Title: The Princess of Baker Street
Publisher: Harmony Ink Press
Cover Artist: Tiferet Designs
Publication Date: January 22, 2019
Length: 180 pages
Reviewed by Jenn
Synopsis
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?
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Review
This book tore my heart up in the best ways. Sweet Joey Kincaid is
born in a boy’s body, but is a girl in all the ways that truly matter.
Joey’s early years are spent joyfully playing Princess Ariel with all
the kids on his street with Eric Sinclair as his very own Prince Eric.
These are the happiest of days filled with his friends and make believe.
Then middle school comes...the worst years in a kid’s life in my
opinion. Social groups are formed, cool kids, jocks, nerds, and Joey. Joey
doesn’t fit in and everyone knows it. Eric is sympathetic to Joey’s
plight and misses his friend. He’s not about to speak up to defend Joey
and risk his own social standing and possibly revealing his own secrets.
Eventually everything comes to a very emotional head and tough
decisions need to be made. Do you stay on the sidelines or stand
beside the best friend you’ve ever had?
This
book is so beautifully written and so heartbreaking at the same time.
The early years of our teens are such difficult years, and to walk in
Joey’s shoes seems unimaginable. Joey maneuvers through life, the
beautiful and ugly parts with incredible strength and grace. This is a
special book, one I’ll be buying for my godchild who is in eighth grade
and fighting this same fight. My hope is that she’ll find strength in
Joey...and hope.
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Jenn- your review is so beautiful and thoughtful (it made me misty.) Thank you so much for opening your heart to Joey and to the hope she has for a better future! And thanks as always to Diverse Reader for the constant support! <3
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