Who Is RuPaul? (Who Was?)

Part of the Who Was series, this is a good biography of RuPaul for those ready for something a little more substantial than the picture-book biographies, but still at a reasonably easy reading level—I’m categorizing it as both an Early Reader and a Middle Grade title. It offers a look at RuPaul’s life starting with his groundbreaking Emmy—the first ever won by a drag queen—and then flashing back to his childhood, where he knew early on that he wanted to be an entertainer. The emphasis is more on his impact and less on the details of his life, which feels appropriate for the age. Despite family difficulties and getting kicked out of high school for truancy, he forged his own path. The book also offers explanations of terms like “drag queen,” explaining what this is and how it is different from being transgender or nonbinary (and thoughtfully noting that some, but not all, drag queens are also transgender or nonbinary).