Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston

October 1, 2022
An aspiring knight stands against the injustice at work in their own kingdom even as war with a vengeful witch looms on the horizon. Twelve-year-old Callie longs to train in the royal capital of Helston, but the rigid laws of the realm forbid it. Only boys may pursue knighthood, and only girls may learn magic, but Callie isn't either. When the lord chancellor demands that Callie's father, the former king's champion, return to Helston to train the crown prince for an upcoming tournament and the rising threat of war, Callie seizes the chance to go with him, determined to prove their worth. With the help of two unexpected new friends--the lord chancellor's daughter and the crown prince--Callie rallies the courage to fight for change. Passing descriptions of background characters indicate diversity in the wider world; the central characters are White. Callie confronts transphobia and internalized shame. When well-meaning but flawed adults try to press for insubstantial change and unfair compromises, Callie and their friends refuse to give up or stop questioning the discrimination within their society. Gentle and affirming romance blossoms gradually throughout the story. A frank and vivid acknowledgement of menstruation stands out as an important moment of inclusion within the coming-of-age narrative. The resolution balances hope with the lingering suspense of lurking danger awaiting Callie in future adventures. Fierce, heartfelt, and determined. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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Starred review from October 31, 2022
Nonbinary 12-year-old Callie dreams of becoming a knight in service to the royal court of Helston. When their retired knight father—formerly champion to Helston’s king, who vanished years ago under mysterious circumstances—is recalled to help train the 12-year-old crown prince for an upcoming tournament and a future as ruler, Callie joins him. Helston’s court frowns upon anyone deviating from strict gender norms: magic-less knights are expected to fight, ladies to “sit still and be quiet and make pretty, useless things with their magic.” Confined to their chamber by the cruel Lord Chancellor Peran, Callie nonetheless continues to secretly train as a squire, soon befriending the nervous prince as well as Peran’s defiant daughter. Together, the trio, each of whom flout Helston’s gender norms, fight to be recognized for who they are in an increasingly oppressive system, all in the shadow of a looming war. In this uplifting debut, Symes-Smith skillfully crafts an emotionally rich adventure starring an intersectionally inclusive cast of courageous characters. With narrative undercurrents addressing identity, found family, and healing, there’s a lot to unpack and appreciate, all for the better, in this character-driven fantasy series starter. Ages 8–12. Agent: Megan Manzano, D4EO Literary.

Starred review from December 1, 2022

Gr 5 Up-When their champion knight father is called back to serve the crown, Callie is excited to live out their dream of becoming a knight. Upon arriving in legendary Helston, nonbinary Callie's ambition is cruelly stifled by the intolerant Chancellor and the palace's rigid gender norms; they are expected to forfeit their sword and practice magic with the girls instead. Callie's friendship with Elowen, the Chancellor's magical daughter, and Prince Willow, the crown prince who is being bullied into submission, provides enough hope to continue their fight. Yet when the three uncover a devious plot to oust Prince Willow as the rightful heir to the throne, the trio teams up with Elowen's twin brother, Edwyn, to fight the injustices of their world. Tenacious, vulnerable, and gritty, Sir Callie is a hero that belongs on every library shelf. The writing is empowering, expertly creating an inclusive tale that affirms everyone's right to define themselves. Readers are thrust into the action scenes of this fantasy novel, dodging dragons and magical spells while cheering for the protagonist, their family, and friends. Characters are cued white. VERDICT A must-have for every library. This is an important book that will capture every reader's heart and imagination.-Amy McInerney

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December 22, 2022
Grades 4-8 *Starred Review* The only thing Callie wants more than to be a knight is to be themself. After finally finding a supportive home, they get the chance to travel with their aged-hero father to Helston, the royal capital, where Callie hopes to prove themself in the tournament arena-. Meanwhile, as a powerful threat rises beyond the city walls, a greater threat is found within, where an aggressively bigoted culture works to squash the nature of its people. While Callie's father attempts to train the timid Prince Willow (known to most as Will) in combat, Callie goes up against the cruel Chancellor in a fight to change the culture, gain acceptance, and protect their found family. As noted in a foreword, this is a story of adventure and magic but also one of ""bigotry and bias."" As such, the pages are crowded with loudly queerphobic antagonists, but hope and courage and progress are depicted in equal measure through a powerful young protagonist with a ton of agency, amounting to an experience that will be a boon to young (and old) readers. Despite the medieval setting, Symes-Smith's fantasy world is built around contemporary attitudes and ideas, so while our exact identity labels may not be present, modern language is used to explore those concepts, making for a more accessible--and fun--adventure. As a character-driven fantasy, this focus makes the stakes feel incredibly high throughout, and the conflicts cut deep. All in all, it's a can't-miss, one-of-a-kind (for now!) page-turner, bursting with heart as it beautifully reorients classic fantasy tropes to center on queer kids (and grown-ups) and their struggles and triumphs. Among the best of the year--and a debut, no less.

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