In the Country of Queens

A shy and sheltered girl learns to stand up for herself, and rights several wrongs in her life, in this timeless middle-grade novel.

Eleven-year-old Shirley Alice Burns lives with her domineering mother, Hurricane Anna, and loving Grandmother. One day she unexpectedly discovers that her beloved father isn’t in Absentia as her family would have her believe, but dead. And she understands all too well why they haven’t told her; she’s always been shy and quiet, and Anna has always been protective of her. But if Shirley doesn’t start speaking up, she isn’t going to be able to do the things she wants to do: go on vacation to Lake Winnipesaukee with her cousins, stop taking ballet lessons, and talk about her father. Through the help of a mouse, her hero Pippi Loingstocking, and her cousin Phillie, Shirley finds the strength to give her dreams a voice and convince everyone, even Hurricane Anna, that she doesn’t need to be sheltered, especially from the truth.

In the Country of Queens is the debut novel from acclaimed picture-book author Cari Best.

Praise for In the Country of Queens:

“Picture-book author Best's first middle-grade novel sparkles and pops like a Fourth of July firecracker.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Will tug at readers’ heartstrings.” —School Library Journal

“An engaging story . . . Best does do a good job of capturing a time and place and showing readers how confidence builds—Shirley’s and perhaps their own.” —Booklist

“Period details bring Shirley’s world to life. [She] is an honest and relatable narrator.” —Publishers Weekly