The Marble Queen

Gr 5–7—Hopefully this engaging first novel won't be the only book about Freedom Jane McKenzie, because she is one likable gal. The writing is fluid, rich with description yet accessible, and the author deftly weaves together multiple layers of conflict. The characters are fully developed and endearing, particularly 10-year-old Freedom. She is spunky and determined to keep beating the neighborhood boys at marbles even though her mother insists she should act more like a girl. She's also a hoot, with hilariously bad impulses. Her mom has many rules she expects her daughter to follow, which leads, of course, to a lot of head-butting. Freedom's father is a rascal with a big heart. He tries to do well by his family but is not always successful. The book brims with poignancy and humor as the McKenzies make mistakes, some serious, others that are laugh-out-loud funny. This family is as real as it gets. Readers will hurt for their downfalls and cheer their love, loyalty, and triumphs. The story is set in Idaho Falls in 1959, but Blake maintains such a good balance between period details and the overarching issues of family dynamics and growing up that Freedom's travails will ring true with today's tweens. Terrific.—Alyson Low, Fayetteville Public Library, AR