Reviewed by alisoninbookland on
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If The Changeling was all about familial love, The Unready Queen is all about finding your place in this world. It’s something everyone has struggled with at one point or another. Cole, Tinn, Fable and our new friend Evie struggle with different varieties of it.
The thing I’ve enjoyed the most about The Oddmire series is how Ritter handles big subjects in a zany, fun way. I’ve read many children’s/middle grade books over the years. Not every adult does a great job of exploring big subjects in a way that isn’t preachy to kids. Ritter is able to present these ideas and let them play out. He knows kids are smart enough to read the story and connect the dots to things they see in their lives.
I’m also a big fan of how much mothers play a part in the story! Far too often in kid lit we have dead parents, missing parents, or oblivious parents. Not here. Annie is the mama bear we all need. She fiercely loves her kids as well as the other children she claims as her kids. She will do anything for them. Then we have Raina, a literal mama bear, who is doing the best she can (even if it might be a bit misguided).
Thankfully, there is no boring middle book syndrome here. Just our characters continuing to grow. Hopefully that continues in the next (final?) installment.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 22 March, 2020: Finished reading
- 22 March, 2020: Reviewed