Book info:
Title: The Princess of Baker Street
Author: Mia Kerick
Published by: Harmony Ink Press
Publication date: January 22nd, 2019
Genres: Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Young Adult
Source: Egalley from Xpresso Book Tours which did not influence my opinion.
My rating: 4 stars
Synopsis:
“Always wear your imaginary crown” is Joey Kinkaid’s motto. For years, Joey, assigned male at birth, led the Baker Street kids in daring and imaginative fantasy adventures, but now that they’re teenagers, being a princess is no longer quite so cool. Especially for a child who is seen by the world as a boy.
Eric Sinclair has always been Joey’s best friend and admirer—Prince Eric to Joey’s Princess Ariel—but middle school puts major distance between them. As Eric’s own life takes a dangerous turn for the worse, he stands by and watches as Joey—who persists in dressing and acting too much like a Disney princess for anybody’s comfort—gets bullied. Eric doesn’t like turning his back on Joey, but he’s learned that the secret to teenage survival, especially with and absent mother, is to fly under the radar.
But when Joey finally accepts who she is and comes to school wearing lip gloss, leggings, and a silky pink scarf, the bullies make her life such a misery that she decides to end it all. Eric, in turn, must decide who he really is and what side he wants to stand on… though no matter what he chooses, the consequences with be profound for both teens, and they’ll face them for years to come.
Is there a chance the two teens can be friends again, and maybe even more?
Author Bio:
Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—one in law school, another a professional dancer, a third studying at Mia’s alma mater, Boston College, and her lone son, heading off to college. (Yes, the nest is finally empty.) She has published more than twenty books of LGBTQ romance when not editing National Honor Society essays, offering opinions on college and law school applications, helping to create dance bios, and reviewing scholarship essays. Her husband of twenty-five years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about this, as it’s a sensitive subject.
Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled people in complex relationships. She has a great affinity for the tortured hero in literature, and as a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with tales of tortured heroes and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to her wonderful publishers for providing her with an alternate place to stash her stories.
Her books have been featured in Kirkus Reviews magazine, and have won Rainbow Awards for Best Transgender Contemporary Romance and Best YA Lesbian Fiction, a Reader Views’ Book by Book Publicity Literary Award, the Jack Eadon Award for Best Book in Contemporary Drama, an Indie Fab Award, and a Royal Dragonfly Award for Cultural Diversity, a Story Monsters Purple Dragonfly Award for Young Adult e-book Fiction, among other awards.
Mia Kerick is a social liberal and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of human rights. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology. Contact Mia at miakerick@gmail.com or visit at www.miakerickya.com to see what is going on in Mia’s world.
Lisa- Your review was so real and honest and I appreciate every word! Thanks for hosting me today and giving a different kind of book a chance!
Thank you for stopping by and commenting! Authors are my rock stars! I really enjoyed it, so much that I've already passed the title on to other people that I know will enjoy it as well.
Thanks for hosting today, Lisa! Great review! 🙂
No problem! Thanks!
I had never heard of this book, but I'm definitely interested in reading it now. Thanks for introducing me to it!
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I'm glad I got the chance to read it. Hope you do as well! Thanks for visiting!
Hi Nicole! I'm so excited that you are going to check out The Princess of Baker Street. I've written a few YA books, but this is honestly one of my favorites!
Sounds like it touches on some really important issues. Sorry Eric's point of view was a bit tough to read at first though! Thanks for sharing.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
It was just tough to read a kid's bad grammar, etc. But, it worked to get the point across of exactly how old he was, etc. Thanks for stopping by! I really feel like you'd like this one!
Hi Lauren.
Sometimes I wonder if readers will think I (as a writer) am not aware of proper grammar or if they will realize I am writing from the perspective of a child! So- yes- the use of poor grammar was intentional. Eric has a certain "dialect" in his speech as well as his thoughts.
Mia, I hope that my review was clear that I could tell you were definitely writing that way purposefully! 🙂
This sounds wonderful. I am looking forward to exploring books like this when the Royals hit Middle Grade.
I don't read a lot of middle grade level books these days, since I am a high school librarian instead of a middle school teacher, but occasionally one will grab my attention and I'll check it out. This was definitely worth it! Thanks for visiting!
I think The Princess of Baker Street is a great Middle Grade book, as well as YA. The interesting thing is that many adults have found it moving. Some books are like that…
I actually struggle to read MG books quite a lot as well! I think there is just so much that makes me impatient or frustrated but I can't even get annoyed about it because it makes sense for their age as well. I wish I appreciated them more but it's good you try the age audience from time to time as well.
Yeah, if I was still teaching middle school or a middle school librarian, I'd read more. Thanks for stopping by!
I was a middle school teacher, as well. Kids at that age are so unique-a little bit grown up, a little bit child. I think my experience as a middle school and high school teacher helps make my books more realistic! But many adults have appreciated this book–in fact, my town book group (all adults) read The Princess of Baker Street and loved it!
Interested to read your review as I liked the idea of this story, but felt it would be aimed too young for me to fully appreciate. It does sound like a positive depiction of the realities of bullying for many children in various situations
Yeah, you have to be prepared to read a middle school level book. It is good though! Thanks for visiting!
Hi Stephanie Jane. I have said this a few times in the above comments, but I really think that this book works for adults, as well. My town book group (all adults) read The Princess of Baker Street and our discussion was riveting. They gained understanding and compassion from it!
I would definitely agree with Mia, it does work for adults, as it gets a good picture of that age's thoughts, and that is definitely something interesting.