Queenie in Seven Moves by Zanni Louise

Title: Queenie in Seven Moves

Author: Zanni Louise

Genre: Contemporary

Publisher: Walker Books

Published: 1^st February 2023

Format: Paperback

Pages:  240

Price: $16.99

Synopsis: How can you find a place to belong when you can’t find a place to live?

To Queenie home is ‘Peachy’, the little house where she’s lived forever. So when she and her mum are forced to move out, they find themselves bouncing from one place to the next, with no idea where they might eventually end up. But in the search for a fixed address, Queenie makes unexpected new friends, reconnects with old ones, and finds the courage to sing her song for the world.

A brilliant first novel from acclaimed creator Zanni Louise.

~*~

Zanni Louise’s first novel is set during the pandemic – in a time of QR codes, masks, hand sanitiser, and limited gatherings. Queenie and her mother are homeless and bouncing from place to place – from their beloved home Peachy to time in a nursing home, to a caravan on a commune, a tent and other places that just don’t seem to fit, and that are temporary. At the same time, Queenie feels herself drifting away from friends, trying to write her music, and at the same time, coming together with an old friend she thought she wasn’t getting on with. And her mother is being secretive – something is going on. Through all these moves and obstacles, Queenie is determined to find a place to stay forever and finds the courage to make music with new friend, Dory, a boy in her class she’s never spent much time with before. The seven moves over the COVID year in this book take Queenie on a journey of discovery and acceptance as she faces the end of primary school and sits on the cusp of heading into high school.

I’ve read Zanni’s books aimed at younger readers before, so was very eager to see what she did for the middle grade market, an area that I have come to love. And I wasn’t disappointed at all, because Queenie’s story is relatable in so many ways – I felt like she had something that any reader could see within themselves whether it was the immediate and physical aspects – moving, finishing primary school, or the COVID experience, or the internal battles of accepting changes, and finding out what you are capable of when you try and let people help you. It’s a layered story that children, teens, and adults can relate to, because we all faced uncertainty during the COVID period, and we all face uncertainty in all areas of our lives. It will be different for everyone, of course, but it is reassuring when I get to read books that reflect these uncertainties – it opens a conversation for everyone.

Anyone who finds it nerve-wracking or who has had someone upstage them before will also relate to Queenie and her experiences with Sparrow singing the songs Queenie has chosen, and her reluctance to put herself out there until Dory and her substitute teacher convince her to try singing and songwriting, which develops Queenie’s confidence, though it was very realistic that she was still unsure about it all and at times was impulsive and acted on her emotions – something that we have all done at various times. It is this kind of book that makes us feel less alone.

Queenie in Seven Moves was inspired by Zanni’s own family experience at the same time – where they had to move seven times in several months as people escaped Sydney to rural and regional areas to get away from the pandemic, making it harder for locals to find somewhere to live. I felt that this gave the story something special and contributed something beautiful to the heart and soul of the story. As I read, I kept hoping that Queenie and her mum would find their forever home, and a place where they could be settled and not worry about being turfed out or having to find somewhere at the last minute. It’s the kind of book that can reassure younger readers that even when things change suddenly, you can find a way to get through it, even if it seems hard at first.

It also gives readers a chance to see their COVID experience reflected to them in a safe and comforting way – it makes sense to reference it, because it is part of our history and lives now. As a reader, I much prefer the books that refer to, or are set in it without too many high stakes – they’re less anxiety-inducing whilst still acknowledging that it happened and letting readers know it was a thing. It also gives the book a solid setting without having to date the story through technology. I did like that Queenie didn’t have her own phone or a heavy reliance on technology – I think it is important to show this reality that some kids might have and that older readers like me had – I miss not being able to disconnect sometimes, so Queenie not having a phone was a nice moment of nostalgia for me and a reminder that everyone has different access to technology and computers. I think it also worked well for the story, as sometimes, a phone can solve problems too easily – there are times they are useful but there are times I think characters and stories need to find a way to deal with things without them. A balance is a good thing I think, and Zanni pulls this off well. I loved this book and hope that others love it as well.