Beyond the Binary: Queer (Im)possibilities of Bisexual Desires in Selected US Young Adult Novels

There has been rapid growth in the representation of bisexual characters US YA since 2010 both genre fiction that traditionally dominated by stories heterosexual protagonists, and popular trends, particularly teen love triangle plot. Improvements happy, loving, meaningful queer relationships, however, still requires critical vigilance against equation between homonormativity futurities YA, as latter “will not be achieved simply retelling celebrating a single story” (Matos Wargo 8). A particular challenge for queering conventional romance plots is stereotyping essentialising bisexuals selfish, hyper-sexual, attention-seeking or undecided, system bi-erasure underpinned monosexism. This belief all sexualities are located at either end some point along homo-heterosexual scale remains powerful force bi-erasure, such tensions can arise when conventions dichotomous plot structures used to depict whose desires beyond this binary. I examine four recent novels their within highlight how these remain constrained essentialised views bisexuality. Despite each novel resolving dilemma different ways, they offer readers little hope acceptance understanding, even and, current political social systems, including monosexism, unassailable.