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The Queen of Ocean Parkway
The Queen of Ocean Parkway
An 11-year-old podcaster-turned-sleuth teams up with the new kid in the building to find their missing neighbor! A captivating adventure perfect for fans of When You Reach Me and Only Murders in the Building.
Eleven-year-old Roya is the superintendent’s kid in her regal Brooklyn apartment building, so she knows pretty much everything there is to know about its residents. An aspiring reporter, she even hosts a secret podcast about the lives of the building’s tenants. It’s a good distraction from the problems in her own life.
But when Katya Petrov, one of her favorite tenants, goes missing, Roya discovers an eerie connection to Grandmother’s Predictions, an antique fortune-telling machine at Coney Island. “Grandmother” has been linked to multiple disappearances in the Petrov family over the last century. Now, with the help of a new friend who’s just moved in, it’s up to Roya to make her own headlines as she searches for Katya and attempts to break the Petrov curse once and for all.
Eleven-year-old Roya is the superintendent’s kid in her regal Brooklyn apartment building, so she knows pretty much everything there is to know about its residents. An aspiring reporter, she even hosts a secret podcast about the lives of the building’s tenants. It’s a good distraction from the problems in her own life.
But when Katya Petrov, one of her favorite tenants, goes missing, Roya discovers an eerie connection to Grandmother’s Predictions, an antique fortune-telling machine at Coney Island. “Grandmother” has been linked to multiple disappearances in the Petrov family over the last century. Now, with the help of a new friend who’s just moved in, it’s up to Roya to make her own headlines as she searches for Katya and attempts to break the Petrov curse once and for all.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2024
About the author
Sarvenaz Tash
11 books350 followersSarvenaz Tash is the author of of eight novels (and counting) for kids, young adults, and adults including The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love, A Whole Song and Dance, and The Queen of Ocean Parkway. Her books have won awards and recognition from the Junior Library Guild, the American Library Association, Amazon, and Publishers Weekly to name a few. She was born in Tehran, Iran and grew up on Long Island, NY. She received her BFA in Film and Television from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, which means she got to spend most of college running around and making movies (it was a lot of fun). She has dabbled in all sorts of writing including screenwriting, copywriting, and professional tweeting for the likes of Bravo and MTV. Sarvenaz currently lives in Brooklyn, NY with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 3, 2024
5 stars
I loved this middle grade mystery, and I am thrilled there's a sequel in the works!
Roya is a fairly precocious kid whose mother (an absolutely stellar character who needs her own series immediately) is their New York apartment building's super and has instilled a lot of curiosity and independence in her kid. This comes through in Roya's secret podcast and in her desire to solve the building's central, multi-generational conundrum: a curse that plagues one of the resident families.
The plot moves quickly, the characters are nicely developed, and there are some really heavy-hitting themes, especially considering the target audience. Also, the representation is on point. The central characters all come from different backgrounds, identities, and experiences, and while this shapes them, it's also more a part of who they are than a vehicle for didactic messaging. The characters acknowledge each other fully AND accept each other, and the messaging on this front is clear.
I was surprised that I hadn't heard anything about this book before seeing it posted in this month's Libro.fm educator ALC list. My hope is that folks will find this one, at least through that program; it's a gem.
Special thanks to Libro.fm for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review, and extra special best wishes to this author, who has the start of a charming series here.
I loved this middle grade mystery, and I am thrilled there's a sequel in the works!
Roya is a fairly precocious kid whose mother (an absolutely stellar character who needs her own series immediately) is their New York apartment building's super and has instilled a lot of curiosity and independence in her kid. This comes through in Roya's secret podcast and in her desire to solve the building's central, multi-generational conundrum: a curse that plagues one of the resident families.
The plot moves quickly, the characters are nicely developed, and there are some really heavy-hitting themes, especially considering the target audience. Also, the representation is on point. The central characters all come from different backgrounds, identities, and experiences, and while this shapes them, it's also more a part of who they are than a vehicle for didactic messaging. The characters acknowledge each other fully AND accept each other, and the messaging on this front is clear.
I was surprised that I hadn't heard anything about this book before seeing it posted in this month's Libro.fm educator ALC list. My hope is that folks will find this one, at least through that program; it's a gem.
Special thanks to Libro.fm for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review, and extra special best wishes to this author, who has the start of a charming series here.
September 6, 2024
• 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐎𝐂𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐖𝐀𝐘
1. Did you ever want to be a detective when you were a kid? Now you can live vicariously through Roya!
2. This book contains depictions of time travel, if, ya know, that’s your thing.
3. Are you looking for a diverse set of characters? Look no further!
4. I love when a middle grade read includes artwork, don’t you?
5. And last but not least, if you’ve never been to Coney Island but want to learn more about it, pick this book up now!
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Eleven-year-old Roya is the superintendent’s kid in her regal Brooklyn apartment building, so she knows pretty much everything there is to know about its residents. An aspiring reporter, she even hosts a secret podcast about the lives of the building’s tenants. It’s a good distraction from the problems in her own life.
But when Katya Petrov, one of her favorite tenants, goes missing, Roya discovers an eerie connection to Grandmother’s Predictions, an antique fortune-telling machine at Coney Island. "Grandmother" has been linked to multiple disappearances in the Petrov family over the last century. Now, with the help of a new friend who’s just moved in, it’s up to Roya to make her own headlines as she searches for Katya and attempts to break the Petrov curse once and for all.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
Such a fun mystery novel! I loved how quickly the plot picked up and moved forward, never slowing down once we learned more about the mystery of the missing women over the last 80+ years. The time travel aspect was a lot of fun and was 100% unexpected to be honest. They were some of my favorite scenes. This story also includes a lot of deeper issues, such as cancer and food aversions. I liked that it had a lot of new plot lines that I just don’t see often in middle grade books. The fact that it’s being made into a new series is so fun too! I can’t wait to see what Roya and Amin get into next!
1. Did you ever want to be a detective when you were a kid? Now you can live vicariously through Roya!
2. This book contains depictions of time travel, if, ya know, that’s your thing.
3. Are you looking for a diverse set of characters? Look no further!
4. I love when a middle grade read includes artwork, don’t you?
5. And last but not least, if you’ve never been to Coney Island but want to learn more about it, pick this book up now!
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Eleven-year-old Roya is the superintendent’s kid in her regal Brooklyn apartment building, so she knows pretty much everything there is to know about its residents. An aspiring reporter, she even hosts a secret podcast about the lives of the building’s tenants. It’s a good distraction from the problems in her own life.
But when Katya Petrov, one of her favorite tenants, goes missing, Roya discovers an eerie connection to Grandmother’s Predictions, an antique fortune-telling machine at Coney Island. "Grandmother" has been linked to multiple disappearances in the Petrov family over the last century. Now, with the help of a new friend who’s just moved in, it’s up to Roya to make her own headlines as she searches for Katya and attempts to break the Petrov curse once and for all.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
Such a fun mystery novel! I loved how quickly the plot picked up and moved forward, never slowing down once we learned more about the mystery of the missing women over the last 80+ years. The time travel aspect was a lot of fun and was 100% unexpected to be honest. They were some of my favorite scenes. This story also includes a lot of deeper issues, such as cancer and food aversions. I liked that it had a lot of new plot lines that I just don’t see often in middle grade books. The fact that it’s being made into a new series is so fun too! I can’t wait to see what Roya and Amin get into next!
September 7, 2024
Thanks Random House Kids and Penguin Random House Audio for the ARC/ALC!
This was such a fun middle grade mystery! This was fairly fast paced, jumping right in to the mystery and never slowing down. I loved the time travel aspect - often times time travel can become repetitive for me and I never felt that here at all. I loved all the characters and thought the inclusion of more serious topics like a sick parent or food aversion was really well done. I loved the friendship between Roya and Amin, and appreciated that the parents were involved as well. The author also does a great job of taking complex things such as the butterfly effect and breaking it down in a way kids will understand while not talking down to them.
There is a podcast element to this, but I didn’t think it was really necessary,It didn’t really ever blend in to the story, it was just something the MC thought about or talked about and I would have liked to have seen it be either more integrated in the plot or not included.
I split time between the audio and physical book and I’d recommend either format. The narrator did a great job creating voices for the characters, but she had a tendency to over enunciate which was distracting to me. That’s probably something most people won’t care about though, just a weird me thing 😂
I think both kids and adults will really enjoy this one! Pick this up when you want an Only Murders in the Building vibe (but missing person not murder bc MG) combined with time travel and some good wholesome fun.
This was such a fun middle grade mystery! This was fairly fast paced, jumping right in to the mystery and never slowing down. I loved the time travel aspect - often times time travel can become repetitive for me and I never felt that here at all. I loved all the characters and thought the inclusion of more serious topics like a sick parent or food aversion was really well done. I loved the friendship between Roya and Amin, and appreciated that the parents were involved as well. The author also does a great job of taking complex things such as the butterfly effect and breaking it down in a way kids will understand while not talking down to them.
There is a podcast element to this, but I didn’t think it was really necessary,It didn’t really ever blend in to the story, it was just something the MC thought about or talked about and I would have liked to have seen it be either more integrated in the plot or not included.
I split time between the audio and physical book and I’d recommend either format. The narrator did a great job creating voices for the characters, but she had a tendency to over enunciate which was distracting to me. That’s probably something most people won’t care about though, just a weird me thing 😂
I think both kids and adults will really enjoy this one! Pick this up when you want an Only Murders in the Building vibe (but missing person not murder bc MG) combined with time travel and some good wholesome fun.
August 17, 2024
This is a clever and fun middle grade time travel mystery. Roya wants to be an investigative journalist when she grows up, and currently has a podcast where she unravels mysteries concerning her apartment neighbors. Her mother works as the superintendent of the apartment, and her father has cancer and is in the hospital. When Roya overhears two neighbors talk about a family curse in the laundry room, she's intrigued. The curse involves a fortune telling machine called Grandmother on Coney Island. When a Petrov daughter gets a fortune on the machine on specific dates, they disappear, and money lands in their bank account. Then Katya Petrov disappears, and her wife is desperate to find her. Roya and her new child neighbor Amin decide to solve the mystery.
I really enjoyed the audiobook. And the time travel aspects were really well done.
I really enjoyed the audiobook. And the time travel aspects were really well done.
September 5, 2024
Sarvenaz Tash's The Queen of Ocean Parkway is a delightful middle-grade mystery with the perfect blend of adventure, suspense, and heartwarming moments. Eleven-year-old Roya, the daughter of her building’s superintendent, takes on the role of amateur sleuth after her favorite tenant, Katya Petrov, mysteriously disappears. With vibes reminiscent of Only Murders in the Building, the story pulls readers into Roya’s investigative journey, where her secret podcast and the eerie connection to a Coney Island fortune-telling machine add depth to the intrigue.
Much like the hit show, the podcast element, along with the building dynamics, brings a fun and modern twist to classic mystery tropes. The supportive and caring portrayal of Roya’s family—especially her mother, who parallels the super role seen in Only Murders in the Building—adds warmth and authenticity to the story. Tash masterfully weaves together the elements of friendship, family, and mystery, making this a perfect read for middle-grade readers and fans of captivating sleuthing stories. A charming, must-read adventure that keeps you hooked from start to finish!
Much like the hit show, the podcast element, along with the building dynamics, brings a fun and modern twist to classic mystery tropes. The supportive and caring portrayal of Roya’s family—especially her mother, who parallels the super role seen in Only Murders in the Building—adds warmth and authenticity to the story. Tash masterfully weaves together the elements of friendship, family, and mystery, making this a perfect read for middle-grade readers and fans of captivating sleuthing stories. A charming, must-read adventure that keeps you hooked from start to finish!
September 3, 2024
This was a fantastic mystery novel that included a time-traveling twist. I am so glad that the adults were included, and they weren't the useless, clueless, empty characters that some middle grades and YA have so the kids can be the heroes. This book focuses on diversity and community. Sometimes, adults make mistakes as well but in this novel, they believe in their kids. Loved the twist and the quirks of each character. Not only deals with solving the mystery of a missing person but also dealing with the cancer of close family.
An uplifting, optimistic novel when time traveling wasn't useless in the present.
An uplifting, optimistic novel when time traveling wasn't useless in the present.
October 18, 2024
I’m so glad I own this one and so glad there’s a sequel coming next year! This was a great reading experience for me because of the dual apartment building and NY/Coney Island setting, the driving force of a mystery, and the sprinkling in of real life topics of parental illness, divorce, and even food therapy. One of the most interesting discoveries of this novel is one that readers need to experience for themselves and works best if you don’t know too much past the synopsis. I wouldn’t dare ruin the fun ride this takes you on.
September 10, 2024
I was initially unsure about this book, but at some point I realized I was both fully invested and completely enthralled [and missing NYC more than ever - CONEY ISLAND FTW!! ] and then I became very unsure how to write a reiew, because, in my opinion, this is best read like I read it - cold with little information so you get the full effect of the story, which [again, just my opinion ] is the best way to read a story like this [I knew it was set in Brooklyn, that Coney Island was involved, and it was about 2 kids; it was SO MUCH MORE for what its worth ] and was pretty clueless going in [again, this really is the VERY best way to read this ] and it was just glorious!!
I am already looking forward to Book 2 [I was so excited to find out there was going to be another book ]; Roya and Amin are very likeable and are much like many middle-graders that I have known personally, and I really love their parents as they strive to keep them safe, all while encouraging them to live their best lives; add in the tenants of The QUEEN and it just makes for some excellent characters in a really great story.
Just go and read this already...you won't be sorry!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Sarvenaz Tash, and Random House Childrens/Knopf Books for Young Readers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am already looking forward to Book 2 [I was so excited to find out there was going to be another book ]; Roya and Amin are very likeable and are much like many middle-graders that I have known personally, and I really love their parents as they strive to keep them safe, all while encouraging them to live their best lives; add in the tenants of The QUEEN and it just makes for some excellent characters in a really great story.
Just go and read this already...you won't be sorry!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Sarvenaz Tash, and Random House Childrens/Knopf Books for Young Readers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2024
E ARC provided by Netgalley
Roya lives in a one hundred year old apartment building, where her mother, Aty, is the superintendent, so she knows all of the residents. Since she wants to be an investigative journalist when she grows up, she is working on a podcast about the people who live in the building, and might be listening a little more closely to conversations than she should. Her parents are divorced, and her Baba, a high school science teacher, is undergoing chemotherapy for colon cancer and is very ill. When she meets neighbors Katya and Stephanie in the laundry room, they ask her if she would like to go with them to a new restaurant, Taste of Banglah, that has opened up, but she overhears them arguing as she leaves. Stephanie questions whether Katya will still be there the following week, or will she disappear, like the other women in the Petrov family. When Katya does goes missing and the police are brought in, Roya is worried. She meets Amin, a new neighbor, who parents happen to run Taste of Banglah. He is able to remember everything he hears, so he recounts the conversation with the police for Roya. The two talk to Stephanie and get more information about the supposed Petrov family curse, which has to do with a fortune telling machine, Grandmas (sic) Predictions on Coney Island. Katya has a fortune from the machine that her great-great-grandmother Polina got, that instructs a daughter to be sent every 25 years to get a fortune. Stephanie thinks that is where Katya disappeared, and has something to do with the promise of money. The three also arrange to travel there, and when they do, Amin and Roya manage to travel back to the day when Katya disappeared, and catch a brief glimpse of her. After doing some research at the library, and talking to her Baba about time travel. The three return several times, and finally realize they can only time travel on Mondays, and when they go back the next time, it's 1999. They try to bring Katya back, and can't, and go back to 1974 and are still unsuccessful. After Amin inadvertantly changes the presence by accidentally intercepting a note from his mother to his father, Roya realizes that she might be able to save her father, and finds a graffiti artist to put up some signs. These are misspelled, but lead to her mother, an artist, creating a graphic novel series and becoming a successful author! They figure that what they really need to do is to go back to the first time that time travel occurred, in 1949, and dissuade Polina from ever going in the first place. Will they be able to undo the Petrov curse, and in doing so, change other things in their lives?
Strengths: I love that the author wanted to write a mystery novel that reminded her of Harriet the Spy or The Westing Game, set in her own neighborhood. Roya's family is Iranian, and there are some cultural references, like divining fortunes from Turkish coffee or the Divan of Hafez, as well as descriptions of some of the mother artwork. The Petrov family history is also interesting, although having that many women go missing would certainly be very traumatic! The time travel is VERY well done, with the Grandmother being mentioned in historical sources as the protector of the Wonder Wheel. This, in turn, is described in scientific terms as a cylinder that might help time travel occur... and that's when I started not understanding the time travel without thinking pretty hard about it, which is an indication that it's done really well! There were other things that I liked, such as Amin's aversion to a lot of foods, for which he was going to food therapy. The only other books I can think of that include that sort of food issues are Gerber's Taking Up Space and Davis' Food Fight. This has very good historic details about the different time periods to which Roya and her companions travel, and I love the description of the noises in the different times, and the observation that without cell phones, people interact completely differently. To add the final bit of spicy brown mustard to this Nathan's Famous Hot Dog of a treat, there are delightful illustrations throughout the book. Definitely purchasing this one, and enjoyed it very much.
Weaknesses: While I liked the idea that there were some things that were immutable and didn't disappear even though they probably should have, it was a little confusing. It was also a little sad that the time travel couldn't have been used to earn a little bit of money, but I guess it was a good message about what is really important in life. Both of these things made the book happier, and I am all for that!
What I really think: Tash should definitely think about writing more middle grade books. I had forgotten that I'd read her Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love and Three Day Summer, which I enjoyed, but which were definitely written for a Young Adult audience. I would enjoy seeing Roya and Amin again, perhaps engaged in a different supernatural mystery at Coney Island!
Roya lives in a one hundred year old apartment building, where her mother, Aty, is the superintendent, so she knows all of the residents. Since she wants to be an investigative journalist when she grows up, she is working on a podcast about the people who live in the building, and might be listening a little more closely to conversations than she should. Her parents are divorced, and her Baba, a high school science teacher, is undergoing chemotherapy for colon cancer and is very ill. When she meets neighbors Katya and Stephanie in the laundry room, they ask her if she would like to go with them to a new restaurant, Taste of Banglah, that has opened up, but she overhears them arguing as she leaves. Stephanie questions whether Katya will still be there the following week, or will she disappear, like the other women in the Petrov family. When Katya does goes missing and the police are brought in, Roya is worried. She meets Amin, a new neighbor, who parents happen to run Taste of Banglah. He is able to remember everything he hears, so he recounts the conversation with the police for Roya. The two talk to Stephanie and get more information about the supposed Petrov family curse, which has to do with a fortune telling machine, Grandmas (sic) Predictions on Coney Island. Katya has a fortune from the machine that her great-great-grandmother Polina got, that instructs a daughter to be sent every 25 years to get a fortune. Stephanie thinks that is where Katya disappeared, and has something to do with the promise of money. The three also arrange to travel there, and when they do, Amin and Roya manage to travel back to the day when Katya disappeared, and catch a brief glimpse of her. After doing some research at the library, and talking to her Baba about time travel. The three return several times, and finally realize they can only time travel on Mondays, and when they go back the next time, it's 1999. They try to bring Katya back, and can't, and go back to 1974 and are still unsuccessful. After Amin inadvertantly changes the presence by accidentally intercepting a note from his mother to his father, Roya realizes that she might be able to save her father, and finds a graffiti artist to put up some signs. These are misspelled, but lead to her mother, an artist, creating a graphic novel series and becoming a successful author! They figure that what they really need to do is to go back to the first time that time travel occurred, in 1949, and dissuade Polina from ever going in the first place. Will they be able to undo the Petrov curse, and in doing so, change other things in their lives?
Strengths: I love that the author wanted to write a mystery novel that reminded her of Harriet the Spy or The Westing Game, set in her own neighborhood. Roya's family is Iranian, and there are some cultural references, like divining fortunes from Turkish coffee or the Divan of Hafez, as well as descriptions of some of the mother artwork. The Petrov family history is also interesting, although having that many women go missing would certainly be very traumatic! The time travel is VERY well done, with the Grandmother being mentioned in historical sources as the protector of the Wonder Wheel. This, in turn, is described in scientific terms as a cylinder that might help time travel occur... and that's when I started not understanding the time travel without thinking pretty hard about it, which is an indication that it's done really well! There were other things that I liked, such as Amin's aversion to a lot of foods, for which he was going to food therapy. The only other books I can think of that include that sort of food issues are Gerber's Taking Up Space and Davis' Food Fight. This has very good historic details about the different time periods to which Roya and her companions travel, and I love the description of the noises in the different times, and the observation that without cell phones, people interact completely differently. To add the final bit of spicy brown mustard to this Nathan's Famous Hot Dog of a treat, there are delightful illustrations throughout the book. Definitely purchasing this one, and enjoyed it very much.
Weaknesses: While I liked the idea that there were some things that were immutable and didn't disappear even though they probably should have, it was a little confusing. It was also a little sad that the time travel couldn't have been used to earn a little bit of money, but I guess it was a good message about what is really important in life. Both of these things made the book happier, and I am all for that!
What I really think: Tash should definitely think about writing more middle grade books. I had forgotten that I'd read her Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love and Three Day Summer, which I enjoyed, but which were definitely written for a Young Adult audience. I would enjoy seeing Roya and Amin again, perhaps engaged in a different supernatural mystery at Coney Island!
September 9, 2024
An exciting and heartfelt love letter to Brooklyn and Coney Island! I hope this book will be a big hit everywhere, considering its brisk pace and cool story, but it’ll go over like gangbusters among the kids who really can take the subway out to Coney Island when getting wrapped up in an adventure. If I’d found this book when I was ten, it would have skyrocketed into my all-time favorites! As it is, it proved to be a perfect time-travel adventure to enjoy in the summertime, despite me being closer in age to the characters of the 25-years-ago flashback. (There is a flashback of 25 years into the past. Which lands in 1999. That’s just rude, there’s no way 1999 is 25 years ago!)
I expected the adventures and affection for NYC. What I did not expect to find in this book is a touching depiction of a kid struggling to cope with a terminally ill father. That hit VERY close to home, since my dad got sick when I was 9 and died a year later. Roya’s perspective was not only heart-wrenching, it was also incredibly relatable. The part that really struck me is her hesitation to see and spend time with her ailing father, despite how much she loves him, because it shows how much he’s deteriorating and how that’s overriding her memories of him as vibrant and alive. This is the part that we tend not to say out loud, but I well remember that feeling, the reluctance to see a beloved parent felled by cancer, and the guilt that comes with feeling such feelings (however deep down). I’ve had decades to process all of that and come to terms with it, but I can only imagine what a balm this book would be to a kid actually going through it now.
Tash strikes the perfect balance between not denying the harsh realities of an ailing parent, and yet not wallowing in depression. I was so impressed and so touched at how deftly the topic was handled in this book!
Come for the fun at Coney Island, and stick around for the truly lovely family dynamics on display! Bonus points for a really sweet friendship between Roya and Amin. I’m already looking forward to reading what more adventures they will get up to.
I expected the adventures and affection for NYC. What I did not expect to find in this book is a touching depiction of a kid struggling to cope with a terminally ill father. That hit VERY close to home, since my dad got sick when I was 9 and died a year later. Roya’s perspective was not only heart-wrenching, it was also incredibly relatable. The part that really struck me is her hesitation to see and spend time with her ailing father, despite how much she loves him, because it shows how much he’s deteriorating and how that’s overriding her memories of him as vibrant and alive. This is the part that we tend not to say out loud, but I well remember that feeling, the reluctance to see a beloved parent felled by cancer, and the guilt that comes with feeling such feelings (however deep down). I’ve had decades to process all of that and come to terms with it, but I can only imagine what a balm this book would be to a kid actually going through it now.
Tash strikes the perfect balance between not denying the harsh realities of an ailing parent, and yet not wallowing in depression. I was so impressed and so touched at how deftly the topic was handled in this book!
Come for the fun at Coney Island, and stick around for the truly lovely family dynamics on display! Bonus points for a really sweet friendship between Roya and Amin. I’m already looking forward to reading what more adventures they will get up to.
September 7, 2024
A magical mystery for middle-grade readers!
The Queen of Ocean Parkway is a new, fantastical mystery story for middle-grade readers from the creative mind of author Sarvenaz Tash. Young Roya Alborzi and her precocious new friend and neighbor, Amin Lahiri, travel through time to try and break a curse that makes the women of the Petrov family disappear, never to be seen again.
The main character, Roya Alborzi, is the only daughter of their Brooklyn apartment building’s super, and while only 11 years old, she is carrying an emotional load that adults would have trouble managing. Though her parents are divorced, her father is desperately ill with cancer, and she does all she can to assist her mother in her job to free her up to care for him. Then, one of her favorite tenants, Katya Petrov, suddenly disappears without a trace. She joins forces with Amin, the son of the new family in the building, to find her and break the chain of disappearances that have plagued the Petrov family for the past four generations.The Brooklyn setting is well-developed, feeling familiar and comfortable. Roya’s descriptions and tales of the other neighbors for her fledgling podcast are entertaining and made me laugh about some of her observations.
The plot thickens as soon as the characters are introduced, and some surprising twists make the story even more suspenseful and intriguing. As time travel is involved, the author must re-describe the Coney Island setting each time Roya and Amin land in the past. The gorgeous cover, rich with jewel tones, attracts the eye and had my imagination working before I even read the first page. I liked how the author populated the apartment building with an array of different configurations of families and enjoyed meeting each one as the mystery of the disappearing Petrovs unfolded.I recommend THE QUEEN OF OCEAN PARKWAY to upper elementary and middle-grade readers or for reading aloud in the classroom, in afterschool programs, or at home.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.
October 6, 2024
Roya lives in a grand old Brooklyn apartment building, where her mother, whom she calls Aty, is the super. Her father lives in another apartment after the divorce, but Roya's mother has been caring for him as he goes through cancer treatment. Roya is a secret podcaster, posting podcasts about small mysteries in the building, but she gets the chance at a bigger story when Katya Petrov, one of her favorite residents, goes missing. Roya and new friend Amin, just moved in to the building, discover a link to a somewhat creepy fortune telling machine on Coney Island. A link involving a curse, and time travel. Is there any way to save Katya without messing up the historical timeline?
While I liked this one, I can't give it more than three stars because I got SO confused with the time travel and all the members of the Petrov family. I couldn't tell them apart so I was always lost about the very complicated plot. I did like the plot with Roya's father, and her not always easy relationship with her mother, and how she came to realize she'd been a bad friend to Amin at one critical point. I also liked how the changes wrought in the timeline played out, though I got confused about those as well. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.
While I liked this one, I can't give it more than three stars because I got SO confused with the time travel and all the members of the Petrov family. I couldn't tell them apart so I was always lost about the very complicated plot. I did like the plot with Roya's father, and her not always easy relationship with her mother, and how she came to realize she'd been a bad friend to Amin at one critical point. I also liked how the changes wrought in the timeline played out, though I got confused about those as well. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.
October 17, 2024
Apparently, there will be a follow-up to this engaging middle-grade time travel novel [3.5 for me!], and I couldn't be more pleased. Although it has the usual elements of such a science fiction story, it also features a wonderfully imperfect and relatable main character in eleven-year-old Roya Alborzi, who lives in a large Brooklyn apartment building with her mother who is its superintendent. She worries about her father who has cancer and seems to be growing weaker by the day, so much so that Roya finds it difficult to spend any time with him. Roya maintains a podcast about the building's residents, but she quickly becomes interested in solving a missing persons case when Katya Petrov, one of the apartment dwellers, disappears unexpectedly while visiting Coney Island. Teaming up with Amin, whose family recently moved in, Roya takes some risks as the two youngsters unravel the mystery and travel back in time. This is an accessible addition to the science fiction genre, filled with heart, humor, poignant moments, a few mistakes, and physics that even those of us who know little about how it works can understand. It will be interesting to see where the author takes readers next.
September 7, 2024
In THE QUEEN OF OCEAN PARKWAY, podcaster Roya turns sleuth when one of her favorite tenants in her apartment building goes missing amid a mysterious connection to a fortune telling machine at Coney Island. With the help of a new friend, Roya sets out to unravel a generations-old mystery and save the missing tenant. The time travel element incorporated into the mystery adds an unexpected twist. Roya and the other characters are multi-dimensional and engaging. The building and amusement park serve as characters in the text, driving the story forward and adding color. Illustrations are an added bonus for middle grade readers who are sometimes hesitant to pick up a longer book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing an eARC of the book with me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing an eARC of the book with me.
October 19, 2024
I received a free physical and audio copy of this for review. The narrator captured the voices really well and the physical copy had several great illustrations included throughout the story!
This middle grade mystery
It had a diverse cast of characters that included a lot of representation but without feeling like it was trying too hard. The beginning of the book gave me a little bit of Vanderbeekers vibes in the setting, but I was surprised at the speculative turn it took. I wasn’t expecting it in the book at all, but it ended up wrapping up in a satisfying place.
Trigger/content warnings: parent with terminal illness
This middle grade mystery
It had a diverse cast of characters that included a lot of representation but without feeling like it was trying too hard. The beginning of the book gave me a little bit of Vanderbeekers vibes in the setting, but I was surprised at the speculative turn it took. I wasn’t expecting it in the book at all, but it ended up wrapping up in a satisfying place.
Trigger/content warnings: parent with terminal illness
August 29, 2024
This was a really fun and quick read. I was hooked from the beginning. Roya is such an excellent character. She likes the building she lives in "The Queen" and all the residents that live there.
She makes a new friend in Amin and together they set out to solve this mystery.
I liked the family dynamics also. Not just with Roya's family, but with the other families involved in the book, like The Petrovs.
I think a lot of middle graders will love this one because of the mystery but also the real feelings and friendships that they can relate to.
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.
She makes a new friend in Amin and together they set out to solve this mystery.
I liked the family dynamics also. Not just with Roya's family, but with the other families involved in the book, like The Petrovs.
I think a lot of middle graders will love this one because of the mystery but also the real feelings and friendships that they can relate to.
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.
August 30, 2024
The Queen of Ocean Parkway is a fun read about two kiddos who team up to solve the mystery of what happened to Katya Petrov! Roya and Amin are great characters, and I especially love all the secondary folks -- their parents; Katya's wife, Stephanie; and the other residents living in their historic apartment building. The occasional illustrations add a pop of whimsy throughout the book.
I'm excited to see that this will be a series!
(I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
I'm excited to see that this will be a series!
(I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
September 7, 2024
I just finished reading this and immediately had to come and post a rave review! I highly recommend this captivating and heartwarming mystery adventure! I was continually surprised by this story - had no idea where I was being taken, and loved every minute of it. The characters felt so real that imagining them on this journey was so clear…even through the twists. As an adult, I recommend this book to readers of all ages, but I am especially looking forward to discussing it with my niece. I’m sure I will be giving it a re-read or two or maybe more!
September 26, 2024
This is a really excellent book. Starts out a little bit like Harriet the Spy, then immediately turns into a new friend and puzzle book, with several twists along the way. I loved the characters -- Roya and Amin are just great! -- the compelling mystery, the excellent everyday settings and the weird consequences that pop up. I loved the building and the trips to Coney Island, and even the unbearable grief of a sick parent. So much heart, so much love, so many interesting moments. Hard to put it down.
October 23, 2024
2.5 stars, rounded up. The Queen of Ocean Parkway is a building, with a very mixed group of tenants. Roya is the superintendent’s kid, and likens herself a detective jumping in when Katya Petrov, goes missing. This leads Roya, her new BFF Amin and Katya's wife to a fortune telling machine at Coney Island, which seems to harken time travel (think of Tom Hanks and the hit movie Big.) I never got connected with the characters or timelines.
September 24, 2024
The only mystery in this book is why the author titled it “The Queen of Ocean Parkway” when most of the story takes place in Coney Island and not the apartment building. This is a time travel book. Basically this is the Back to the Future movie series in book form with less likable characters. I really didn’t like it.
September 18, 2024
4.5 stars. This was a delight. Roya and Amin were a great duo. The time travel aspect didn’t get too complicated for this age group (or adults with unscientific brains ie Me). Just a fun read that had a timeless (no pun intended) feel.
October 28, 2024
Thank you to Random House Kids for the free book and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.
This was a fascinating children's book. Roya is the 11-year-old daughter of the super in her building, nicknamed the Queen of Ocean Parkway. She listens to the tenants to get material for her podcast. And when one tenant, Katya, goes missing, she joins forces with Katya's girlfriend and a new boy in the building to find Katya.
The book was magical. It included time travel and fun conversations about science and the butterfly effect. All of that was mixed together with a mystery. And it questioned which aspects of life were fated and which could be changed.
There were difficult topics with grief and cancer, so I recommend being prepared to talk through this with your child.
CW: cancer
This was a fascinating children's book. Roya is the 11-year-old daughter of the super in her building, nicknamed the Queen of Ocean Parkway. She listens to the tenants to get material for her podcast. And when one tenant, Katya, goes missing, she joins forces with Katya's girlfriend and a new boy in the building to find Katya.
The book was magical. It included time travel and fun conversations about science and the butterfly effect. All of that was mixed together with a mystery. And it questioned which aspects of life were fated and which could be changed.
There were difficult topics with grief and cancer, so I recommend being prepared to talk through this with your child.
CW: cancer
February 3, 2024
Great story for those armchair sleuths + time travel!
July 30, 2024
A fun middle grade novel with time travel set in Brooklyn, N
Want to read
September 1, 2024I received a free audio copy from Libro.fm as part of their Educator Audiobook Listening Copies (ALCs).
September 16, 2024
*3.75*
This book reminded me of a mix of Harriet the Spy, Only Murders in the Building, and Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me. 11-year-old Roya wants to be an investigative journalist and when someone from the apartment building where her mom is the super disappears - Roya is determined to figure out what is going on. The book featured excellent representation and a strong sense of place. I loved the snippets of Roya's podcast - I hope we see more of that in future books. There were a lot of characters to keep track of. Luckily, there is family tree in the front of the print copy. Since I was listening on audio - that didn't help me much. The author really gets into the nitty gritty of time travel and some parts got confusing. I just skimmed over the minute details and enjoyed the larger story.
This book reminded me of a mix of Harriet the Spy, Only Murders in the Building, and Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me. 11-year-old Roya wants to be an investigative journalist and when someone from the apartment building where her mom is the super disappears - Roya is determined to figure out what is going on. The book featured excellent representation and a strong sense of place. I loved the snippets of Roya's podcast - I hope we see more of that in future books. There were a lot of characters to keep track of. Luckily, there is family tree in the front of the print copy. Since I was listening on audio - that didn't help me much. The author really gets into the nitty gritty of time travel and some parts got confusing. I just skimmed over the minute details and enjoyed the larger story.
September 14, 2024
What a fun middle grades story! I really enjoyed the time travel mystery and the great characters!
Thank you to Libro.fm for the Educator ALC of this title.
Thank you to Libro.fm for the Educator ALC of this title.
September 18, 2024
Middle Grade mystery. Fast paced, the characters were delightful, and the time travel element was done well, in a way a kid would understand and accept as could happen.
October 9, 2024
Absolutely delightful!
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