#Leah Johnson

[ikuneko]

My 4th read for Black History Month this year had me sobbing at 5am when I finished it. Ellie Engle Saves Herself! by Leah Johnson

I knew when I read the dedication that this book was going to make me cry, but I didn't realize what a gut punch the Author's Note was going to be at the end.

This book was a spectacularly beautiful story about the importance of stepping out of the shadows and making yourself known, even if it can be uncomfortable. A highly recommended read for all ages.

[lgbtqreads]

Happy Black History Month 2025!

Happy Black History Month! Like the other eleven months, it’s an excellent time to buy queer books by Black authors! For even more recs, check out previous years’ posts! Middle Grade Camp Twisted Pine by Ciera Burch Eleven-year-old Naomi loves all things outdoors—birds and beetles, bats and bunnies—in theory. She explores nature in the best possible way: the cold, hard facts in books. So when her…

[slaughter-books]

Day 8: JOMPBPC: Set In Fall

I didn't know what to do for this promot, so instead I chose to spell out the word Fall, using the names of authors! 💚

[lakecountylibrary]

It's Banned Books Week! Indiana made it on to PBS News last month. Guess why!

The video at the link is captioned and has a full text transcript. No paywall. It discusses a censorship bill passed in Indiana last year (2023).

A few salient highlights:

Leah Johnson: (Indiana author, You Should See Me in a Crown) It's not about the removal of books from shelves. It's about the removal of queer people from public life. It's about making queer people ashamed and afraid and driving them back into the closet.

Max: (Indiana teen) The first book that I read wasn't the reason I realized I was trans. It was just nice to see once I realized that, and I see that represented a book. So now that it's not being represented, it might be harder for people to realize or even just feel safe in their own identity, and that's my concern.

Jim Tomes: (Republican Indiana State Senator, co-author of the bill in question) Well, maybe they should worry. [...] Maybe it should have the chilling effect [...] I will say this, if you're defending these libraries and these books, you're on the wrong side of things.

-- The bill being discussed in this video went into effect last year after a drawn-out fight in the Indiana legislature. We wrote about the fight here. (Scroll down for the reblog with the final update)

We expect next year's legislative session to go further, introducing harsher restrictions and targeting public libraries and librarians in addition to schools and teachers. Keep an ear to the ground if you're in Indiana - your library may need your help in 2025.

Incidentally, and totally unrelated, have you checked your voter registration lately? Local elections matter!

[the-final-sentence]

She might just be the bravest girl on the whole west side of Indianapolis.

Leah Johnson, from "Brave"

[fourdiagnosesinatrenchcoat]

Ok we've had a summer with a range of gay male romances, created oddly enough by people who are not gay men.

WHEN is Hot Lesbian Summer or Ineffable Wives Summer or even just Sweet and Largely Chaste Lesbian Summer? It's like we got But I'm a Cheerleader and Hollywood decided that was enough. (Meanwhile Jamie Babbitt is RIGHT HERE working on OMITB)

Can we PLEASE get a You Should See Me in a Crown movie? Or a series of Alexandria Bellefleur's Seattle books? Or let's go historical with Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics?

Where are the sapphic adaptations??

[authorsshipzutara]

Leah Johnson ships Zutara.

Explore her works on GoodReads and StoryGraph.

Website: https://www.byleahjohnson.com/

[blackqueernotables]

Leah Johnson: editor, educator, and author

[rasheednewsonauthor]

My deepest thanks to Kenn Hunn, Loudmouth Books, Leah Johnson, and Indiana Humanities for letting me part of the first Backyard Summer Reading Series! I had so much fun, and I got a little teary seeing old friends again.

If you couldn’t attend this one, catch the next one!

Oh, and there a few signed copies of “My Government Means to Kill Me” now on the shelves at Loudmouth Books!

[sapphic-comics]

sapphic books read in 2023 [2/?]: rise to the sun by leah johnson

> "What good is the music if you don’t get to share it with the person who makes you want to sing in the first place?"

[haveyoureadthismgyabook]

[lgbtqreads]

Happy Black History Month 2024!

Happy Black History Month! Like the other eleven months, it’s an excellent time to buy queer books by Black authors! For even more recs, check out previous years’ posts! Books to Read Now Alex Wise vs. the End of the World by Terry J. Benton-Walker Alex Wise feels like his world is ending. His best friend, Loren, is leaving town for the summer, his former friend and maybe sort of crush Sky hasn’t…

[slaughter-books]

Day 16: JOMPBPC: Anti-Oppression

[sapphic-book-tournament]

[the-final-sentence]

This time, it feels like the beginning of something extraordinary.

Leah Johnson, from Ellie Engle Saves Herself