I really wanted to like The Queen and the Nobody Boy -- the cover is great and the premise intriguing. And, for the most part, I did enjoy it. But I also found it unusually slow, for a children's book, for me to get through, and I often felt as though I were missing something, like background information or other explanations. The Queen and the Nobody Boy is described as a stand-alone companion to [b:The Traveling Restaurant: Jasper's Voyage in Three Parts|13131931|The Traveling Restaurant Jasper's Voyage in Three Parts (A Tale of Fontania #1)|Barbara Else|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348960358s/13131931.jpg|15799731], but I do wonder if perhaps reading The Traveling Restaurant first, which I did not, would help with understanding The Queen and the Nobody Boy.

Although the book is technically a fantasy, I would recommend it more to children who are interested in adventures or mysteries. The concept of magic is a central plot point, but the actual action of the book doesn't involve all that much magic or other fantasy elements. It does, however, involve quite a lot of adventure (flying through the air on a train, escaping from an enemy city, distracting giant poisonous toads) and mystery (Where are Hodie's parents? Will the Queen develop magical abilities? Where are the missing treasures?).

Note: I received a digital copy of this book through NetGalley. ( )

Geared toward the younger end of the young adult. This story was fast paced but I thought the ending seemed to be hastily thrown together. ( )

Set in the world that was introduced in The Travelling Restaurant, this story features Sibilla, now 12 years-old, and a boy called Hodie. Sibilla's magic abilities haven't developed yet and she is fed up. Hodie is also fed up with life as an unpaid odd job boy and decides to run away. Sibilla decides to go with him and so instead of going south as he planned, Hodie find himself going to Um'Binnia - a neighbouring country that is preparing to go to war with Fontania.
This is another rollicking adventure filled with humour, fantastical creations and memorable characters which would appeal to readers aged 10 and up. It would also make a great classroom read-aloud with lots of spinoff art and science activities possible. ( )

Author Barbara Else takes us back to the magical land of Fontania which she introduced us to in 'The Travelling Restaurant' which was Jasper's journey. King Jasper's little sister, Sibillia, is now twelve years old and completely fed-up with pressure about her lack of magical ability, which everyone keeps hoping will appear soon. Odd job boy at the Fontanian palace is Hodie, who is also fairly fed-up with his thankless tasks. His main gripes are being unpaid and lack of food and he is contemplating running away.

The vain Emperior of Um'Binnia, a hot smelly underground city reached by dodgy wind travel and that relies on science rather than magic, pays a visit to Fontania. When him and his entourage hurridly leave they take something belonging to Hodie and he determines to get it back.

Hodie runs off to retrieve his belongings and to what is hopefully a better life in the South. To his consternation, Queen Sibilla joins him, disguised as a rather dirty urchan boy. Um'Binnia declares war on Fontania and the adventure begins.

This is a wonderfully quirky tale with humour throughout. The most endearing character is probably the squirrel. Like 'The Travelling Restaurant' the cover is also fantastic and the spine immediately draws the eye. I love the map which folds out on the inside front cover. Very well done. ( )