Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 04/01/2025 *Starred Review* Southern beauty pageantry and drag come to life in tandem as a young basketball prodigy finds there’s more to life than what’s on the court. Rising eighth-grader Derrick Chan has always felt out of place. While he excels at basketball, he longs for his private escapades of painting his toenails, donning a towel wig and skirt, exploring his late mother’s fashion magazines and makeup, and lip syncing in the bathroom mirror. But he’s sure if anyone learned of his private performances, it would be game over. When he’s shipped off to his estranged grandmother Claudia’s house for the summer, Derrick is surprised to find himself drawn to the beauty pageant Claudia volunteers for, quickly learning dance moves and being enamored by beautiful dresses. What follows is the summer of yes—Derrick starts saying yes to new friendships, new skills, and new understandings about his identity, but he also struggles to accept the joy he finds in drag and living as his most authentic self. This delightful middle-grade debut shines as it tackles the challenges of being different in a small, homogenous town, focusing specifically on the experience of Chinese Americans and queer people, both handled with deft thought and care. A kind contemplation on generational trauma, race, and queer identity in the South, this book sparkles with queer joy. Pass to middle-grade and young YA audiences who appreciate a coming-to-terms story. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.