Desert Queen by Jyoti Rajan Gopal (review)

Reviewed by: Desert Queen by Jyoti Rajan Gopal Kate Quealy-Gainer, Editor Gopal, Jyoti Rajan Desert Queen; illus. by Svabhu Kohli. Levine Querido, 2023 [50p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781646142620 $18.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R* Gr. 2-4 A young boy in the Thar desert dreams of gracing the Bollywood screen or even simply daring to dance publicly, but he keeps his hopes to himself, knowing that his desire would easily cross the "lines in the sand / that keep you in your place. / Boy OR Girl. / Man OR Woman." When his parents die, however, he finds a way to make money and fulfill his dream, donning bedazzling, patterned silks, lining his eyes with kajol and his lips with red lipstick, and dancing, truly dancing, in front of a crowd. The plentiful applause, however, turns to jeers in the morning, but the boy refuses to give up, instead training for two years and drawing from Hindu folklore and culture to become the inarguably talented and famous Whirling Desert Queen of Rajasthan. An author's note and backmatter bring further detail to this biographical account of drag performer Queen Harish, but the celebratory main text is all about the joy of dance and how the young boy finds himself within it. Rhythmic text easily conveys the boy's rapture and longing, moving with a languid pace or an energetic frenzy as the story calls for, always centering our protagonist and his journey in dance toward individual agency. The layered art is striking, with rich jewel tones and endless patterning, much of which is inspired by Harish's cultural heritage; geometric linework joins swirls and dashes of movement, with each composition adding to the text—not a single bit of the page is wasted. Detailed visuals and slightly longer text target older readers, but the subject matter could make for a lively storytime or a welcome discussion on gender expression. Copyright © 2023 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois