A parent would reach for this book when their child is facing a new, big responsibility and feels completely unprepared or overwhelmed. The Unready Queen follows Aribella, a clumsy, anxiety-ridden princess who is suddenly crowned queen when a curse turns her entire family into cheese. With a monstrous army at the gates, Aribella must overcome her crippling self-doubt and lead a ragtag team of misfits to save her kingdom. This funny and heartfelt fantasy adventure for ages 8-12 explores themes of imposter syndrome, courage, and finding strength in your own unique qualities. It's a perfect choice to show a child that leadership isn't about being perfect, but about being brave enough to try.
The central event involves the loss of the protagonist's entire family. However, this is handled metaphorically and humorously: they are transformed into cheese, not killed. This allows the story to explore themes of loss and unexpected responsibility without being traumatic. The approach is entirely secular, and the resolution is hopeful, focusing on the creation of a new, found family.
Ideal Reader
This is for the 8 to 11 year old struggling with imposter syndrome or performance anxiety. A child who was just made team captain, given a solo in the school concert, or is facing any new challenge and is convinced they will fail. It’s for the kid who says, “But I don’t know how!” or “I’m not good enough.”
Parent Prep
The book can be read cold. No specific preparation is necessary. The fantastical setup (family turned to cheese) is absurd enough to cushion the theme of loss. Parents could mention that it’s okay to feel scared or unready when trying something new, but it’s not required context. A parent has just heard their child say, “I can’t do it” about a new responsibility. The child might be trying to back out of an activity, expressing fear of failure, or comparing themselves unfavorably to others. They might seem overwhelmed by expectations.
Age Experience
A younger reader (8-9) will latch onto the humor, the silly premise, and the adventure plot. They'll grasp the surface message about trying your best. An older reader (10-12) will connect more deeply with Aribella’s internal monologue about self-doubt. They'll appreciate the nuance of her leadership style, which relies on collaboration and kindness rather than traditional royal authority.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many stories where the princess has a hidden, epic destiny or power, Aribella’s strength is earned. She is genuinely unready, and her growth is messy, relatable, and achieved through perseverance and leaning on her friends. The story champions collaborative leadership and the idea that your perceived weaknesses (like being overly cautious) can actually be strengths.
Read plot summary
Princess Aribella, seventeenth in line for the throne, is completely unprepared when a curse turns the entire royal family into various types of cheese, making her the new queen. With the monstrous Farrow army about to invade, she must overcome crippling self-doubt. She assembles a team of outsiders: a shy, bookish troll, a fastidious goblin inventor, and a retired, over-the-hill knight. Together, this unlikely group must find a way to defend their kingdom, forcing Aribella to discover what it truly means to be a leader.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Aribella doesn't think she has any 'queenly' skills. What skills did she discover she had all along? Are there any skills you have that you sometimes forget about?
2
Aribella's team was made of very different people like Thorbjorn the troll and Mr. Snivels the goblin. Why was it helpful to have a team with different strengths instead of a team of knights?
3
The book is called 'The Unready Queen'. By the end of the story, do you think she was still 'unready'? What does it mean to be 'ready' for a big challenge?
4
Aribella was very afraid of failing in front of her whole kingdom. What was one thing she did to help herself feel braver, even when she was scared?
