The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Street

Starred review from May 7, 2007
A
bright 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.

July 1, 2007
Gr 4-6- -Queen is smarter and cuter than other 10 year olds, at least from her own point of view. She wears royal purple every day and has many crowns. Her father and older brothers spoil her and encourage her to act like a queen, but her attitude makes her unpopular with her classmates and causes difficulties with her teacher. When a new boy named Leroy enrolls in her school, riding a broken bike and smelling, Queen joins everyone else in making fun of him. She can't understand why he begins to make friends, and even her own parents invite him for dinner. Queen is sure he's lying when he says that he is an African prince from Senegal. Eventually, with the help of Leroy, her parents, and an unusual new friend, Queen learns how to be a kinder person, like a true queen. Narrator Bahni Turpin makes the story come alive with unique voices for each character. Her portrayal of Queen, who is telling the story, is especially engaging and believable. This poignant and humorous novel (Jump at the Sun, 2007) by award-winning author Sharon G. Flake is an excellent choice for classroom discussions about bullying, friendship, and acceptance, or to read just for fun.-Teresa Wittmann, Westgate Elementary School, Edmonds, WA

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