Teen Family Drama Titles for the Holiday Season

The holidays are upon us, and it's about that time when family draws each other near. For some families, the holidays seem blissful and awe-inspiring. For many other folks, not so much. Here are some teen novels that will have you thinking, "the grass on my lawn is as green as I need it to be."

High school teen Xiomara faces the challenge of not being born a boy and having too much to say. The Poet X is a narrative story told in verse of a young girl growing up in Harlem. She struggles to be heard by her family, particularly her mother. Always having to front and battle the world, Xiomara soon discovers that to be understood might require a little understanding on her part.

The Downstairs Girl by Stacy Lee takes place in the South during the post-Reconstruction era. This historical fiction book about 17-year-old Jo Kuan, a Chinese-American secretly living in the basement of a newspaper office, explores immigration, social status and family secrets.

The Prince and the Dressmaker is a heartwarming fairy tale—and graphic novel—of princes and princesses. Or a sweet and charming prince who dreams of being a princess. Sebastian's folks want him to marry a princess and carry the family throne to greatness, but Sebastian has other desires. If you like stories that explore friendship, family, acceptance and gender identity, this graphic novel is what you've been waiting for.