SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2023/06/pride-month-special-with-aj-sass.html

It's June and that means LGBTQ+ Pride Month, the perfect time to talk to author A.J. Sass. Andrew Sass is known for writing middle grade books featuring respectful portrayals of trans and nonbinary characters, with neurodivergent and casual Jewish representation included as well. I was excited to talk with them about a few books: debut novel Ana on the Edge from 2020, Ellen Outside the Lines, which was a 2023 Sydney Taylor Honor Book, and the new Camp QUILTBAG, co-written with Nicole Melleby. I thoroughly enjoyed all of these thoughtful, funny, and heartfelt books.

Over half of the books currently being challenged by bigoted extremists are targeted for their LGBTQ+ content. In support of the queer Jewish community, for Pride Month I will post an LGBTQ+ Jewish kidlit title each day in June on The Book of Life's Facebook page at Facebook.com/Bookoflifepodcast. It should go without saying that gender identity and/or age appropriate sexual content does not automatically equal porn or obscenity. Children and teens are human beings who have bodies and experience age-appropriate sexual feelings, and sometimes they need books that will help them understand their bodies and feelings more fully. Queer books save lives, and I'll be proud to share with you excellent examples of queer Jewish representation all month long.

LEARN MORE:

• Visit A.J. Sass's website, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram (look for skating videos here!)
• Buy Ana on the Edge, Ellen Outside the Lines, and Camp QUILTBAG
• Forthcoming work Just Shy of Ordinary,  On All Other Nights, and Shabbat Is...
• Tikkun Olam suggestion: Fight censorship!  Buy banned books, request them and borrow them from your library, write letters to the editor, call your representatives, and attend library/school board meetings.
• Daily LGBTQ+ Jewish reading recommendations from The Book of Life, June 2023

ANDREW'S READING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BOOKS WITH NON-CISGENDER CHARACTERS   Young Adult (these all have Jewish representation)

• A Million Quiet Revolutions by Robin Gow
• When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb [Book of Life guest January 2023]
• Camp by L.C. Rosen

Middle Grade (these mostly don't have Jewish representation)

• The Best Liars in Riverview and The House That Whispers by Lin Thompson
• Too Bright to See, Different Kinds of Fruit, and really anything by Kyle Lukoff
• Moonflower by Kacen Callender
• Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston by Esme Symes-Smith
• Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart (has some casual Jewish representation)

Visit the SHOW NOTES to find a transcript and more!