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A review by me_alley
The Queen Bees of Tybee County by Kyle Casey Chu
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book is going to do for young drag queens what Melissa did for young trans kids~ what a beautiful, sweet story!
Derrick Chan - a 7th grader- loves basketball and is a very loyal and fun friend. In the first few pages, he wins the middle school basketball championship with the winning shot. But he has a secret, that he loves sparkly blue nail polish and dresses. Before spending the summer with his grandma and meeting another young queer kid, he doesn't know what drag is, and feels a beautiful freedom seeing drag performers and drag competition clips on YouTube. What a great feeling- to learn that you aren't alone, that there are other people who love the kinds of things you do! Derrick is just figuring things out, like all 7th grade kids.
I don't often rate and review children's books, and I am a straight, white 47 year old female, not necessarily the target audience for this middle grade (3-7) book. But I think it is really wonderful, I cried at the end. And what middle school kid- no matter where they live and who they are-- doesn't feel fear at not being the person their parents want them to be? This book will be universally loved, but is amazing for gay kids, especially one who is a Chinese-American. I loved that it had a happy ending without it being overly PollyAnna-ish, the book fully recognizes that not everyone will accept Derrick. I also loved that Derrick had a good relationship other kids and their journeys were different. Lots of people-kids and adults alike- need to know that being LGBTQ is not "one size fits all"- that not all gay men perform drag, but some love it, some love sports, some love cooking, or anything! Gay people like lots of different things, and that is ok. Just being gay doesn't have to put you inside of a box, it's all a part of you.
Thank you to @netgalley and @harpercollins #quillbooks for the ARC. After I read this, I immediately pre-ordered 3 copies. This is going to be an instant-classic!
Derrick Chan - a 7th grader- loves basketball and is a very loyal and fun friend. In the first few pages, he wins the middle school basketball championship with the winning shot. But he has a secret, that he loves sparkly blue nail polish and dresses. Before spending the summer with his grandma and meeting another young queer kid, he doesn't know what drag is, and feels a beautiful freedom seeing drag performers and drag competition clips on YouTube. What a great feeling- to learn that you aren't alone, that there are other people who love the kinds of things you do! Derrick is just figuring things out, like all 7th grade kids.
I don't often rate and review children's books, and I am a straight, white 47 year old female, not necessarily the target audience for this middle grade (3-7) book. But I think it is really wonderful, I cried at the end. And what middle school kid- no matter where they live and who they are-- doesn't feel fear at not being the person their parents want them to be? This book will be universally loved, but is amazing for gay kids, especially one who is a Chinese-American. I loved that it had a happy ending without it being overly PollyAnna-ish, the book fully recognizes that not everyone will accept Derrick. I also loved that Derrick had a good relationship other kids and their journeys were different. Lots of people-kids and adults alike- need to know that being LGBTQ is not "one size fits all"- that not all gay men perform drag, but some love it, some love sports, some love cooking, or anything! Gay people like lots of different things, and that is ok. Just being gay doesn't have to put you inside of a box, it's all a part of you.
Thank you to @netgalley and @harpercollins #quillbooks for the ARC. After I read this, I immediately pre-ordered 3 copies. This is going to be an instant-classic!