Martin McLean, Middle School Queen — Alyssa Zaczek

In this “fun, inspiring, and delightful” debut, a seventh grader finds his voice -- and his inner diva -- as he navigates friendship, family, first crushes and more (School Library Journal).

 

Seventh-grader Martin McLean has always been surrounded by people who can express themselves. His mother is an artist, his colorful Tío Billy works in theater, and his best friends Carmen and Pickle are outgoing charmers. But Martin can only find the right words when he's answering a problem at a Mathletes competition -- until his tío introduces him to the world of drag.

In a swirl of sequins and stilettos, Martin creates his fabulous drag queen alter ego, Lottie León. As Lottie, he is braver than he's ever been; but as Martin, he doesn't have the guts to tell anyone outside of his family about her. Not Carmen and Pickle, not his fellow Mathletes, and definitely not Chris, an eighth-grader who gives Martin butterflies.

When Martin discovers that his first-ever drag show is the same night as an important Mathletes tournament, he must find a way to pull off both appearances -- and channel his inner drag superstar.