Now this is how you write a YA thriller! The comp to both THE OTHER BLACK GIRL and ONE OF US IS LYING is right -- what a phenomenal book! I can't wait to read more from Jumata Emill.

Okay, so, I wanted to love this book and the mystery part is what kept me going even though it was predictable and you definitely know who the killer is within the first like, 40% of the book. It just felt like this book tried too hard and after reading some of the reviews online, I now can see why. The clichés, the white tears speeches in every chapter…just, felt like this book was doing the opposite of what its intentions were.

There was a Black girl on the cover, but the story clearly focused on the white MC, Tinsley, who was the center of this whole story. I felt like she wanted a big ol' pat on the back and a round of applause because she was being mistreated by Black people and then at the end she all about the people.

Would not recommend.

Tinsley was supposed to be Homecoming Queen. Instead, Nova Albright is Queen. The first Black homecoming queen. And she’s dead. Now people are speculating on who killed her. Was it Tinsley? After all, it’s her legacy. Her mother, sister and grandmother all wore the crown. Nova’s best friend is determined to prove Tinsley did it. Tinsley is determined to prove she didn’t. The question is, can they handle the truth that they will uncover in the process?

This was a well planned, thought out plot. This is the second book I’ve read by Emill and I love the books. I just wish the language was a little tamer so I could have them in my Middle School Library.

This book was just ok. The editor needs to call out the author on using TOO MUCH slang. I understand that to make it relevant to teens and young adults you need to use their language, but it was overused. So much so that there are some passages that were unreadable. You can still convey your message with regular vernacular with a sprinkling of slang. I loved the twists and turns throughout this book.

“The Black Queen” by Jumata Emill is a young adult thriller that delves into the complexities of race, privilege, and the lengths to which people will go to protect their legacies. The story unfolds in Lovett High School, a place that’s superficially integrated but deeply divided along racial lines. The narrative is driven by the murder of Nova Albright, the school’s first Black homecoming queen, whose body is discovered in an old slave cemetery she was passionate about restoring.

The plot is intricately woven around two main characters: Duchess Simmons, Nova’s best friend and the daughter of Lovett’s first Black police captain, and Tinsley McArthur, a wealthy white student whose family has a long-standing tradition of homecoming queens. Tinsley was expected to continue this legacy until Nova’s historic win, which sets the stage for the ensuing conflict.

Duchess is convinced that Tinsley is behind Nova’s murder, fueled by jealousy and entitlement. However, as the story progresses, the two girls form an unlikely alliance to uncover the truth. Their journey reveals the dark underbelly of Lovett High, exposing secrets that some would kill to keep hidden.

The author does not shy away from addressing difficult topics such as racism, violence, and the abuse of power. The mystery element is well-executed, keeping readers guessing until the very end. The twists are unexpected but believable, and the resolution provides a sense of closure while still leaving room for reflection.

I went through a stint of absolutely devouring YA. This book really showed up and left me guessing. I enjoyed the character development and the bit of mystery to it. I have heard some issues brought up about the focus being on the white character and on reflecting after I did feel uneasy with that.

I really enjoyed this book for the following reasons, but I encourage you to read the reviews from Black people who can better speak to how this felt in relation to their own experiences:

- I thought it was important to show how Duchess feels torn between her loyalty to her police father and wanting to take a stand against the racism she's experiencing. In some ways her father has taken the approach of acceptance in order to get by, while other members of her community are encouraging Duchess to take a stand. For any member of a marginalised community there's always a cost/benefit calculation for their actions - will speaking up for myself end up hurting me more than staying silent?
- It shows the hypocrisy of white allies and why allyship is a verb, not a noun. Tinsley's sister is the clearest example, as someone who's taken on the identity of an ally but is more of a white savior. Her actions do nothing but make her feel better about herself, which is the other side of the coin to Tinsley's open racism. And even though Tinsley grew during the novel, as a reader it was obvious that her white guilt was still coming from a place of selfishness.

Since the book is YA, it's targeted at a population of readers that may not be aware of the complexity of racism, allyship, and privilege, and I think it's important to expose that population to these concepts in a way that makes sense to them even if seemed too in-your-face for adult readers.

This book has such a gorgeous cover and such a lovely concept but it falls short on everything! I feel like I was tricked with the cover and the summary to just end up reading about a racist white girl trying to prove her innocence while playing victim. It was honestly one of the most disappointing books I read in 2023.

I enjoyed this book. One hears about how the wealthy can be entitled to things. This book showed how entitlement doesn’t always prevail. The book also shows how sometimes things seem so good, but can backfire and it isn’t as expected. I liked the mystery of this and how it showed people of different races and different family dynamics can work together to solve a problem. The colors on the cover of the book are eye catching. This is a good book for my students to read that evolves conflict and resolution.

I read this book last year and do not remember a lot about it, which kind of speaks to how I thought about it. I remember thinking that the cover could use a re-do and that it was doing well on its own on the new book shelf at the library. Not a bad book, just not for me. Teens seem to enjoy it so I will continue to purchase this author's next books.

I liked this one! I liked the story and how it built the world. The mystery and finding out what happened was strong and interesting, and it was easy to follow and held my attention. I think I read it in only maybe, 2 sittings?

My issues I had with it were mostly the characters. It didn't feel like there was any character development from the beginning to the end; and for me it focused too much on Tinsley and her side of the story VS Nova and her life and murder. It went from trying to focus on solving Nova's murder and what happened to her + dealing with the pretty open racism of the town to Tinsley proving her innocence and confronting her own racism and privilege. Also, the fact that a character was a junior in high school dating a college student? And another was having a pretty inappropriate relationship with a teacher just felt....eugh.

AND THE ENDING- Listen, maybe it's just me, but the ending felt incomplete. It didn't feel like anything that Tinsley and Duchess found out was acknowledged, and now everyone just gets to move on with their life and none of it is acknowledged.

Ultimately, I liked the plot and the idea, but not the execution of it and I wish it were better done.

"Black Queen" immerses readers in a gripping YA mystery, skillfully transporting them to the corridors of Lovett High School. As a middle school principal, I appreciate how this debut work skillfully intertwines a compelling whodunit plot with profound reflections on the impact of segregation. The narrative digs into the underlying roots of societal issues while engaging young minds in solving the mystery of the homecoming queen's demise. "Black Queen" is a grand slam, seamlessly blending suspense with social commentary, making it an enriching and thrilling read for our students. This debut promises both entertainment and valuable insights into the complexities of our world.

The writing in this was really hard to get into so I DNF it very early on.
Thank you NetGalley and to the publishers for giving me an early release copy in exchange for my honest review.

I started to read this book because I thought, "Hey, I liked Stephen King's Carrie. This will be great! An udated version of Carrie full of diverse characters, Right?" I hated it. Honestly, It read like it was written by a someone in Junior High who was trying to hard to impress her friends with her writing. The writing was elementary. There is not one character the reader wants to root for, they are all too flawed and selfish. the plot is too cliched. I could not even finish the book, it was bad. I will give it two stars because I really like the cover art.

I absolutely loved this book. It explored teens who are wealthy and those who are scraping to get by. Very thrilling too.

Emill weaves a relatable story between the haves and the have nots. What happens when secrets are held and revealed.

Whew, this book right here. Firstly, I listened to the audiobook of this and highly recommend it; both narrators did a spectacular job. THE BLACK QUEEN by Jumata Emill digs deep into the inherited mental segregation our country has passed on to the younger generations. It examines how forced "diversity" does not promote inclusion or harmony. I LOVED the two warring perspectives of Duchess and Tinsley; their voices are so distinct and the discord of their partnership adds a nice layer of tautness to the atmosphere. Also, I did not see the twist coming AT ALL, and I was heavily engrossed in finding out who the hell killed Nova. I finished listening to this book and wanted to sob and scream all at once; it packs one helluva punch. I'll remember this book and be recommending it for a very long time.

4 stars!

I like my thrillers with a little bit of social commentary, and this one definitely delivered. Although I didn't fully realize this book was going to be centered around Black trauma (which I was trying to stay away from this year), I did really enjoy the story that was crafted. I do think this would be good for people who liked The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D Jackson (even though I did like that book a little bit more) and I think the only components I didn't enjoy were related to the YA-ness of this book. I would definitely read more from this author and I hope she writes an adult thriller soon!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This one was just okay. I liked the message, but I felt that at times it was almost too much. It is one that I will purchase but I'm not sure how it will do.

The Black Queen by Jumata Emill is an engaging mystery novel that tackles important themes of race, privilege, and justice. The story takes place in Lovett, a small town, where Nova Albright, the first Black homecoming queen, is tragically murdered on the night of her coronation.

Nova's main rival for the crown is Tinsley McArthur, a wealthy white girl from a long line of previous queens. Nova's best friend, Duchess Simmons, is devastated by the loss and believes Tinsley is the culprit. However, Duchess's father, the town's first Black police captain, seems reluctant to investigate Tinsley as the main suspect, which makes Duchess even more determined to prove Tinsley's guilt.

Readers are taken on a suspenseful journey of secrets, suspicions, and hidden motives as the plot unfolds. Duchess takes it upon herself to uncover the truth about what happened to Nova, but she soon realizes that Tinsley has her own agenda.

The novel beautifully portrays emotions such as grief, anger, and resilience. It also delves into the impact of racism and privilege on individuals and communities. The Black Queen challenges traditional notions of beauty, power, and identity through compelling storytelling.

This book is thought-provoking and combines mystery with insightful reflections on social issues. Jumata Emill's writing engages readers and encourages us to think critically about the complex intersections of love, prejudice, and privilege.