There is so much happening in Kaya Morgan's Crowning Achievement. Kaya and her family are grieving the loss of her father, while navigating a summer camp frought with highs and lows, friends and foes, and adults with different intentions. It's a lot for a young girl to handle, and at times, could be a lot for a young reader to sort out. While the writing demonstrates the very real confusion of meeting new people and trying to decide if their friendship and kindness are real or fake, it's rather confusing to read as well. But I do appreciate having a book that tackles the hidden and overt prejudices and discrimination present in modern America in a lighter way for younger children.

Running late with my review but it was good. I do love a Renaissance Faire and would like to attend Kaya's and have her be Queen. I good story of friendship, racism, and believing in yourself. Proud of Kaya!

I loved this book so much! Kaya is such a relatable character--she is ambitious and smart and energetic sometimes lets her big dreams overwhelm what's happening right in front of her. Kaya makes mistakes, but she recognizes those mistakes and does her best to correct them. But mostly, I just loved how much she loved the Renaissance Faire! The setting was fantastic and totally unique for a MG novel. Issues of racism were handled with care and empathy, perfect for young readers and older readers alike.

This was such a hilarious, heartfelt, and fabulously geeky MG novel! Love love love the Renaissance Faire backdrop! 5 stars for sure!

Kaya is very excited to be attending a Renaissance fair two week camp near her home in Georgia. When her father was alive, he would work at the fair as the lead archer, but since his death, Kaya has missed the event. Her fondest dream is to earn the role of Queen, and knows that this would make her father proud, since he always supported her, buying her princess dresses from the time she was young. Her mother is a bit harried, having to work double shifts as a nurse and take care of Kaya and well as her older brother, Kev. Jr., who is starting college in the fall, so doesn't have time to give Kaya the proper regal hairdo. Her friend Tyler Nomura is going as well, and hopes to be a knight. When Tyler and Kaya get to camp, they are a little worried that the only other participants are from a fancy private school, and when blonde Jessie is crowned queen for the first week, it adds insult to injury that Kaya is training to be a jester. It's not that she hates working with Barry, who knew her father, and it is interesting that Kaya's father started out as a jester as well. It's just not Kaya's dream, even though she is quite good in the role. She fights a bit with Jessie and her friend Wren, although Jessie seems nice. For the second week, Kaya does get to intern with the queen, and puts her own spin on things by including a bit of archery with her skit. At the final showcase, the camp director brings in board members, and the children find out that unless the board provides more monetary support, there won't be another camp. The racist behavior of the camp director, who tells Kaya that she's just not "suited" to the role, brings out details about the difficulties her father had being accepted by the others in the fair, and makes Kev, Jr. angry. WHen the director tries to use a video of Kaya to promote diversity at the camp even though there really isn't any, Kaya knows she needs to do something. Kaya works with Tyler, as well as Jessie and the others, to show the world that the Renaissance fair should be more inclusive.
Strengths: I think Kaya would get along quite well with Allen's Mya Tibbs. Both girls know exactly what they want, and aren't afraid to stand up for themselves in order to get it. In doing so, they sometimes rub other people the wrong way. Jessie and her friends ended up being fairly nice and helpful, but Kaya's reaction to them caused them to include Tyler in some of their plans but not Kaya. The family's interest in "geeky" pursuits, and the prejudice they face because of them, will resonate especially with the Black nerd community who are starting to get some attention in books like Baptiste's Boy 2.0. I especially liked the details about archery, juggling, and Kaya's hair dos.
Weaknesses: While the director's behavior near the end of the book is certainly inexcusably racist, when Kaya was first chosen as jester, she didn't seem to have any real reason to be upset, other than she wanted the part and didn't get it. When she turned out to be very good at the role, I thought this would take a turn ala 1950s teen romances where dreams are dashed, but better dreams emerge.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Jamieson's All's Faire in Middle School but want to see more knights and princesses of color. I can't think of any other middle grade books that include this cultural phenomenon. While I certainly had lots of friends who were involved in this (which is why I know all about how to care for homemade chain mail), my students haven't picked up All's Faire in Middle School frequently, even though it's a graphic novel.

I absolutely adored this book. Tew's foray into Middle Grade is NOT to be missed. The voice is spot on, the characters are compelling, and the message is (though I hate this phrase in relation to MG) important! All the stars! All the crowns!

Spent this weekend devouring KAYA MORGAN'S CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT and oh, my goodness. Cute, funny, wonderfully geeky, and beautifully heartfelt, Kaya's voice is gonna stick with me for a long time. And the Ren Faire atmosphere? Unmatched. Read this!!

I recieved a free eARC of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read it!

Kaya's father was the lead archer for the Rennaisance Fair before his death, and it was always Kaya's special place. Now, as a middle schooler, she has a chance to do apprentice camp, and finally have a chance of fulfilling her dreams of being the queen of the fair, which she and her father always dreamed of. But, will Kaya get that chance?

The Freedom Fire series is wonderful. Disney/Hyperion has really done a great job of elevating Black voices and providing books that will allow Black kids to see themselves, and non-BIPOC kids to see the struggles their classmates and friends face. Kaya's struggles to be seen as the queen, and the willingness of the fair director to use Kaya's grief and skin color in an effort to make the faie seem more diverse while typecasting his BIPOC interns rings true. And the triumph is well earned and justified.

This book deserves a place in schools, community libraries, and book fairs.