The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Street

by Sharon G. Flake

Key Features Description Queen's house - the biggest one on 33rd Street - looks just like a castle, and in her bedroom, she has dozens of beautiful dresses and crowns. Queen thinks she's a real queen, and she treats everyone, even her teacher, like her royal subject. When a new kid comes to Queen's school, riding a broken bike and wearing smelly, worn-out clothes, Queen joins her classmates in making fun of him. Her parents insist she be nice to Leroy, but Queen doesn't see why she should. Leroy doesn't just stink; Queen thinks he tells lies - whoppers in fact. And when he says he's an African prince from Senegal, Queen makes it her mission to prove Leroy is an... Show More Queen's house - the biggest one on 33rd Street - looks just like a castle, and in her bedroom, she has dozens of beautiful dresses and crowns. Queen thinks she's a real queen, and she treats everyone, even her teacher, like her royal subject. When a new kid comes to Queen's school, riding a broken bike and wearing smelly, worn-out clothes, Queen joins her classmates in making fun of him. Her parents insist she be nice to Leroy, but Queen doesn't see why she should. Leroy doesn't just stink; Queen thinks he tells lies - whoppers in fact. And when he says he's an African prince from Senegal, Queen makes it her mission to prove Leroy is an impostor. But as she gets closer to discovering Leroy's real story, Queen learns the unexpected from her broken bike what being a good friend and "happily ever after" really mean. "Queen is smart. Queen is pretty. But nobody likes her except her kitty." Product Details Item #: NTS514967 9780545149679 Paperback Book 144 Realistic Fiction 4 - 5 Lexile® 680L ACR 3.5 Key Features Item #: NTS514967 9780545149679 Paperback Book 144 Realistic Fiction 4 - 5 Lexile® 680L ACR 3.5

Genres: Fiction, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Juvenile, Childrens, Young Adult, African American

Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Sharon G. Flake is the author of five books, The Skin I'm In (1998), Money Hungry (2002), Begging for Change (2003), Who Am I Without Him? Short Stories About Boys and the Girls in Their Lives (2004), Bang! (Sept. 2005), and her latest novel The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Street (2007).

Her work is used in public and private schools around the nation, from elementary to high school, and is often required reading in colleges for students in education, child development, children's literature and English writing programs. Beyond that, her work is also a favorite among adults and adult book club readers.

Flake and her work have won numerous awards and recognitions including: Best Books for Young Adult Readers; Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers; the New York Public Library Top Ten Books for the Teen Age; 2005 featured author in the Ninth Book of Junior Authors & Illustrators; 2005 Capitol Choices; Noteworthy Books for Children; 2004 Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Book; 2004 Texas Lone Star Award for Top Ten Books; 2002, 2004 Coretta Scott King Honor Award; Pennsylvania Council of the Arts Grant; 2004 Bank Street Best of the Year; 2004 Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book; 2004 CCBC Choices; Booklist Top Ten Fantasy Book; 2004 Booklist Top Ten Romance Novels for Youth; 2004 Booklist Editor's Choice Award; 2003 Detroit Free LIbrary Author of the Year; 1999 YWCA Racial Justice Award; 1999 Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe New Talent Award and more.

Flake's work appears on the Anti-Defamation League's website which stresses the use of children's literature to help educators address the problem of bullying in schools.

Flake was born in Philadelphia, PA, but has resided in Pittsburgh, PA with her daughter for many years. She is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in English. For several years she was a youth counselor for a foster care agency, after which she spent 18 years working at the University of Pittsburgh in public relations. She has written numerous articles for national publications. Prior to having her first book published, she wrote for approximately 15 years.

Reviews

[Alaysia McGhee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is about a girl named queen who has both of her parents and her dad has always treated her like a queen and her mom didn't like it so she kept telling him to stop before she gets to spoiled and only cares about herself and somebody else. So when she went to school she was always saying she was queen and everyone else was her servants so her teacher didn't really like her just because she was always acting like that like everything was all about her. So then this boy named Leroy came to her school as the new kid and she and others were saying he stinks and why does he have holes in his clothes and is bike was all broken up. She hung out with him for some moments and got to know him and was saying why do you smell so bad and he laughed and said i have a skunk at home and no one believed him they just though he didn't bathe. So one day her mom invites him to their house for dinner and he loved it and queen kept being so rude and her mother and father started lacking attention to her and punished her because no one should be treated like that.Then Leroy starts telling her parents a story on how he was a prince in Africa before her came here so queen didn't like how he was supposively lying and she kept thinking she was and he went back to school telling all about these things and she kept telling people it's not true he's lying and everyone started not liking her because she was jealous. So she sneaks around to wherever he goes to find evidence and one day she follows him to his moms house without him knowing and then he catches her and she talks to his mother and he tells her to go away then his mother didn't like that a little girl was being noisy so she gets and attitude with queen and starts asking her why she wanted to know so much and its none of her business and slams the door shut in her face. Then another day when he and Leroy doesn't like each other still she finds out one of Leroy's friends and he tells riddles so she would sneak to his house everyday and he doesn't let her in that easy so she has to solve the riddle to get in so she takes it home and brings it back and finishes it overnight then comes back to the man and he grants her in and she starts asking questions about if all of this stuff is true and he tells her yes and shows her pictures and asks him to not tell leroy that's she's been there and suddenly he finds out and confronts her and tells her stop being so annoying and nosey so she apoligizes and he accepts and she now beilieves him so he gets invited back over to her house for dinner and that was the end.

[Arianna Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was moving because the first time she was talking to leroy she was so mean to him and all that time she thought he was lying and he wasn't and the way it ended that was sweet

[Blessin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book I read this book when is was in book club and this when a boy moves come to their school and he's stanks

[Jenna Rosenfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reading the same books as a student of mine to keep her on track. I read this book today. It was a heartwarming story. I feel like my student will be able to relate. I do hope that she, as well as other people, take the time to understand how each other feel, and learn to be a little kinder to each other.

[Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story I really did like it. I will see what other books this author has.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was really funny

[Diane Carrozzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read about a haughty girl who learns her lesson.

[Michelle Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, excellent audio performance by Bahni Turpin.

[Deashawn Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A story of how to be a friend.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm probably the laziest person I know when it comes to reviewing books. I'm okay on the reading part, and I'm just ducky at putting a book in my To Be Reviewed Pile. It's at the point when the book merges with the general pile that I tend to get distracted, though. Books get seriously frighteningly buried. I guess that's the danger with a vertical rather than a horizontal pile. Then the mediocre books begin to disappear from my mind. I forget their details and their characters. I can't conjure up a notable scene or moment from them, and then the end of the year rolls around and it's too late to review them anyway. Once in a great while, however, I'll bury a book deep down into my pile and it'll remain in my brain for months on end. Today's example of this is Sharon G. Flake's, "The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Street". I read this book so long ago that I've no clear-cut memory of the time or season anymore. Yet when I plucked it up just now it was if I'd finished it in its entirety only yesterday. Until this book the only Flake title I'd ever read was the mighty YA, Who Am I Without Him?. "Broken Bike Boy", then, proves that Flake's talent for switching genres is rivaled only by her strong characterizations.

At first when I was reading this book, I was ... well, basically I read this book like a kid would. I really did NOT like silly stuck-up Queen and I was feeling more than a little mad at Ms. Flake for forcing her upon me. I mean, this is a gal doted upon by her father and all her brothers. When one of them sends her a present she recounts how, "Then like always, he told me how much he loved me. Right after that I called my other brothers, to see what they would send me." ARG! Tell me that doesn't make you feel just a little crazy. Spoiled kids make for frustrating if intense reading. I'm ashamed to say that I was probably halfway through the book before it occurred to me that maybe you weren't supposed to like Queen. Maybe that was kind of the point. I've been so used to reading characters like Ida B from the novel of the same name that I had difficulty recognizing when I was supposed to be annoyed by my protagonist. Kudos to Ms. Flake then. It takes guts to make an unlikable hero. Guts and talent.

Pity about the end, really. Chapter 26 goes way too fast and ends the book with an abruptness that takes your breath away. Spoiler alert for those of you who'd rather not know the end. First of all, the villains are punks with pink hair. It's so retro it almost works. But then the action sequence starts and the herky-jerky writing throws everything off. For some reason, the style that serves the rest of the book so well goes wayward and odd here. Sentences are short and don't connect to one another in a pleasing fashion. Then the next thing you know you're at the end of the book and it's all happened so quickly that you don't know if you're coming or going.

Be all that as it may be, I'm a fan. The book sticks with you. Queen is so infuriating that it's nothing short of amazing that Flake is capable of making her sympathetic. The feeling of wanting to root for Queen even as you throttle her makes this book a standout in a fairly dull year. Ideal for booktalks, book discussion, and reading aloud in the classroom. Two thumbs up.

[Lou Hunley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever I stand in the corner, I close my eyes and see myself sitting on a throne in a long white gown with a giant ruby crown on my head. I’m telling all the people who serve me to polish the silver and scrub the floors clean for the royal party.

Queen Rosseau


My name is Marie Queen Rousseau. I live in a castle on 33rd Street right across the street from the John Howard Housing Project. My father named me Queen because he wanted everyone to know that his only daughter was special. I have three brothers in college; they make a big deal out of me. They are always sending me letters with special crown stickers.

I am not the most popular girl in my class but hey, I can’t help it if I am cuter and smarter than other kids my age. My teacher, Mrs. McBride, doesn’t like me either. She never calls on me even when I know the answers. The other day she ignored me when I told her how to spell superstitious.

Last Saturday my friend Carmen came over to my house. I was wearing my special royal gown with a crown to match my dress. She actually acted insulted when I suggested that she would make a good slave. She even went home and told her parents who talked to my parents and now I am in big trouble. Carmen can be so mean!

Now, there’s a new kid in our class at school named Leroy. He lives across the street at the housing project and he smells bad. He’s making up all sorts of stories about how he’s a prince from Africa. He came over to my house and my parents were so nice to him. It’s just so unfair. I’ve got to prove that he’s lying.

You see, it’s all part of my quest to find my knight in shining armor. Sometimes knights show up in unexpected places, could Leroy, the broken bike boy, be my hero after all?

Other books you might like….

• The Road to Paris by Nikki Grimes
• Brand New School, Brave New Ruby by Derrick Barnes
• My New Best Friend by Julie Bowe
• Lunch Money by Andrew Clements

[Teresa Scherping Moulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queen Rosseau got her name because her father wanted everyone to know that she is someone special. Queen is smart and stylish, and she knows it - which is part of the problem. Queen has trouble making and keeping friends because she expects them to bow to her and act as servants. She also has a problem with saying any mean thing that comes to mind, like when she tells new kid Leroy that he's smelly and a liar. Leroy rides a broken bike around town and tells people he's an African prince. Queen will soon need Leroy's help, though, because she doesn't have anyone left who will be her friend. What will it take for this mean Queen transform into a kind and humble one?

I definitely enjoyed this one. Queen managed to just barely be likeable, despite the fact that she says and does mean things over and over. I thought that her struggle was actually pretty realistic, though - if someone has trouble relating positively with others, that's not going to be solved by just one learning experience. It makes sense that it takes Queen a while to change her behavior. The book overall definitely stands out from the crowd of other short chapter books.

This book would be best for grades 4-6. I would recommend to anyone who wants a multicultural book or one that might spark classroom discussion. It might also be good for a parent who doesn't want their daughter to imitate "sassypants" girl characters because at least Queen learns a lesson in this. Readalikes could include Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel, which is also African-American fiction about a girl who makes friends with the new boy at school, and even Harriet the Spy, because they're both about girls who act badly and lose friends and have to reconcile.

[538pm_juliejanowitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queen is a ten year old girl who truly acts like a queen – a mean one. When a new boy, Leroy, arrives at their school, Queen’s cruel mouth is on fire. What will it take for Queen to be kind? This novel tackles the themes of bullying and friendship. It is somewhat hard to read when the main character is such a snob. The audience will get annoyed with Queen fast. But, hang in there, and keep rooting for our girl, Queen, to change her ways. It is always possible for others to change; it takes longer for some than others. This is an issue everyone can relate to. I would use this book in the classroom for independent reading because it is a valuable illustration of the difficulties of being a pre-teen. Even children one wouldn’t expect could find solace in this tale, and reading independently gives students privacy to really let this topic resonate inside them. The occasional pencil drawings are beautiful and fun to look at. The grade level equivalent for this book is 3.2. The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Street won the Society of School Librarians International Honor in 2007. The criteria for being an SSLI honor book was not clear other than it is a book for K-12 and published anywhere in the world. I suggest this book for any child who can read it. Not only does it address the issue of friendship, but it also touches on poverty. Either children will benefit by being able to relate to these issues or will become more aware of them. Flake does a great job of developing many characters in this story including the teacher, parents, and neighbor who keep the reader engaged and wanting more.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a queen. I live in a castle, right across the street from the John Howard Housing Projects. Every day right after school I run to my bedroom window and open it wide--even in the middle of winter when the wind blows wet snow up my nose. I watch for my knight in shining armor. He's ten years old, like me, and rides a bike--a two-wheeler with rusty spokes and torn-up seat. So begins Sharon Flake's highly-anticipated new novel--a moving story of an unlikely friendship.

Queen is a royal pain in the neck! Her Highness treats everyone like her loyal subjects: her classmates, her teacher, even her parents! That's why all the kids hate her and it's hard for her to make friends. To make matters worse, Queen known she is bright. Her teacher thinks she's a spoiled know-it-all, and that keeps her in hot water as well.

When a new kid comes to Queen's school riding a broken bike and wearing run-over shoes, he immediately becomes the butt of everyone's jokes. Her parents insist she be nice to Leroy, since history has never been kind to queens who forget how to be humble. But Leroy isn't just smelly, Queen thinks that he tells fibs-whoppers in fact-and when he says he's an African prince from Senegal, sparks fly between him and Queen. There's only room for one blue-blooded family on 33rd Street, and Queen is determined to prove Leroy is an impostor.

What Queen ultimately discovers about Leroy makes her wonder what "happily ever after" really means. If a broken-bike boy is truly Queen's knight in shining armor, can he save her from herself, by teaching her how to be a good friend?

great example of an unreliable narrator

[Susan Wight · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book only just makes it into the home educated characters category. In fact there is only one mention of home education on page four but it is such a damning one that the book rates a mention for propagating a misconception of home education. The main character, Queen, says, ‘I used to be homeschooled until two years ago. But I go to regular school now. Mother thought I needed to be around other kids. She said she didn’t like how grown-up and stuck-up I was acting. Only, I can’t help it if I’m cute and smarter than most kids my age.’ Clearly, the author is no fan of home education and here she has created a self-centred character who has to learn to consider others and become a friend. In essence, it is a very ‘schoolie’ book and there is a lot of nasty, exclusive behaviour. Queen is quite a nasty little girl who is unkind to a new boy in the neighbourhood and has to learn to be nice. The overall message is that school provides the rough and tumble of life which leads to kids being lovely and then everyone lives happily ever after. Sigh...
Home Ed. Style: Not specified
Home Ed Portrayal: Home ed is portrayed as turning out nasty, self-centred, indulged, stuck-up kids.
Target Age: Chapter book for ages 6-10
Conclusion: I can’t recommend this book as a good portrayal of home education nor as a good read. The only reason to read it is if your family are reading a variety of home education portrayals and discussing them.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by Jocelyn Pearce for TeensReadToo.com

Queen is an incredibly stuck up ten-year-old girl whose family's praise has given her a very high opinion of herself. Her father and older brothers have spoiled her to the point where she's very, very easy to dislike. Unsurprisingly, no one at school seems to appreciate or recognize her supposed superiority.

Leroy is a new boy in her class, who smells funny and whose bike is broken. Queen is sure that he's a liar, especially when he tells stories about being royalty from Africa, and she can't stand him. Her parents try to force her to be nice to him, so they are thrown together despite Queen's dislike. Through Leroy, Queen learns some important lessons.

She's still not a very likeable heroine, though. I don't think I was supposed to like her. Be prepared for that going into this book, and you'll be able to appreciate Sharon G. Flake's amazing (and unsurprising if you've read her previous books) talent.

I'm not sure how kids will feel about this book. Some of them may not be willing to read a book with a main character like Queen. But if they can give it a shot, it's a pretty enjoyable short novel.

[Charlyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Queen Marie is a spoiled, self-centered fifth-grader who has no friends because of her uppity attitude. She is so spoiled by her father and three older brothers that she believes she is the center of the universe. It's a little difficult to work up sympathy for a child that even the teacher dislikes. But Leroy doesn't let it bother him. She can be a queen because he's a prince from Africa. He, however, lacks the polish, the clothes or the attitude that Queen possesses. He smells and rides a rusty bike so he's dirt to Queen, but her parents invite him into their home and try to make Queen temper her tongue.

I'm not sure readers will either agree or completely understand the way this story solves the problems of Leroy's identity. For me there was also a disconnect between the illustrations and the story. Queen seemed older in the illustrations than in the story.

I think there may be some good lessons about humility and bullying in this book. But tact is a difficult lesson to learn and, as good a learner as Queen appears to be, I'm not sure how far that example will go.

[eRin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Queen Rosseau really thinks she is a queen. She waves at her subjects from her castle and she is a spoiled brat. Completely. So much so that the reader actually feels hatred towards her. All Queen can think about is "me me me": how can people serve me, how can I show off, what will people give me? Then she meets Leory and she instantly hates him. He smells. Really bad. And he rides a broken bike. And worst of all, he claims to be a prince of Senegal! How on earth can this smelly boy claim to be royalty like Queen? But as it turns out, Leory can teach Queen a thing or two. Even if he is a fibber.

Queen is a horrbilbe character through most of the book and Flake does a great job of making the reader hate her. But slowly, without even really noticing, I started to cheer for Queen, and wish her well, crossing my fingers for her. Good story about gorwing up and acceptance.

[Elan Texiera · Rating 3 out of 5]

The broken bike boy and the queen of 33rd street by Sharon g.flake
Lexile range:590L
Tags: roylalty
This book is about queen, she claims to be the queen of 33rd street. Because she had been treated like royalty especially from her dad, she has become conceited. At school she only has one friend symine.but one day the new Bo comes to her class -Leroy. Everyone says he thinks but thoroughly this story they grow on each other and become friends.

Because Sharon g flake is my favorite Author, i have decided to re read all of the books that I own that she has written. I recommend this book to people who think they are royalty and end up feeling left out. It shows you that you should treat People the way you want to be treated. I give this book a 3.7

[Chasity · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is about a queen who lives across the street from the projects and she think she really is queen of 33rd street so she met this boy named Leroy and this boy names Leroy is a dirty boy who smells funny and queen parents meet this boy and queen is jealous because her parents is paying more attention to Leroy then her. so queen try to go out and make friends with people and try to be nice and caring.

what kind of reader would like this book?

this book is for people that likes fake fairy tales and think being bossy is cool and learning life lessons.

the theme of this book is what goes around comes around

the quote that tells me that "when queen tell her friend to be a servant for her then her friend said "karma is pay back.

[Dolores · Rating 2 out of 5]

PRO: Leroy is an amazing character. Has incredible depth for a child and makes you support him despite not being the most honest or hygienic child. It is unclear why the adults take to him and his stories so easily. He is essentially a bragging liar like Queen, when you think about it.

CON: Teacher and Queen are both horrible. There is a lot of negative going on, but not a lot of effective problem solving happening. I am uncomfortable with Leroy's mom's treatment of Queen and the fact that she is going into some strange man's apt. I feel like the adults in this story are too unaccountable considering that our protagonist has a thick, thick skull.

[Litsplaining · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queen is a spoiled fifth grader who's father has led her to believe she is royalty. Acting on this belief, Queen bullies her classmates, family, and friends into doing whatever she wants until the day that Leroy, a fellow fifth grader, comes into her life and changes everything.

Flake has written an interesting middle grade story about a little girl who must learn to act in the gregarious way that her name dictates. At first, the main character grated on my nerves, but as the story went on, I warmed to Queen. This is definitely a story that I would recommend to people of all ages. It is especially good for reading with your family. It is totally worth the short time it takes to react.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Queen doesn't think she is better than everyone else. She KNOWS she is better because she is a Queen who lives in a castle and everyone bows down to her. Well, actually her name is Queen, she lives in an apartment building that sort of looks like a castle, and her father and brothers spoil her because she is the youngest and the only girl. As readers we know she has to get her comeuppance somehow and we secretly relish the idea. The ending comes too abruptly, but we've seen a glimmer of change in Queen's viewpoint, so we can hope that things will be changing for this young lady.

[Christina Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hysterical! Queen is totally oblivious to how spoiled and rude she is. Dialogue has you hanging on for the next line. Will she remain clueless?

Queen to Leroy's Mom: Did someone steal them for you? She looks likes she wants to slap me.

Queen after barging in on Cornelius: Queens especially don't like doors slammed in their faces.

Leroy to Queen: You ruin everything...... You are all slimy and stinky inside.

Queen's response: I straighten myself up, fix my invisible crown and walk down the steps, telling myself what a wonderful, smart, pretty girl I am.

[Jill]

Queen has been treated as such by her parents, but especially her father, since she was a baby. Consequently, she tends to act like she is better than other people, which isn't helped by the fact that she's so smart. Then a new boy comes to school, riding a broken bike and smelling a little. Queen feels sure he tells lies, but everyone really likes him. While trying to catch him in one of his lies, Queen learns a few things along the way, including what it means to be a good friend.

[Miasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This boy who rides a bike wears messed up clothes is from places that queen of 33 street is not from. They dont like each other at first all they did was talking about each other. but at the end they do

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another book I read with Thula. She liked it enough. It's set in Philadelphia and has some African immigrant themes. The author intentionally made the main character unlikable and so I didn't enjoy it that much. It was a pretty forgetable book.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book for younger readers.

[Bria · Rating 5 out of 5]

went 2 read