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.