Each year, the American Library Association (ALA) releases their Rainbow Book List to showcase “quality LGBTQIA+ literature intended for readers from birth to age 18.” The 2021 edition features 130 “of the best LGBTQIA+ titles published in the USA & Canada.”

In the young adult (YA) fiction category, books by two Bella authors were included on this prestigious list–Amy Briant’s post-apocalyptic thriller The Book of Kell and M. B. Guel’s teen rom-com Queerleaders. 

ALA’s Rainbow Book List is an outstanding resource for LGBTQIA+ youth, their parents and allies, librarians, and anyone looking for that next great book to read. In addition to YA fiction, the categories are picture books, juvenile and middle grade fiction and non-fiction, YA non-fiction, graphic fiction and manga. The ALA is also the organization behind the Newberry Awards, the Caldecott Medal and the Stonewall Book Awards to name just a few.

Both authors were understandably ecstatic at the news. M. B. tweeted, “I am so honored that Queerleaders made the list! I wish I could tell high school me about this, but people (especially young people) telling me how they related to the book is even better.”

Amy’s reaction was, “It’s great when friends and family love your book, amazing when readers do, but LIBRARIANS?! That’s a whole ‘nother level, people. Particularly for those of us who whiled away so many happy hours in the library during our formative years.”

For more info on both of these authors and their books, you’ll find them on Twitter at @AuthorAmyBriant and @BootsNCatz.