MARTIN MCLEAN, MIDDLE SCHOOL QUEEN

In this big-hearted middle-grade debut about a boy who discovers his inner diva, Martin McLean struggles to find his voice as he navigates friendship, family, first crushes... and plenty of glitter.

Seventh-grader Martin McLean has always been surrounded by people who can express themselves. His mother is an artist, his colorful Uncle Billy works in theater, his best friend Carmen loves to talk, and his other best friend Pickle doesn't care what anyone thinks. But Martin can only nd the right words when he's answering a problem at a Mathletes competitionuntil his uncle introduces him to the world of drag. In a swirl of sequins and stile os, Martin creates his con dent drag queen alter ego, Lottie León. As Lottie, he feels almost fearless; but as Martin, he hasn't the guts to tell anyone outside of his family about Lottie. Not Carmen and Pickle, not his Mathletes teammates, 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 realizes that he can only pull off both appearances by revealing his true self to his friendsand channeling his inner drag superstar. Alyssa Zaczek is an author, playwright, and journalist who works as a features reporter for a USA Today paper. Martin McLean, Middle School Queen is her debut novel. Originally from Chicago, Alyssa now lives in St. Cloud, Minnesota.