Don’t Be a Drag

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.