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Evelyn is both aghast and fascinated when a new boy comes to grade five and tells everyone his name is Queen. Queen wears shiny gym shorts and wants to organize a chess/environment club. His father plays loud music and has tattoos.
Evelyn is an only child with a strict routine and an even stricter mother. When it turns out that they take the same route home from school, Evelyn and Queen become friends, almost against Evelyn’s better judgment. ★"A small, eloquent book with a powerful message." Kirkus, STARRED review "An eloquent celebration of individuality." Publishers Weekly "Superb writing...a joy to read." Through the Looking Glass "Short, sweet, and terribly perfect." Serah-Marie McMahon, Type Books "Flawless. Profound, rich, and written immaculately." Fab Book Reviews |
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Finalist, Rocky Mountain Book Award 2018
Finalist, Silver Birch Express Award 2018 Finalist, Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award 2018 Selection, Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices List 2017 Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books STARRED 2017 Finalist, Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award 2017 |
Finalist, Diamond Willow Award 2017
TD Summer Reading Club 2017 Selection, Quill & Quire Reviewer Pick 2016 Selection, CBC Best Books of 2016 Kirkus Best Books of 2016 Middle-Grade |
Reviews
"This is a tiny book with a lot of heart. Cassidy has written in under 100 pages what some novels are unable to do in 300." --Robert Bittner, Sense and Sensibility and Stories. Full review.
"Superb writing and beautifully crafted characters make this book a joy to read." Through the Looking Glass. Full review.
"This middle grade book is short, sweet, and terribly perfect. A very focused and tight study of that mind-shaking moment when a new friendship changes your entire worldview. Reminiscent of Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor & Park, but for a younger reader. —Serah-Marie McMahon, Children’s Buyer for Type Books
✩"What happens when a girl who is expected to live by the rules meets a boy who makes his own rules?Cassidy offers a brief, stellar option for readers looking for characters who refuse to bend to societal norms and instead follow their own instincts toward confidence and joy. The contrast between Evelyn and Queen serves as a meaningful background to the friendship that forms naturally between them. A small, eloquent book with a powerful message." Kirkus Reviews. Full review
"Will this tiny novel become the anti-bullying book of the decade? It could. It has all the right elements: short, easy read, strong main character, and above all, a parable. What more could you ask for?" --Eunice O'Mahony, Chair, Ontario Human Rights Committee. Education Forum. Full review
"Cassidy’s novella is a little gem. It is a story that touches on issues of tolerance, friendship and bullying. Above all, this book will help young readers explore the idea of conformity and how joy can be found in taking the road less travelled (riddled though it may be with difficulties). Teachers of Grades 4 to 6 will find this to be a lovely book with which to begin the school year, not only for the message of tolerance it conveys, but also for the beautiful language in which it has been delivered." Canadian Children's Book News. Full review
"In this brisk, insightful story from Cassidy (Not for Sale), the first days of fifth grade prove eye-opening and confidence-building for heroine Evelyn, whose home life is on the strict and staid side. Change is in the air from the outset... At school, there’s [a] new arrival, Queen, who shows up with a pink T-shirt, a dog named Patti Smith, and a name that makes him an instant target for jokes. Queen’s breezy self-confidence is revelatory for Evelyn, as is her introduction to Queen’s free-spirited parents (“Evelyn realizes she has never touched someone with tattoos. She’s never touched a tattoo!”). It’s an eloquent celebration of individuality and not hiding one’s true self: something that (as Evelyn knows) isn’t always simple, but (as Queen knows) actually can be." Publishers Weekly. Full review
"Cassidy does a lovely job of letting the lessons of embracing individuality, confidence, acceptance, and tolerance clearly and cleverly reveal themselves in this short but punchy novel." Quill and Quire. Full review
"Sara Cassidy’s A Boy Named Queen is, quite simply, flawless. Profound, rich, and written immaculately- refined yet so expressive, with not a word or breath wasted- this is a standout piece in children’s lit (and another gorgeous entry into Canadian lit). Any readers who appreciate or crave something a little unusual, potent and beautifully written might do very well to give A Boy Named Queen a read." Fab Book Reviews. Full review
"A Boy Named Queen is an ideal book for kids just starting middle school, where everything is different, but being different isn't always welcomed. ...the writing in A Boy Named Queen is just beautiful: fluid, expressive and Sara Cassidy is really spot on in her descriptions. Using few words, she creates a full picture of both characters and settings, not an easy thing to do in a book with only 77 pages. This is a book I would give to every fifth-grader to read before beginning middle school, but don't get me wrong, it is perfect for any young reader. " Randomly Reading. Full review
"I’m especially flummoxed by ow author Sara Cassidy, who has written both early readers and hi-lo fiction for teens, could pack so much flavour and sensory lushness into A Boy Named Queen's mere 80 pages. While the story is built on the simple platform of a new friendship, Sara Cassidy has a created a rich landscape of people, places and experiences that heightens the story beyond that humble premise." CanLit for Little Canadians. Full review
"Sara Cassidy’s subtle snapshot of a budding friendship between two outsiders is filled with dramatic tension, but clichéd high drama is thankfully absent. It’s an intimate, immersive, and wonderful slip of a novel. I didn’t want it to end. –Serah-Marie McMahon for Quill and Quire's Books of the Year 2016
"I love this powerful and superbly written book. The characters are so clearly themselves, and certainly worthy of our admiration. The fact that two such diverse middle graders find their way to a strong and meaningful friendship is a message worth sharing." Sal's Fiction Addiction. Full review
"At first I thought the book was about Queen, and how different he was, [but] the book is all about Evelyn, and how Queen opens her to the joy of being a little different. He expands her vision of the world. This relationship with Queen opens her to be a whole different person. I think it would be a great read-aloud...A lovely story about accepting people for who they are and not making assumptions about anything. A great little read." CYA Podcast. Full review
"Queen reminds us to believe in oneself and stand-up and support others." everythingMOM. Full review
"Eleanor lives a tidy life with her parents in their small brown house. Everything is orderly and quiet and makes perfect sense. And then, she meets Queen. Here's the thing: I’m weird. Eccentric, if you’re putting it kindly. I’ve never bothered to hide my weirdness; but unabashed quirkiness can be lonely, and I spent a lot of my time feeling out-of-place in my weirdness until I met my husband. A fellow weirdo, meeting him was like finally exhaling. My weirdness fit. He made me feel like me. Maybe that’s why A Boy Named Queen touched me so much - reading about Eleanor and Queen felt so familiar and warm and joyful. Author Sara Cassidy treats Queen’s 77 pages like a short story, with not a word or image wasted. Every single passage is meaningful and carefully crafted, each puzzle piece needed to create the bigger picture. I loved this book. I loved Queen and I loved Eleanor and I loved every little piece. It is a book about nothing, and a book about everything. I’ll be buying two copies of A Boy Named Queen - one for my school library, and one for me personally to keep and read again and again, smiling every time." - Sarah FitzHenry, @fitzbetweentheshelves (Instagram)
"This is a tiny book with a lot of heart. Cassidy has written in under 100 pages what some novels are unable to do in 300." --Robert Bittner, Sense and Sensibility and Stories. Full review.
"Superb writing and beautifully crafted characters make this book a joy to read." Through the Looking Glass. Full review.
"This middle grade book is short, sweet, and terribly perfect. A very focused and tight study of that mind-shaking moment when a new friendship changes your entire worldview. Reminiscent of Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor & Park, but for a younger reader. —Serah-Marie McMahon, Children’s Buyer for Type Books
✩"What happens when a girl who is expected to live by the rules meets a boy who makes his own rules?Cassidy offers a brief, stellar option for readers looking for characters who refuse to bend to societal norms and instead follow their own instincts toward confidence and joy. The contrast between Evelyn and Queen serves as a meaningful background to the friendship that forms naturally between them. A small, eloquent book with a powerful message." Kirkus Reviews. Full review
"Will this tiny novel become the anti-bullying book of the decade? It could. It has all the right elements: short, easy read, strong main character, and above all, a parable. What more could you ask for?" --Eunice O'Mahony, Chair, Ontario Human Rights Committee. Education Forum. Full review
"Cassidy’s novella is a little gem. It is a story that touches on issues of tolerance, friendship and bullying. Above all, this book will help young readers explore the idea of conformity and how joy can be found in taking the road less travelled (riddled though it may be with difficulties). Teachers of Grades 4 to 6 will find this to be a lovely book with which to begin the school year, not only for the message of tolerance it conveys, but also for the beautiful language in which it has been delivered." Canadian Children's Book News. Full review
"In this brisk, insightful story from Cassidy (Not for Sale), the first days of fifth grade prove eye-opening and confidence-building for heroine Evelyn, whose home life is on the strict and staid side. Change is in the air from the outset... At school, there’s [a] new arrival, Queen, who shows up with a pink T-shirt, a dog named Patti Smith, and a name that makes him an instant target for jokes. Queen’s breezy self-confidence is revelatory for Evelyn, as is her introduction to Queen’s free-spirited parents (“Evelyn realizes she has never touched someone with tattoos. She’s never touched a tattoo!”). It’s an eloquent celebration of individuality and not hiding one’s true self: something that (as Evelyn knows) isn’t always simple, but (as Queen knows) actually can be." Publishers Weekly. Full review
"Cassidy does a lovely job of letting the lessons of embracing individuality, confidence, acceptance, and tolerance clearly and cleverly reveal themselves in this short but punchy novel." Quill and Quire. Full review
"Sara Cassidy’s A Boy Named Queen is, quite simply, flawless. Profound, rich, and written immaculately- refined yet so expressive, with not a word or breath wasted- this is a standout piece in children’s lit (and another gorgeous entry into Canadian lit). Any readers who appreciate or crave something a little unusual, potent and beautifully written might do very well to give A Boy Named Queen a read." Fab Book Reviews. Full review
"A Boy Named Queen is an ideal book for kids just starting middle school, where everything is different, but being different isn't always welcomed. ...the writing in A Boy Named Queen is just beautiful: fluid, expressive and Sara Cassidy is really spot on in her descriptions. Using few words, she creates a full picture of both characters and settings, not an easy thing to do in a book with only 77 pages. This is a book I would give to every fifth-grader to read before beginning middle school, but don't get me wrong, it is perfect for any young reader. " Randomly Reading. Full review
"I’m especially flummoxed by ow author Sara Cassidy, who has written both early readers and hi-lo fiction for teens, could pack so much flavour and sensory lushness into A Boy Named Queen's mere 80 pages. While the story is built on the simple platform of a new friendship, Sara Cassidy has a created a rich landscape of people, places and experiences that heightens the story beyond that humble premise." CanLit for Little Canadians. Full review
"Sara Cassidy’s subtle snapshot of a budding friendship between two outsiders is filled with dramatic tension, but clichéd high drama is thankfully absent. It’s an intimate, immersive, and wonderful slip of a novel. I didn’t want it to end. –Serah-Marie McMahon for Quill and Quire's Books of the Year 2016
"I love this powerful and superbly written book. The characters are so clearly themselves, and certainly worthy of our admiration. The fact that two such diverse middle graders find their way to a strong and meaningful friendship is a message worth sharing." Sal's Fiction Addiction. Full review
"At first I thought the book was about Queen, and how different he was, [but] the book is all about Evelyn, and how Queen opens her to the joy of being a little different. He expands her vision of the world. This relationship with Queen opens her to be a whole different person. I think it would be a great read-aloud...A lovely story about accepting people for who they are and not making assumptions about anything. A great little read." CYA Podcast. Full review
"Queen reminds us to believe in oneself and stand-up and support others." everythingMOM. Full review
"Eleanor lives a tidy life with her parents in their small brown house. Everything is orderly and quiet and makes perfect sense. And then, she meets Queen. Here's the thing: I’m weird. Eccentric, if you’re putting it kindly. I’ve never bothered to hide my weirdness; but unabashed quirkiness can be lonely, and I spent a lot of my time feeling out-of-place in my weirdness until I met my husband. A fellow weirdo, meeting him was like finally exhaling. My weirdness fit. He made me feel like me. Maybe that’s why A Boy Named Queen touched me so much - reading about Eleanor and Queen felt so familiar and warm and joyful. Author Sara Cassidy treats Queen’s 77 pages like a short story, with not a word or image wasted. Every single passage is meaningful and carefully crafted, each puzzle piece needed to create the bigger picture. I loved this book. I loved Queen and I loved Eleanor and I loved every little piece. It is a book about nothing, and a book about everything. I’ll be buying two copies of A Boy Named Queen - one for my school library, and one for me personally to keep and read again and again, smiling every time." - Sarah FitzHenry, @fitzbetweentheshelves (Instagram)
