When I read The Queen Bees of Tybee County, I cried the whole way through. Then I had the honor of sitting down with the author—Kyle Casey Chu, also known as Panda Dulce—and what unfolded was one of the most honest, moving conversations I’ve had on Everything Why.

Kyle’s story is layered. Personal. Historic. Brave. And it’s not just a coming-of-age story—it’s a coming-into-truth story.

We talk about what it means to come out in seventh grade. About being the only Chinese kid in school. About how parental love can sometimes hurt more than it helps. And about how writing can turn fear into freedom.

But the moment that floored me—the moment I stopped the podcast to make sure it didn’t slip by—was this:

"This book is kind of a testimony. It’s kind of like a survival guide. It’s all the conversations I wish an older figure could have had with me… and creating those possibility models that I really want to impact them."

I told Kyle on the spot:“That’s the blurb. That’s what people need to hear.”

Because this isn’t just a book. It’s a mirror. A roadmap. A keyhole. It gives kids (and adults) permission to be who they are—and shows families how love can look like listening instead of shaping.

🎙️ Episode Highlights:

* Coming out at age 12—and the emotional storm that followed

* What history books don’t teach about Chinese American labor and exclusion

* When protection becomes control—and how parents can support without cloning

* Why representation matters before tragedy, and beyond stereotype

* The power of writing as survival—and storytelling as freedom

📖 Get the Book

The Queen Bees of Tybee County by Kyle Casey Chu – available at all major retailers and indie bookstores🌐 Learn more: kylekcchu.com📸 Follow: @PandaDolce on Instagram

🗝️ A Moment Everyone Should Hear:

“Most people don’t even think about what it’s like going to school as the only Chinese kid, or Black kid, or gay kid.Then you’ve got your parents, who love you—but they’re scared. And that fear? It gets in your head. And the spin in the mind will make you crazy.That’s why this book matters. Because if we don’t talk about this stuff, nobody knows what to do.”

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