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Sir Callie #1
Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston
In a magical medieval world filled with dragons, shape-shifters, and witches, a twelve-year-old hero will search for their place as an impending war threatens. A thrilling middle-grade series opener that stars a nonbinary tween and explores identity and gender amid sword fights.
My name is Callie, and I'm not a girl. I am here as Papa's squire, and I want to train as a knight.
In a world where girls learn magic and boys train as knights, twelve-year-old nonbinary Callie doesn't fit in anywhere. And you know what? That's just fine. Callie has always known exactly what they want to be, and they're not about to let a silly thing like gender rules stand in their way.
When their ex-hero dad is summoned back to the royal capital of Helston to train a hopeless crown prince as war looms, Callie lunges at the opportunity to finally prove themself worthy to Helston's great and powerful.
Except the intolerant great and powerful look at Callie and only see girl.
Trapped in Helston's rigid hierarchy, Callie discovers they aren't alone--there's Elowen, the chancellor's brilliant daughter, whose unparalleled power is being stifled; Edwyn, Elowen's twin brother, locked in a desperate fight to win his father's approval; and Willow, the crown prince who was never meant to be king.
In this start to an epic series packed with action, humor, and heart, Callie and their new friends quickly find themselves embedded in an ancient war--the only hope to defeat the dragons and witches outside the kingdom lies in first defeating the bigotry within.
My name is Callie, and I'm not a girl. I am here as Papa's squire, and I want to train as a knight.
In a world where girls learn magic and boys train as knights, twelve-year-old nonbinary Callie doesn't fit in anywhere. And you know what? That's just fine. Callie has always known exactly what they want to be, and they're not about to let a silly thing like gender rules stand in their way.
When their ex-hero dad is summoned back to the royal capital of Helston to train a hopeless crown prince as war looms, Callie lunges at the opportunity to finally prove themself worthy to Helston's great and powerful.
Except the intolerant great and powerful look at Callie and only see girl.
Trapped in Helston's rigid hierarchy, Callie discovers they aren't alone--there's Elowen, the chancellor's brilliant daughter, whose unparalleled power is being stifled; Edwyn, Elowen's twin brother, locked in a desperate fight to win his father's approval; and Willow, the crown prince who was never meant to be king.
In this start to an epic series packed with action, humor, and heart, Callie and their new friends quickly find themselves embedded in an ancient war--the only hope to defeat the dragons and witches outside the kingdom lies in first defeating the bigotry within.
389 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2022
83 people are currently reading
2878 people want to read
About the author
Esme Symes-Smith
4 books199 followersAfter cutting their teeth on a steady diet of fanfiction in the South-West of England, Esme Symes-Smith wandered north to Wales for their degree in Literature and Creative Writing then promptly migrated to Missouri after meeting their wife on Tumblr.
Esme has been a ghost-writer, an editor, a frozen-yogurt seller, a caffeine dealer, and now wrangles pre-schoolers for a living.
They are nonbinary and have a severe tea problem.
SIR CALLIE AND THE CHAMPIONS OF HELSTON is their debut middle-grade novel, slated for Fall 2022 with the launch of Penguin Random House's new imprint, Labyrinth Road, with a second book in the series coming later.
Esme has been a ghost-writer, an editor, a frozen-yogurt seller, a caffeine dealer, and now wrangles pre-schoolers for a living.
They are nonbinary and have a severe tea problem.
SIR CALLIE AND THE CHAMPIONS OF HELSTON is their debut middle-grade novel, slated for Fall 2022 with the launch of Penguin Random House's new imprint, Labyrinth Road, with a second book in the series coming later.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 301 reviews
March 14, 2022
Received an early copy for blurbing purposes!
Hi yes I am in fact an adult crying over a middle grade novel. This is the kind of book I wish I’d had when I was in middle school. Maybe I would’ve taken a look at my gender sooner if I’d had a book like this, and I can only imagine how much this is gonna mean to kids who’re the target age and going through that kinda thing now.
It’s a rare and brilliant book that doesn’t shy away from the tough stuff trans/queer kids go through every day, but instead cracks them open like a geode to reveal a shine those same kids deserve to know they have, even at life’s rockiest moments. Callie is the champion I didn’t know I needed until now, and I cannot be the only one who feels that way.
Hi yes I am in fact an adult crying over a middle grade novel. This is the kind of book I wish I’d had when I was in middle school. Maybe I would’ve taken a look at my gender sooner if I’d had a book like this, and I can only imagine how much this is gonna mean to kids who’re the target age and going through that kinda thing now.
It’s a rare and brilliant book that doesn’t shy away from the tough stuff trans/queer kids go through every day, but instead cracks them open like a geode to reveal a shine those same kids deserve to know they have, even at life’s rockiest moments. Callie is the champion I didn’t know I needed until now, and I cannot be the only one who feels that way.
August 23, 2024
“ ‘You know people are more ready to pay attention to silly games than great deeds.’ ”
After officially leaving her unaccepting mother, Callie has been living in paradise with their Papa and stepfather, Neal, but when their dad is called back to his knightly duties to help train a young prince, they decide to go with him. Despite Neal’s warnings that the city will not be accepting of them and that the rules are much different than they have been used to, Callie excitedly joins their dad as a squire, looking forward to training and winning a competition. When they arrive, they are immediately treated like a girl, not allowed to fight, and locked in with the other girls for not accepting their place. Through this frustrating time, Callie is forced to confront what the “different” members of the city already know—there is no place for anyone outside of the norm, and if you don’t conform, you will be tossed out. There is no glory here, just a list of games that everyone is expected to play and that hurt anyone who is different, even if that person is the next king.
“ ‘Not all battles can be fought with swords, Callie—remember that. And not all enemies want you dead.’ ”
I found this book, especially Callie’s personal journey, to be quite endearing and really loved having a nonbinary main character in a middle grade series. Callie comes in fighting, with strong convictions and an inability to hold their tongue, and there are both positives and negatives to this. The big positive is that other people who have been forced to hide who they are getting a glimpse of someone that is so unashamedly themselves for the first time, giving them hope. The big downside is that they don’t really have a tactical approach, making them a much bigger target for bigots, even being used as an example of what is wrong with the world. Learning how to navigate this world with all these rules that Callie hasn’t had to adhere to in so long is both exhausting and motivating, as our young knight never loses themselves, but does learn how to play the system to some extent.
“I’m more aware than ever how much I dislike the magical part of myself, and how often I’ve wished it away. It doesn’t work like that. If it’s part of you. Whether you’re a girl or a boy, or both or neither. You don’t get to pick and choose, especially not for other people.”
When Callie first comes to the city, it is evident that they have some internalized misogyny and hate everything that is associated with femininity, including magic, which is traditionally only found in girls. It makes complete sense for this to be the case, as they are extremely young and were forced to be a girl for many years, and it was incredibly satisfying to see them unlearn this hatred towards femininity with the help of their new friend, Elowen. The mindset is definitely shifting, a bit slowly but surely, from “I should be allowed to do this because I’m NOT a girl” to “Why are these gender stereotypes and rules in place anyways?” as Elowen offers to teach them some magic.
“For the longest time, gender felt like being crammed into a pair of shoes I’d never fit into in the first place. Except I didn’t get to pick a new pair. I didn’t even get to try on a different pair just in case. Day after day, I wore the same small shoes, and I kept growing. And the more I grew, the less I fit.”
Going from seeing Callie be forcefully separated from their father, the only person in the city they knew or could trust, to them making friends with the prince and Elowen and seeing how these rules oppressed not only them but everyone was lovely. So few people actually fit into the standard, in systems like this everyone is just expected to shave off the parts that don’t fit or at the very least hide them away. Callie gave her new friends the hope that things can change, or at least that there is a place that they could go to be accepted. Their friends gave Callie the ability to see other points of view. For example, Elowen being a girl who doesn’t just want to heal with her magic shed some light on their more misogynistic ways of thinking and allowed them to grow.
“ ‘Family are the people who love you,’ he told me once. ‘Exactly as you are, regardless of blood and bond.’ ”
Prince Willow, Elowen, and Edwyn, Elowen’s brother, were incredibly compelling side characters, with their own, usually big, issues and a lot of unconditional love to go around (well, with Willow and Elowen) and Symes-Smith did an incredible job of making me care deeply for them. My favorite character, which surprised me, was Edwyn. I did not have a super strong reaction about anything except his arc, which I maybe cried over a little (*definitely, *a lot). Where Callie has been blessed with two wonderful dads, the other kids haven’t been so lucky. The pain and questioning that comes with having terrible (or just absent) parents was heartbreaking to read about, as the struggle with accepting themselves hinged on the acceptance of the people that should accept them regardless of who they are.
“Being brave is being scared and doing it anyway.”
Overall, this was a very solid introduction to a middle grade series, filled with friendship and bravery in all different forms. It was very much a book about being true to yourself, and I cannot wait to continue the series. Requesting the arc of book 3 because I didn’t realize that it was the third book was a great happy little accident.
3.5/5
After officially leaving her unaccepting mother, Callie has been living in paradise with their Papa and stepfather, Neal, but when their dad is called back to his knightly duties to help train a young prince, they decide to go with him. Despite Neal’s warnings that the city will not be accepting of them and that the rules are much different than they have been used to, Callie excitedly joins their dad as a squire, looking forward to training and winning a competition. When they arrive, they are immediately treated like a girl, not allowed to fight, and locked in with the other girls for not accepting their place. Through this frustrating time, Callie is forced to confront what the “different” members of the city already know—there is no place for anyone outside of the norm, and if you don’t conform, you will be tossed out. There is no glory here, just a list of games that everyone is expected to play and that hurt anyone who is different, even if that person is the next king.
“ ‘Not all battles can be fought with swords, Callie—remember that. And not all enemies want you dead.’ ”
I found this book, especially Callie’s personal journey, to be quite endearing and really loved having a nonbinary main character in a middle grade series. Callie comes in fighting, with strong convictions and an inability to hold their tongue, and there are both positives and negatives to this. The big positive is that other people who have been forced to hide who they are getting a glimpse of someone that is so unashamedly themselves for the first time, giving them hope. The big downside is that they don’t really have a tactical approach, making them a much bigger target for bigots, even being used as an example of what is wrong with the world. Learning how to navigate this world with all these rules that Callie hasn’t had to adhere to in so long is both exhausting and motivating, as our young knight never loses themselves, but does learn how to play the system to some extent.
“I’m more aware than ever how much I dislike the magical part of myself, and how often I’ve wished it away. It doesn’t work like that. If it’s part of you. Whether you’re a girl or a boy, or both or neither. You don’t get to pick and choose, especially not for other people.”
When Callie first comes to the city, it is evident that they have some internalized misogyny and hate everything that is associated with femininity, including magic, which is traditionally only found in girls. It makes complete sense for this to be the case, as they are extremely young and were forced to be a girl for many years, and it was incredibly satisfying to see them unlearn this hatred towards femininity with the help of their new friend, Elowen. The mindset is definitely shifting, a bit slowly but surely, from “I should be allowed to do this because I’m NOT a girl” to “Why are these gender stereotypes and rules in place anyways?” as Elowen offers to teach them some magic.
“For the longest time, gender felt like being crammed into a pair of shoes I’d never fit into in the first place. Except I didn’t get to pick a new pair. I didn’t even get to try on a different pair just in case. Day after day, I wore the same small shoes, and I kept growing. And the more I grew, the less I fit.”
Going from seeing Callie be forcefully separated from their father, the only person in the city they knew or could trust, to them making friends with the prince and Elowen and seeing how these rules oppressed not only them but everyone was lovely. So few people actually fit into the standard, in systems like this everyone is just expected to shave off the parts that don’t fit or at the very least hide them away. Callie gave her new friends the hope that things can change, or at least that there is a place that they could go to be accepted. Their friends gave Callie the ability to see other points of view. For example, Elowen being a girl who doesn’t just want to heal with her magic shed some light on their more misogynistic ways of thinking and allowed them to grow.
“ ‘Family are the people who love you,’ he told me once. ‘Exactly as you are, regardless of blood and bond.’ ”
Prince Willow, Elowen, and Edwyn, Elowen’s brother, were incredibly compelling side characters, with their own, usually big, issues and a lot of unconditional love to go around (well, with Willow and Elowen) and Symes-Smith did an incredible job of making me care deeply for them. My favorite character, which surprised me, was Edwyn. I did not have a super strong reaction about anything except his arc, which I maybe cried over a little (*definitely, *a lot). Where Callie has been blessed with two wonderful dads, the other kids haven’t been so lucky. The pain and questioning that comes with having terrible (or just absent) parents was heartbreaking to read about, as the struggle with accepting themselves hinged on the acceptance of the people that should accept them regardless of who they are.
“Being brave is being scared and doing it anyway.”
Overall, this was a very solid introduction to a middle grade series, filled with friendship and bravery in all different forms. It was very much a book about being true to yourself, and I cannot wait to continue the series. Requesting the arc of book 3 because I didn’t realize that it was the third book was a great happy little accident.
3.5/5
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October 3, 2022
A delightful middle grade high fantasy that explores the gender binaries imposed upon high fantasy worlds...and learning to break free of rigidity to embrace your true self.
I really, really enjoyed this one, and highlighted several sentences that I probably should share.
This book is so wonderfully queer, and while it does not shy away from hardship (trigger warnings for child abuse and misgendering), it does end on a hopeful and high note that things will change for the better...while also noting that change is going to be hard and might feel really impossible in the moment.
I did like that there were both external and internal factors at play, but the book chooses to focus on the internal struggles of the closed society of Helston, exploring the stifling ways patriarchy imposes itself in a contained society while literally othering the rest of the world and anything that the person in power does not possess (magic=bad because mostly women have it, and to control magic you must control women). Focusing on fixing—or at least course correcting—the rigid autocracy of the internal before focusing on the external threat of the evil witch was something I really liked, and I also liked that Callie's dad was not shown as perfect, but he was always trying to help while also struggling with his own privilege and past relationships with people. And I loved that in the end the parents step in and literally force the children to be children--emphasizing that they are twelve and the weight of the world does not rest upon their shoulders.
It emphasizes that bravery is not just fighting the big monsters, but also tackling the smaller, more invisible ones too, of battling prejudice and injustice, and that winning can sometimes look like losing or capitulation because what matters most is survival. And also the power of friendship and the family you choose for yourself.
Anywho, this was a really fantastic first installment of a middle grade series featuring a nonbinary main character who is determined to be themself and become a knight—no matter the challenges they face!
I received this ARC from NetGalley
I really, really enjoyed this one, and highlighted several sentences that I probably should share.
This book is so wonderfully queer, and while it does not shy away from hardship (trigger warnings for child abuse and misgendering), it does end on a hopeful and high note that things will change for the better...while also noting that change is going to be hard and might feel really impossible in the moment.
I did like that there were both external and internal factors at play, but the book chooses to focus on the internal struggles of the closed society of Helston, exploring the stifling ways patriarchy imposes itself in a contained society while literally othering the rest of the world and anything that the person in power does not possess (magic=bad because mostly women have it, and to control magic you must control women). Focusing on fixing—or at least course correcting—the rigid autocracy of the internal before focusing on the external threat of the evil witch was something I really liked, and I also liked that Callie's dad was not shown as perfect, but he was always trying to help while also struggling with his own privilege and past relationships with people. And I loved that in the end the parents step in and literally force the children to be children--emphasizing that they are twelve and the weight of the world does not rest upon their shoulders.
It emphasizes that bravery is not just fighting the big monsters, but also tackling the smaller, more invisible ones too, of battling prejudice and injustice, and that winning can sometimes look like losing or capitulation because what matters most is survival. And also the power of friendship and the family you choose for yourself.
Anywho, this was a really fantastic first installment of a middle grade series featuring a nonbinary main character who is determined to be themself and become a knight—no matter the challenges they face!
I received this ARC from NetGalley
August 17, 2025
are you looking for a fierce nonbinary fantasy lead, battling oppressive gender norms and abusive adults, forging a found family of traumatised kids while being supported by their two loving dads?
read this if you enjoyed The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle; Robin of Sherwood by Michael Morpurgo; The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
rep: nonbinary, Sapphic MC; two Achillean dads; queer-coded secondary cast; side characters dealing with various levels of trauma and anxiety; grieving mother with implied depression.
cw: child abuse (physical, emotional, psychological); bullying; deadnaming; misgendering; incarceration of a child; abusive parents; gaslighting; implied suicide of a parent; death of a sibling; grief; anxiety; trauma; generally homophobic/queerphobic society.
Let me first say, those who follow my reviews know I try to review fairly, honestly, and lean more towards strict than forgiving in my critique. So, prepare yourselves, because according to my notes this is officially A. Perfect. Book. I truly can't recommend it highly enough. This story is essential reading for all ages. I think adults will find the themes of child abuse, coded and blatant queerphobia, and intense parental threat difficult to deal with at times, but for younger readers I think Callie's fierce, determined voice and personality will shield them from the full horror of the villain's schemes.
There is nothing quite like Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston. A high fantasy medieval MG novel with a significant page count that reads with wonderful ease and engaging prose, with characters to die for and an important and timely message, with universal themes and exquisite pacing. A nonbinary lead with two dads in a beautifully supportive relationship, exploring what it means to be a family and how to heal from trauma. The story doesn't shy away from the horrors of child abuse, with three of the main child characters experiencing this throughout the story, and Callie also not being spared. The fundamental trajectory of the novel is how to be brave, and what it means to be kind and strong. I have no doubt this will be my best book of 2022. I can't wait for my physical copy to arrive so I can start highlighting whole paragraphs.
Thank you, Esme Symes-Smith, for writing this book. Thank you for bringing Calllie, Willow, Edwyn and Elowyn to life. Thank you for Neal and Nick. Thank you for having a sequel in the pipeline - please give us more! I would adore seeing this cast of characters grow through their teenage years.
BUY THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW.
CAWPILE: 10 (5*) HOLY CRAP IT'S A PERFECT BOOK!
favourite character: Neal and Nick. Perfectly imperfect parents, I wish they were both my dads.
most relatable character: All the kids, especially Edwyn and Elowyn in the second half, and Willow in the first half.
a wish: Please make this series longer than a duology!
disclaimer: I read this on my Kindle, but I've bought a paperback copy as well. That's how much I love this book! First ever multi-format purchase <3
read this if you enjoyed The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle; Robin of Sherwood by Michael Morpurgo; The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
rep: nonbinary, Sapphic MC; two Achillean dads; queer-coded secondary cast; side characters dealing with various levels of trauma and anxiety; grieving mother with implied depression.
cw: child abuse (physical, emotional, psychological); bullying; deadnaming; misgendering; incarceration of a child; abusive parents; gaslighting; implied suicide of a parent; death of a sibling; grief; anxiety; trauma; generally homophobic/queerphobic society.
Let me first say, those who follow my reviews know I try to review fairly, honestly, and lean more towards strict than forgiving in my critique. So, prepare yourselves, because according to my notes this is officially A. Perfect. Book. I truly can't recommend it highly enough. This story is essential reading for all ages. I think adults will find the themes of child abuse, coded and blatant queerphobia, and intense parental threat difficult to deal with at times, but for younger readers I think Callie's fierce, determined voice and personality will shield them from the full horror of the villain's schemes.
There is nothing quite like Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston. A high fantasy medieval MG novel with a significant page count that reads with wonderful ease and engaging prose, with characters to die for and an important and timely message, with universal themes and exquisite pacing. A nonbinary lead with two dads in a beautifully supportive relationship, exploring what it means to be a family and how to heal from trauma. The story doesn't shy away from the horrors of child abuse, with three of the main child characters experiencing this throughout the story, and Callie also not being spared. The fundamental trajectory of the novel is how to be brave, and what it means to be kind and strong. I have no doubt this will be my best book of 2022. I can't wait for my physical copy to arrive so I can start highlighting whole paragraphs.
Thank you, Esme Symes-Smith, for writing this book. Thank you for bringing Calllie, Willow, Edwyn and Elowyn to life. Thank you for Neal and Nick. Thank you for having a sequel in the pipeline - please give us more! I would adore seeing this cast of characters grow through their teenage years.
BUY THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW.
CAWPILE: 10 (5*) HOLY CRAP IT'S A PERFECT BOOK!
favourite character: Neal and Nick. Perfectly imperfect parents, I wish they were both my dads.
most relatable character: All the kids, especially Edwyn and Elowyn in the second half, and Willow in the first half.
a wish: Please make this series longer than a duology!
disclaimer: I read this on my Kindle, but I've bought a paperback copy as well. That's how much I love this book! First ever multi-format purchase <3
October 6, 2024
super duper cool!! this is a remarkably balanced book with both reasonable plot and character development; plus the author's done it so that you can still empathize at least somewhat with all characters (even if they're villains). also i appreciate that there isn't a clear line between 'good' or 'bad' characters i.e. the queen, who gives credit to both callie and the chancellor.
honestly i was thinking of any aspects where i could nitpick 😅 but except for a bit of predictability(i can guess what's gonna happen with the chancellor) its pretty much perfect🙃
bob 24 #5
--------------------------------------
second lgbtq book in the bob book list since the girl from the sea in 2023???
honestly i was thinking of any aspects where i could nitpick 😅 but except for a bit of predictability(i can guess what's gonna happen with the chancellor) its pretty much perfect🙃
bob 24 #5
--------------------------------------
second lgbtq book in the bob book list since the girl from the sea in 2023???
June 19, 2021
This book!! Is everything!! There are so few middle grade fantasy books centering queer characters, and this one truly does not disappoint. It has so much heart, and the well-developed characters are given the space to grow into themselves as they find their strength and their voices. The author nails the middle grade tone perfectly, and the balance between plot and character development is spot-on. I seriously cannot recommend it enough!
November 14, 2022
*3.5
Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston is an important read that deals with some heavy topics. I do wish I'd been a little more prepared for how dark it would be at times, because in all honesty, I was expecting a much more light-hearted read. Unfortunately, I think this affected my feelings towards the story while I was reading it. Even though I did have some difficulties, I did enjoy reading it, and I think it's one that should be read and used to start some very important conversations about gender norms in our society.
Callie, the main character of the story, is a headstrong and brave person just looking for their place in the world. They arrive in Helston thinking they may be able to find a place there, but intolerance and bigotry run rampant in Helston. Callie then teams up with Elowen and Willow, who both feel like outsiders themselves. Those who know me know I love a found family, and there was plenty of that to go around in this story! I loved the bonds the three of them shared, and was rooting for Edwyn to overcome his internal turmoil over his father the whole time.
Edwyn was the most compelling character, and I wish we'd gotten even more of his story. I have no doubt we will in the sequel though, so I'm excited about that. He's a perfect example of how intolerance can continue to grow from generation to generation, despite his thoughts being completely different from his parents. Even so, he's desperate to prove his worth in their eyes, even if that means conforming himself to an image he hates, agreeing with ideals that aren't his, and completely losing his sense of self. This is sadly a reality that many young people experience and go through, so I thought the inclusion of his character was really well done. I especially liked the contrast between him and Elowen. Two siblings who grew up in the same environment but ultimately came to completely different conclusions on how to handle the hand they'd been dealt.
I truly loved Callie, Willow, and Elowen's exploration of identity. Fitting in, especially in a society that is already against you from the start, is never going to be easy. I appreciated how the three of them tiptoed the line between going along and outward defiance. It shows that sometimes, no matter how we feel, we have to hold back our true opinions as a matter of safety. However, if we can, we absolutely should speak out against the injustices we see and experience.
The biggest reason this book is not s four stars from me is because of how difficult it was to read. Not writing style wise--that was perfectly fine. I mean, emotionally. Because we deal with such a hateful and bigoted community, Callie experiences a lot of hate, and is constantly misgendered. My heart was heavy the entire time, and every time someone said something unkind to Callie, Willow, or Elowen, I became so sad and angry. This is a reality that many young people face. It’s a reality that anyone who is different from what society deems “normal” faces. It shouldn't be like this, but unfortunately it is.
Which is why books like these are so necessary. I'm so glad it exists, and even though it was hard to read at times, I'm still happy I read it. While I am a firm believer that we deserve stories with happy trans characters, stories like these are also vital to opening a dialogue—especially with younger people—so that we can do our best to reverse this ugly cycle of intolerance we find ourselves stuck in time and time again.
So, even though it was hard, I highly recommend Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston. Just be prepared it is not a fun and light read. There are sad and heavy topics discussed throughout, but it is worth it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston is an important read that deals with some heavy topics. I do wish I'd been a little more prepared for how dark it would be at times, because in all honesty, I was expecting a much more light-hearted read. Unfortunately, I think this affected my feelings towards the story while I was reading it. Even though I did have some difficulties, I did enjoy reading it, and I think it's one that should be read and used to start some very important conversations about gender norms in our society.
Callie, the main character of the story, is a headstrong and brave person just looking for their place in the world. They arrive in Helston thinking they may be able to find a place there, but intolerance and bigotry run rampant in Helston. Callie then teams up with Elowen and Willow, who both feel like outsiders themselves. Those who know me know I love a found family, and there was plenty of that to go around in this story! I loved the bonds the three of them shared, and was rooting for Edwyn to overcome his internal turmoil over his father the whole time.
Edwyn was the most compelling character, and I wish we'd gotten even more of his story. I have no doubt we will in the sequel though, so I'm excited about that. He's a perfect example of how intolerance can continue to grow from generation to generation, despite his thoughts being completely different from his parents. Even so, he's desperate to prove his worth in their eyes, even if that means conforming himself to an image he hates, agreeing with ideals that aren't his, and completely losing his sense of self. This is sadly a reality that many young people experience and go through, so I thought the inclusion of his character was really well done. I especially liked the contrast between him and Elowen. Two siblings who grew up in the same environment but ultimately came to completely different conclusions on how to handle the hand they'd been dealt.
I truly loved Callie, Willow, and Elowen's exploration of identity. Fitting in, especially in a society that is already against you from the start, is never going to be easy. I appreciated how the three of them tiptoed the line between going along and outward defiance. It shows that sometimes, no matter how we feel, we have to hold back our true opinions as a matter of safety. However, if we can, we absolutely should speak out against the injustices we see and experience.
The biggest reason this book is not s four stars from me is because of how difficult it was to read. Not writing style wise--that was perfectly fine. I mean, emotionally. Because we deal with such a hateful and bigoted community, Callie experiences a lot of hate, and is constantly misgendered. My heart was heavy the entire time, and every time someone said something unkind to Callie, Willow, or Elowen, I became so sad and angry. This is a reality that many young people face. It’s a reality that anyone who is different from what society deems “normal” faces. It shouldn't be like this, but unfortunately it is.
Which is why books like these are so necessary. I'm so glad it exists, and even though it was hard to read at times, I'm still happy I read it. While I am a firm believer that we deserve stories with happy trans characters, stories like these are also vital to opening a dialogue—especially with younger people—so that we can do our best to reverse this ugly cycle of intolerance we find ourselves stuck in time and time again.
So, even though it was hard, I highly recommend Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston. Just be prepared it is not a fun and light read. There are sad and heavy topics discussed throughout, but it is worth it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
October 21, 2022
A good book should, regardless of intended audience or genre, make you feel. Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston does just that - and it's one of those middle grade books that ought to be read by people technically too old for the demographic. Esme Symes-Smith offers both a rollicking good story and a window into what it's like to be the kid who doesn't fit in and how adult attitudes can crush you, and whether you were that kid, forgot you were that kid, or never experienced it, it's a lesson that we all need to hear. (For context, I'm cisgender, but aro/ace, which definitely wasn't an acceptable thing when I was growing up.)
The story follows Callie, a nonbinary twelve-year-old who dreams of becoming a knight in the kingdom of Helston, just like their dad. Their mom is abusive because she can't stand that Callie doesn't fit the "girl" mold, and after their dad takes them away, things seem to be looking up for Callie. When the opportunity arises for their dad to resume his knightly duties, Callie begs to go with - only to learn what their stepfather Neal (Dad's new husband) warned them about: Helston doesn't like anyone who's different.
Symes-Smith uses the idea that girls use magic and boys become knights as a metaphor for the gender binary, and while it's a bit on the nose at times, it's a good way to present it, because in the fantasy genre, that sounds pretty silly. Callie goes head-to-head with Lord Peran, one of the most frustratingly despicable villains I've had the misfortune to meet on the page, and watching them finally convince everyone (read: adults) that Peran is wrong and a bully is profoundly satisfying. There are some substantial content warnings for deliberate misgendering and domestic abuse (Peran abuses his son and encourages him to be a bully), so if you do give this to a middle grade reader, I'd suggest being ready to read it with them or discuss it with them.
Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston is one of those books that I wish had always been around. At its heart, it's about how there's no one right way to be a person (unless you're a bullying twit), and it both brings needed nonbinary representation to middle grade fiction and is a solid, fast-reading story. It's probably more of a 4.5 due to some linguistic inconsistencies, but it touched me so deeply and was so hard to put down that I can't imagine not rounding it up.
The story follows Callie, a nonbinary twelve-year-old who dreams of becoming a knight in the kingdom of Helston, just like their dad. Their mom is abusive because she can't stand that Callie doesn't fit the "girl" mold, and after their dad takes them away, things seem to be looking up for Callie. When the opportunity arises for their dad to resume his knightly duties, Callie begs to go with - only to learn what their stepfather Neal (Dad's new husband) warned them about: Helston doesn't like anyone who's different.
Symes-Smith uses the idea that girls use magic and boys become knights as a metaphor for the gender binary, and while it's a bit on the nose at times, it's a good way to present it, because in the fantasy genre, that sounds pretty silly. Callie goes head-to-head with Lord Peran, one of the most frustratingly despicable villains I've had the misfortune to meet on the page, and watching them finally convince everyone (read: adults) that Peran is wrong and a bully is profoundly satisfying. There are some substantial content warnings for deliberate misgendering and domestic abuse (Peran abuses his son and encourages him to be a bully), so if you do give this to a middle grade reader, I'd suggest being ready to read it with them or discuss it with them.
Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston is one of those books that I wish had always been around. At its heart, it's about how there's no one right way to be a person (unless you're a bullying twit), and it both brings needed nonbinary representation to middle grade fiction and is a solid, fast-reading story. It's probably more of a 4.5 due to some linguistic inconsistencies, but it touched me so deeply and was so hard to put down that I can't imagine not rounding it up.
February 4, 2025
THIS WAS SO CUTE 🥰😭😍
I cannot wait to read the rest of the series. I loved everything about it and I am so excited to follow Callie and their dads and Willow and the twins on all of their dragon slaying adventures.
This one does touch on some heavier things but I actually appreciated that. A lot of the times middle grade will shy away from hard-hitting topics and unfortunately the reality for queer and trans kids all across the world is not great/outright bad and so watching/listening to this fierce non-binary sword-wielding kid go right up against those adult bullies was powerful for me as a queer adult and I can only imagine how moving it will be for queer and trans kids.
I cannot wait to read the rest of the series. I loved everything about it and I am so excited to follow Callie and their dads and Willow and the twins on all of their dragon slaying adventures.
This one does touch on some heavier things but I actually appreciated that. A lot of the times middle grade will shy away from hard-hitting topics and unfortunately the reality for queer and trans kids all across the world is not great/outright bad and so watching/listening to this fierce non-binary sword-wielding kid go right up against those adult bullies was powerful for me as a queer adult and I can only imagine how moving it will be for queer and trans kids.
July 2, 2023
Honestly one of my favourite MG books ever I think! It was so cool and fun and still full of big feelings about queerness, belonging, family and friendship. I loved all the characters, but especially Willow and Edwyn! I'm sooo excited for book two
March 29, 2022
This book is an absolute joy. Fiercely inclusive and wildly clever, it is both a classic middle grade adventure fantasy and a deep dive into finding your own path in the world and surrounding yourself with people who support and love you for exactly who you are. Perfect for MG fantasy readers and people of all ages. I loved it.
October 14, 2025
Oct 2025 Update -
It’s been about 2 and a half years since I originally read this and I’m trying to reread them all before I get my hands on book 4. I thought I’d try and write a somewhat more coherent review.
I grew up on Tamora Pierce and this really feels like revisiting that but for a newer audience. Also by making it more overtly queer not just me headcanoning every character as queer. We follow an MC who doesn’t feel right with the life that’s been laid out for them. Yet they have the courage to stand up and fight for what they want and for their friends who might not be able to.
This is a book I wish I had as a kid. It handles gender in an easily understood way for younger readers but doesn’t shy away from the reality of being trans. There will be people that don’t want you to exist but you have to be true to yourself and persevere.
There’s really something about a good middle grade villain that make me so annoyed and angry at them (Peran count your days, also looking at you Rex Manning). These villains really make you feel the highs and lows that the MC is feeling. You get to experience the extremely satisfying ending of this book but also know there’s no way a man that evil would stop there.
The adults in this series are also one of my favourite parts. They care so much but are also at times unreliable and messy, much like actual humans. Being an adult reading a children’s series, it’s fun to get that perspective from them being like “oh my god my 12 year old is putting themselves in danger to find a quick solution again” but at the same time you know they’ll support them no matter what.
I love all of the main characters so much and watching them grow and struggle throughout this series has been both a joy and one of the most stressful reading experiences haha. I cannot wait to get to the last book and hopefully their happy ending!
April 2023 -
THIS BOOK! This is what the future of middle grade should be in my opinion at least. It was so tense and realistic to the enby experience sometimes. The stakes felt so real and the ending was so satisfying. I felt for all the characters and loved the found family dynamics. I had so many feelings reading this book and it made me cry multiple times. This book is so important to me ahhhhhhh
It’s been about 2 and a half years since I originally read this and I’m trying to reread them all before I get my hands on book 4. I thought I’d try and write a somewhat more coherent review.
I grew up on Tamora Pierce and this really feels like revisiting that but for a newer audience. Also by making it more overtly queer not just me headcanoning every character as queer. We follow an MC who doesn’t feel right with the life that’s been laid out for them. Yet they have the courage to stand up and fight for what they want and for their friends who might not be able to.
This is a book I wish I had as a kid. It handles gender in an easily understood way for younger readers but doesn’t shy away from the reality of being trans. There will be people that don’t want you to exist but you have to be true to yourself and persevere.
There’s really something about a good middle grade villain that make me so annoyed and angry at them (Peran count your days, also looking at you Rex Manning). These villains really make you feel the highs and lows that the MC is feeling. You get to experience the extremely satisfying ending of this book but also know there’s no way a man that evil would stop there.
The adults in this series are also one of my favourite parts. They care so much but are also at times unreliable and messy, much like actual humans. Being an adult reading a children’s series, it’s fun to get that perspective from them being like “oh my god my 12 year old is putting themselves in danger to find a quick solution again” but at the same time you know they’ll support them no matter what.
I love all of the main characters so much and watching them grow and struggle throughout this series has been both a joy and one of the most stressful reading experiences haha. I cannot wait to get to the last book and hopefully their happy ending!
April 2023 -
THIS BOOK! This is what the future of middle grade should be in my opinion at least. It was so tense and realistic to the enby experience sometimes. The stakes felt so real and the ending was so satisfying. I felt for all the characters and loved the found family dynamics. I had so many feelings reading this book and it made me cry multiple times. This book is so important to me ahhhhhhh
October 1, 2022
Some books are revolutionary. Sir Callie is one of them.
It is a tale of strength, of growth, of nonlinear healing. It approaches a rigid world with such gentleness, and pushes back against harsh ideals with a singular truth: you deserve to be loved as yourself.
It's incredibly, yet unfortunately, timely, in a world where queer kids and queer books are being increasingly targeted just for existing. It is one that will be rushed to be banned, but I also believe that it will change the lives of queer kids. It would've changed the life of mine. It takes the stance that cruelty and abuse are exactly that, even when cloaked in fancy words or even kindness. And one of the things that this book does the best, one of the things I love the most about it, is that it leaves room for those who have lived under those condition to feel as they feel. Trauma is different in every person, and no reaction or feeling is wrong - and this book makes sure that fact is clear as crystal. Anger, fear, bitterness, stubbornness, twisted loved, it's all allowed to exist. It's all given room to breath. It's not just a testament to this book's kindness, it's importance, but to it's writing. It does justice to every single character it brings on the page. Their journeys are treated with respect, but not only that, they are masterfully crafted.
I have a lot of feelings about this book, but one of the biggest is gratitude that it exists. It is exceptional in its importance, but it's also just downright good. Secret knight lessons? Nonbinary main character? Sapphic vibes? Magic? Dragons? Found family? It's one that is tucked close to my heart.
(Also, I’m just gonna say that I would kill for this to be a long-standing series so I could watch Callie and their friends grow into teenagers. I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to watch each character heal and grow because their stories, oh their stories are so well done.)
It is a tale of strength, of growth, of nonlinear healing. It approaches a rigid world with such gentleness, and pushes back against harsh ideals with a singular truth: you deserve to be loved as yourself.
It's incredibly, yet unfortunately, timely, in a world where queer kids and queer books are being increasingly targeted just for existing. It is one that will be rushed to be banned, but I also believe that it will change the lives of queer kids. It would've changed the life of mine. It takes the stance that cruelty and abuse are exactly that, even when cloaked in fancy words or even kindness. And one of the things that this book does the best, one of the things I love the most about it, is that it leaves room for those who have lived under those condition to feel as they feel. Trauma is different in every person, and no reaction or feeling is wrong - and this book makes sure that fact is clear as crystal. Anger, fear, bitterness, stubbornness, twisted loved, it's all allowed to exist. It's all given room to breath. It's not just a testament to this book's kindness, it's importance, but to it's writing. It does justice to every single character it brings on the page. Their journeys are treated with respect, but not only that, they are masterfully crafted.
I have a lot of feelings about this book, but one of the biggest is gratitude that it exists. It is exceptional in its importance, but it's also just downright good. Secret knight lessons? Nonbinary main character? Sapphic vibes? Magic? Dragons? Found family? It's one that is tucked close to my heart.
(Also, I’m just gonna say that I would kill for this to be a long-standing series so I could watch Callie and their friends grow into teenagers. I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to watch each character heal and grow because their stories, oh their stories are so well done.)
December 7, 2022
I have known Esme for two years(ish), and I've seen them slaving over this book, worried about getting it right. They typed for hours, so much so that I thought they were going to set the keyboard on fire. Then, the editing into midday. Then, the outlines for the next one (OH YES. THERE WILL BE MORE. Sir Callie's story doesn't end here!). I have seen them at their best, and their stressed out worst, and I want everyone to know that the final product you want to pick up and hold in your hands is one of the biggest, most amazing pieces of love ever crafted by one of the most big-hearted, phenomenal people I have ever met. It is both warm fuzzy love, and cold hard love, but it is love all the same. Esme poured pure, unaltered love in crafting this beautiful story. If you read it and come away with anything, it's that this book was made with love, especially for a group of people that Esme belongs to, and one group that they know faces trials and tribulations of being misgendered, misunderstood, misnamed, and made miserable because of prejudice and old traditions.
—
I want to give context for my reading experience, because I feel that is important. Because, it's easy to say "this is an LGBTQ+ book for those who swing that way."
I am a heterosexual, Christian, conservative reader. I am, from society's perspective, NOT the target audience (if there ever was one) for this book. By all means, most who believe the same way I do would tell me to run away from it. And yet, I read and LOVED THIS BOOK. Even if Esme didn't write it, and I didn't know them, I would love it all the same. Everybody should read it, regardless of who you are, and what you know to be true for yourself.
—
Why? Because this is:
A fantasy book.
A book with great characters and fleshed out villains.
A book that makes you feel things.
A book that makes you connect with the characters, and you see yourself in them, even if you don't struggle with the same things they do.
A book with a surefire beginning, middle and end, one that isn't stretched out to lengthen the book and water it down (I hate it when authors stretch things so publishers can milk money out of people).
A book that tackles really hard topics, but important topics that EVERYONE should know about… even if you have to take a break from reading the book a few times (like me, who wanted to end Peran once, raise him with a Phoenix Down [A Final Fantasy reference for those keeping score], and then off him again, because of how HORRIBLE of a human being… no, how horrible of an animal… no, how HORRIBLE OF A…. I don't even have a word for him!!! Because, calling him ANYTHING would insult whatever creature I am comparing him to. UGH).
A book that will change the lives of young people everywhere.
A book that is extremely well written. Many questions are answered, but several are open-ended, ones that you know will be explored in later books.
A book that has a clear cut magic system and chivalric code that is easy to follow and UNCOMPLICATED.
A book that REALLY ISN'T COMPLICATED, which is suitable for Middle grade readers.
And that is a list of 10 reasons why this book is *chef's kiss* beautiful.
–
Do I have critiques? Yes. There are a few things in this book that I could pick at that irked me, or weren't my preference (mostly about how the kids acted... Adult brained me says "No! Don't do that!" But, I have years of maturity and experience that the kids in this book don't have)... However, I won't. I won't because, as an ADULT, I can't. I read this book, I loved this book, and there are so many things about this book that I may not have preferred, but I know needed to be there. Why? Because, even though this book is something for everyone to enjoy, this is also a book specifically crafted for a younger audience than me, going through weird experiences and balancing the need for independence and the search for approval from adults. I can easily say "I wouldn't do that!" now, as an adult. But, for a kid? There's a method to the madness. As an ADULT, I can't truly judge this book up to adult standards because that would be putting it into an identity role that it was not meant for. :)
–
I can see this book being taught in so many schools, for the ones who will allow it to sit in little hands to read.
—
I want to give context for my reading experience, because I feel that is important. Because, it's easy to say "this is an LGBTQ+ book for those who swing that way."
I am a heterosexual, Christian, conservative reader. I am, from society's perspective, NOT the target audience (if there ever was one) for this book. By all means, most who believe the same way I do would tell me to run away from it. And yet, I read and LOVED THIS BOOK. Even if Esme didn't write it, and I didn't know them, I would love it all the same. Everybody should read it, regardless of who you are, and what you know to be true for yourself.
—
Why? Because this is:
A fantasy book.
A book with great characters and fleshed out villains.
A book that makes you feel things.
A book that makes you connect with the characters, and you see yourself in them, even if you don't struggle with the same things they do.
A book with a surefire beginning, middle and end, one that isn't stretched out to lengthen the book and water it down (I hate it when authors stretch things so publishers can milk money out of people).
A book that tackles really hard topics, but important topics that EVERYONE should know about… even if you have to take a break from reading the book a few times (like me, who wanted to end Peran once, raise him with a Phoenix Down [A Final Fantasy reference for those keeping score], and then off him again, because of how HORRIBLE of a human being… no, how horrible of an animal… no, how HORRIBLE OF A…. I don't even have a word for him!!! Because, calling him ANYTHING would insult whatever creature I am comparing him to. UGH).
A book that will change the lives of young people everywhere.
A book that is extremely well written. Many questions are answered, but several are open-ended, ones that you know will be explored in later books.
A book that has a clear cut magic system and chivalric code that is easy to follow and UNCOMPLICATED.
A book that REALLY ISN'T COMPLICATED, which is suitable for Middle grade readers.
And that is a list of 10 reasons why this book is *chef's kiss* beautiful.
–
Do I have critiques? Yes. There are a few things in this book that I could pick at that irked me, or weren't my preference (mostly about how the kids acted... Adult brained me says "No! Don't do that!" But, I have years of maturity and experience that the kids in this book don't have)... However, I won't. I won't because, as an ADULT, I can't. I read this book, I loved this book, and there are so many things about this book that I may not have preferred, but I know needed to be there. Why? Because, even though this book is something for everyone to enjoy, this is also a book specifically crafted for a younger audience than me, going through weird experiences and balancing the need for independence and the search for approval from adults. I can easily say "I wouldn't do that!" now, as an adult. But, for a kid? There's a method to the madness. As an ADULT, I can't truly judge this book up to adult standards because that would be putting it into an identity role that it was not meant for. :)
–
I can see this book being taught in so many schools, for the ones who will allow it to sit in little hands to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2022
Thank you to Labyrinth Road/Random House, the author, and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will release November 8, 2022.
Not all battles are fought with swords, Callie. Not all enemies want you dead.
Callie knows two things to be true: they are not a girl, and they’re going to follow in their father’s footsteps and become the best darn knight the realm has ever seen. Unfortunately, the kingdom doesn’t quite see things their way: girls do magic, boys are knights, and that’s that.
Well, not if Callie gets their way. They’re on their way to Helston, the capital, where their dad is to train the crown prince, and they’re sure this is their opportunity. But they’ll have to fight tooth and nail for it—and for all their new friends to have the chance to heal and walk the paths they want.
This book… just totally blew me away. I knew I was going to adore it, fall in love with Callie’s tenacity and Elowen’s brilliance and Willow’s gentleness, and maybe even Edwyn I guess, and rage alongside Callie at the society—and in particular, at one absolutely infuriating, supremely intolerant man that I would like to dropkick into the sun—that refuses to see beyond the arbitrary limitations it has imposed based on gender. Yet I was still somehow surprised by how delighted I was while reading, even as Callie and their friends faced huge difficulties in their personal lives. (For reference, Callie is all too frequently misgendered by the adults in power—though never their father—and the other kid characters are subjected to domestic abuse at the hands of a parent/parental figure, so be on the lookout for that. However, I am glad that the author didn’t shy away from including any of this, and in my opinion, it’s handled really well.) Anyway, every single moment when you want to cheer while reading this is earned, and preceded by a battle, and sometimes those battles don’t even involve swords—but they’re no less important.
I really can’t say enough good things about these kids and what Esme Symes-Smith has created here. As in, I could go on, but then we’d be here a while. The ending wasn’t the one I expected but it is, in fact, the ending that Callie and I, as the reader, deserve. And there’s still so much to explore in Helston and beyond because of course, there’s that looming war…
Get this book. Get it get it get it. And help others (particularly queer kids) find their way to it! Middle grade fantasy shelves everywhere will be all the stronger for joining up with the Champions of Helston, because friends are better than heroes.
Not all battles are fought with swords, Callie. Not all enemies want you dead.
Callie knows two things to be true: they are not a girl, and they’re going to follow in their father’s footsteps and become the best darn knight the realm has ever seen. Unfortunately, the kingdom doesn’t quite see things their way: girls do magic, boys are knights, and that’s that.
Well, not if Callie gets their way. They’re on their way to Helston, the capital, where their dad is to train the crown prince, and they’re sure this is their opportunity. But they’ll have to fight tooth and nail for it—and for all their new friends to have the chance to heal and walk the paths they want.
This book… just totally blew me away. I knew I was going to adore it, fall in love with Callie’s tenacity and Elowen’s brilliance and Willow’s gentleness, and maybe even Edwyn I guess, and rage alongside Callie at the society—and in particular, at one absolutely infuriating, supremely intolerant man that I would like to dropkick into the sun—that refuses to see beyond the arbitrary limitations it has imposed based on gender. Yet I was still somehow surprised by how delighted I was while reading, even as Callie and their friends faced huge difficulties in their personal lives. (For reference, Callie is all too frequently misgendered by the adults in power—though never their father—and the other kid characters are subjected to domestic abuse at the hands of a parent/parental figure, so be on the lookout for that. However, I am glad that the author didn’t shy away from including any of this, and in my opinion, it’s handled really well.) Anyway, every single moment when you want to cheer while reading this is earned, and preceded by a battle, and sometimes those battles don’t even involve swords—but they’re no less important.
I really can’t say enough good things about these kids and what Esme Symes-Smith has created here. As in, I could go on, but then we’d be here a while. The ending wasn’t the one I expected but it is, in fact, the ending that Callie and I, as the reader, deserve. And there’s still so much to explore in Helston and beyond because of course, there’s that looming war…
Get this book. Get it get it get it. And help others (particularly queer kids) find their way to it! Middle grade fantasy shelves everywhere will be all the stronger for joining up with the Champions of Helston, because friends are better than heroes.
May 17, 2024
A wonderful book full of magic and knights! I want only good things for the kids in this book.
My only gripe is that some of the chapter breaks are odd and the sense of time is loose for much of the book. When you've got a ticking clock, I feel like you should use it!
My only gripe is that some of the chapter breaks are odd and the sense of time is loose for much of the book. When you've got a ticking clock, I feel like you should use it!
Read
September 14, 2022Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's for an advance copy!
tl;dr
A thoughtful and complex story featuring a likable non-binary protagonist and a great supporting cast. The amount of prejudice the MC has to face is really stressful to read.
About
Only girls do magic. Only boys can be knights. Callie has never thought of themselves as a girl or a boy, but their dream to become a knight someday is blocked by the fact that everyone else sees Callie as a girl. But Callie's determined to prove themselves, and an invitation to the royal capital might be the chance they need to do so.
Thoughts
This is a tough one to review. I typically try to highlight things I enjoyed versus parts that weren't for me, but it was hard for me to enjoy this. To be clear, this is a very good book. Callie's struggles are raw and relatable, and my heart broke for them more than once. The other kids are unique and complex and beautiful, and it was great to see genuine thoughtfulness centered on the discussion of family and abuse, self-loathing, and how messy love can be. But dang, reading this was tough. Callie is misgendered regularly, on purpose, and with hurtful intent. Gender roles in this world are so rigid and pithy that even our heroic Callie starts out with a very dim view of women. Trans readers who have been down this path in real life already might find re-treading this ground to be tiresome. That being said, I think this book would have been perfect for me when I was younger, and I think it will resonate with any young reader looking for a story about friends, family, and adventure.
tl;dr
A thoughtful and complex story featuring a likable non-binary protagonist and a great supporting cast. The amount of prejudice the MC has to face is really stressful to read.
About
Only girls do magic. Only boys can be knights. Callie has never thought of themselves as a girl or a boy, but their dream to become a knight someday is blocked by the fact that everyone else sees Callie as a girl. But Callie's determined to prove themselves, and an invitation to the royal capital might be the chance they need to do so.
Thoughts
This is a tough one to review. I typically try to highlight things I enjoyed versus parts that weren't for me, but it was hard for me to enjoy this. To be clear, this is a very good book. Callie's struggles are raw and relatable, and my heart broke for them more than once. The other kids are unique and complex and beautiful, and it was great to see genuine thoughtfulness centered on the discussion of family and abuse, self-loathing, and how messy love can be. But dang, reading this was tough. Callie is misgendered regularly, on purpose, and with hurtful intent. Gender roles in this world are so rigid and pithy that even our heroic Callie starts out with a very dim view of women. Trans readers who have been down this path in real life already might find re-treading this ground to be tiresome. That being said, I think this book would have been perfect for me when I was younger, and I think it will resonate with any young reader looking for a story about friends, family, and adventure.
August 16, 2023
As someone who only recently figured out they were nonbinary, Sir Callie is everything I needed in a hero when I was a kid. But more than just being a nonbinary protagonist, Callie is a hero that everyone needs. A richly developed character who learns and grows and always fights for what they know to be right, who isn't afraid to apologize when they're wrong, and who is the best friend that anyone could ask for. Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston is a story that every kid should read. It's not only a fantastic adventure of magic and dragons and knights but a story about how enemies are not always monsters, and how anyone can make a difference no matter how young they are. I loved Sir Callie and I know that anyone who reads it will too.
November 4, 2022
If I had this book as a kid, it would’ve done wonders in helping me feel seen and valid as non-binary, and for that I can’t thank it enough. The cast of characters is wonderfully endearing, and this book does a good job of setting up an intriguing universe that makes me very interested in seeing where the series goes from here. Even if you don’t usually read middle grade, I would highly recommend it. :)
2022-unreleased
June 21, 2021More Queer MG!!! Also written by OOMF, so it is a must-add to my TBR.
February 10, 2023
4.5-5
YouTube Review: https://youtu.be/_UGZ0QYeYXI
Loved this! Nonbinary main character and a group of outcasts come together to create social change in a city that wants to stay the same.
YouTube Review: https://youtu.be/_UGZ0QYeYXI
Loved this! Nonbinary main character and a group of outcasts come together to create social change in a city that wants to stay the same.
July 16, 2024
“Normal doesn’t exist, kiddo. Not when it comes to people. Every person is different, every family is different, every normal is different.“
Sir Callie is a really fun middle grade novel about a kid who wants to be something more than what society has decided for them.
I really enjoyed Callie and the adventure they went on. Having grown up mostly with a set of understanding parental figures, the attitudes they faced with in their new environment were massive and hard to navigate. I loved how Callie stood up against it all and all the new friends they made along the way. The story itself was fast paced with the perfect mix of character moments and action. I think it’s a perfect tale to learn about the absolute bullshit of traditional gender roles and to encourage kids to be themselves no matter what!
This is the first book in a series and I’m definitely picking up more!
Read if you like:
⚔️Smashing the patriarchy
⚔️People questioning gender roles
⚔️Middle-grade fantasy with knights and dragons
⚔️LGBTQIA+ rep
⚔️Wholesome characters
Signing off with a quote I really loved:
“Friends are better than heroes.”
Sir Callie is a really fun middle grade novel about a kid who wants to be something more than what society has decided for them.
I really enjoyed Callie and the adventure they went on. Having grown up mostly with a set of understanding parental figures, the attitudes they faced with in their new environment were massive and hard to navigate. I loved how Callie stood up against it all and all the new friends they made along the way. The story itself was fast paced with the perfect mix of character moments and action. I think it’s a perfect tale to learn about the absolute bullshit of traditional gender roles and to encourage kids to be themselves no matter what!
This is the first book in a series and I’m definitely picking up more!
Read if you like:
⚔️Smashing the patriarchy
⚔️People questioning gender roles
⚔️Middle-grade fantasy with knights and dragons
⚔️LGBTQIA+ rep
⚔️Wholesome characters
Signing off with a quote I really loved:
“Friends are better than heroes.”
November 26, 2022
Picked this up at a local author event not really knowing what it was about aside from having a nonbinary character (didn't even realize it was middle grade lmao), but figured from the cover it would be a fun little tale of heroics. Sir Callie is definitely heroic--brash and bold and certain--but the story also contained a surprising (to me) amount of darker content.
It was honestly pretty stressful to read about a young trans person being misgendered so consistently and maliciously, and about the mistreatment of the other children in the book. Not a knock on the book itself, as children do unfortunately have to deal with these things in real life, but more a comment on my emotional state while reading, haha. Still, it was ultimately very charming, and I loved to see how Callie was supported by their fathers, and how their friendships grew throughout the book. I'm curious to see what develops in the next installment.
It was honestly pretty stressful to read about a young trans person being misgendered so consistently and maliciously, and about the mistreatment of the other children in the book. Not a knock on the book itself, as children do unfortunately have to deal with these things in real life, but more a comment on my emotional state while reading, haha. Still, it was ultimately very charming, and I loved to see how Callie was supported by their fathers, and how their friendships grew throughout the book. I'm curious to see what develops in the next installment.
July 20, 2024
this is such an excellent wonderful middle-grade fantasy and MAN i wish i had had this when i was growing up!!! it's so queer and sweet and it's all about friendship!!!! it has two dads who love their kid!!!!! i don't even have a legitimate review for this i just wanna scream about how fun and important this is - i need everyone to read this thanks for coming to my horrible ted talk
November 8, 2022
I had so much fun w/ this book from page one and am so happy it exists. <3
March 25, 2023
I always appreciate readings books from different perspectives- this creates empathy and understanding that is not possible with any other medium. While my personal beliefs differ from the viewpoint of the author, I am always interested in a good story, especially one that leads to a greater lesson.
The first part of this book was a struggle for me to read. Callie came across as a whiny kid that was just angry and fed up with every adult that didn’t fully accept them. While I get this angsty feeling, it was just too long in it.
I really enjoyed the second part of the book. The different characters introduced were interesting and the events of the story were fun to read and start to see the transformation of the characters. I was ready to sing high praises of this story, but then came part three.
Without getting into spoilers, I see part three as a preachy part of the message that dragged on. Callie always did the right thing and adults were always small minded and backwards- the kids were always moving in a positive direction. It was missing the nuance of why adults had the perspectives they did, as well as lacking meaningful consequences to some of the kids’ thinking. Taking the sexual orientation question aside, should we always trust kids to have the right answer? A mild but vague spoiler because I really didn’t like this message- by the end, all Callie could do to the perceived bigotry was fight. I do not believe that this is a good message that should be encouraged for kids that are in a minority situation. Violence will always subvert the cause that you are trying to achieve.
In the end, I really wanted to like this book but couldn’t get past the lengthy preaching and ultimately uninteresting main character because they were ultimately always right. Not someone I can relate to.
The first part of this book was a struggle for me to read. Callie came across as a whiny kid that was just angry and fed up with every adult that didn’t fully accept them. While I get this angsty feeling, it was just too long in it.
I really enjoyed the second part of the book. The different characters introduced were interesting and the events of the story were fun to read and start to see the transformation of the characters. I was ready to sing high praises of this story, but then came part three.
Without getting into spoilers, I see part three as a preachy part of the message that dragged on. Callie always did the right thing and adults were always small minded and backwards- the kids were always moving in a positive direction. It was missing the nuance of why adults had the perspectives they did, as well as lacking meaningful consequences to some of the kids’ thinking. Taking the sexual orientation question aside, should we always trust kids to have the right answer? A mild but vague spoiler because I really didn’t like this message- by the end, all Callie could do to the perceived bigotry was fight. I do not believe that this is a good message that should be encouraged for kids that are in a minority situation. Violence will always subvert the cause that you are trying to achieve.
In the end, I really wanted to like this book but couldn’t get past the lengthy preaching and ultimately uninteresting main character because they were ultimately always right. Not someone I can relate to.
July 31, 2024
Just to preface this review, I'm a thorough supporter of the LGBTQ community, and consider myself an ally. With that said, this book is still terrible.
Contrary to the other reviews you may have seen, this book and its writing are honestly horrendous to read. The story archetype in this book is so overused that I guessed the ending before it even happened, and I don't even read that often. The characters are so superficial and have barely any character. The antagonists are so evil with no real meaning motivation or depth. The protagonist is just straight-up annoying, there's no other way to put it.
This book had such a good opportunity to uplift the LGBTQ community and introduce it more to middle schoolers, but if any middle schooler read this book, they would immediately drop it and have a negative impression of the LGBTQ community.
Contrary to the other reviews you may have seen, this book and its writing are honestly horrendous to read. The story archetype in this book is so overused that I guessed the ending before it even happened, and I don't even read that often. The characters are so superficial and have barely any character. The antagonists are so evil with no real meaning motivation or depth. The protagonist is just straight-up annoying, there's no other way to put it.
This book had such a good opportunity to uplift the LGBTQ community and introduce it more to middle schoolers, but if any middle schooler read this book, they would immediately drop it and have a negative impression of the LGBTQ community.
November 17, 2022
10 year old’s review:
Sir Callie is an amazing read. The main character, Callie, finds a group of friends and fights the evil in Helston. I loved that Callie went by they/them pronouns, just like the author, Esme Symes-Smith. Callie’s dream is to be a knight, but the only thing stopping Callie from achieving their dream was the way people see them. Girls aren’t allowed to be knights and everyone sees Callie as a girl, even though they aren’t.
If you enjoyed Pilar Ramirez: Escape from Zafa, then you will definitely enjoy this because they are both stories with magic and adventure.
The book got me wrapped up so much that when I had to stop, I resisted as much as possible.
(She’d give it more stars if she could)
Sir Callie is an amazing read. The main character, Callie, finds a group of friends and fights the evil in Helston. I loved that Callie went by they/them pronouns, just like the author, Esme Symes-Smith. Callie’s dream is to be a knight, but the only thing stopping Callie from achieving their dream was the way people see them. Girls aren’t allowed to be knights and everyone sees Callie as a girl, even though they aren’t.
If you enjoyed Pilar Ramirez: Escape from Zafa, then you will definitely enjoy this because they are both stories with magic and adventure.
The book got me wrapped up so much that when I had to stop, I resisted as much as possible.
(She’d give it more stars if she could)
March 24, 2023
re-read review 3.24.23.
sometimes, I see a title and go "why was I obsessed with xxx?"...SIR CALLIE is a title that will live in my heart forever and the emotions of this title always hit me so hard, even if it has only a few months since my last re-read. I wish i had this title when i was in middle grade - maybe i wouldn't have felt so isolated and fearful if i had read SIR CALLIE back then.
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10.10.22
AHHHHH i cannot, this is so fricking good!!! I love how prevalent nonbinary rep has become in children's fiction and this is just the capstone title!!
sometimes, I see a title and go "why was I obsessed with xxx?"...SIR CALLIE is a title that will live in my heart forever and the emotions of this title always hit me so hard, even if it has only a few months since my last re-read. I wish i had this title when i was in middle grade - maybe i wouldn't have felt so isolated and fearful if i had read SIR CALLIE back then.
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10.10.22
AHHHHH i cannot, this is so fricking good!!! I love how prevalent nonbinary rep has become in children's fiction and this is just the capstone title!!
November 19, 2022
3.5
TW: misgendering, deadnaming, transphobia, homophobia, abuse (physical and mental)
I wish this story had less time dedicated to queer trauma and more time to joy - I was hungry for those moments of happiness to even out the unending invalidation and pain Callie kept enduring again and again - still a much needed story of acceptance with a great fantasy world backdrop.
TW: misgendering, deadnaming, transphobia, homophobia, abuse (physical and mental)
I wish this story had less time dedicated to queer trauma and more time to joy - I was hungry for those moments of happiness to even out the unending invalidation and pain Callie kept enduring again and again - still a much needed story of acceptance with a great fantasy world backdrop.
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