This early middle grade volume about the pop superstar blends key biographical facts and career moments with trivia about her life and music. It engages readers further with quick quizzes as well as pages for journaling and reflection; for example, after a quote from Roan about how she loves to feel the joy from a live show, readers are asked, “What brings you joy?”
The book states right at the beginning that “Chappell Roan is a pop music phenomenon and queer icon” and later explains how “she felt emboldened to live her truth as an out, proud queer woman.” Her connections to the LGBTQ community appear throughout the book, which acknowledges her debt to drag culture, her commitment to supporting LGBTQ charities (including “a Black-and trans-led charity”), and how she dedicated her “Best New Artist” win at the 2024 MTV Music Awards to the queer community. It also explains that the song “Good Luck, Babe!” “is about a woman who’s saying goodbye to an ex-lover who is in denial of their own sexuality.”
The book is likely to appeal most to existing fans of the singer, but there are enough tidbits here that even devoted ones may learn something new. They may also appreciate the opportunities to ponder how Roan’s challenges and strengths can offer lessons for their own lives.
