Katherine Locke

Nicole Melleby

The first LGBTQA+ anthology for middle-graders featuring stories for every letter of the acronym, including realistic, fantasy, and sci-fi stories by authors like Justina Ireland, Marieke Nijkamp, Alex Gino, and more! A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former bully becomes a first-kiss prospect. One nonbinary kid searches for an inclusive athletic community after quitting gymnastics. Another nonbinary kid, who happens to be a pirate, makes a wish that comes true--but not how they thought it would. A tween girl navigates a crush on her friend's mom. A young witch turns herself into a puppy to win over a new neighbor. A trans girl empowers her online bestie to come out. From wind-breathing dragons to first crushes, This Is Our Rainbow features story after story of joyful, proud LGBTQA+ representation. You will fall in love with this insightful, poignant anthology of queer fantasy, historical, and contemporary stories from authors including: Eric Bell, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Ashley Herring Blake, Lisa Bunker, Alex Gino, Justina Ireland, Shing Yin Khor, Katherine Locke, Mariama J. Lockington, Nicole Melleby, Marieke Nijkamp, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro, Molly Knox Ostertag, Aisa Salazar, and AJ Sass.

16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us

This Is Our Rainbow

After adding up my rating for each of the stories, the average is about 3 stars with "Splinter & Ash" by Marieke  Nijkamp being my favorite at 5 stars and "Menudo Fan Club" by Aida Salazar being my least at 0 stars (sorry!). "Splinter & Ash" was so cozy and I would have loved to have read a whole book of the two and their dynamic together! "Menudo Fan Club" was really just not for me, I'm not a poetry fan and I just couldn't get into the story of it at all. 

I also really liked "Devon's Pod" (4.5 stars). I loved it being a story about friendship, and how a change in the dynamic can throw you off. Other 3.5+ star stories are: "The Makeover" by Shirin Yon Khor (4 stars), "Paper Planes" by Claribel A Ortega (3.5 stars), "Petra & Pearl" by Lisa Bunker (4 stars), "The Golem & The Mapmaker" by Molly Knox Ostertag (4 stars), and "Stacy's Mom" by Nicole Melleby (3.5 stars).

Ari Rose

After adding up my rating for each of the stories, the average is about 3 stars with "Splinter & Ash" by Marieke  Nijkamp being my favorite at 5 stars and "Menudo Fan Club" by Aida Salazar being my least at 0 stars (sorry!). "Splinter & Ash" was so cozy and I would have loved to have read a whole book of the two and their dynamic together! "Menudo Fan Club" was really just not for me, I'm not a poetry fan and I just couldn't get into the story of it at all. 

I also really liked "Devon's Pod" (4.5 stars). I loved it being a story about friendship, and how a change in the dynamic can throw you off. Other 3.5+ star stories are: "The Makeover" by Shirin Yon Khor (4 stars), "Paper Planes" by Claribel A Ortega (3.5 stars), "Petra & Pearl" by Lisa Bunker (4 stars), "The Golem & The Mapmaker" by Molly Knox Ostertag (4 stars), and "Stacy's Mom" by Nicole Melleby (3.5 stars).

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: This Is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us

Author: Eric Bell, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Ashley Herring Blake, Lisa Bunker, Alex Gino, Justina Ireland, Shing Yin Khor, Katherine Locke, Mariama J. Lockington, Nicole Melleby, Marieke Nijkamp, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro, Molly Knox Ostertag, Aisa Salazar, and AJ Sass

Book Series: Standalone

Diversity: Non binary MCs
Ace MC
Trans MC
Latinx lesbian MCs
Gay drag queen side character
Trans side characters
Black MC
Black Lesbian MCs
F/f romance
Mixed relationship
Neopronouns
Gay celiac MC
Black queer MC
Latinx side characters
MC with 2 moms
Side character with 2 dads
Bisexual side character
Lesbian MC

Rating: 5/5

Recommended For...: middle grade readers, contemporary, fantasy, sci-fi, poetry, anthology

Genre: Middle Grade anthology

Publication Date: October 19, 2021

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Pages: 288

Recommended Age: 10+ (Animal Death mentioned, Pronouns not respected, Grief, Domestic violence mentioned, Forced gendered notions, Homophobia, Slavery, Torture mentioned, Mentions of death by hanging, Bullying, Racism, Heartbreak, Religion mentioned, Parent death mentioned, Cancer mentioned)

Explanation of CWs: Animal death is the focus of one story, as is grief. Heartbreak is in a couple of stories. Slavery is shown and torture is mentioned. Bullying is shown in a few stories. Racism is shown in a couple of stories. Religion is mentioned and one church service is shown.

Synopsis: A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former bully becomes a first-kiss prospect. One nonbinary kid searches for an inclusive athletic community after quitting gymnastics. Another nonbinary kid, who happens to be a pirate, makes a wish that comes true--but not how they thought it would. A tween girl navigates a crush on her friend's mom. A young witch turns herself into a puppy to win over a new neighbor. A trans girl empowers her online bestie to come out. 

From wind-breathing dragons to first crushes, This Is Our Rainbow features story after story of joyful, proud LGBTQIA+ representation. You will fall in love with this insightful, poignant anthology of queer fantasy, historical, and contemporary stories from authors including: Eric Bell, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Ashley Herring Blake, Lisa Bunker, Alex Gino, Justina Ireland, Shing Yin Khor, Katherine Locke, Mariama J. Lockington, Nicole Melleby, Marieke Nijkamp, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro, Molly Knox Ostertag, Aisa Salazar, and AJ Sass.

Review: Overall I really enjoyed this anthology! It included a lot of cute short stories and I loved the different stories and genres that prominently featured queer characters. The character development was amazing across the stories. The world's were all well developed and immersive. The book was also a lot of fun to read!

The only issue I had is that I wish some of the stories were grouped together in a cohesive manner and I wished there was more main characters that were gay or outright pansexual. I also think one or two main characters were ace but there was nothing concrete, which I think could have been better stated and written.

Verdict: it was great!

Olivia Montoya

lea da silva

The first LGBTQIA+ anthology for middle-graders featuring stories for every letter of the acronym, including realistic, fantasy, and sci-fi stories by authors like Justina Ireland, Marieke Nijkamp, Alex Gino, and more! A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former bully becomes a first-kiss prospect. One nonbinary kid searches for an inclusive athletic community after quitting gymnastics. Another nonbinary kid, who happens to be a pirate, makes a wish that comes true--but not how they thought it would. A tween girl navigates a crush on her friend's mom. A young witch turns herself into a puppy to win over a new neighbor. A transgirl empowers her online bestie to come out. From wind-breathing dragons to first crushes, This Is Our Rainbow features story after story of joyful, proud LGBTQIA+ representation. You will fall in love with this insightful, poignant anthology of queer fantasy, historical, and contemporary stories from authors including: Eric Bell, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Ashley Herring Blake, Lisa Bunker, Alex Gino, Justina Ireland, Shing Yin Khor, Katherine Locke, Mariama J. Lockington, Nicole Melleby, Marieke Nijkamp, Claribel Ortega, Mark Oshiro, Molly Knox Ostertag, Aisa Salazar, and AJ Sass.

This Is Our Rainbow 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us

Reviews