This young readers’ adaptation of author Chloe O. Davis’s The Queens’ English combines definitions of terms related to LGBTQIA+ identities, historical tidbits, and examples of usage to create an entertaining and informative reference guide.
The terms include ones for a wide range of LGBTQIA+ identities and subcultures (e.g., “bear”; “cub”). Many of the terms are historical (“friend of Dorothy”); some are conceptual “(“queer theory”; “safe space”); many come from drag or ballroom culture (“fierce,” “read for filth”). Terms that are considered slurs are noted as such. Some terms aren’t really LGBTQIA+ specific (“boobs”; “dishonorable discharge”; “toxic masculinity”; “witch”), but usually have some connection to gender, sexual orientation, or LGBTQ history. A few, such as “blaps” (“Irritable bowels”) have no obvious connection, but presumably originate in slang used by some part of the queer community, though this isn’t always made clear. (Some, but not all, entries include usage notes with details about where the term originated and/or is used.)
Occasional terms like “sex,” “sex positive,” and “sexually adverse” may skew the volume towards the older end of the middle grade age range and into young adult, in terms of interest and perhaps appropriateness (depending on your opinions here), but I feel that Davis has tried to gear things to the audience. The usage example for “sex,” for instance, involves a student telling their health teacher, “I’m not ready to have sex yet. I want to wait till I get older. But I do like kissing other people. Is that okay?” to which the teacher says “Absolutely.”
Each entry includes a paragraph of definition plus an example of how to use the word or phrase in a sentence. Interstitial passages offer fun “Did you know?” facts or historical explorations. After each entry, a “Want more info?” prompt gives us a short word or phrase that encapsulates the main entry—a helpful summary (though saying something such as “Want a summary?” or “In other words” might be more accurate than “Want more info?”
My only small quibble is that the organization COLAGE is mentioned several times without explaining what it is (an organization for people with one or more LGBTQ parents), which means the book doesn’t/can’t explain why “COLAGEr” is a synonym for “queerspawn.”
All told, Davis has compiled an impressive amount of information, explanation, and history, making for a fascinating reference that is full of insights into various LGBTQ subcultures and geared for youth readers. The bright, bold graphic design and comforting heft should also help this volume become a welcome part of many home, school, and library collections.
