A two-time Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book winner tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a spoiled young girl named Queen who reigns supreme over 33rd Street, and the new kid at school, who tells everyone hes an African prince from Senegal. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Starred Review. Abright and brassy fifth grader named Queen narrates Flake's (The Skin I'm In) resonant novel about the importance of friendship, imagination and being true to oneself. Though her father gave her a regal name so that others will respect her, the outspoken girl's superior attitude often alienates her peers, who, she admits, think she is a royal pain in the neck. Leroy, a new boy at school who rides a rusted bike without a seat, announces that he is a prince from Senegal. For show-and-tell, the lad, who lives with his mother in a housing project, brings in elephant tusks and gold coins that he says belonged to his great-grandfather. Feeling particularly alone after her only friend moves away, skeptical Queen decides to expose Leroy as a fibber so that her classmates will stop liking him and like me. Queen's quest to learn the truth about Leroy's life brings her in contact with Cornelius, a wise, elderly former stage actor who sometimes speaks in intriguing riddles and who eventually reveals the secret behind the boy's stories. Guided by the actions and astute advice of Leroy, Cornelius and her parents, Queen gradually comes to acknowledge and reveal her true self one who doesn't need to belittle others. Multi-dimensional characters and frequently affecting dialogue make this a memorable work of fiction. Final artwork not seen by PW. Ages 8-12. (May) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr 5 7 Queen Marie Rousseau is intelligent and capable. She is also bossy and selfish. Spoiled from birth by her father and three older brothers (and somewhat less by her mother) and homeschooled until she was in third grade, Queen has no idea how to relate to her fifth-grade classmates. She doesn't seem able to keep her mouth shut and often treats them with scorn. When a new boy, Leroy, appears in class smelly, ill-dressed, and claiming he is from Africa Queen is sure he is lying and becomes determined to prove it. Following him, she discovers that he is running errands for a neighbor, an actor who has developed agoraphobia. Queen bullies Leroy into telling her about Cornelius and tries to talk her way into his apartment. Her high-and-mighty attitude doesn't work with the man he insists that she solve a complicated riddle and act decently before he will speak with her. So begins Queen's slow and bumpy realization that being pleasant will smooth her relationships with others. She eventually gains entrance into Cornelius's apartment and discovers all the memorabilia he has collected over a lifetime of world travel. And she finds a real friend in Leroy. Flake has created a character who is difficult and unlikable but at the same time sympathetic. Everything is wrapped up a little too quickly, but that will not deter readers from rooting for the child to change her attitude and find her place in the world. Terrie Dorio, Santa Monica Public Library, CA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

I am a queen. Spoiled, smart, pretty, privileged, and mean, fifth-grader Queen Marie Rousseau has barely a friend at school-even the teacher dislikes her. Things change when she meets her knight in shining armor-the new kid, Leroy. He smells like moldy clothes and rides a rusty, broken bike, but he shows her a whole new world near his neighborhood projects. Queen knows Leroy is a fake when he says he is an African prince from Senegal, but then he brings gold coins and an elephant tusk to school. Are they real? Where did he get them? The mystery is fun, and even though the solution is a bit contrived and message-driven, Queen's arrogant, first-person, present-tense narrative brings readers along as she takes a voyage around the world that changes her. Queen's discovery, We are all from Africa, makes a great climax. Rochman, Hazel. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.