The Queen Bees of Tybee County by Kyle Casey Chu

 The Queen Bees of Tybee County by Kyle Casey Chu
Publisher:  Quill Tree Books
Format:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   320 pages
Publishing:  April 15th, 2025 
Source:  Books Forward

Opening Lines:  "I'm open. I'm open! I bellow, laughing myself to the three-point line."

Derrick Chan and his best friend, JJ have been playing basketball together since the third grade.  Derrick became the star player of Bayard Middle School after he made the buzzer-beating shot at the state championships. Derrick's dad couldn't be prouder.  Every summer JJ and Derrick make big plans for their vacation to include a shared accomplishment, like the year that they overcame their fear of climbing, learned to swim or made plans to make the varsity team together.  However, this year JJ while be going to basketball camp alone.  Derrick's dad has taken an out-of-town contracting job and Derrick will be moving in with his dad's estranged mom, Grandma Claudia for the summer.

Once Derrick arrives in the town of Heritage, he's initially surprised with how un-grandmotherly like Claudia seems to be.  She likes disco music, has a collection of old playbills and her house is filled with loud colors and textile quilts.  She even has a craft room filled with fabric, a sketch of a beautiful cheongsam and matching dress.  Claudia reveals that she used to have a fabric and alteration shop and still helps out with the Tybee County Queen Bee Junior Pageant.  Soon Derrick meets Claudia's younger friends, Ro a roller derby enthusiast who is entered in the pageant and Ro's friend Giles who is an accomplished photographer.

Derrick helps Claudia with Ro's gown and starts to volunteer with the contestant's for the pageant learning the choreography and filling in for other participants by performing their dance moves.  Derrick grows closer to Ro and Giles and is surprised when Giles confides that he is gay.  At first the three friends have a falling out over Derrick's surprise and initial remarks.  But Derrick apologizes and he reciprocates Giles trust in him by sharing the things that he's hidden from everyone else, including his father and JJ.  His excitement performing on stage, how at home he has secretly worn glittery blue toenail polish in his basketball sneakers to games and how he feels like he's developing feelings for his best friend. 

Derrick also opens up with Claudia that he knows about a postcard that she sent to his mom and how he would really like her to explain what it means.  Although she initially refuses out of respect for his dad's privacy and her desire to have Derrick receive the information from his father.  She says that his dad's story to tell.  Derrick also confides to Claudia that he thinks that he wants to participate in the Queen Bee pageant and asks for her opinion.  Claudia encourages him to find what gives him joy and soon he enters the competition planning to dress in drag, and perform as Bee Daring.  But when Derrick's dad arrives early with JJ can he truly hold on to his dream and let everyone see his true self?

Kyle Casey Chu, also known as Panda Dulce is a founding queen of Drag Story Hour. The Queen Bees of Tybee County is her debut coming-of-age story inspired by her personal experiences growing up as a queer fourth-generation Chinese American drag artist.  This is a joy filled book about finding one's identity, self-love, acceptance, overcoming fear and being brave.  Side plots include characters who experience racism and hazing, to include Derrick being nicknamed "twinkle toes."  The relationships Derrick shares with the other characters are complicated yet realistically portrayed.  Realistic in that not everyone will accept Derrick, but with strong familial supports and friends that accept you no matter what, Derrick has the potential to blaze his own trail.  Derrick's friends, Ro and Giles are incredibly supportive, loving, and encouraging, just absolutely wonderful.  Everyone would be blessed to have friends like them.  

Oh, and Derrick, loved his passion for clothing, makeup, fabric, and designing clothing.  I think I'm a little more like Ro, I don't hate dresses but have never felt the level of comfort or fierceness that Derrick did on stage, well except maybe a little in my wedding dress with someone else doing my makeup and hair.  I loved how Derrick's memories of his mom lingered on in her magazines, nail polish and the smell of ginger from her cooking. (Cigar smoke always makes me think of my grandfather.)  Derrick is thoughtful, nuanced, and trying to figure things out about themselves.  He illustrates how there are many sides to a person and that we don't have to settle with just one.  Derrick is more than just a basketball player, and he can embrace both sports and drag.  Finding one's happiness in the things that give us joy.   A sequel/companion novel is currently planned, which I can't wait to read.  Read this if you've enjoyed Better Nate than Ever, Dumplin' or are interested in stories about pageants, drag, or just need a joyous story about being bold and fierce.  

**A huge thank you to Books Forward for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review**

It's MMGM with a review of The Right Call: A Game Changer Companion Novel Tommy Greenwald

The Right Call:  A Game Changer Companion Novel by Tommy Greenwald

Publisher:  Amulet Books
Format:  Hardcover
Number of pages:   272 pages
Publishing:   April 15th, 2025 
Source:  Author and Publisher

Opening Lines: "We have a report of an altercation in the vicinity of Tompkins Park."

Fifteen-year-old Cal Klondike has been playing baseball since he was eight years old with best friend Luis as his catcher.  Cal was recruited to the Walthorne Baseball Academy after his coach, Mr. Tedesco saw him strike out almost all the players in a game.  Cal is supported by his dad, his pitching coach, and trainers.  Lately, he's been under a lot of pressure and has been seeing Mr. Rashad, a guidance counselor.  His stress and feelings of pressure are partially due to the attention he's been receiving from college and professional baseball scouts, but also from his desire to perform well for his dad.  

When an umpire makes what Cal and his team think is a bad call, the tension everyone is feeling worsens significantly.  Cal's dad also sort of flips out when he sees him hitting a few balls in the batting cage at the County Fair, telling him that he's concerned about him getting hurt before the scouts come to watch him play.   

Cal's success seems to be changing him and his dad for the worse.  Following a serious injury, he is forced to take some time off.  His two-month sideline and subsequent return to baseball only culminates in a huge confrontation between his dad and an umpire, where the umpire is then hospitalized, and Cal is left rethinking whether he should continue the sport at all.

The Right Call begins with an initial snippet from a police scanner that an altercation has occurred and someone was injured.  At first the reader doesn't know who or why.  Things then flashback to five months earlier where the story begins to be told through a series of police scanner transcripts, newspaper articles, transcripts of Cal's guidance counselor's sessions, text messages between Cal and his friends, emails, and Cal's internal dialogues or thoughts to "psych himself up" on the mound, that are structured like a poem on the page.  I don't think I've ever seen this style of telling an entire story before, yet it really works.  It reads like a mystery at first and then a chronicling of how things start to go horribly wrong.  But it's also so much more.  There's tension, a clear beginning, middle and nice ending.  The unique style of writing adds a veracity to the story and gives a seriousness to the events.    

I may not be a huge sports person, although I did play a short stint of softball when I was younger, but this story really gripped me.  It's a beautiful story that illustrates the great pressures that can come from playing sports, not only the internal pressure and fear of not performing well, but also how involved that parents can become in their child's success.  Cal was so dedicated to baseball, and it was difficult to see him lose his passion after the events that transpire at his comeback game.  He makes an important point during the story that at first baseball was casual and fun, but quickly that changed.  I felt sorry for him and the pressure he was under.  He really wanted to defend his dad's actions, making excuses for why it was expected that his dad would be upset with the umpire.  While he also felt horrible about what happened.  He even blames baseball for being the source of all his problems, instead of a series of bad decisions.  Mr. Goshen, the umpire in the story is such a wonderfully kind man.  He's instrumental in getting Cal to understand that actions have consequences and the importance of making amends. 

Included at the back of the book is an author's note explaining the inspiration for the story and further suggested readings on referee and umpire abuse, and notes on operation babylift and Rick Ankiel, with accompanying links.  Overall, I appreciated Greenwald's emphasis on how umpires are people who come to umpiring out of a place for the love of the sport.  That there should be no reason to bully or "razz" them by saying they need to get their eyesight checked or that they're too old to ump.  Highly recommend it to readers who enjoy sports themed books, books featuring baseball and for fans of Greenwald's other books, Dinged, Rivals, Game Changers, and his Charlie Joe Jackson series.   

   **A huge thank you to Tommy Greenwald and Amulet Books for the Hardcover ARC in exchange for an honest review.**       

I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE      

Anjali Can! by Sheetal Sheth , illustrated by Lucia Soto

Anjali Can! by Sheetal Sheth, illustrated by Lucia Soto 
Publisher:  Random House Books for Young Readers
Format:  Hardcover 
Number of pages:   40 pages
Published:  January 14th, 2025 
Source:  Books Forward

Seven-year-old Anjali loves going to her local community center.  It's where she goes to watch movies with her friends, where she has her tabla classes, and where her parents play cards, but now the center is at risk to close down.  Anjali is determined to not let that happen, so she sets out to get the community involved in protesting the closure.  She makes posters, writes letters, and even gets people to sign a petition, but when she gets to city hall she's disappointed to learn that she's too late they all ready had a hearing.  What's Anjali to do?  

This is the third book in the Always Anjali series written by actor, author and activist Sheetal Sheth.  The story gives kids concrete examples of things they can do to become involved and make changes in their community.  It shows the importance the standing up for what you believe in and that voicing your opinion matters.  The illustrations by Lucia Soto of Anjali reflect her emotions of disappointment, determination, and happiness very well.  Read this with a young child interested in activism or just to show them what one person can do.  

Forest Magic for Kids: How to Find Fairies, Make a Secret Fort, and Cook Up an Elfin Picnic by Susie Spikol , illustrated by Renia Metallinou

Forest Magic For Kids:  How to Find Fairies, Make a Secret Fort, and Cook up an Elfin Picnic by Susie Spikol, illustrated by Renia Metallinou 
Publisher:  Gibbs Smith
Format:  Hardcover ARC
Number of pages:   144 pages
Publishing:  April 1st, 2025 
Source:  Media Masters

Opening Lines from Preface:  "I love science, especially anything to do with nature.  I was one of those kids who spent time on my hands and knees watching anthills, rescuing worms, turning over logs in search of slugs, and spying on bumblebees."

Forest Magic is a non-fiction book brimming with over fifty activities designed to encourage children to explore the magic of nature and most importantly to go outdoors.  The preface highlights the authors passion for stories like the one about a "spider who saved her dear pig..."  and a certain "chubby bear" from the Hundred Acre Woods.  An emphasis is put on nature being filled with science, mystery and wonder, while also encouraging the reader to use their imagination and creativity.  It's a really nice blend of mythical creatures like fairies and gnomes, with real life activities like making sun tea or spore prints.  The book not only will get children interested in nature but also gives them a guide for things to explore like trees, mushrooms and the possibility of secret tunnels and worlds.  I was inspired to go on a nature walk, and to try out a few activities because they look like such fun.   

In the introduction the reader is prompted to create a notebook to record their adventures and given an essential list of tools for their nature search.  The book is broken down into six chapters of areas to explore, The Green Team (trees, leaves and wildflower magic), A Wild Forage (magical potions, pixie dust and an elfin picnic), Mysterious Mushrooms (toadstools, fairy circles and fox fire fungus), Forest Folk (gnomes, homes and wee little mice), Secret Places (hidden forts, and small worlds) and finally Three Ways to Make a Gnome, Fairy, Peep or Any Small Magical Being. 

Included at the back of the book is a list of resources for each chapter, including books suggestions to explore the topics in greater depth, where to find items needed for the activities and further ways to expand on an activity.  Like prompting the reader to do an online search for other designs that have been used to make a solar oven.

Each chapter is really well organized with lots of relevant details.  Theres a summary of the place to explore, a description of what skills are being focused on, what to bring, next steps and a quest fest that felt similar to going on a scavenger hunt.   It is important to know that there is a substantial amount of text in this seemingly small book, but it is both interesting and adds to each story.  The book would make for a wonderful read and exploration for children and their parents to do together.  I would have loved this back when I was in the girl scouts.

Definitely would inspire any nature loving child and outdoor enthusiast.  The cover has instant kid appeal, and the interior artwork is bright, whimsical and will have kids asking to look for fairy circles and gnome homes.    Here's a link to the author's webpage where she has a wonderful video where you can see images from the book and the activities on the pages.  Forest Magic Video

**A huge thank you to Media Masters for the Hardcover ARC in exchange for an honest review.**