Writer, filmmaker, and one of the founding queens of Drag Story Hour, Kyle Casey Chu (aka Panda Dulce) brings us her poignant debut novel. Equal parts sweet coming-of-age story and thoughtful, kid-friendly exploration of intersectional identity, QUEEN BEES OF TYBEE COUNTY is a celebration and imagination of a world in which we all get the support and affirmation we deserve. 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? 

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