A Boy Named Queen

by Sara Cassidy

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 weird loud music and has tattoos.

How will the class react? How will Evelyn?

Evelyn is an only child with a strict routine and an even stricter mother. And yet in her quiet way she notices things. She takes particular notice of this boy named Queen. The way the bullies don’t seem to faze him. The way he seems to live by his own rules. When it turns out that they take the same route home from school, Evelyn and Queen become friends, almost against Evelyn’s better judgment. She even finds Queen irritating at times. Why doesn’t he just shut up and stop attracting so much attention to himself?

Yet he is the most interesting person she has ever met. So when she receives a last-minute invitation to his birthday party, she knows she must somehow persuade her mother to let her go, even if it means ignoring the No Gifts request and shopping for what her mother considers to be an appropriate gift, appropriately wrapped with “boy” wrapping paper.

Her visit to Queen’s house opens Evelyn’s eyes to a whole new world, including an unconventional goody bag (leftover potato latkes wrapped in waxed paper and a pair of barely used red sneakers). And when it comes time for her to take something to school for Hype and Share, Evelyn suddenly looks at her chosen offering — her mother’s antique cream jug — and sees new and marvelous possibilities.

Genres: Middle Grade, LGBT, Fiction, Friendship, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Canada

80 pages, Paperback

First published August 9, 2016

About the author

Sara Cassidy is an award-winning Canadian author of 20 acclaimed books for children and teens. Her early novel GENIUS JOLENE won the 2020 Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize. Her middle-grade novel NEVERS was nominated for the Governor General's Literary Award in Young People's Literature and the Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic. Two novels appeared on Kirkus's Best Middle Grade Books of 2018 and 2016: THE GREAT GOOGLINI and A BOY NAMED QUEEN.

She is the author of the highly praised picture book FLOCK, and the wordless graphic novels KUNOICHI BUNNY and HELEN'S BIRDS, a 2021 Canadian selection for the Silent Books Collection (IBBY). Her board books include I MAKE SPACE, about creating boundaries, THE SUN IS A PEACH and THE MOON IS A SILVER POND, which received a starred review from Publishers Weekly.

Sara lives on Vancouver Island and loves to visit classrooms over Zoom/Skype/Teams. sarascassidy@gmail.com

Reviews

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very short middle grade book about acceptance. When Evelyn starts 5th grade, there is a new boy in class whose name is Queen. Although two boys make fun of him, Queen doesn't let that bother him. Evelyn and Queen become friends and she learns a bit about friendship, bullying, being different and accepting people who are different. I think that this book would be good for elementary and middle school students, especially those who are reluctant readers because this is a very short book.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

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. Free-spirited Queen is unlike anyone Evelyn, 10, has ever known and she is fascinated with him. Queen and his loving, free spirited family represent everything Evelyn's life is not supposed to be according to her conventional mother. But underneath the ordinary exterior her mother has created for her, Evelyn is a girl with a lively imagination, a girl who just wants to be liberated from the conventions of her life.

Evelyn's mother is a person who loves order and routine (Evelyn not so much). But when it comes time to buy new school shoes for beginning fifth grade, Evelyn's mother is dismayed to find that their regular shoe store has been sold to a franchise called Budget Shoes. What it means for Evelyn is that she can get something other than the loafers her mother routinely buys her, something like a pair of blue canvas shoes. So what if they are a little tight, they're different.

On the first day of school, there is a new kid in Evelyn's class, a boy with long hair, wearing jeans with holey, stringy tears and a faded pink t-shirt accented with several bead necklaces. Introduced as Queen, he is assigned to a seat next the Evelyn. And it doesn't take long for the bullying and the sarcastic, snide comments to begin, especially among the boys in the class. When Evelyn sees Queen trying to shoot hoops during lunch, she goes over and shows him how to do it right. It doesn't take long before the two are friends with each other.

At first, Evelyn thinks Queen should give in and become more like everyone else, so the other kids would leave him alone. But when she says something to him about it, he teaches her how he deals with all the negativity directed his way. Queen simply creates a colorful force field in him mind, allowing only the good things that come his way into it, while bad things are left outside of it. To her surprise, Evelyn discovers it really works.

By the time, Evelyn is invited to Queen's birthday party, Queen's influence has been working on her little by little. And even though her mother insists that they buy a present, even though Queen doesn't want any, and that she dress up, even though that isn't necessary for this party, Evelyn goes along with it, knowing this was going to be a different kind of party. And it is, one that will change her in wonderful way so that she will never be the same afterward.

A Boy Named Queen is a short, but powerful book, more novella than novel. And it should be remembered that this is Evelyn's story, not Queen's. It is about Evelyn learning to embrace her individuality, her uniqueness, and discovering ways to express it. Queen can be seen as both a friend and a mentor, and he is a wonderful mentor. Evelyn already has a vivid inner life, but it takes Queen to show her how to release it and still get along in the world with confidence. And those too tight new blue canvas shoes are symbolic of the changes Evelyn is about to undergo, breaking with her mother's control on her life, and becoming more of an independent individual.

I think 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. I have to be honest and say I wish I had this beautifully written book to give to my Kiddo when she was 10 years old.

This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was sent to me by the publisher, Groundwood Books

This review was originally posted on Randomly Reading

[PVLD Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, enlightening, glimpse into fifth-grader Evelyn's, up to now, conventional, routine life. She doesn't know what to think when a boy named Queen joins her class. The two however find they have similar interests and become friends. Due to his name and looks, Queen is subjected to teasing and bullying by his classmates but the way he handles it gives Evelyn a new perspective on what it means to be true to one's self and embrace differences in others. The abrupt ending detracts a little from the narrative arc but hints at Evelyn's character growth. This story is a great jumping off point for discussions about what is considered 'normal' and how joyful it is be your own, confident self.

Reviewed by Louise, YA Librarian.

Find it at the library here.

[Danica T · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://aredheadedbookworm.blogspot.c...

The title got my attention. As I was about to request it I realised it was listed as children's fiction but gave it a chance anyways. It was a cute story that shows what elementary school is like nowadays with the bullying, but how to ignore it. If you're different, embrace it. There wasn't literature like this when I was in grade 5 but times were different back then. I think it's the perfect age to get out a great message.

[Scott Robins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful short novella about the budding friendship between a young girl and a boy who likes to march to the beat of his own drum. While Queen doesn't come out as gay in this book, there is definitely a queer sensibility about him. The writing is superb and the characterization spot on - my only quibble was that the ending was abrupt and left me wanting more from these two characters.

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome in every way!

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only complaint was that it was too short! I want more about Queen!!! Love that this book honors being who you are. Would be a great read aloud for 3rd & up!

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 3 out of 5]

(June 2023 read) Tooo short!

[Elise Volkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Boy Named Queen is an excellent, short chapter book starring a ten or twelve year old girl who is just going back to school, and on her first day, a new student is transferred into her class.

His name is Queen.

It's incredible how one small detail - one small quirk - that causes a person to stand out from the crowd can pave the way for all kinds of bullying and harmful teasing. But we've all seen it happen. From where the narrator sits, the only thing really different about Queen is his name: Queen. He is just as interesting or uninteresting as the rest of the children in his class - just as quirky or conventional as our main character, Evelyn, and simply because of his name he is treated differently.

The story is written for children around the ages of 8-12; short chapters with a voice for description and dialogue that a child would come up with. The story is a gentle but effective way to promote the welcoming of differences and the acceptance of the unexpected. The author, Sara Cassidy, has a gift for making the children's mocking reaction of Queen seem unfair and completely unfounded, rather than blatantly pounding out an opinion or rule. By following this narrative, the mind is guided toward the conclusion of the story, lacking any kind of force but holding a hugely significant amount of conviction.

I'm definitely older than 12, but I found A Boy Named Queen to be unparalleled, refreshing, and an absolute joy to read. Hats off to Sara.

[mg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can appreciate a novella or short story for its concentrated development of characters and glimpse into a character's life. This really succeeded in neither. I barely know the characters, and just when there seemed to be a plot developing, it ended.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I apparently started this fewer-than-100-page book six years ago and never finished it. 😂 For being only 76 pages it’s pretty remarkable the ground covered! New friends, bullies, some really excellent advice about navigating mean people, families who do things differently, and learning something new about yourself! I really enjoyed this one!

[Michelle (FabBookReviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a starred, high-praise review from Kirkus, I could not wait to read Canadian author Sara Cassidy's intriguingly described A Boy Named Queen. At under one-hundred pages, A Boy Named Queen is indeed on the shorter side of a children's fiction title; however, it is a read packed with more than a tome's worth of perception, surprise, beautiful main characters, and out of the ordinary writing.

A story at its core about confidence, self-acceptance, and friendship, A Boy Named Queen is incisive and wonderfully unexpected. We meet one of our key characters, Evelyn, as she prepares for start of grade five. She is out with her always 'on top of things' mother, shopping for a new pair of appropriate shoes. To Evelyn's wonderful surprise and almost-shock, she is allowed to choose a pair of lace-up blue runners- the kind of shoe, Evelyn thinks, that she might actually be able to play field hockey in! From only a brief introduction to Evelyn and her mother, readers understand that Evelyn has been raised to be tidy, uncomplicated, organized- just like her parents and their lives have been molded to fit perfectly well into the other standard two-bedroom brown houses that line their street. Upon her first day in grade five with Mr. Zhang, however, a new student named Queen upends a few things in Evelyn's life. Introduced by the school secretary with an emphatic and telling this new student is a a boy, Queen meets the class of Hillsberry Elementary and Evelyn in his torn jeans, pink shirt and shiny brogues.

Immediately catching the notice of a few students who start needling, bullying and teasing Queen for his name, attire (and perhaps, just because), Evelyn tries to make Queen feel more welcome. When Queen and Evelyn begin their friendship, she finds herself surprised- and initially irritated- by how Queen deals with the taunting and awfulness of some classmates. Wouldn't things just be easier if Queen tried to blend in more? Why does Queen put himself out on the line and make himself so visible, such a target? Why can't he just change his clothes and make things easier for himself? As Queen explains his ways of deflecting the world's badness and only allowing goodness to come in- like a force field, he explains- Evelyn recognizes just how deep Queen's utter kindness and humour goes. Evelyn herself then begins an almost-imperceptible but major shift in her self-confidence and contact with the world that begins with two big events: firstly attending Queen's almost otherworldly birthday dinner with his parents, and secondly, surprising just about everyone (but mostly herself) with an unusual-for-Evelyn show-and-tell.

Overall, 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.

I received a copy of this title courtesy of Groundwood Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evelyn and her fifth grade classmates have never met anyone quite like the free-spirited boy who calls himself Queen. He doesn't dress, think, or even act like any of the others, and the quiet Evelyn is intrigued by his behavior and yet a bit fearful. Naturally, Queen comes to the attention of the school's bullies, and he endures all sorts of harassment. Surprisingly, though, none of the bullying seems to bother him, and he remains true to himself. Because they walk home from school along the same path, Evelyn and Queen form a friendship, and when Queen has a birthday party, Evelyn decides to go even when no one else does. I liked this book with its description of a quiet, yet firm courage, and how seeing Queen's example helps Evelyn take chances and move from her daily routine. By widening her view of the world as the result of her visit to his home, she begins to see even more possibilities in her own world. This title would be a good one to share with fifth or sixth graders since it often seems that youngsters at those grade levels are going through many physical and emotional changes, and they don't always behave kindly toward anyone who is in the least bit different from their definition of what normal is. The book raises questions about the choices each of us makes about whom we emulate and whom we ultimately decide to be. when I read books like this, I often wonder about how important it is to have parents and adults in our lives who accept us as we are and encourage us to explore our identities in different ways.

[Laurie • The Baking Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was short and sweet with a good message about being yourself and accepting of others. Geared towards the middle school age group it takes a look at the effects of peer pressure and the feeling that one needs to conform with what everyone else is doing.

I actually picked up this book because, based on the book description, I thought it would broach the subject of a child being transgendered. This subject is only faintly hinted at but the book is a good starting point for parents to discuss peer pressure and being true to oneself no matter what others think. Queen teaches Evelyn to be happy with who she is and that she doesn't have to conform to the group mentality to be happy. The book never has a preachy tone which younger audiences will enjoy.

Overall, this was a good middle school read. And while I found the ending to be more abrupt than I would have liked, I applaud the author for showing her young readers that being yourself and embracing your differences is okay. You should be proud of who you are and not base your self worth on what others think.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Groundwood Books for providing me with a complimentary e-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Peyton · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a 2018 Rocky Mountain Book Award nominee.

I found A Boy Named Queen to be a very disappointing book. It is literally only about a girl who becomes friends with a boy whose chose to have the name Queen. My first thought was why is this weird? Queen was an 80’s legend an no one with this name should feel uncool. The book also shows no real growth in characters. Granted, it is only 77 pages long, so there is not a lot of room for growth and development. A Boy Named Queen is supposed to promote individuality. I can understand that it tries, but I do not think that it really pushed the topic. I found that A Boy Named Queen just did not meet my expectations.


Addition to original review:
A lot of other reviews comment on the sexuality of Queen, but his sexuality is never mentioned. Why are people focused on it? I think people are trying to push this book further than it goes. Let Queen be Queen, do not impose a sexuality on him.

[Mariana Calderon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick dinner read for me, from a stack of ARCs I picked out at work.
This is a book I want for myself. This is a book that I want for my children, who are as yet no more than possibilities foreshadowed by my growing collection of children's books.
This is a book I want every child who ever felt different to read, and every kid who is afraid to be different.
It is so short and so sweet and so eloquent in the 5th grade perspective of wonder and frustration and curiosity Cassidy infuses into every word.
A beautiful first page sentence to demonstrate:
"The sky is perfectly clear. No popcorn bursts, no cottony fistfuls of chair stuffing, not a single down feather."

Excuse me while I go build my own turquoise forcefield around me, one that makes all the dumb and bad things bounce off of it, and lets in all the nice things - all the way in. Right to my heart.

[Eric Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kids at school said it's a really good book. Boys and girls alike, some of them unlikely readers, love it. They said I should read it, preferably out loud to them right then and there.

I didn't read it out loud right then and there. Instead, I checked it out and read it to myself during DEAR (Drop Everything and Read).

The first page nearly turned me off. I thought it a terrible beginning, but I held out for the first chapter, then the second, the third...

Sarah Cassidy is a poet and journalist, and A Boy Named Queen reads like poetry and journalism with a tight, crisp economy of words. She employs poetic imagery to great effect throughout the story.

The story itself is a fantastic morality tale about being open enough to care for the stranger, a story desperately needed in our strange times.

[Becca Rahey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was short but sweet. I've read complaints that the characters lacked development and while I agree we didn't know them very well at the end of the book, I'd argue that the characters did exactly what they were meant to. Queen, Evelyn, and the rest provided the canvas upon which the message of the book was painted.

[Emmaj · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great beginning, but where's the rest of the book?
77 pages is the teaser you send your publisher.
More please.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted more- what a great story about strength in diversity!

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It ends to fast.

[Ellyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a realistic fiction book focusing on two children in the fifth grade. It is EXTREMELY short (68 pages once you take out the title pages, etc), and Cassidy struggles to really develop the characters. The reader is told a few identifying traits about each one, but there is no real sense of depth to any of them.

While the message of this book, accepting those who are different, is a good one for children in middle school to experience, I just don't think this book does anything that Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl didn't do better. You get the vague sense that Queen is a LGBT character, but other than saying he wears shiny shorts the first day of gym class, Cassidy doesn't really go anywhere with that. Queen is rejected by his fellow classmates more because of his name, and his utter refusal to do anything just because everyone else does it (again, not a bad message for kids this age, but again, not something that hasn't be developed better in other books). Part of my frustration with this book is that just as the characters were starting to develop real personality and depth, the book ends-others have said it, but this is really more of an under-developed novella than a true novel. I didn't feel any emotional connection to the characters at all, mostly because they truly felt like sketched out ideas of a character instead of a finished person.

This book is very easy to read, with sentences that a 2nd grade student should easily be able to read and comprehend. It took me about 20 minutes to read, cover to cover. This might be appropriate as a real-aloud, but because it is so short I wouldn't consider it for book clubs.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D0OQ4KW/...

[T · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short, sweet, British story of a boy named Queen and his reception at his new school. Queen defies stereotypes proudly and with finesse. So does his musician father. He unapologetically is himself. He soon finds a friend in Evelyn who is fascinated with his unconventional family, life, and confidence.

An easy middle-grade story of friendship, identity, confidence, and acceptance. Timely.

A bit young for 5/6th grade, but perfect for 3/4th grade.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a gentle little book about making friends and being yourself. Evelyn, who is in grade five, lives a pretty standard suburban life. Then one day a new kid comes to her school and says his name is Queen. Despite herself Evelyn is drawn to Queen and the two become friends with Evelyn learning some important lessons along the way.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super quick read, took 20 minutes, tops? Light-hearted but addresses serious topics such as bullying, acceptance of oneself and others, and the beauty of individuality. Light, lovely read perfect for upper elementary and middle school students.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have several kids I'd like to read this too.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book read like poetry. Sweet and simple and just a purely lovely story about the way being unapologetically ourselves is contagious to the world around us.

[Danielle Booey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is hard for me to describe for some reason. It's a good story about the friendship between a boy and a girl and how meeting someone can make you look at life differently.

I really enjoyed reading it. It is one of those quiet books that makes you reflect, but not in a depressing way.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a short, sweet story of a new friendship between a boy named Queen and a girl named Evelyn. It's not a deep dive into gender identity, and it doesn't tackle huge issues, but Queen's parents let him express himself how he wants, and through her friendship with Queen, Evelyn learns about the beauty of being yourself.

[Rebecca Mckenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was nominated for the 2018 Silver Birch Express Award. It's a quick and easy story that one could read within a day. Evelyn is an only child with short hair who doesn't much like to wear dresses. She befriends a new boy who arrives at school who goes by the name of Queen and wears a pink shirt. Other kids in the class make fun of his name and bully him - but Evelyn is awed by the fact that this treatment doesn't seem to bother him at all - rather it just rolls off him. Queen's family moves around alot (his dad is in a famous band) and thus never had any friends until Evelyn. He teaches her about acceptance and imagining a force field surrounding you where bad things people say and think bounce off it, but the nice things are able to penetrate through straight to your heart.

BOB: In which Silver Birch Express nominated book does Evelyn discover that Queen's dad is a member of a famous rock band when she attends his birthday party?

BOB: In which book does Evelyn befriend a new boy at school who has a feminine name and wears a pink shirt for which he is ridiculed by other students?