"Briar’s mental health journey is at the core of the story, which accurately and unflinchingly depicts her experiences with anxiety and depression. The endearing Briar is realistically drawn, and the supporting characters are all lovable in their own ways [...] A joyful celebration of identity and community."
—Kirkus Reviews
"Quinlan's portrayal of Briar's mental health struggles may strike a chord with some readers, and their description of drag competitions will enthrall Drag Race fans."
—Booklist
"[T]he premise of rival drag kings falling in love is refreshing and indulgent, the insight into Briar’s anxiety and depression is honest, and the freedom Briar experiences exploring her gender presentation is euphoric."
—BCCB
“Honest, hopeful, and full of sparkle, Don't Be a Drag shows that sometimes the best way to find your truest self is to let the sides of your personality shine that you've kept hidden from yourself and others.”
—Jason June, New York Times bestselling author of Out of the Blue
“A realistic and raw portrayal of living with depression and anxiety. Don't Be a Drag introduces a fun, messy, memorable found family that I couldn’t stop cheering for. Quinlan beautifully shows how we all have the power to face our demons, step into the spotlight, and slay!”
—Jenna Miller, author of Out of Character
“Tender, fierce, and full of big feelings, Briar's story of self-discovery and self-compassion is just as captivating as the bold contour and bright lights of the drag stage. But where Quinlan really shines is in their trio of complicated kings who come together in a time-honored queer tradition: accepting each other for exactly who they are and supporting each other joyously. Don't Be a Drag is a tale of courage and community fit for a king.”
—Christen Randall, author of The No-Girlfriend Rule
“Don't Be a Drag achingly captures the tumult of mental anxiety—that human wrestle between the terror in the imagined world and the magic in the real world. Drag brings the magic and pours in light, and Quinlan does not miss a shimmering detail. A stunning journey!”
—Debbie Rigaud, author of A Girl's Guide to Love & Magic
06/14/2024
Gr 10 Up—After a suicidal episode, Briar's brother Beau (also known as drag queen Bow Regard) has flown her to NYC for the summer. She quickly makes an enemy in hot-headed Selene, who performs as drag king Spencer, and enters a drag competition as a rival. In a predictable trajectory, Selene drops the abrasive act, shares that her ex died by suicide, and becomes vulnerable and sweet towards Briar as their romance blossoms. Briar has anxiety about crowds, transportation, and routine disruption, as well as severe episodic depression. Her parents have allowed her to miss a month of school due to anxiety and friends are constantly noticing her discomfort and handing her fidget spinners and ice cubes unprompted, or offering sleepovers so she never has to be alone. Major plot drivers are Briar's lapses in and out of suicidality; all the characters regularly drop what they are doing to support and rally around her, which unfortunately reads as an unrealistic portrayal of support for those struggling with chronic mental health issues. While the idea of a drag queen teen romance is innovative, the writing lacks engagement and intrigue, the enemies-to-lovers plot is predictable and goes on too long, and the message about mental health ultimately may create false expectations and glorify avoidance. VERDICT This title can be skipped in favor of more engaging queer romance and more balanced representation of mental health journeys.—Mallory Weber
2024-02-17
An anxious teen comes into her own through the art of drag.
Briar is leaving Texas to spend the summer in New York City with her brother, Beau, aka drag queen Bow Regard. At a show, she meets—and clashes with—Selene, Beau’s infuriatingly attractive but arrogant friend, who performs as drag king Spencer Read. Briar decides to try to beat Spencer in an upcoming competition, and so begins her own drag journey. Along the way, she’ll flirt with Spencer, befriend fellow drag king Achilles, bicker with her brother, and ultimately gain much-needed confidence both on and off the stage. Briar’s mental health journey is at the core of the story, which accurately and unflinchingly depicts her experiences with anxiety and depression. Neither drag nor her flirtation with Spencer is able to magically cure her, but the community she finds in New York leads her to agree to pursue therapy and medication, offering hope for her future. The endearing Briar is realistically drawn, and the supporting characters are all lovable in their own ways, from cosplaying Achilles and sassy but sincere Beau to Briar’s compassionate and down-to-earth mentor, Jacklynn Hyde. A host of queer identities are depicted; Briar is bisexual, and her found family includes a nonbinary person and a trans woman. Main characters present white.
A joyful celebration of identity and community. (author’s note, resources) (Fiction. 14-18)
