Desert Queen
Jyoti R. Gopal
Illustrated by Svabhu Kohli
Levine Querido
Published January 1, 2024

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About Desert Queen

In a kaleidoscope of desert sands and swirling skirts, Queen Harish takes flight. This picture book biography, spun in vibrant verse by Jyoti Gopal, traces the journey of a beloved Rajasthani drag performer who defied tradition and dazzled the world.

Fueled by an inner fire, young Harish yearns to join the captivating desert dancers, their music pulsing through his veins. But societal constraints paint a narrow path, one that clashes with his vibrant spirit. Through lyrical stanzas and Svabhu Kohli’s evocative art, Harish’s story unfolds, a tapestry woven with resilience and the transformative power of dance.

From village gatherings to Bollywood stages, Queen Harish twirls her way into hearts, leaving a trail of shattered stereotypes and empowering others to embrace their true selves. This is a celebration of courage, finding your inner queen, and dancing to your own rhythm.

My Review

This is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever seen. The artwork is absolutely incredible. Bright colors and patterns fill the pages. Often, a gold or silver line swoops through the image, appearing to wrap around the main character. At intervals, pulse lines create the effect of that gold/silver line winding through the scene like music.

The biography of the beloved performer, Queen Harish, is told in verse lines that have their own strong rhythm. The spare lines are really emotive, drawing readers into the story. I love the way that the writing references the style of music that she performed to, and the patterns and motifs in the images draw inspiration from art in the performer’s hometown.

I really enjoyed reading this book and spent a lot of time studying the incredible illustrations. It’s definitely the kind of book that an art student or someone interested in biographies will want to check out.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 14.

Representation
Characters are Indian. The main character becomes a drag performer.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
As a young boy, Harish dresses up as Krishna for a school performance.

Violent Content
References to parents dying. One dies from illness and another from grief. References to hateful words and slurs. (None listed in the text.)

Drug Content
None.

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