How to Save a Queendom

by Jessica Lawson

An adventure about an orphaned twelve-year-old girl who is called upon to save her queendom when she finds a tiny wizard in her pocket.

Life’s never been kind to twelve-year-old Stub. Orphaned and left in the care of the cruel Matron Tratte, Stub’s learned that the best way to keep the peace is to do as she’s told. No matter that she’s bullied and that her only friend is her pet chicken, Peck, Stub’s accepted the fact that her life just isn’t made for adventure. Then she finds a tiny wizard in her pocket.

Orlen, the royal wizard to Maradon’s queen, is magically bound to Stub. And it’s up to her to ferry Orlen back to Maradon Cross, the country’s capital, or else the delicate peace of the queendom will crumble under the power of an evil wizard queen. Suddenly Stub’s unexciting life is chock-full of adventure. But how can one orphan girl possibly save the entire queendom?

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Childrens, Adventure, Magic

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2021

About the author

Jessica Lawson currently lives in Pennsylvania. She likes pizza. A lot. Her middle grade books are published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

She fell in love with books at a young age. That love hasn't changed a bit.

She writes middle grade fiction, lots of to-do lists, and songs about lost socks.

Reviews

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED Nooks & Crannies-it was a favorite for sure. So loving that so much, I was VERY excited for this book. & it did NOT disappoint! This was superb! In Nooks the MC had a pet mouse in her pocket, & in this the MC has a shrunken wizard in her pocket, plus a pet chicken! It’s just so perfect! Lol

Orphaned & left in the care of the cruel Matron Tratte, Stub’s learned that the best way to keep the peace is to do as she’s told. No matter that she’s bullied & that her only friend is her pet chicken, Peck, Stub’s accepted the fact that her life just isn’t made for adventure. Then she finds a tiny wizard in her pocket. Orlen, the royal wizard to Maradon’s queen, is magically bound to Stub. & it’s up to her to ferry Orlen back to Maradon Cross, the country’s capital, or else the delicate peace of the queendom will crumble under the power of an evil wizard queen. Suddenly Stub’s unexciting life is chock-full of adventure.

They also have Beaman along on their adventure-a cook apprentice who wants to show his mom that he would be a great roamer like her. Amazing world & character building. I found this world fascinating, along w/the magic system. The wizards & their powers, the different types, & different magical talents they each may have-plus their whole backstory. The backstory of the whole Queendom, & of peace day itself were also so good. Such a creative plot. So atmospheric & full of whimsical awesomeness lol A snake the size of a bus(my worst nightmare btw), these huge bat like creatures, a dragon..& a “dragon imposter” lol, & Swamp Queens to name a few amazing things. It also feels like Stub may have a form of PTSD and/or anxiety-the tapping thing she does w/Peck, her fear & mistrust of everyone & life itself. She’s had a rough life. The paragraph on page 213 broke my heart for her.

The friendship & bond that forms b/n Orlen, Stub, & Beaman(&Peck!)is phenomenal. Stub has never had a friend other than Peck, & this became such a heart warming found family. So good. The character development of all 3 was amazingly done too. Such great characters they are too, all of them. Orlen & Beaman have my heart(other than Peck, but duh!). You can’t help but love that tiny wizard. & Beaman & his babbling about his spices & pot, pans, & knives lol plus his innocence..loved him. The climatic scene at the end was so great! Loved it! & the very last scene had me all teary(in a good way), & gave me all the feels! It got a big book hug after that! This is full of magic, adventure, suspense, friendship, hope, & learning to trust. You have have to take control of your life. No one knows if you need help unless you tell them. Reach out. Such great messages. Make sure you have someone you can depend on always-“I’m here. You’re here. We’re here together.” Highly recommend. BEAUTIFUL cover by the amazing Marco Guadalupi too!💜

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

♣ Read my full review here.

This book was incredibly wholesome! Everything from the setting to the characters to the plot grew more loveable over time. At first, the slow pacing and Stub’s passive personality grated on me, but things took off once Orlen appeared and the trio set off on their mission. Compelling writing combined with intricate worldbuilding highlighted a beautifully chaotic seaside setting. I love Beaman wholeheartedly; he’s a shy baker rooted in goodness and wisdom à la Peeta Mellark. Stub’s unwavering friendship with Peck was similarly adorable and paired off well with her character development. Not to mention, the ending was flawless. It was cathartic, (bitter)sweet, and tearjerking, all in the best ways. My time with Stub felt worth every page. The one thing I would say is the friendship between Stub and the queen felt rushed and rather implausible. Although I enjoyed the queen’s feisty character immensely, she seemed too trusting of strangers considering her royal position. Overall, with a Descendants 2–esc setting and court intrigue in the vein of Isabel Ibañez's Woven in Moonlight, this was a wonderful middle-grade fantasy book!

➼ Thank you to the author and LitPick for providing a copy of the book for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.

[Jill Jemmett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stub is an orphan, who is an apprentice at a tavern. She is kept outside and lives with her only friend, her scrawny pet chicken, Peck. Then one day, while she’s in the woods, she discovers a tiny wizard who can fit in her palm. The wizard, Orlen, comes from the Queendom, but has been magically bound to Stub. Along with her new friend Beaman, Stub has to return Orlen to the capital city to save the Queendom from an evil queen.

This was a fun adventure story. Stub started out the story as an orphan who didn’t have any control over her life. She was bullied and threatened by the woman she lived with and worked for. She didn’t have a choice but to stay there. Once she met Orlen, she had a reason to sneak away and escape the evil woman she worked for. She was finally able to take control of her life.

The story was also fast paced. The characters passed through different parts of the land, from the small town to a forest to a swamp and ultimately the capital city. It was fun to see all of these different places in the fantasy world. The ending was action packed with magical deception.

How to Save a Queendom is a fun middle grade fantasy.

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Guylou (Two Dogs and a Book) · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚 Hello Book Friends! HOW TO SAVE A QUEENDOM by Jessica Lawson was such a fun and exciting read. To start, let us talk about this cover!!! Isn’t it perfect and creative? Then let us talk about the characters!! We have a brave servant girl, a trusting apprentice cook, wizards, queens, and many more. This book offers so much through its comprehensive plot, and fantastic adventures. The story is filled with action and magic. It is highly entertaining and has a wonderful ending. This stand-alone novel is geared to middle graders but can be enjoyed by older teens, young adults, and even adults.

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[Krysta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Source: ARC from publisher

How to Save a Queendom by Jessica Lawson is a rollicking middle-grade adventure that takes all the best parts of a fantasy quest, mixes them up, and presents a story sure to enthrall its readers. From the moment twelve-year-old orphan Stub appears, bullied by the tavern owner she’s apprenticed to, and finding solace only in her pet chicken, readers will know that this is a quirky tale that means to entertain. The appearance of a tiny, grumpy wizard, magically bound to Stub by accident, along with a chef’s apprentice who can’t seem to stop talking about food, only add to the delightful chaos. Will all three be forced to go on a journey together across the nation to stop an evil queen from taking over? Of course!

There’s something kind of irreverent about the way Lawson takes fantasy staples–orphans, wizards, dragons, and evil regents–and puts her own spin on them. The orphan holds no special secret powers. The wizard is small and impotent. The dragon is somewhat beside the point. And the evil regent almost gets our pity. But, somehow, it all works. The presence of the tropes gives readers something familiar to hold on to. But the way Lawson subverts them makes the book feel not only unpredictable, but also fun.

The characters, along with the plot, are sure to delight. Readers will be sure to fall in love with the protagonist, Stub, who is forced to live in a chicken coop and put up with her mistress’s abuse. Over time, however, Stub finds her strength by learning to trust others and allow them to help her. She is joined by Orlen, a somewhat cranky wizard who is not always as good at spellcraft as he would like everyone to think, but who proves lovable nonetheless. And by Beamas, who provides much of the comic relief by babbling on about recipes and spices when he ought to be thinking about how is life is in danger. Together, they make an unlikely team to save a queendom, but, somehow, it works.

Readers who enjoy middle grade fantasy, fantasy quests, and quirky humor will be sure to love How to Save a Queendom. Its irreverent take on genre tropes, along with its unlikely heroes, prove an irresistibly charming combination.

[Beth Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Hope, my friends! We’ve been on short supply for years, and now a spark has been lit.”

I just love finding hidden gems to read and recommend. Sure, it’s fun when you love a popular title, but I think it’s an extra special kind of joy to find a book that very few people have even heard of but is just as good (if not better!) than the buzzy books getting lots of attention.

How to Save a Queendom has been on my list for years and as I finally read it this weekend I kept wondering, “What took me so long?!” This book is a magical fantasy full of wizards and spells, fantastical creatures, and most of all heart and hope, those threads that bind fantasy and reality and create something truly magical. There’s such beautiful attention to detail about belonging and how children crave a place to be known and loved. Each chapter is titled “How to ______” and I loved the cleverness of how each title hinted at, but didn’t spoil, the contents of the chapter.

Years ago my oldest daughter and I both read (and loved) Jessica Lawson’s Nooks and Crannies—so much that it’s a book we still talk about often 8 years later! That story is a mystery full of secret passageways and plot twists.

Lawson’s writing is beautiful and the quirky characters instantly captured my heart (in both books!). Her stories take very real elements of adolescence—desire to be loved, to have a place to belong, to be known—and effortlessly blend those universal elements with story. In Queendom, the world of Meradon is a fantasy perfect for fans of Jonathan Auxier’s Storyguard series, and in Nooks and Crannies the world is a mysterious house where Clue meets the good bits of A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Recommended for ages 8+, but both of these stories would be fantastic family read alouds with younger kids as well.

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for the ARC! I absolutely loved this book and I fell in love with Stub's character and Beaman's cooking. This book also has a bit of focus on family like how there's lots of different types of family and how a found family is just as legit as blood relations. I loved all the character development that happens throughout the book with Stub learning to trust and stand up for herself and Beaman gaining some courage. Also I'm just going to state again that Beaman's cooking sounded so flipping delicious and I need a cookbook companion to this book. Please. For the plot, there's a lot that happens especially in the second half of the book. I felt a bit like something was off with the writing or what was happening in the story which put me off a little but it was still entertaining for the most part and I was not expecting any of the plot twists that happened. The ending, like last couple pages, literally made me tear up a little because it was just so emotional and sweet. Overall this is a really great story and regardless of the writing I highly recommend it!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

What does Stub-the-Nuisance, a twelve year old, know about saving a queendom?

A wonderfully immersive fantasy novel. From nearly the beginning this book kept drawing me back to it until I had finished it. How to Save a Queendom is immersive and fantastical. It brings to life magic and a new world where Queens rule and have held a peace for 100 years but something sinister is lying beneath the surface.

The characters in this book make the story. Losing a single one would entirely change the plot. I also love the fact that Stub is non-gendered for the first almost 50% of the book, meaning any child can see themselves in that character, because who hasn't felt unwanted and alone. The growth that each character makes through this story brings them alive and makes them easy to connect to. With elements of found family and finding where you belong this book belongs on library and home shelves for all children.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

"𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞"

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸!

How to Save a Queendom is a middle-grade fantasy book that follows the story of orphan Stub and her chicken Peck as they go on a quest to bring the palace wizard back to the capital and save the queendom!

I really enjoyed this book! It was such an easy, comforting read. I really liked Stub and Peck's friendship and the overall character development that occurred throughout the novel. Peck was my favourite character, because who could compete with a cute pet chicken. This book was great for relaxing and destressing, I would definitely recommend it!

[Roze Abraham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could go on about this book being a wonderful stereotype breaker, the perfect foil to all those adventure stories with a boy - Harry, Jack, Percy et al eat your heart out - but this book was SO MUCH MORE.

It’s the underdogs adventure story with a a true cast of underdogs and unrepresentated. I loved, laughed and cried. And then re-read the damn book to do it all again.

For the record, I’m in my early 30s and I think the target audience are tweens. Forget that. Everyone should read this book. Especially people who’ve always wondered why everything is about the missing male heir, the return of the prodigal son and the wonderful wizard - instead of the petulant princess, the existence of the middle daughter and cheeky queens.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stub, a mistreated orphan, her friend cook-apprentice Beaman, her pet chicken Peck are catapulted into a life-changing adventure to save the Queendom by a tiny wizard who has shrunk himself by accident.

This is a fun romp with some well-placed red herrings and lots of twisting of fantasy tropes. Jessica Lawson knows how to write a really entertaining story.

[Jen Nishi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book full of adventure and adorable, loveable characters. She’s an unlikely magic-less hero with only a powerless (cursed) tiny wizard, a chatterbox of a cinnamon bun boy who loves (and I mean LOVES) to cook, and an anxiety filled chicken who can’t seem to lay eggs to help her save her Queendom. It is full of laughs, action, and above all heart.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love every novel Jessica Lawson has written. This book is no exception. You'll be hooked from the opening line, and curious to know more about Stub-the-Nuisance and how she came to be living in a chicken coop outside a Tavern. Impressive worldbuilding, fascinating details of wizardry (love the glow rocks and the reusable matches), intriguing characters, and clever plotting. Set aside a weekend, because once you start reading, you won't want to stop.

[Patti U · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off great. The writing and the idea was refreshing. But it was easy to put the book down. The story didn’t hold me. So, after sticking it out for several weeks and 3/4 of the way through I just skipped to the end. No real criticism, just fell flat. I will try another book of hers though as I think she has talent.

[Sarah B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute read about an orphaned girl's adventures after a tiny wizard appears in her pocket. A chicken and sorceress queens add to the excitement. Lots of twists and turns in a fun and empowering story about taking charge of your own future.

[Eileen Winfrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stub, a neglected and abused tavern servant, escapes with a pint sized wizard, a pet chicken and a chef's apprentice to try and save the Queendom from an evil wizard/queen. Lots of adventure and a satisfying conclusion.

[Natalie Aguirre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this new book by Jessica Lawson. The plot was fast-paced, and I totally loved Stubb, Peck, Orlen, and Beaman. They were all such likeable characters that I want to know more about. The world building was fantastic. I can't wait to read Jessica's next book.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun mg fantasy, with some interesting twists--the main character doesn't know they are a hero, and there's a nice bit at the end in which the evil history hidden behind a happy myth is confronted and toppled.

[Melissa V · Rating 5 out of 5]

This well-plotted adventure tale with lots of heart would be great as a classroom read aloud. I'll definitely be recommending this page-turner!

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun fantasy romp. Although it played on the usual fantasy tropes, it had some nice unexpected twists. Recommended for fantasy lovers, grades 3 & up.

eARC provided by Edelweiss

[Len · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good plot and a light fantasy reading.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playful and fun, reminds me a lot of Alexander. Has a strong female character.

[Elizabeth P · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. I liked the heroine and overall it was a fun fantasy read.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute book I enjoyed reading with my daughter.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Underdog and scrawny chicken, cowardly baker and tiny magic - lots of quirky characters without power, reputation or might, but filled with loyalty, kindness and creativity. What’s not to love?

[Tamra Oscroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome book! The characters were fun and the plot moved well.
I hope the author writes another book with these characters!!!

[S Tondra · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had promise from the synopsis but once you read the book it is way to slow to start and I think will loose many middle grade readers that may not be patient enough to keep reading.

[Jill Ramig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great MG adventure story. Stub is orphaned and kept by a cruel woman. When she finds a tiny wizard she and her pet chicken set out to warn the queen. Along the way a boy who dreams of being a chef joins them. Fun and unexpected adventure. #bookexcursion @JS_Lawson