Queenie Jean Is in Trouble Again
by Christine Read (Author)
When ten-year-old Queenie and her family move from small-town Ontario to a glitzy suburb of Vancouver, she is desperate to fit in and make a best friend for the first time in her life. With her creativity and bubbly personality, Queenie arrives at Western Canada Preparatory School ready to win over her classmates and conquer the world. But even before the first bell rings, she finds herself in trouble.
From always being late to talking out of turn to never being able to focus, Queenie stands out like a sore thumb, especially among the cool girls she wants to impress. Hardest of all, she has a secret. She's been diagnosed with ADHD, and she hates how different it makes her feel. After she struggling to navigate her new world, dreaming up ill-advised schemes to make the other kids like her, she must face her greatest fear of all: making a speech in front of the whole school that will show everyone her true self.
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Publishers Weekly
Incoming fifth grader Queenie and her family, who read as white, have just moved to Ontario, where Queenie is hoping for a fresh start--and a new best friend. But mishaps seem to follow her everywhere: first, gum stuck in her hair necessitates an unwanted haircut. Then she gets in trouble at her new school for not following its many rules, including, "No student shall cross the road alone." Bubbly Queenie worries that her ADHD--which sometimes makes it hard for her to stay still, wait her turn to speak, or filter her remarks--will lead to more predicaments. Her fears are realized when the popular girls Queenie hopes to befriend bully her. Still, others show kindness, including her teacher and classmate Kenneth, who appreciate Queenie for the boisterous, good-hearted person that she is, and who help her navigate challenges surrounding dealing with her older brothers, the upcoming school speech contest, and further bullying. Queenie's ADHD, as well as her desire not to be defined by her diagnosis, are organically portrayed, and her adventures, her confidence in herself, and her upbeat life outlook make her an exemplary protagonist for Read's joyful slice-of-life debut. Ages 8-12. (Apr.)
Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
School Library Journal
Gr 4-6--Queenie seems to find trouble wherever she goes, even all the way across the country in fancy West Vancouver, where her family moved over the summer. While struggling to adjust to this unfamiliar world, Queenie is energized and desperate to fit in at her new private school. Unfortunately, things don't go according to plan. From being chronically late to being unable to focus, and constantly talking out of turn, Queenie finds herself standing out instead of fitting in. What makes Queenie feel most alone is her ADHD diagnosis that no one at school knows about. Many of her symptoms, like poor time management and the inability to control emotions, live below the surface, which makes it even harder for people to understand. On top of all this, she is forced to face her biggest fear--making a speech in front of the whole school. As the school year goes on, Queenie continues to struggle to fit in as she avoids writing her speech and more trouble looms on the horizon. This debut from ADHD advocate and author Read offers a realistic representation of a young girl living with neurodiversity. Many will relate to Queenie's struggles in a new school, and her story will also help readers better understand the symptoms of ADHD, both visible and invisible. Will Queenie find the courage to speak from her heart in front of the whole school? If she does, she just might learn a lesson about being herself, trouble and all. VERDICT A heartfelt and humorous middle grade title shining a spotlight on the realities of living with ADHD.--Elizabeth Blake
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Review quotes
"In the inspiring novel Queenie Jean Is in Trouble Again, a girl shows that there is more than one right way to handle life's challenges."—Foreword Reviews
Christine Read is an ADHD advocate, the former Executive Director of CADDAC (Centre of ADHD Awareness, Canada), and an aspiring writer. Her submission to the Winchester International Writers' Federation (UK) was awarded "Highly Commendable" in the Children's Funny Fiction Category. She is a member of CANSCAIP and SCWBI.
JUV077000 - Juvenile Fiction | Neurodiversity
Mental health
School children
Novels
Preteen girls
School fiction
Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity
