Blurb
When she was a child, Joey Kinkaid, assigned as a boy at birth—wearing Mom’s purple sundress and an imaginary crown—ruled the Baker Street neighborhood with a flair and imagination that kept the other kids captivated. Day after day, she led them on fantastic after-school adventures, but those innocent childhood days are over, and the magic is gone. The princess is alone.
Even Eric Sinclair, the Prince Eric to Joey’s Princess Ariel, has turned his back on his former friend, watching in silence as Joey is tormented at school. Eric isn’t proud of it, but their enchanted youth is over, and they’ve been thrust into a dog-eat-dog world where those who conform survive and those who don’t… well, they don’t. Eric has enough to deal with at home, where his mother has abandoned him to live in isolation and poverty.
But Eric can’t stay on the sidelines forever. When Joey finally accepts her female gender and comes to school wearing lip gloss, leggings, and a silky pink scarf, the bullies readily take the opportunity she hands them, driving Joey to attempt suicide and leaving Eric at a crossroads—one that will influence both their lives in not just the present, but the future.
Is there a chance the two teens can be friends again, and maybe even more?
Review
My Rating - 5 Stars!
The Princess of Baker, by Mia Kerick, is a phenomenal young adult story of a transgender child.
This story gives us an accurate description of the social politics in middle school. It's not easy to read, but it is realistic. It's the tough tale of the battle between being loyal to a friend versus being afraid of the ramifications to your own life.
Joey loses his good friends as he starts 7th grade wearing a dress. Now it's 8th grade and his former best friend, Eric, is partnered up in class with Joey.
This story is remarkably told by Eric's point of view, as he fully accepts Joey as a girl, and is even attracted to Joey. But, he fears being seen with Joey, as he sees it as social suicide. Eric needs to fit in, not stand out.
Eric's struggle is well written, well explored and well developed. He does his share of reflecting back on his adventures with Joey, remembering what a cool kid Joey was, with his huge imagination.
In addition, Joey's own story is heart wrenching and absolutely tragic. His loneliness is awful and had me wanting to take him in as my own.
The few insights into Joey's thoughts are well developed and perfectly placed. Joey is such an amazing young man.
The Princess Of Baker Street is an amazingly emotional ride. I hurt for Joey and Eric. Their relationship is realistic, sad and poignant. This Mia Kerick novel is accomplished and I highly recommend it. It definitely needs to be read by pre-teens and teens, as well as adults.
This story gives us an accurate description of the social politics in middle school. It's not easy to read, but it is realistic. It's the tough tale of the battle between being loyal to a friend versus being afraid of the ramifications to your own life.
Joey loses his good friends as he starts 7th grade wearing a dress. Now it's 8th grade and his former best friend, Eric, is partnered up in class with Joey.
This story is remarkably told by Eric's point of view, as he fully accepts Joey as a girl, and is even attracted to Joey. But, he fears being seen with Joey, as he sees it as social suicide. Eric needs to fit in, not stand out.
Eric's struggle is well written, well explored and well developed. He does his share of reflecting back on his adventures with Joey, remembering what a cool kid Joey was, with his huge imagination.
In addition, Joey's own story is heart wrenching and absolutely tragic. His loneliness is awful and had me wanting to take him in as my own.
The few insights into Joey's thoughts are well developed and perfectly placed. Joey is such an amazing young man.
The Princess Of Baker Street is an amazingly emotional ride. I hurt for Joey and Eric. Their relationship is realistic, sad and poignant. This Mia Kerick novel is accomplished and I highly recommend it. It definitely needs to be read by pre-teens and teens, as well as adults.
Wow, Amy. I'm (almost) speechless. LOL I love how you recognized that Eric was in a tough position, with conflicted feelings, similar to many middle school kids. And how Joey felt isolated and confused. What a beautiful review and thanks so much for hosting me today!
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