Martin McLean, Middle School Queen
by Alyssa Zaczek (Author)
In this bighearted middle-grade debut, Martin McLean struggles to find his voice--and his inner diva--as he navigates friendship, family, first crushes, and a whole lot of glitter.
"An amusing story that's bursting with diversity at every turn. . . . A tasty treat."--Kirkus (Starred review)
Seventh-grader Martin McLean has always been surrounded by people who can express themselves. His mother is an artist, his colorful Tío Billy works in theater, and his best friends Carmen and Pickle are outgoing and don't care what other people think. But Martin can only find the right words when he's answering a problem at a Mathletes competition--until his tío introduces him to the world of drag. In a swirl of sequins and stilettos, Martin creates his fabulous drag queen alter ego, Lottie León. As Lottie, he is braver than he's ever been; but as Martin, he doesn't have the guts to tell anyone outside of his family about her. Not Carmen and Pickle, not his Mathletes teammates, and definitely not Chris, an eighth-grader who gives Martin butterflies. When Martin discovers that his first-ever drag show is the same night as the most important Mathletes tournament, he realizes that he can only pull off both appearances by revealing his true self to his friends--and channeling his inner drag superstar.
"Amazing, fierce, and very inspirational . . . this book will inspire kids to express themselves." --Desmond is Amazing
"Never, in a million years, did I ever expect to read a story about an actual drag kid! It was amazing and inspiring and perfect for kids like me!" --Nemis Quinn Mélançon Golden, aka Lactatia
"A beautiful story of coming of age and self-realization . . . I love this book." --E! the Dragnificent
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Gr 5 Up--Middle-schooler Martin McLean is a son, nephew, friend, junior mathlete, and aspiring drag queen. When his Tío Billy, also known as Cassie Blanca, introduces Martin to the world of drag, he is fascinated by it. Upon learning of an amateur all-ages night, Martin decides he wants to give it a shot. The problem is, the event is the same night as regionals for mathletes and Martin doesn't know how he can do both if his team qualifies. Also, what will his friends and peers think if they discover Martin's secret? Fun, inspiring, and delightful, this book is far from a drag. The cast of characters is diverse; Martin is biracial and his mother and uncle are Afro-Cuban. One of his friends is Mexican American and another is Vietnamese and uses a wheelchair. Tío Billy is gay, but it is emphasized throughout the book that performing drag does not mean one is necessarily gay. All the same, Martin does find himself questioning his sexuality. The theme of being true to oneself is wonderfully done. Zaczek also does a terrific job of making sure the drag queen aspect is age-appropriate for the audience, even having the drag event set in a coffee house instead of a bar. VERDICT Timely, charming, and affirming. A must-purchase, especially for libraries and communities where Drag Queen Story Hour is popular.--Amanda Borgia, Uniondale Public Library, NY
Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
JUV035000 - Juvenile Fiction | School & Education
JUV031000 - Juvenile Fiction | Performing Arts | General
JUV060000 - Juvenile Fiction | LGBT
JUV072000 - Juvenile Fiction | Mathematics
Schools
Middle schools
Mathematics
Single-parent families
Best friends
Hispanic Americans
Middle school students
Competitions
Female impersonators
