Alabama67 visited the Bessemer Public Library on Saturday, September 5, 2026.
The following books promoting transgender ideology were found in both the Juvenile and Young Adults sections.
Book Pictures
Book Titles and Descriptions
| Every Day – David Levithan A is a consciousness that wakes each day in the body of a different 16-year-old. A has no permanent body or gender identity and inhabits male and female bodies. The novel explores gender, identity, sexuality, and the distinction between physical body and personal identity. Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston – Esme Symes-Smith Callie is a 12-year-old nonbinary child who dreams of becoming a knight in a society divided by traditional expectations for boys and girls. The story explicitly addresses being nonbinary, pronouns, gender roles, acceptance, and pressure to conform. Flight of the Puffin – Ann Braden Four middle-school students become connected through messages and acts of kindness. One character, Vincent, encounters T, a nonbinary homeless teenager, while dealing with bullying and questions surrounding gender identity. The book addresses transgender and nonbinary identity, acceptance, bullying, homelessness, and supportive friendships. Salt the Water – Candice Iloh Gene is a 17-year-old nonbinary Black teenager who drops out of high school after a conflict with a teacher and dreams of living off the grid with their nonbinary friends. The novel explores nonbinary identity, queer identity, self-expression, family, friendship, independence, and resistance to social expectations. Jude Saves the World – Ronnie Riley Jude is a 12-year-old nonbinary child who is already out to their mother and best friend but has not come out to their old-fashioned grandparents. After becoming friends with Stevie, whose acceptance of Jude is important to them, Jude gains the courage to create a queer safe space in their community. The Wicked Bargain – Gabe Cole Novoa Mar León de la Rosa is a 16-year-old transmasculine, nonbinary pirate and child of a powerful witch. Their gender identity is central to the fantasy adventure, which combines pirates, magic, romance, and rebellion with themes of gender identity and self-acceptance. Melissa (formerly published as George) – Alex Gino Melissa is a transgender girl who has been living as George because others believe she is a boy. She wants to play Charlotte in Charlotte’s Web and eventually tells her best friend she is a girl. The story focuses on transgender identity, coming out, pronouns, and acceptance. Girl Mans Up – M-E Girard Pen is a teenage girl who dresses and behaves in traditionally masculine ways and is attracted to girls. She faces pressure to behave more femininely. The story focuses on gender expression, sexual orientation, and traditional gender expectations. Pen is not presented as transgender. Rick – Alex Gino Rick is an 11-year-old middle-school boy who begins questioning his sexuality after joining the Rainbow Spectrum club. Through friendships with LGBTQ students, including Melissa, a transgender girl, he learns about different sexual orientations, gender identities, and pronouns while coming to understand that he is asexual and aromantic. Alice Austen Lived Here – Alex Gino Sam is a nonbinary middle-school student researching photographer Alice Austen for a school project. While learning about Austen’s life, Sam also explores queer history and their own identity. The story addresses nonbinary identity, pronouns, acceptance, and LGBTQ history. Queer as All Get Out: 10 People Who’ve Inspired Me – Shelby Criswell Shelby Criswell combines personal experiences as a genderqueer person with illustrated biographies of ten historical LGBTQ+ figures. The book explores queer history, gender and sexual identity, discrimination, activism, and the ways these figures influenced Criswell’s own understanding of identity and acceptance. Galaxy: The Prettiest Star – Jadzia Axelrod Taylor is actually Galaxy, a transgender alien princess living on Earth disguised as a human boy for her safety. She eventually begins reclaiming her identity and presenting as a girl. The science-fiction story centers on transgender identity, gender expression, self-discovery, acceptance, and being able to live openly as oneself. Acting the Part – Z.R. Ellor The novel follows a transgender teenager involved in high-school theater while navigating relationships, family expectations, and school. The protagonist’s transgender identity is central to the story, which explores gender identity, coming out, acceptance, and the challenges of being a transgender adolescent. My Gender, My Rules! – Andy Passchier This children’s book introduces gender identity and gender expression. It discusses boys, girls, nonbinary identities, pronouns, clothing, hair, and other forms of expression. It presents gender as something people can define for themselves and introduces transgender and nonbinary concepts for young readers. Being You: A First Conversation About Gender – Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli This children’s book introduces gender identity, gender expression, pronouns, and gender stereotypes. It explains that sex is commonly assigned at birth and that gender identity may differ from that assignment. It discusses boys, girls, nonbinary identities, and different forms of gender expression. |