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111th out of 253 books
—
925 voters
The Marble Queen
by
Stephanie J. Blake (Goodreads Author)
Freedom Jane McKenzie isn’t good at following the rules. She doesn’t like any of the things that girls are supposed to like. She’s good at fishing, getting into trouble—and playing marbles. All she wants is to enter the marble competition at the Autumn Jubilee and show the boys in the neighborhood that she’s the best player. If she can’t be the Marble King, then she’ll be...more
Hardcover, e-book and audio, 192 pages
Published
December 18th 2012
by Amazon Children's Publishing
(first published December 2012)
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In 1959, Freedom Jane McKenzie is frequently in trouble for getting dirty and tearing her dresses, which makes her pregnant mother unhappy with her. Freedom is a tomboy, and her mother is trying to make her more ladylike, since she is starting fifth grade. The one thing that gets Freedom in the most trouble is also the thing she does best-- playing marbles. Her mother thinks this is just for boys, and the boys she has been playing with, especially her best friend Daniel, think that as well. Ther...more
Freedom Jane McKenzie feels the constraints of societies rules for girls and women, and in that, she foreshadows the turbulent sixties ahead. She's not fond of dresses, dolls, tea or any of that; she just wants to play marbles a game for boys according to almost every grown-up she meets. But Freedom Jane is determined to enter and win the crown of Marble Queen at the Autumn Jubilee.
More personally, she reads as an authentic young girl, beginning to mature, with a flawed but loving family. Her...more
More personally, she reads as an authentic young girl, beginning to mature, with a flawed but loving family. Her...more
Debut author Stephanie J. Blake has written an appealing middle-grade novel about a heroine with an unusual name: Freedom Jane McKenzie. It's 1959, and Freedom is a tomboy through and through. She'd rather be playing marbles with the boys than engaging in more lady-like pursuits like tea parties and playing with Barbies. She dreams of winning the annual marble competition at the Autumn Jubilee, but it's not clear her mother will even let her enter, since her mom thinks marbles aren't proper for...more
This is Colorado author Stephanie J. Blake's first novel. Historical fiction, set in 1959. Freedom Jane is the best mibster (marble player) in her grade/neighborhood, and wants to enter a marble contest, but her mama says she is too old to be playing marbles with the boys. Freedom isn't ready to give up her dream. On top of that, Daniel, who has been her best friend for years, doesn't want to play with her any more, because she is a girl. And then her daddy is drinking way too much beer, which m...more
Feb 17, 2013
Kristin
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Shelves:
family,
friendship,
gender-issues,
historical-fiction,
humor,
kids,
middle-grade,
read-in-2013,
reader-s-advisory
This book wasn't too sure what it wanted to be. What I think it turned out to be is an attempt at reconstructing Beverly Cleary's Ramona series but with a side of alcoholism and random and unnecessary historical references. This book wasn't what I thought it was going to be upon picking it up. A lot of times that's a good thing - in this case I was frustrated. There wasn't that much about marbles, which could have really been used to nice and eccentric effect. I was also hoping this story would...more
Freedom Jane McKenzie hates following rules, which usually lands her in trouble with her teachers, her mom, and everyone else. The one thing she is good at is playing marbles, and she is determined to enter the marble competition at the Autumn Jubilee to prove it. First she has to convince her mother to let her enter, then convince the neighborhood boys to let her keep practicing with them so she keep up her skills, and then she has to stay out of trouble. But, Daniel, her best friend since kind...more
This book tells about a wonderful young woman named Freedom who is growing up in the late 50’s, watching Lawrence Welk and his bubbles. She is a fifth grader wanting to go to the drive-in movies, but her daddy drinks too much and wrecks the car on the night he has promised to take her. She is a girl who likes to do things that girls in the times should not like to do, like playing marbles, and her mother tells her what young ladies do quite a bit. Freedom’s little brother Higgie is always in tr...more
An adorable, charming read! I loved Freedom Jane McKenzie and her feisty, independent, tom-boyish ways. Although her lifestyle was different than mine, her attitude and personality are all too familiar to me. I just couldn't help but giggle in so many spots along the way. I found myself saying, "Oh my... that's so me!" Freedom's family and friends are equally charming and although they have troubles, you can feel the love they have for one another. I especially loved that part. This was a quick...more
I could picture the setting of this fast paced family story, as I am familiar with it's location in Idaho and the Snake River it mentions. It takes place in the 1950's The family was like many families, scraping by financially, the father suffering from alcoholism, which of course affects the rest of the family, in a time when moms were mostly housewives. In this book the young girl tells bits and pieces of growing up in such a family, and how, in spite of their problems, there's plenty of love...more
Stephanie Blake's The Marble Queen is an honest, amusing, and surprisingly poignant look at the coming of age of experiences one little girl in 1959 struggles and triumphs through.
Ten year old Freedom Jane McKenzie isn't the kind of little girl her mother wants her to be. Freedom rather play marbles with the boys then play with Barbies or have tea parties. But Freedom is determined to win the marble competition at the Autumn Jubilee and be the first Marble Queen...that is, if her momma gives he...more
Ten year old Freedom Jane McKenzie isn't the kind of little girl her mother wants her to be. Freedom rather play marbles with the boys then play with Barbies or have tea parties. But Freedom is determined to win the marble competition at the Autumn Jubilee and be the first Marble Queen...that is, if her momma gives he...more
I enjoyed this one. Spunky Freedom is ten years old with absolutely no interest in become the lady that her mother is pressuring her to be. She's a great mibster but the boys are freezing her out of games. Even her best bud, Daniel, is acting weird. Her mom is constantly criticizing, her dad is drinking too much, her little brother is such a pain and her next door neighbor might be a Commie. She's not sure what that is, but her mother doesn't seem to like her much. The writing is subtle and punc...more
I was very excited to receive this book in a Goodreads giveaway. The timing was perfect because I just bought my 4th grade daughter marbles and have been in the process of teaching her the game. Stephanie Blake takes us back to a time long before ipods and game systems. Her story is rich with historical references and reminds me of the beloved Ramona books. Freedom Jane McKenzie is fiesty, intelligent and not about to let a little thing like being a girl stand in her way of entering the contest...more
Freedom Jane is spunky. She is not ladylike. Fifth grade is harder than fourth grade and nothing she does can please her mama. The only thing Freedom really, really, really wants is to compete in the marble shooting tournament. But her mama says that marbles are for boys, and boys and girls shouldn't play together.
I adored Freedom -- she reminded me so much of myself at that age. The book is amusing and made me chuckle out loud a few times; but it also touches on some more serious subject matter...more
I adored Freedom -- she reminded me so much of myself at that age. The book is amusing and made me chuckle out loud a few times; but it also touches on some more serious subject matter...more
In The Marble Queen, Stephanie J. Blake has created a character in Freedom McKenzie that I would have loved hanging out with as a kid. For all of the mischief-making Freedom does, she is a loving older sister and friend who's trying to navigate her way through growing up in a time when girls weren't supposed to play marbles. I love how hard Freedom tries to be good, and even with her best efforts, she ends up in trouble. This is a fun and sweet middle grade read great for girls and boys.
This story reminded me of a childhood where dresses for school were expected and fried chicken and church were a weekly expectation. I loved the ideas of complex relationships and early feminism. I wish it had been a little more developed. References to alcoholism and infidelity might make some teachers uncomfortable.
Freedom Jane is a girl after my own heart. This is an excellent "slice of life" look at the late 1950s. There are some serious issues, but all are handled in an appropriate-for-the-age-group way. And every kid who reads it is going to want to rediscover that forgotten childhood pasttime . . . marbles.
Very well-written slice of Americana. The characters, the atmosphere, the observations and emotions were all very real. I kept thinking about the book for days afterwards because it prompted me to remember how I used to think and feel as a kid. Ms. Blake is a very skilled writer.
4th grade historical fiction. Some big issues here - drinking, women's rights, etc. but not overdone or treated too heavily.
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I loved this book. Freedom is such a terrific main character, I could have spent another 1000 pages with her.
Adorable. Kids will love this one.
I received this book free as a Goodreads First Read. I gave it to my 10 year old Granddaughter for Christmas. She called me last night to let me know that it was the best book she ever read! She then wanted to know if Stephanie J. Blake had any more books. I couldn't be more pleased! Now that she is letting me borrow it, I will be adding to this post later.
A charming book. I am sure that kids in grades 3-6 will thoroughly enjoy it. I will be passing this along to an avid grade 5 reader shortly and I am sure that she will love it.
I received this as a first read book.
(I did pass this along to my friend's daughter who is in grade 5 and she loved it!)
I received this as a first read book.
(I did pass this along to my friend's daughter who is in grade 5 and she loved it!)
A quick read that was cute and an interesting perspective on living with an alcoholic.
Love it! Freedom McKenzie is wonderful, and the historical details and the marble playing are outstanding.
May 14, 2013
Andrea Labonte
marked it as to-read
May 12, 2013
Selena
marked it as to-read
May 11, 2013
Stefanie Wass
marked it as to-read
May 09, 2013
Sally
marked it as to-read
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Aug 10, 2012 08:48pm