Rosie Frost and the Falcon Queen

August 1, 2023

Gr 4-7-Rosie Frost has always been an outcast. When she gets the shocking news of her mother's death, she is sent to the elite Heverbridge School on Bloodstone Island with little explanation-how did she get there, and what connection does it have to her mother? In addition to dealing with the typical mean girls, Rosie must now contend with a sinister headmaster, an island that defies the laws of nature, and the ghost of Queen Elizabeth I. Determined to prove herself, she signs up for the Falcon Queen games. Winning, though, is trickier than she thinks, and the games are just a piece of a much more complicated plot. Rosie will need to rely on her friends and trust her instincts not only to win but to save the whole island, too. This book mixes elements of fantasy with history, mystery, and adventure, but it is, at its core, a coming-of-age story. Rosie blossoms when she starts to let her walls down, and the supporting characters who eventually become her friends round out the story. The school and the island are fantastic settings: readers will be bursting to visit Bloodstone Island, with its rare creatures and old secrets. The main plot is slow to start; the book at times feels long, but readers will be engaged enough that most won't mind. VERDICT If an English boarding school on an island full of wild, rare animals isn't enough to grab readers, Rosie Frost, an empowering new heroine, certainly will.-Kristin Brynsvold

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August 15, 2023
A 13-year-old is sent to a school with ties to the Tudors on a mysterious English island populated by endangered species in this U.S. debut by former Spice Girl Halliwell-Horner. Rosie Frost's world is upended when her mum dies, leaving her an orphan. Per her mother's last wishes, the pale, ginger-haired girl is whisked away to Bloodstone Island, a "conservation hotspot" and the site of Heverbridge, a school founded by Queen Elizabeth I, which now has an ethnically diverse population of pupils and teachers. New scholarship student Rosie immediately seems to get on the bad side of the deputy head, Mr. Hemlock. She soon comes to believe he has plans that will harm the island's flora and fauna. Hoping to make her voice heard and discover more about who she is, Rosie enters the Falcon Queen Games, a competition aligned with the school's values of courage, power, and freedom. She faces danger and bullying, but along the way she makes friends and allies who help her. This contemporary, girl-power story has light paranormal and fantastical elements and is fueled by a captivating mystery and adventure. The good-versus-evil narrative is clear cut and straightforward. Many of the character types and plot elements present here are popular staples of the genre, adding to the lively story's wide appeal. It also features quick pacing, fun and engaging worldbuilding, and a lead character who is easy to root for. Exuberant, action-packed, and warmhearted. (map, glossary, family tree) (Fantasy. 10-14)

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September 11, 2023
In an effervescent fantasy series launch with a conservation bent from musician Halliwell-Horner, also known as Ginger Spice, orphaned 13-year-old Rosie Frost is enrolled in a secret boarding school. Founded by Queen Elizabeth I to honor her mother, Anne Boleyn, Heverbridge School is an academy for exceptional students and Tudor descendants. It’s also located off England’s coast on Bloodstone Island, a hidden haven for some of the world’s “rarest and most impressive” plants and animals. Rosie arrives at Heverbridge seeking comfort and answers; instead, rich kids bully her, and imperious deputy administrator Mr. Hemlock belittles and gaslights her. To survive, Rosie keeps her head down, until she discovers that Mr. Hemlock is planning something harmful to the island’s endangered species. Hoping that the prestige of a win could provide her with the platform to incite change, she enters Heverbridge’s highly competitive Falcon Queen games, a tournament meant to test students’ courage. Though the plot follows a familiar path, smart twists rooted in real-life history add excitement, and Anne Boleyn’s indomitable spirit literally and figuratively haunts this lively debut, inspiring Rosie and propelling the tale’s feminist, eco-preservationist message. Rosie cues as white; the boldly drawn supporting cast is racially diverse. Ages 10–up. Agent: Anthony Mattero, CAA.