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Quick answer: The best books on the Stonewall riots tell the story of the 1969 uprising in New York and the LGBTQ history around it. Start with Stonewall by David Carter, Stonewall by Martin Duberman, The Stonewall Reader, The Gay Revolution by Lillian Faderman and Making Gay History by Eric Marcus.
In the early hours of June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York’s Greenwich Village. Instead of quietly dispersing, patrons and neighbors fought back, and protests continued for several nights. The uprising wasn’t the first act of LGBTQ resistance, but it became a turning point, and the first Pride marches were held a year later to mark its anniversary. The Stonewall Inn is now a national monument. The books below tell the story of the riots and the people involved, the history before and after them, and novels and picture books that help readers of different ages understand this history.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution | David Carter | Narrative history | The definitive account |
| Stonewall | Martin Duberman | History | The people involved |
| The Stonewall Reader | New York Public Library | Primary sources | Firsthand accounts |
| The Gay Revolution | Lillian Faderman | History | The big picture |
| Gay New York | George Chauncey | History | Before Stonewall |
| Making Gay History | Eric Marcus | Oral history | Hearing many voices |
| The Lavender Scare | David K. Johnson | History | Government persecution |
| The Mayor of Castro Street | Randy Shilts | Biography | Harvey Milk’s story |
| And the Band Played On | Randy Shilts | Journalism | The AIDS crisis |
| Stone Butch Blues | Leslie Feinberg | Novel | Working-class lives |
| Giovanni’s Room | James Baldwin | Classic novel | Literary fiction lovers |
| Last Night at the Telegraph Club | Malinda Lo | YA novel | Ages 14 and up |
| Stonewall: Breaking Out in the Fight for Gay Rights | Ann Bausum | Nonfiction for teens | Ages 12 and up |
| Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution. | Rob Sanders | Picture book | Ages 5–9 |
| Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag | Rob Sanders | Picture book | Ages 5–9 |
1. Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution by David Carter
Carter’s detailed history reconstructs the raid and the nights of protest using many interviews. It’s the most thorough book on what actually happened.
2. Stonewall by Martin Duberman
Duberman tells the story through six people whose lives led them to Stonewall. It’s humane and engaging, a classic of LGBTQ history.
3. The Stonewall Reader by New York Public Library
This collection gathers diaries, articles and memories from the years around the uprising, including voices of trans activists like Sylvia Rivera. It’s a rich source book.
4. The Gay Revolution by Lillian Faderman
Faderman tells the story of the American LGBTQ rights movement from the 1950s to marriage equality. It’s comprehensive and readable.
5. Gay New York by George Chauncey
Chauncey shows that a vibrant gay world existed in New York from 1890 to 1940, long before Stonewall. It’s a groundbreaking book.
6. Making Gay History by Eric Marcus
Marcus interviewed dozens of activists and ordinary people about LGBTQ life in America over half a century. It’s moving and accessible.
7. The Lavender Scare by David K. Johnson
Johnson tells how the US government fired thousands of gay employees in the 1950s. It explains the pressures that made Stonewall explode.
8. The Mayor of Castro Street by Randy Shilts
Shilts tells the life of Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay elected officials in the US, who was assassinated in 1978. It’s vivid and inspiring.
9. And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts
Shilts’s landmark book tells how the AIDS epidemic spread while governments and institutions failed to respond. It’s long, angry and essential.
10. Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg
This influential novel follows Jess Goldberg, a working-class butch lesbian, through the bars and police raids of the 1950s and 60s. Content note: violence and sexual assault.
11. Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
Baldwin’s 1956 novel about an American man’s love affair in Paris was a bold book for its time. It’s short, beautiful and heartbreaking.
12. Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
In 1950s San Francisco, a Chinese American teen discovers a lesbian bar and falls in love. It won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature.
13. Stonewall: Breaking Out in the Fight for Gay Rights by Ann Bausum
Bausum tells the story of the riots and their impact for young readers. It’s clear, balanced and well illustrated.
14. Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution. by Rob Sanders
Told from the point of view of the Stonewall Inn building itself, this picture book introduces the uprising gently for young children.
15. Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders
Sanders tells how Harvey Milk and Gilbert Baker created the rainbow flag as a symbol of hope. It’s a bright, positive picture book.
Tips for Reading About Stonewall
- Start with Carter. His account is the most detailed and reliable.
- Learn what came before. Gay New York and The Lavender Scare show the world Stonewall reacted to.
- Read many voices. The Stonewall Reader and Making Gay History include people often left out.
- Separate legend from fact. Accounts of who did what that night still differ.
- Visit the monument. The Stonewall National Monument is in Greenwich Village.
- Choose age-appropriate books. Rob Sanders’s picture books are made for young readers.
Related: best books on the Civil Rights Movement and best books on women’s suffrage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best book about the Stonewall riots?
Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution by David Carter is the definitive account, and Stonewall by Martin Duberman is a classic group biography.
When did the Stonewall riots happen?
The riots began in the early hours of June 28, 1969, after a police raid on the Stonewall Inn in New York, and protests continued for several nights.
Is there a picture book about Stonewall?
Yes. Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution. by Rob Sanders introduces the story for ages 5 to 9.