The Queen and the Nobody Boy: A Tale of Fontania

Gr 4–7— In this companion to The Traveling Restaurant (Gecko, 2012), 10 years have passed since Jasper saved his baby sister, Sibilla, who is now 12 and Queen of Fontania. Jasper's role in this story is minor as the principal players are Queen Sibilla and Hodie, the unpaid odd-job boy at the Grand Palace. Tired of scraping by for every morsel of food and not feeling needed or wanted, Hodie decides to head south and makes plans to sneak away with his dead mother's possessions and little else. Unbeknownst to him, Queen Sibilla also runs away, dressed as a ragamuffin boy, and joins him, due to her concerns about her lack of impending magical ability. Unable to shake his tagalong companion, Hodie travels with her to Um'Binnia, an underground city threatening war against Fontania. There, the greedy Emperor Prowdd'on is trying to capture the Golden Dragon-eagle, and Sibilla might be Fontania's only hope. With a generous helping of humor, a sprinkling of magic, and a wind-train for transport, the young protagonists embark on their quest. Told in five parts, the story unfolds with the kidnapping of unpopular Princessa Lu'nedda, the possible existence of both of Hodie's supposedly deceased parents, and danger lurking around every corner. Chapters are short, with quirky titles, and are accompanied by a sprinkling of black-and-white illustrations. Readers looking for a suspenseful dose of magic and mystery will relish this otherworldly tale that easily stands alone.—Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA