Becoming a Queen

Dan Clay's debut novel, Becoming a Queen, is a powerful and emotional story for young adults aged 12-18. It follows Mark Davis, a high schooler grappling with the aftermath of a painful breakup and the sudden, profound loss of his beloved older brother. Feeling isolated and overwhelmed by grief, Mark discovers the transformative power of drag as a means of self-expression and a way to process his pain. The book beautifully explores themes of identity, grief, resilience, and the importance of authentic connection, offering a hopeful message about finding your true self even in the darkest times. Parents should be prepared for discussions around loss, mental health, and LGBTQ+ identity, particularly the art of drag.

A vibrant and emotional novel from debut author Dan Clay about a boy who turns toward love, self-expression, and drag when the unthinkable happens, perfect for fans of Jandy Nelson and Julie Murphy. If only Mark Davis hadn’t put on a dress for the talent show. It was a joke—other guys did it too—but when his boyfriend saw Mark in that dress, everything changed. And now, fresh on the heels of high school heartbreak, Mark has given up on love. Maybe some people are just too much for this world—too weird, too wild, too feminine, too everything. Thankfully, his older brother Eric always knows what to say to keep Mark from spinning into self-loathing. "Be yourself! Your full sequin-y self.” But Mark starts to notice signs that his perfect older brother has problems of his own. When the source of Mark’s strength suddenly becomes the source of his greatest pain, the path back to happiness seems impossible. Searching for a way out, Mark slips into a dress to just, briefly, become someone else, live a different life. His escape, however, becomes an unexpected outlet for his pain—a path to authentic connection, and a provocation to finally see other people as fully as he wants to be seen. Beautifully written, heart-wrenching, and ultimately uplifting, Dan Clay's Becoming a Queen is a stunning story about love, loss, and the ineffable power of a purple princess dress.