AN APALA HONOR BOOK * NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOKS OF 2025 * BOOKLIST 2025 EDITOR'S CHOICE * BCCB BLUE RIBBON * SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST BOOKS OF 2025 Better Nate Than Ever meets Dumplin' in this charming, poignant debut by Kyle Casey Chu, aka Panda Dulce, a founding queen of Drag Story Hour.
After making the buzzer-beating shot at the Georgia basketball state championships, Derrick Chan becomes the star of Bayard Middle School, and Derrick's single dad could not be prouder. But there are parts of Derrick that no one knows about, like the toenail polish he wears under his basketball sneakers, his secret lip-sync performances in the bathroom mirror, and the feelings he's developing for his best friend and teammate, JJ.
As the school year comes to a close, Derrick's dad takes an out-of-town job and ships Derrick off to spend the summer with his estranged, eccentric grandmother, Claudia. Soon, Claudia introduces Derrick to the world of small-town southern beauty pageants, and Derrick suddenly feels he's found where he belongs. But when the opportunity arises to compete in the town pageant, Derrick is forced to decide just how much of himself he's ready to show the world.
Can he learn to love and accept the most unique parts of himself? And what will happen if others--like his father and JJ--can't do the same?
- A Middle Grade LGBTQ Book: Follows Derrick as he explores his identity, his love of drag, and what it means to be brave enough to be yourself.
- First Crush Jitters: Navigating new feelings for his best friend and teammate, JJ, adds a whole new layer of complication--and heart--to seventh grade.
- Found Family Bonds: Derrick's summer with his grandmother Claudia and new friends Ro and Giles shows that sometimes the family you find is the one you need the most.
- Rich Chinese American Culture: A touching story that beautifully weaves together themes of family history, cultural identity, and intergenerational relationships.
About the Author :
Kyle Casey Chu (AKA Panda Dulce) is a writer, filmmaker, and one of the founding queens of Drag Story Hour. She was born and raised in San Francisco, where she still proudly lives, within nagging distance of her families (both drag and biological). Her debut novel, The Queen Bees of Tybee County, was named a 2026 Asian Pacific American Award for Literature Honor book. Juana Fanta Needs a Hero is her second novel.
Review :
"In this emotionally grounded tale about becoming one's true self, Chu carefully balances an affirming coming-out narrative with honest, approachable accounts of familial secrets, intergenerational trauma, and systemic racism and homophobia." - Publishers Weekly
"A kind contemplation on generational trauma, race, and queer identity in the South, this book sparkles with queer joy." - Booklist (starred review)
"This book tenderly follows the classic coming-of-age formula. Chu's personal connection to the narrative, as a drag performer and founder of the Drag Story Hour organization, comes through passionately." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"The Queen Bees of Tybee County is a heartfelt celebration of authenticity that asks us all to follow our joy. Laugh out loud funny and tear-jerkingly emotional, Kyle Casey Chu has gifted younger and older readers alike with a stunning novel about letting our true selves shine. These characters and their triumphs will stay with me for a long time." - Kacen Callender, bestselling and award-winning author of King and the Dragonflies and Hurricane Child
"Kyle Casey Chu has given us a novel about the daring it requires to see our full selves, and the exhilaration and rightness of embracing who we are. A joyful, glittering, loving debut by an author to watch." - Nina LaCour, Michael L. Printz-winning author of We Are Okay and Watch Over Me
"This sweet and surprising book just ramps up the excitement the deeper it gets. Marked by unforgettable characters, and teenaged joy and angst that feels so real, this is a spectacular debut!" - Michelle Tea, award-winning author of Modern Magic
"Kyle's debut dazzles with heart in this bold, beautiful story about embracing your true self and the value of having an affirming community behind you every step of the way. Derrick Chan has my vote for queen bee of queer middle grade this year." - Taylor Tracy, author of Stonewall Honoree Murray Out of Water
"An important book for middle school shelves, and for any reader seeking a positive role model demonstrating courage and strength in the face of challenging situations--even when it's family who might pose the biggest -obstacle." - School Library Journal
