Happy New Year, readers! Though 2019 began with fireworks and glitter, it can be easy to see the future as faded both worldwide and in our personal lives. No, there will not be fireworks every midnight. No, resolutions will not always be easy to follow. But we’re ready to meet the challenges that lie ahead, and we know that you are as well. Your hardest day last year? You made it through. Celebrate that. Celebrate you.
To commemorate new beginnings, here are 11 quotes from some of our favorite recent LGBTQIAP+ YA books that will remind you just how strong you are.
“Give yourself room to breathe. To make mistakes. Eventually, you will see that you were always there, you just couldn’t recognize yourself yet.”
―Mia García, The Resolutions
“People fall down. You can either laugh or cry. Laughing makes it easier ―Akemi Dawn Bowman, Summer Bird Blue “Anger is a gift. Remember that.” She stood. “You gotta grasp onto it, hold it tight and use it as ammunition. You use that anger to get things done instead of just stewing in it.” ―Mark Oshiro, Anger Is a Gift “None of them will ever be able to control the way we feel. Our minds and hearts are our own. That is our power.” “When the world denies you choices, you make your own.” —Natasha Ngan, Girls of Paper and Fire “You know you don’t always have to be fine, right? It’s okay to not be okay.” —Claire Kann, Let’s Talk About Love “It doesn’t have to be a happily ever after or a happily always. Just a happily once. A happily sometimes. Hope. That’d make our pain worth it.” ―Marieke Nijkamp, Before I Let Go “If you feel the need to do it – to write, or paint, or take photos or anything – then that’s what you have to do. That’s the one most important thing you can do.” ―Kheryn Callender, This Is Kind of an Epic Love Story “It’s such a little thing, this skirt. For other girls, maybe it’s makeup or a sport or having sex or not having sex or writing or music or kicking ass in school or wearing your hair so it looks like the sun’s unruly rays. I think every girl has a thing or two, tiny details in her life that say This is me. I’m done hiding. I’m done feeling ashamed.” ―Ashley Herring Blake, Girl Made of Stars “Interrogate your instincts. Insecurity isn’t shameful. Attraction isn’t an embarrassment. Interpersonal affection isn’t a side note to be glossed over.” ―Riley Redgate, Final Draft “‘Strength is also making the decision to change your destiny.’” —Zoraida Córdova, Labyrinth Lost Have a favorite quote about strength? @ us on Twitter or drop it in our ask box on Tumblr!
