Common Sense Media Review
By Amanda Nojadera
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Heartfelt tale celebrates Asian American girls' friendship.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE QUEENS OF NEW YORK, Jia Lee, Ariel Kim, and Everett Hoang are best friends facing their first summer apart. Everett heads to Ohio for a well-known musical theater program but realizes talent alone isn't enough to become a Broadway star. Ariel, who graduated early, is off to San Francisco for a pre-college STEM program while grieving her sister, who passed away in South Korea the previous year. Meanwhile, Jia stays in Flushing, struggling to balance watching over her sister and grandma, working at her parents' restaurant, and taking steps toward the future she wants. Despite the distance between them, the girls realize that their strong, supportive friendship will help them overcome life's challenges and surprises.
Is It Any Good?
E.L. Shen's heartfelt coming-of-age tale thoughtfully explores friendship, family expectations, grief, and racism, making it a must-read for teens. Although Jia, Everett, and Ariel experience many highs and lows without each other, their strong, supportive friendship shines throughout the tale. Readers will love the girls' emails and text messages, which showcase each girl's unique personality, and the vivid settings that transport readers to New York, Ohio, and South Korea. As The Queens of New York progresses and the lovable trio find the courage to face their fears, teens will see the importance of pursuing their passions and the power of communication, compassion, and empathy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about friendship in The Queens of New York. How are female friendships often portrayed in the media? What sort of impact do those portrayals have on real-life girl friendships?
What do the characters learn about themselves? How has their summer experience prepared them to deal with change as they return to their regular routines?
How do the characters demonstrate communication, compassion, courage, and empathy? Why are these important character strengths?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Compassion , Courage , Empathy
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Quill Tree Books
- Publication date : June 6, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 17
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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