By Jamie Brian
Patsy by Nicole Dennis-Benn
Patsy is a young single mother living in Jamaica with her five-year-old daughter and mother. She works a minimum wage job to support her family but dreams of moving to America to reunite with Cicely, her friend and former lover. Patsy leaves her daughter and mother behind with the hope of loving who she chooses in America. However, when she arrives in Brooklyn, Patsy discovers that America is not as perfect as Cicely had described in her letters. Cicely is living as an undocumented immigrant and working as a bathroom attendant to survive. Meanwhile, Patsy’s daughter, Tru, struggles with questions about her own sexuality. This is a novel about identity, family, and the choices that define us.
Asylum by Edafe Okporo
This memoir recalls immigration rights activist Edafe Okporo’s experience as a gay man fleeing Nigeria and seeking asylum in the United States. After escaping a mob that threatened his life, Okporo arrived in America in 2016, just days before the contentious presidential election. He then spent six months in an immigration detention facility in New Jersey while navigating the U.S. immigration system. Once released from the facility, Okporo was faced with an even greater challenge: building a life for himself as a Black, gay immigrant. He calls for immigration reform and envisions a society in which refugees and immigrants are treated with fairness and compassion.
The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen
The Magic Fish is a semi-autobiographical YA graphic novel about Tiến, a Vietnamese American boy who confronts his sexual identity through fairy tales. Tiến’s favorite place is the local library, where he finds solace in stories. However, Tiến has a secret that he’s been hiding from his friends and family: he’s gay, and he can’t find the words to describe his experiences. The Magic Fish is a coming-of-age tale that is accessible to readers of all ages. It also has an empowering message: we all can have happy endings no matter who we are or what we’re going through.
We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir by Samra Habib
As a queer Ahmadi Muslim who grew up in Pakistan, Samra Habib never felt safe enough to be herself. Her parents told her that revealing her sexual identity would be too dangerous, and Islamic extremists threatened her family because of their religious beliefs. Habib becomes a refugee in Canada, where she is faced with new challenges: an arranged marriage, racism, and poverty. Through art, faith, and love, Habib learns how to be true to herself in a world that has always made her feel out of place.
Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American by Laura Gao
Messy Roots is a coming-of-age graphic memoir about a girl who grapples with culture shock and identity after leaving her home in Wuhan, China to reunite with family in Texas. Laura Gao recalls her childhood in Texas and how she struggled to fit in both as a Chinese American and as a queer woman. Through humor and insightful reflection, Gao takes readers on a journey through high school hallways, basketball courts, and the streets of her hometown as she learns to become more comfortable in her own skin.