—a decision made out of a mix of curiosity and feeling like Sadie’s invitation is a challenge. Once in Greece, the girls try to set aside their complicated history. They revert to their childhood traditions of playing cards, swimming, and sharing old jokes. But pretending everything is fine is difficult, and Colette starts needling Sadie for answers about their falling out and why she really asked her on this trip. The answers are slow to come, and when the she hears them, they shake her world. Once the secrets are revealed, the teens fully begin to understand the years of hurt they caused one another. Their messy and complex friendship is a realistic look at the ways relationships can change and wither. The narrator’s quest to be who she needs to be (not who her demanding mother, her virtuous boyfriend, or duplicitous Sadie need her to be) and Sadie’s tentative steps toward honesty are poignant. Stunning descriptions of Greece and a small cast of well-developed secondary characters round out this affecting story about identity. Suggest this one to readers looking for an introspective take on the intricacies of friendship.–Amanda MacGregor, formerly at Apollo High School Library, St. Cloud, MN

ELLIS, Deborah. Moon at Nine. 240p. Pajama Pr. 2014. Tr $19.95. ISBN 9781927485576. LC 20139073000.

Gr 9 Up –The daughter of wealthy Iranian parents, 15-year-old Farrin earns top scores at a prestigious school in 1988 Tehran. Her parents remain loyal to the ousted Shah, so Farrin knows the importance of keeping a low profile. One day, Farrin meets a new classmate, Sadira, who plays forbidden music on a prohibited instrument in a closet at school. Farrin and Sadira become fast friends who enjoy subversive literature and music despite the tough restrictions imposed by the Iranian government. Before long, Farrin and Sadira’s friendship morphs into a romantic relationship, for which both girls could face death. Set during the reign of Ayatollah Khomeini, this title is based on real women who fell in love in a country where homosexuality is still against the law. Sparse and eloquently written, this short historical novel is both beautiful and heartbreaking. The subject matter and writing style will appeal most to older teens and adults who likely have a better understanding of the political history of Iran. Sadira and Farrin’s relationship is believable, as is the girls’ undying determination to stay together at all costs. While sexuality is important to the plot, the book is relatively tame, containing no profanity and nothing beyond hand-holding and a few kisses. A four-page Author’s Note provides necessary historical background and insight into worldwide persecution of homosexuals today. Give this to fans of Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns (Riverhead, 2007) or Latifa’s My Forbidden Face (Miramax, 2002).–Leigh Collazo, Ed Willkie Middle School, Fort Worth, TX

LaCour, Nina. Everything Leads to You. 320p. Dutton. May 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780525425885; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9781101593509.

Gr 9 Up –Eighteen-year-old production design intern Emi is getting over her first love and trying to establish her place in the Los Angeles film industry. Set primarily during the summer before her freshman year of college, Emi spends days designing sets for a blockbuster, and, later, a low-budget indie film (complicated by the presence of her ex, also working on both films). When she and her best friend Charlotte find a letter hidden in the possessions of a recently deceased Hollywood film legend at an estate sale, they begin searching for its intended recipient. Eventually that leads to Ava, a beautiful teen to whom Emi is immediately attracted. As Emi and Charlotte discover more about Ava’s mysterious background and prop-hunt in thrift stores, Emi and Ava grow closer. Their relationship proves to be a slow build, but teens will root for its success and relate to the novel’s universal themes of love and loss. Readers interested in film production will likely enjoy this one, and though set in L.A., it provides a more realistic depiction of the gap between the city’s rich and poor—Emi’s parents are college professors; Ava and her best friend live in a shelter for homeless teens—rather than focusing on the extravagant glamour of Hollywood. This one is highly enjoyable and highly recommended.–Amanda Mastrull, Library Journal

Peters, Julie Anne. Lies My Girlfriend Told Me. 246p. Little, Brown. Jun. 2014. Tr $18. ISBN 9780316234979; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9780316234948.

Gr 9 Up –Alix’s world is turned upside down after falling for popular and confident Swanee, so much so that ditching her friends and playing by her love’s rules seems almost too easy. When her mom breaks the news that Swanee has suddenly died of an unexpected cardiac arrest, Alix has a hard time accepting that her vivacious and seductive girlfriend is really gone. In Peters’s newest offering, questions of love and honesty abound. After Alix gets ahold of Swanee’s cell phone, she discovers texts revealing that Swanee had been carrying on an affair with another girl. To find out more about the mysterious L.T., she sends her a message, pretending to be Swanee, before ultimately tracking her down and giving her the news of Swanee’s death. Alix finds out her name, Lianna, and that they share more than just a girlfriend in common. They begin spending more and more time together, and despite her best intentions, and the fact that she’s falling hard for her, Alix can’t bring herself to tell Lianna that she had sent the texts pretending to be Swanee. This dilemma, which naturally resolves itself into a happy high school love affair, is the largest conflict in the plot. Questions about Swanee’s controlling nature arise, as do the effect her neglectful parents had on her and her sister, but the majority of the book leaves readers with what is largely a love story with a small mystery thrown in. The book does not focus on sexuality, and it’s a pleasure to read a typical teen romance that just happens to be between two girls. Romance fans of any persuasion will be swept up in this slow-paced but ultimately sweet story.–Joanna Sondheim, Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, New York City

Ribar, Lindsay. The Fourth Wish. 368p. (The Art of Wishing: Bk. 2). Penguin/Kathy Dawson Bks. Aug. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780803738287; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9781101635407. LC 2013038555.

Gr 9 Up –After taking a fourth wish from her genie-turned-boyfriend Oliver in order to save his life, Margo McKenna has become a genie herself. Picking up right from where The Art of Wishing (Dial, 2013) left off, Margo’s first order of business is to find Oliver—until she feels the call of her first master, the school jerk, Ryan Weiss. Margo learns the ropes of geniehood, including how to navigate wishes that affect her BFF Naomi, a whole new body, Oliver’s whole new body, and how to control her magic, all while still trying to live out her old teenage human life. Throw in romance and drama, and The Fourth Wish is smoothed into a nearly realistic YA fantasy novel. Ribar has delivered fans a fun romantic read with some deliciously exciting paranormal elements (shape-shifting anyone?) while casually tackling bisexuality, consent, and the importance of balancing power with humanity. A strong sequel.–Emily Moore, Camden County Library System, NJ