I absolutely adored this middle grade novel about Derrick Chan, a Chinese American gender-nonconforming tween boy who loves basketball and tries to please his father but also secretly loves wearing nail polish and dressing in drag.

When Derrick goes to spend the summer with his grandmother Claudia in small town Georgia, he gets caught up in her beauty pageant work and even enters one himself as his drag persona, Bee Daring. This book is all about self-acceptance, queer joy, embracing your true self and living your truth.

It also doesn't shy away from tough topics like coming out to a parent, homophobia and anti-Asian racism but the overall message is so important!! Highly recommended for fans of books like Martin McLean, middle school queen or Middle school's a drag.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!