Books
Middle Grade Non-Fiction
The Queens' English: The Young Readers' LGBTQIA+ Dictionary of Lingo and Colloquial Phrases

The Queens' English: The Young Readers' LGBTQIA+ Dictionary of Lingo and Colloquial Phrases

4.7

0.0 (0)

1353 0

Write Review Add to favorites

Author(s)

Chloe O. Davis

Publisher

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Genre(s)

Age Range

10+

Release Date

April 29, 2025

ISBN

978-1665926874

Buy This Book

This young readers adaptation of The Queens’ English is a nonfiction illustrated reference guide to the LGBTQIA+ community’s contributions to the English language.

This playful, richly illustrated visual dictionary is the perfect book for anyone who has ever wondered about the origin of phrases like “boi,” “drag,” or “demisexual,” the history of the word “queer,” and the wonderfully diverse, wide-ranging histories that have contributed to LGBTQIA+ culture and vocabulary.

Drawing from traditions as divergent as the ancient poet Sappho to the underground ball scene of the 1980s, from the Stonewall Riots to RuPaul’s Drag Race, this glossary is a colorful compendium—and a celebration of every king, queen, butch, femme, trans, folx, and enby who has shaped the history, identity, and limitless imagination of queerness.

Editor review

1 review

A Largely Information Guide for Young Readers

June 19, 2025 (Updated: June 04, 2026)

Overall rating

4.7

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

Learning Value

5.0

This edition of THE QUEENS’ ENGLISH is a young readers adaptation of a book published back in 2021. This is a nonfiction reference guide for ages 10 and up. This book is full of illustrations and definitions of words and phrases used in and by the LGBTQ+ community. From identity terms like demisexual to slang like yaasss, this book has a wide breadth of terms.

What I Loved:
This book like contains over 700 terms and phrases. Even some of the most well-educated readers will still find themselves with something new to learn about. Even if it’s not a new word, it may be a new take on the definition or the origins of the word.

This book also contains more than just the definition of the words. They include sample sentences and related words, if applicable. There is a section dedicated specifically to usage because some of the phrases were coined by BIPOC individuals. The nuance being included in this book truly adds to its educational value. It’s amazing how much information was found and included in this book to teach people.

The graphs and images are wonderful and so helpful. One table shows different terms used to refer to gay men and what each term means in terms of physique and such. The author clearly went through a lot of effort to collate information that may be useful for adults and young readers and tried to find the best way to showcase that information to them.

What Left Me Wanting More:
Some of the words included in this book, likely because the book was adapted from a book suited more for adults, may not be fully appropriate for younger readers. The book addresses these topics with grace and providing age-appropriate definitions, but younger readers may search the terms and find completely different definitions. Not a huge concern, but something to keep in mind.

Final Verdict:
I really appreciate the effort that went into this book. Chloe O. Davis clearly did research and it shows with each bit of information and each note. The images and graphs included were chosen and crafted with care to allow readers to discover more about the LGBTQ+ community. There is a chance that younger readers may discover topics that aren’t age suitable, not because of the book but rather if they choose to conduct additional research.

THE QUEENS’ ENGLISH is a carefully crafted book full of terms and phrases. Each page beams with care and it is clear in the terms chosen and the notes included alongside them.