Queenie Jean Is in Trouble Again

Gr 4-6–Queenie seems to find trouble wherever she goes, even all the way across the country in fancy West Vancouver, where her family moved over the summer. While struggling to adjust to this unfamiliar world, Queenie is energized and desperate to fit in at her new private school. Unfortunately, things don’t go according to plan. From being chronically late to being unable to focus, and constantly talking out of turn, Queenie finds herself standing out instead of fitting in. What makes Queenie feel most alone is her ADHD diagnosis that no one at school knows about. Many of her symptoms, like poor time management and the inability to control emotions, live below the surface, which makes it even harder for people to understand. On top of all this, she is forced to face her biggest fear—making a speech in front of the whole school. As the school year goes on, Queenie continues to struggle to fit in as she avoids writing her speech and more trouble looms on the horizon. This debut from ADHD advocate and author Read offers a realistic representation of a young girl living with neurodiversity. Many will relate to Queenie’s struggles in a new school, and her story will also help readers better understand the symptoms of ADHD, both visible and invisible. Will Queenie find the courage to speak from her heart in front of the whole school? If she does, she just might learn a lesson about being herself, trouble and all.