Kindred: 12 Queer #LoveOzYA Stories
Age 14+
Short Stories Anthologies
Twelve of Australia’s best writers from the LGBTQ+ community are brought together in this ground-breaking collection of YA short stories.
What does it mean to be queer? What does it mean to be human? In this powerful #LoveOzYA collection, twelve of Australia’s finest writers from the LGBTQ+ community explore the stories of family, friends, lovers and strangers – the connections that form us. This inclusive and intersectional #OwnVoices anthology for teen readers features work from writers of diverse genders, sexualities and identities, including writers who identify as First Nations, people of colour or disabled. With short stories by bestsellers, award winners and newcomers to young adult fiction including Jax Jacki Brown, Claire G Coleman, Michael Earp, Alison Evans, Erin Gough, Benjamin Law, Omar Sakr, Christos Tsiolkas, Ellen van Neerven, Marlee Jane Ward, Jen Wilde and Nevo Zisin.
Creators
Michael Earp is a bookseller and the editor of Kindred: 12 Queer #LoveOzYA Stories. He has passionately worked with Children’s and YA books for more than 16 years. He has a degree in Early Childhood Education and a Masters in Children’s Literature. His writing has appeared in The Victorian Writer and Aurealis. He also established the #AusQueerYA tumblr to coincide with the #LoveOzYA campaign, of which he was previously the Committee Chair. www.michaelearp.net
Reviews
Kindred particularly excels at straddling the dichotomy of hardship versus hope that so often governs queer narratives… Overall, the collection is warm and heartfelt, highlighting the strength of friends, found family and community spaces.
Books+Publishing
Perfect to add to your pride month TBR, this anthology is heartwarming, simple and unapologetic. Whilst it’s important to uplift queer voices and stories, diversity in YA shows teens of all identities, experiences and livelihoods that the world is a diverse place. Normalising queer stories into mainstream media creates a similar effect in the real world. Hardships, difficulties and disconnectedness have been present in the queer experience, and the human experience, for a very long time. It is my hope that books, stories, and activism like this is the first step in moving away from this, to a world full of acceptance, positivity, and celebration.
Totally Books
This book is so powerful and a wonderful read. Each of the stories has a beautiful message that reminds us that our community is diverse within it’s diversity. Don’t be afraid to find your niche. To love who you love and try to understand those around you.
Lost in Literature
Each character had that same longing to be loved and accepted by the people around them that I did whether that’s platonically, romantically or in their relationships with family. Through each of these characters, though different to my own experience in the community, I still found a human connection in all of them and I hope other queer young adult readers can feel that seem connection with these stories that I did.
Pretty and Pretentious
This anthology is a must read and one that I wish I had when I was younger, but one I am glad is here now because at any age it’s wonderful to see this out in the world and be able to connect to it…There are funny moments, painful ones and poignant ones. I cannot recommend Kindred enough. All 12 of these writers contributed stories that are truly fantastic and it makes for a beautiful anthology.
Wild Heart Reads
