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The Queen of Kentucky
Fourteen-year-old Kentucky girl Ricki Jo Winstead, who would prefer to be called Ericka, thank you very much, is eager to shed her farmer's daughter roots and become part of the popular crowd at her small town high school. She trades her Bible for Seventeen magazine, buys new "sophisticated" clothes and somehow manages to secure a tenuous spot at the cool kids table. She's on top of the world, even though her best friend and the boy next door Luke says he misses "plain old Ricki Jo."
Caught between being a country girl and wannabe country club girl, Ricki Jo begins to forget who she truly is: someone who doesn't care what people think and who wouldn't let a good-looking guy walk all over her. It takes a serious incident out on Luke's farm for Ricki Jo to realize that being a true friend is more important than being popular.
Caught between being a country girl and wannabe country club girl, Ricki Jo begins to forget who she truly is: someone who doesn't care what people think and who wouldn't let a good-looking guy walk all over her. It takes a serious incident out on Luke's farm for Ricki Jo to realize that being a true friend is more important than being popular.
375 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
31 people are currently reading
2014 people want to read
About the author
Alecia Whitaker
4 books112 followersAlecia Whitaker grew up with a big imagination on a small farm in Kentucky, which was worlds away from where she currently resides in fast-paced New York City. She knows more about cows, tobacco, frog gigging, and carpentry than the average girl, and she applies the work ethic and common sense she learned from her southern upbringing to the way she now navigates her career and family life in the big city.
Although she graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BFA in Theatre and a BS in Advertising, she's always been a writer. She won the Soil Conservation Essay contest in the 4th grade, was selected as a Governor's School for the Arts student in Creative Writing in the 10th grade, and then in college, she was a Top Ten Finalist in the US Southeast Region for a Ten Minute Playwriting competition at James Madison University.
Since then, she has been in loads of commercials, as well as on stage in a few small theatrical productions and poetry slams. She appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show numerous times, The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, and was a contestant on Deal Or No Deal. She is currently the host of a twice weekly web show called The Baby Book, which chronicles her real life experiences of being a mom in New York City.
Her personal essays have been published in the anthology Blink: Fiction in the Blink of an Eye and several times in Underwired Magazine. She co-wrote the popular one act play Becoming Woman with a grant from The Kentucky Foundation for Women. The Queen of Kentucky is her first novel and proudest artistic accomplishment.
Now living in New York City with her husband and son, she is amused at how often her big imagination takes her back to a simpler life in Kentucky.
Although she graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BFA in Theatre and a BS in Advertising, she's always been a writer. She won the Soil Conservation Essay contest in the 4th grade, was selected as a Governor's School for the Arts student in Creative Writing in the 10th grade, and then in college, she was a Top Ten Finalist in the US Southeast Region for a Ten Minute Playwriting competition at James Madison University.
Since then, she has been in loads of commercials, as well as on stage in a few small theatrical productions and poetry slams. She appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show numerous times, The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, and was a contestant on Deal Or No Deal. She is currently the host of a twice weekly web show called The Baby Book, which chronicles her real life experiences of being a mom in New York City.
Her personal essays have been published in the anthology Blink: Fiction in the Blink of an Eye and several times in Underwired Magazine. She co-wrote the popular one act play Becoming Woman with a grant from The Kentucky Foundation for Women. The Queen of Kentucky is her first novel and proudest artistic accomplishment.
Now living in New York City with her husband and son, she is amused at how often her big imagination takes her back to a simpler life in Kentucky.
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June 26, 2014
While I was reading: I thought this was a cute book that had all of the elements for a great after school special. Plain country girl, wants to be popular, meets hot new guy, gets in with popular friends, best friend is a guy, makes cheer squad and everybody knows that in the end she'll get burned and go back to her roots, right? Maybe not exactly like that but something similar. The truth is that is what extremely painful for an author to relive my freshman year for me in detail, hitting my own popularity quest spot on sans Wolf and alcohol. I didn't do the drinking thing.
When I was finished: I realized the book was a carefully disguised book about bullying and societal tolerance. I was totally swept up in the Ericka story and the painful reminders that I only put the pieces together at the end and recognized the brilliance of it. The book carefully addresses different kinds of bullying, the way society tolerates it, and the way one person can make a difference. Just to clarify, Ericka/Ricky Jo does not do the stand-up-at-a-school-assembly and give a shame-on-you speech. It's not cheesy like that.
Traditional domestic bullying involves Luke's father. He's an alcoholic and it is established early on that he beats Luke's mother. The children are all uncomfortable with this arrangement but, in the past, they've all been too powerless and small to make a difference. It is ignored. Ricky Jo recognizes what it is and takes her cues from Luke.
Symbolic bullying that mirrors a couple of the situations is the Gumbel's dogs. They are wild and ferocious. When they are not chained up, they attack random people. Ricky Jo is instructed to never show fear. They can smell fear and, as a pack, might attack. There is foreshadowing as Ricky Jo rides her bike to Luke's and finds herself pinned under the bike as the dogs circle. She is saved by Luke who hears the ruckus and beats them away. Again, many people know about the dogs but hesitate to rock the boat because the Gumbels are so mean, themselves. Without giving away the story, this situation escalates and damage is done before it is resolved. More foreshadowing, by the way.
On the first day of school, Ricky Jo/Ericka finds herself with a group of pretty and popular girls who are all cheerleaders. She's just a redneck but they take her on as a project. Note the pack-like behavior. Then Wolf saunters in. He's beautiful, athletic, rich and a royal pain in the butt. He has his good qualities but these are hidden in his obnoxious attempts to look cool (and fit in, like the rest of the grade). Wolf's antics embarrass and humiliate. It is interesting to watch how he bullies and manipulates through his many antics and how his so quickly forgiven by many because he's "cool." At the same time, the reader sees through Ricky Jo's eyes how insecure he really is and how he does see areas not having to do with himself with incredible clarity.
The best examples of intimidation, manipulation and bullying are within the Fab Frenemies. There is feigning of a BFF club, guilt, giving special treatment to the "project," hiding cruel comments in back-handed compliments, ganging up on one, engaging in peer pressure to invoke behavior against her better judgment and beliefs, playing the best friend to someone's face while stabbing them in the back.
The story also redefines courage and friendship for Ricky Jo. The hero of the book is Luke. He recognizes the underdog and does whatever it takes to take a stand or step into the middle of the dogfight. I can't say more than that without explaining how he did this in different situations. He stands up for what is right both metaphorically and physically (he's the one who steps into the real dog attacks). He stays true to himself, never wavering, regardless of the cost.
As for Ricky Jo (one small spoiler), she saves herself.
Best nugget - In order to be a best friend, one has to first be a good friend.
This could be used in a high school literature class to demonstrate different masks of bullying.
Swearing - mild/moderate
Violence - moderate
Alcohol use - moderate
Sex - mild implied
When I was finished: I realized the book was a carefully disguised book about bullying and societal tolerance. I was totally swept up in the Ericka story and the painful reminders that I only put the pieces together at the end and recognized the brilliance of it. The book carefully addresses different kinds of bullying, the way society tolerates it, and the way one person can make a difference. Just to clarify, Ericka/Ricky Jo does not do the stand-up-at-a-school-assembly and give a shame-on-you speech. It's not cheesy like that.
Traditional domestic bullying involves Luke's father. He's an alcoholic and it is established early on that he beats Luke's mother. The children are all uncomfortable with this arrangement but, in the past, they've all been too powerless and small to make a difference. It is ignored. Ricky Jo recognizes what it is and takes her cues from Luke.
Symbolic bullying that mirrors a couple of the situations is the Gumbel's dogs. They are wild and ferocious. When they are not chained up, they attack random people. Ricky Jo is instructed to never show fear. They can smell fear and, as a pack, might attack. There is foreshadowing as Ricky Jo rides her bike to Luke's and finds herself pinned under the bike as the dogs circle. She is saved by Luke who hears the ruckus and beats them away. Again, many people know about the dogs but hesitate to rock the boat because the Gumbels are so mean, themselves. Without giving away the story, this situation escalates and damage is done before it is resolved. More foreshadowing, by the way.
On the first day of school, Ricky Jo/Ericka finds herself with a group of pretty and popular girls who are all cheerleaders. She's just a redneck but they take her on as a project. Note the pack-like behavior. Then Wolf saunters in. He's beautiful, athletic, rich and a royal pain in the butt. He has his good qualities but these are hidden in his obnoxious attempts to look cool (and fit in, like the rest of the grade). Wolf's antics embarrass and humiliate. It is interesting to watch how he bullies and manipulates through his many antics and how his so quickly forgiven by many because he's "cool." At the same time, the reader sees through Ricky Jo's eyes how insecure he really is and how he does see areas not having to do with himself with incredible clarity.
The best examples of intimidation, manipulation and bullying are within the Fab Frenemies. There is feigning of a BFF club, guilt, giving special treatment to the "project," hiding cruel comments in back-handed compliments, ganging up on one, engaging in peer pressure to invoke behavior against her better judgment and beliefs, playing the best friend to someone's face while stabbing them in the back.
The story also redefines courage and friendship for Ricky Jo. The hero of the book is Luke. He recognizes the underdog and does whatever it takes to take a stand or step into the middle of the dogfight. I can't say more than that without explaining how he did this in different situations. He stands up for what is right both metaphorically and physically (he's the one who steps into the real dog attacks). He stays true to himself, never wavering, regardless of the cost.
As for Ricky Jo (one small spoiler), she saves herself.
Best nugget - In order to be a best friend, one has to first be a good friend.
This could be used in a high school literature class to demonstrate different masks of bullying.
Swearing - mild/moderate
Violence - moderate
Alcohol use - moderate
Sex - mild implied
March 3, 2012
Rating: 1.5/5
This book was a disappointment for me. I was SUPER excited when I got it from my library since I was hearing great things about it on Goodreads. I guess I had high expectation, but The Queen of Kentucky was … vapid. It was really hard for me to keep reading it, to finish it.
Rick Jo or Ericka as she wants to be called is a 14 year old who acts like a 3 year old. Yes, she’s a teenager but that’s not an excuse. Luke is 14 too but does he act like Ericka? Nope, and don’t say it’s because he’s a guy. If you say that what about Candace? She’s the same age, same class with Ericka and a teenage. I’ve never met a main character I hated so much ever; I even hated her more than some villains. She’s a snobby brat, stupid, selfish and annoying. This book is filled with her complaints.
I kept reading this book because of Luke. I liked him more than Ericka. He’s so sweet, fragile and sad. It made my heartache to see him suffer in his own home. And it pissed me off to see Ericka complain because she doesn’t fit in while Luke is going through real life problems.
If it had been normal book size, I might have liked it, but it’s almost 400 pages. 400 pages of, I’m sorry I’m saying this but it was 400 pages of crap. On the bright side, the writing was okay.
The Queen of Kentucky could have so much potential but it lacked everything I wanted from a contemporary novel. I guess you can say it’s not my cup of tea. I do not recommend this book, but if you want to read this book, more power to you. I hope you enjoy it more than I did.
This book was a disappointment for me. I was SUPER excited when I got it from my library since I was hearing great things about it on Goodreads. I guess I had high expectation, but The Queen of Kentucky was … vapid. It was really hard for me to keep reading it, to finish it.
Rick Jo or Ericka as she wants to be called is a 14 year old who acts like a 3 year old. Yes, she’s a teenager but that’s not an excuse. Luke is 14 too but does he act like Ericka? Nope, and don’t say it’s because he’s a guy. If you say that what about Candace? She’s the same age, same class with Ericka and a teenage. I’ve never met a main character I hated so much ever; I even hated her more than some villains. She’s a snobby brat, stupid, selfish and annoying. This book is filled with her complaints.
I kept reading this book because of Luke. I liked him more than Ericka. He’s so sweet, fragile and sad. It made my heartache to see him suffer in his own home. And it pissed me off to see Ericka complain because she doesn’t fit in while Luke is going through real life problems.
If it had been normal book size, I might have liked it, but it’s almost 400 pages. 400 pages of, I’m sorry I’m saying this but it was 400 pages of crap. On the bright side, the writing was okay.
The Queen of Kentucky could have so much potential but it lacked everything I wanted from a contemporary novel. I guess you can say it’s not my cup of tea. I do not recommend this book, but if you want to read this book, more power to you. I hope you enjoy it more than I did.
February 15, 2012
I really wanted to love this one, but for most of the book, I really had to force myself to keep reading. I couldn't connect to Ricki Jo, or Ericka, at all. As Ericka, most of the time I wanted to smack her upside the head for the stuff she did and the people she hurt. I do realize that the storyline was realistic. That some people will do anything, even go against their own beliefs, to be popular. But watching Ericka push those people who would truly care for her was hard.
I liked Luke a lot more than I did Ericka. He was a strong character going through something dark and scary, yet he was still there for his best friend. Luke really was the reason I kept reading, because I had to hope that things would work out well for him, at least.
The writing wasn't what made me not like this. The writing is good. It was just the main character that really put a hamper on this for me. Maybe it was supposed to be that way, since I don't think I found anything great about Ericka when she was trying to be this whole new person. Even though I really liked Luke, it wasn't enough for me to want to save this book from the swap pile.
I liked Luke a lot more than I did Ericka. He was a strong character going through something dark and scary, yet he was still there for his best friend. Luke really was the reason I kept reading, because I had to hope that things would work out well for him, at least.
The writing wasn't what made me not like this. The writing is good. It was just the main character that really put a hamper on this for me. Maybe it was supposed to be that way, since I don't think I found anything great about Ericka when she was trying to be this whole new person. Even though I really liked Luke, it wasn't enough for me to want to save this book from the swap pile.
August 7, 2013
Ricki Jo is about to start high school. She really wants to make new friends and be popular. This is a big change and she wants to start with a fresh image by changing her name, getting new clothes, and trying out to be a cheerleader. Luke has been her best friend and the boy the next farm over all their lives. He doesn't like the changes in Ricki Jo. She is throwing herself at the jerk at school, Wolf, and seems different when she is with her new friends.
First day of school and Ricki Jo meets four new girls and a guy they call Wolf. She immediately develops a massive crush on him. He did remind me of a few guys I knew in middle school. Super cute and charismatic but a bit of a selfish jerk. The kind of guy you can't help but crush on even though you know you shouldn't, except Ricki Jo usually puts up with him and forgives him too easily. But when your young it takes awhile to learn.
As for Ricki Jo's new friends...I hated them sometimes and then I liked them sometimes. One minute they would say mean things and exclude Ricki Jo and the next they would plan something nice for her. But lets be honest that is freshman girls for you. It is a selfish, snobby, and bratty time and many are just learning what it truly means to be a good friend. How to put friendships before boys. They are all learning and they do try to improve.
Ricki Jo was at times difficult and annoying but I understood her. It is nice to have lots of friends and try new things. It is difficult to be a good friend and make them all happy at the same time. When you make new friends sometimes your old friends are like what am I not good enough?! It's hard fitting in and trying to find your place. Getting made fun of and feeling out of place. She has some confidence issues since she was smaller and not has filled out as the other girls. I felt like her journey was something I could relate too and is important for young girls.
Best Friends Romance
Luke is adorable and oh so sweet! I don't think he had thought of Ricki Jo in a romantic way up until freshman year. Then he starts always defending her and realizing that she is pretty. But he noticed before all she changed. He loves the girl next door that doesn't wear makeup and isn't sure he loves what she is trying to be now which breaks Ricki Jo's heart. Ricki Jo realizes to appreciate true friendship and that he has always always been the one there for her. And why deal with a jerk when you can have such a great guy?! Once again though this book ends a bit openly. I am a big fan of declarations of love and kisses at the end so I was a little disappointed. Otherwise it was a really cute read with great lessens in friendship and growing up.
===
"Well, I don't know," he starts, looking down and then up again, anywhere but at me. "Like, for example, your new clothes, it's like a whole new you. You dress more like those girls now."
"I just want to look nice!" I defend myself.
"No, not that that's a bad thing, Ricki Jo!" he says, glancing down at me and then back over his shoulder. "You look great. Really pretty, actually. Just, you didn't care before and you were still" -he stammers on- "y-you know...pretty."
"That's stupid," Luke says sharply, totally out of character, and shoots Laura a look that makes her flush red. "First of all, she's not ugly-pretty, she's just normal pretty. What a dumb thing to say. And second, she's different from the average girl 'cause she doesn't even need makeup."
Silence. Luke looks down at his arm and twirls the leather strap around his wrist. I nudge him, and when he looks up at me, I mouth Thank you, not trusting my voice since an unexpected lump has found its way to my throat.
First day of school and Ricki Jo meets four new girls and a guy they call Wolf. She immediately develops a massive crush on him. He did remind me of a few guys I knew in middle school. Super cute and charismatic but a bit of a selfish jerk. The kind of guy you can't help but crush on even though you know you shouldn't, except Ricki Jo usually puts up with him and forgives him too easily. But when your young it takes awhile to learn.
As for Ricki Jo's new friends...I hated them sometimes and then I liked them sometimes. One minute they would say mean things and exclude Ricki Jo and the next they would plan something nice for her. But lets be honest that is freshman girls for you. It is a selfish, snobby, and bratty time and many are just learning what it truly means to be a good friend. How to put friendships before boys. They are all learning and they do try to improve.
Ricki Jo was at times difficult and annoying but I understood her. It is nice to have lots of friends and try new things. It is difficult to be a good friend and make them all happy at the same time. When you make new friends sometimes your old friends are like what am I not good enough?! It's hard fitting in and trying to find your place. Getting made fun of and feeling out of place. She has some confidence issues since she was smaller and not has filled out as the other girls. I felt like her journey was something I could relate too and is important for young girls.
Best Friends Romance
Luke is adorable and oh so sweet! I don't think he had thought of Ricki Jo in a romantic way up until freshman year. Then he starts always defending her and realizing that she is pretty. But he noticed before all she changed. He loves the girl next door that doesn't wear makeup and isn't sure he loves what she is trying to be now which breaks Ricki Jo's heart. Ricki Jo realizes to appreciate true friendship and that he has always always been the one there for her. And why deal with a jerk when you can have such a great guy?! Once again though this book ends a bit openly. I am a big fan of declarations of love and kisses at the end so I was a little disappointed. Otherwise it was a really cute read with great lessens in friendship and growing up.
===
"Well, I don't know," he starts, looking down and then up again, anywhere but at me. "Like, for example, your new clothes, it's like a whole new you. You dress more like those girls now."
"I just want to look nice!" I defend myself.
"No, not that that's a bad thing, Ricki Jo!" he says, glancing down at me and then back over his shoulder. "You look great. Really pretty, actually. Just, you didn't care before and you were still" -he stammers on- "y-you know...pretty."
"That's stupid," Luke says sharply, totally out of character, and shoots Laura a look that makes her flush red. "First of all, she's not ugly-pretty, she's just normal pretty. What a dumb thing to say. And second, she's different from the average girl 'cause she doesn't even need makeup."
Silence. Luke looks down at his arm and twirls the leather strap around his wrist. I nudge him, and when he looks up at me, I mouth Thank you, not trusting my voice since an unexpected lump has found its way to my throat.
November 26, 2014
I picked this one up in my local library's teen section looking for a quick, fluffy Thanksgiving-break read. This book didn't even live up to those expectations. Ricki Jo was a self-centered, vain brat that I couldn't relate to in any way. When I was fourteen, I wasn't "streaking", downing bourbon shots, or making out with guys. I was studying and stressing over my grades, fangirling over Harry Potter (which, in fact, I still do), and worrying over friends and crushes. I still haven't kissed a guy. This book may be lauded as a realistic representation of this generation, when, in fact, it's quite inaccurate and sets a bad example for teenage girls, teaching that popularity and boyfriends are everything.
August 13, 2020
Ricki Jo is fourteen years old and ready to leave her redneck farm girl days behind in favor of a glamorous career as a high school cheerleader. She’ll stop at nothing to gain acceptance and popularity—even going so far as to alienating her old friends and family. But, obviously, that sort of lifestyle has a cost, and as Ricki Jo learns in The Queen of Kentucky, it’s not a price she’s able to pay.
I’m going to be honest and say that reading about Ricki Jo was difficult. She makes so, so many mistakes over the course of the book. She’s snobby, selfish, and shallow. She does things not because she wants to, but because it will boost her reputation in the eyes of those who matter (or those who she thinks matter). She completely ignores her best friend’s problems, which are far more serious than her own, in favor of whining about her girl drama and boy trouble. She’s a hard character to swallow.
I especially had difficulty with Ricki Jo’s low sense of worth. She allowed her new friends and new love interest to treat her like absolute garbage, not seeing that they valued her only as a tool to be used or someone to be momentarily entertaining but never counted as one of the group. Within the first fifty pages, Ricki Jo’s love interest, Wolf, calls her an ugly redneck in a crowded room, and though she admits he treats her “like an animal” she still can’t shake her crush. As the reader, you have the privilege of seeing the bigger picture, and it’s obvious that Ricki Jo’s newfound pals aren’t as great as she thinks she is. It was frustrating that she didn’t see what I saw, but then again, she’s young and optimistic and has never had cause to doubt anyone’s intentions.
Ricki Jo is really the centerpiece of The Queen of Kentucky, and yes, she’s a difficult character to like—but how different is she from any other fourteen-year-old girl? In comparison, Ricki Jo’s problems are small potatoes, but to a high school freshman, things like acceptance and fitting in (and getting your first period) are very important, and I think that’s what Alecia Whitaker has captured with this book. This is a story about a girl who makes mistakes in her quest to feel loved, and yeah, it’s frustrating, but is her story any less valid than anyone else’s? Her problems are real to her, and I have a hard time vilifying her feelings just because they seem so trivial to me as an adult.
Though I remain conflicted (but mostly in favor) of Ricki Jo’s characterization, I did enjoy many other aspects of the book. Ricki Jo’s family was wonderfully present and supportive of her, and the side plot regarding Ricki Jo’s best friend, Luke, was a wonderfully honest, but not too involved, depiction of domestic violence as seen from the outside. The small-town Southern setting rang true as well, which gave The Queen of Kentucky’s more questionable facets a nice, stable background.
That being said, there are some aspects of this book that I had more concrete difficulties with, one of which was Whitaker’s writing. It’s not bad, per se; neither is it great. This author falls into the rookie mistake of giving minute, endless details of every single thing. Paragraphs on paragraphs were dedicated to characters’ clothing and makeup, a shopping expedition at the mall, picking seats on the first day of class, meals, car rides—you name it. Detail is always nice, but The Queen of Kentucky just takes it way too far. A lot of this book’s fairly lengthy 400 pages is superfluous fluff that bogged down the actual story. The pace is slow, almost painfully so, from start to finish. I honestly almost DNFed this in the early stages, as I was having so much trouble with Ricki Jo’s character, and couldn’t believe how long this book was—far longer than both the average YA debut and realistic fiction novel.
There are also a lot of music/movie pop culture references that really date The Queen of Kentucky. At one point, Ricki Jo and her friends claim that “Touch My Body” by Mariah Carey is their go-to make-out jam, and considering that song came out and was popular in 2008, it was already an “old” song when this book was released in 2012. The problem with referencing popular songs or films in your book is that, 6 months down the line, those references will be obsolete. You lose your ability to reach audience because your readers are less focused on the story in favor of being reminded about how outdated your pop culture references are.
I have some issues with The Queen of Kentucky overall, but I still think it’s an authentic portrayal of being a high school freshman struggling to find a place. Ricki Jo is a difficult character to like, but her story is still real and honest. Alecia Whitaker’s debut shows a lot of promise, and though it’s not perfect, I liked it far, far more than I expected to. The Queen of Kentucky has a lot going for it, and I think it’ll really fill the need for YA realistic fiction that caters to younger teens or preteens.
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I’m going to be honest and say that reading about Ricki Jo was difficult. She makes so, so many mistakes over the course of the book. She’s snobby, selfish, and shallow. She does things not because she wants to, but because it will boost her reputation in the eyes of those who matter (or those who she thinks matter). She completely ignores her best friend’s problems, which are far more serious than her own, in favor of whining about her girl drama and boy trouble. She’s a hard character to swallow.
I especially had difficulty with Ricki Jo’s low sense of worth. She allowed her new friends and new love interest to treat her like absolute garbage, not seeing that they valued her only as a tool to be used or someone to be momentarily entertaining but never counted as one of the group. Within the first fifty pages, Ricki Jo’s love interest, Wolf, calls her an ugly redneck in a crowded room, and though she admits he treats her “like an animal” she still can’t shake her crush. As the reader, you have the privilege of seeing the bigger picture, and it’s obvious that Ricki Jo’s newfound pals aren’t as great as she thinks she is. It was frustrating that she didn’t see what I saw, but then again, she’s young and optimistic and has never had cause to doubt anyone’s intentions.
Ricki Jo is really the centerpiece of The Queen of Kentucky, and yes, she’s a difficult character to like—but how different is she from any other fourteen-year-old girl? In comparison, Ricki Jo’s problems are small potatoes, but to a high school freshman, things like acceptance and fitting in (and getting your first period) are very important, and I think that’s what Alecia Whitaker has captured with this book. This is a story about a girl who makes mistakes in her quest to feel loved, and yeah, it’s frustrating, but is her story any less valid than anyone else’s? Her problems are real to her, and I have a hard time vilifying her feelings just because they seem so trivial to me as an adult.
Though I remain conflicted (but mostly in favor) of Ricki Jo’s characterization, I did enjoy many other aspects of the book. Ricki Jo’s family was wonderfully present and supportive of her, and the side plot regarding Ricki Jo’s best friend, Luke, was a wonderfully honest, but not too involved, depiction of domestic violence as seen from the outside. The small-town Southern setting rang true as well, which gave The Queen of Kentucky’s more questionable facets a nice, stable background.
That being said, there are some aspects of this book that I had more concrete difficulties with, one of which was Whitaker’s writing. It’s not bad, per se; neither is it great. This author falls into the rookie mistake of giving minute, endless details of every single thing. Paragraphs on paragraphs were dedicated to characters’ clothing and makeup, a shopping expedition at the mall, picking seats on the first day of class, meals, car rides—you name it. Detail is always nice, but The Queen of Kentucky just takes it way too far. A lot of this book’s fairly lengthy 400 pages is superfluous fluff that bogged down the actual story. The pace is slow, almost painfully so, from start to finish. I honestly almost DNFed this in the early stages, as I was having so much trouble with Ricki Jo’s character, and couldn’t believe how long this book was—far longer than both the average YA debut and realistic fiction novel.
There are also a lot of music/movie pop culture references that really date The Queen of Kentucky. At one point, Ricki Jo and her friends claim that “Touch My Body” by Mariah Carey is their go-to make-out jam, and considering that song came out and was popular in 2008, it was already an “old” song when this book was released in 2012. The problem with referencing popular songs or films in your book is that, 6 months down the line, those references will be obsolete. You lose your ability to reach audience because your readers are less focused on the story in favor of being reminded about how outdated your pop culture references are.
I have some issues with The Queen of Kentucky overall, but I still think it’s an authentic portrayal of being a high school freshman struggling to find a place. Ricki Jo is a difficult character to like, but her story is still real and honest. Alecia Whitaker’s debut shows a lot of promise, and though it’s not perfect, I liked it far, far more than I expected to. The Queen of Kentucky has a lot going for it, and I think it’ll really fill the need for YA realistic fiction that caters to younger teens or preteens.
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April 1, 2012
Ricki Jo Winstead has gone to the tiny Catholic elementary school in her small Kentucky town all of her life. She is now going into the 9th grade at the local high school and wants to make a big change. No longer does she want to be called Ricki Jo; Ericka sounds more sophisticated. No longer does she want to be on the fringes of what’s going on; she wants to be popular, become a cheerleader, and have a popular boyfriend. Her best friend and closest neighbor, Luke, thinks she’s just fine the way she is and doesn’t like who “Ericka” is turning into, but Ricki Jo has more important things on her mind, like her Spanish partner, Wolf, who is cruel to her when they’re in a large group but slightly nicer and maybe even flirty when it’s just the two of them. There’s also the “Fab Four” who say they want her in their exclusive group, but then they go and have a party without her. Just when it seems as though she is getting everything she wanted out of her high school experience, Ricki Jo has to decide who she really is and what she really wants.
The cover is fantastic, but the book let me down. There were many times that I wanted to smack Ricki Jo and give her a good talking to. The way she let Wolf treat her was abominable, and yet she still liked him and flirted with him and tried to get him to ask her to the Homecoming dance. It was sickening. No girl, either in real life or in fiction, should let a boy treat her as badly as Wolf treated Ricki Jo. The way she let her friends talk her into doing things that she both didn’t want to do and knew that she shouldn’t do was also sickening. Some may say that this is a realistic portrayal of 14 year olds, and that is probably true, but I want my characters to show some backbone, do the right thing, and not let other people walk all over them. By the end of the book, Ricki Jo does get this, but it is a long, painful journey.
The cover is fantastic, but the book let me down. There were many times that I wanted to smack Ricki Jo and give her a good talking to. The way she let Wolf treat her was abominable, and yet she still liked him and flirted with him and tried to get him to ask her to the Homecoming dance. It was sickening. No girl, either in real life or in fiction, should let a boy treat her as badly as Wolf treated Ricki Jo. The way she let her friends talk her into doing things that she both didn’t want to do and knew that she shouldn’t do was also sickening. Some may say that this is a realistic portrayal of 14 year olds, and that is probably true, but I want my characters to show some backbone, do the right thing, and not let other people walk all over them. By the end of the book, Ricki Jo does get this, but it is a long, painful journey.
July 2, 2013
3/5 stars for sure. It was one of those books that was a checklist of a YA novel. You had the love triangle (and then some), the friends she got along with every once in a while, and the list goes on. There was a heart wrenching twist here and there (bring the tissues), but it wasn't much different from Mean Girls with a bit of an ode to the south.
I did enjoy this book for what it is. It's about a girl who thinks she has to change herself to become popular and to get the "right" boy. Ultimately so she can always have cool friends and so that she'll soon has her first kiss.
Matthew 16:26 had it right, "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"
This isn't a verse quoted in QoK, but she definitely finds out what this means over the course of the novel. And not in a pleasant way. She finds that people you want to be friends with can also be BIG JERKS. GAH. I wanted to slap the people she wanted to be friends with and then I wanted to slap ERICKA for leaving behind her two best friends (not counting Bandit).
I liked that her character was willing to give people more chances than they were worth. There were times when it paid off (and she gained at least one great friend) but then there were times in which she needed to give another chance in order to learn a lesson.
What she lacked in original storytelling, she made up for in entertaining characters.
I did enjoy this book for what it is. It's about a girl who thinks she has to change herself to become popular and to get the "right" boy. Ultimately so she can always have cool friends and so that she'll soon has her first kiss.
Matthew 16:26 had it right, "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"
This isn't a verse quoted in QoK, but she definitely finds out what this means over the course of the novel. And not in a pleasant way. She finds that people you want to be friends with can also be BIG JERKS. GAH. I wanted to slap the people she wanted to be friends with and then I wanted to slap ERICKA for leaving behind her two best friends (not counting Bandit).
I liked that her character was willing to give people more chances than they were worth. There were times when it paid off (and she gained at least one great friend) but then there were times in which she needed to give another chance in order to learn a lesson.
What she lacked in original storytelling, she made up for in entertaining characters.
March 5, 2012
I wanted a fast, light and fluffy story to read, so I picked this up. While The Queen of Kentucky is certainly that, I cannot recommend this title. An even more predictable story than I imagined, this tale of a high school freshman who wants to be popular at any cost will perhaps appeal to eighth graders. The eye-catching cover* will certainly draw kids in, but I'm not sure they'll stick with it. Ricki Jo, or Erika as she'd like to be called, is an incredibly frustrating character. She admits to herself that she's being mistreated by the popular kids, but still comes back for more, while she is mean to her real friends. To top it off the geography is inaccurate.
The more I think about it the more I dislike the book and Ricki Jo.
*Ricki Jo's momma would not approve of that skirt.
The more I think about it the more I dislike the book and Ricki Jo.
*Ricki Jo's momma would not approve of that skirt.
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September 16, 2019Good Work
January 8, 2012
I read the description, looked at the cover and immediately thought that this would be an extremely cute novel, and it is, but there is so much more to the story than just that. I was impressed by Alecia Whitaker's ability to weave in darker, serious issues into a light story, it gave the novel a lot of depth and made it a much more substantial read.
Ricki Jo is about to enter high school, public high school (her first year not in private school), and she had decided that she wants to be known as Ericka; a new school, a new year, a new slate to make herself into whatever she wants. She choses to do whatever it takes to hang out with the popular crowd, but at what cost? It takes a serious incident for Ericka to realize that maybe Ricki Jo isn't so bad after all...
From the first page I was in love with Ricki Jo's voice. She is definitely on the younger side, not so sophisticated as she hopes to be, but that is what makes her so entertaining! She is so not what she is trying to be, and as hard as she tries, as good of a job as she does, she always seems a bit awkward because she was raised completely different. She's a writer with a very persuasive personality- she kind of forces you to like her (haha). The characters really are a huge strength in this novel. Apart from the main character, I loved her best friend Luke, her family, even the "mean" girls and obnoxious boys where lovable (or love-to-hate-able). This novel could have taken place in a plain white room and with the same set of characters the story still would have been great.
That's not to say the plot is any worse, because it definitely is not. Like I mentioned before, this story is about Ricki Jo and her journey of finding her way and coming to terms with herself, but there is a much darker undertone (which I won't elaborate on for fear of spoilers) that really elevates the plot.
Do I even have to say that I'd definitely recommend it? I mean, at this point, if you are a fan of contemporaries, you should be running to the store to get yourself a copy!
Ricki Jo is about to enter high school, public high school (her first year not in private school), and she had decided that she wants to be known as Ericka; a new school, a new year, a new slate to make herself into whatever she wants. She choses to do whatever it takes to hang out with the popular crowd, but at what cost? It takes a serious incident for Ericka to realize that maybe Ricki Jo isn't so bad after all...
From the first page I was in love with Ricki Jo's voice. She is definitely on the younger side, not so sophisticated as she hopes to be, but that is what makes her so entertaining! She is so not what she is trying to be, and as hard as she tries, as good of a job as she does, she always seems a bit awkward because she was raised completely different. She's a writer with a very persuasive personality- she kind of forces you to like her (haha). The characters really are a huge strength in this novel. Apart from the main character, I loved her best friend Luke, her family, even the "mean" girls and obnoxious boys where lovable (or love-to-hate-able). This novel could have taken place in a plain white room and with the same set of characters the story still would have been great.
That's not to say the plot is any worse, because it definitely is not. Like I mentioned before, this story is about Ricki Jo and her journey of finding her way and coming to terms with herself, but there is a much darker undertone (which I won't elaborate on for fear of spoilers) that really elevates the plot.
Do I even have to say that I'd definitely recommend it? I mean, at this point, if you are a fan of contemporaries, you should be running to the store to get yourself a copy!
May 25, 2019
This book made me remember what a shitty person I was as a teenager, so it was certainly written in an authentic voice, but that didn't make me particularly enjoy it. I do think others could enjoy it because it wasn't poorly written. It just wasn't my bag.
December 4, 2012
You can find this review (and more!) on my blog: The Humble Watermelon
3.5 stars!
Well, Alice Whitaker, you got me. You went beyond what I was excepting, and wrote an ostensibly cliché book into a one of a kind, one that you could call your own.
After reading the synopsis and the first few chapters, I thought I had the whole book figured out. First, Ricki Jo would be that awkward new girl at school, but then would slowly blossom into one of the "populars". Then she would catch the attention of her since-the-school-year-started crush, the hot but actually not hot bad boy Wolf. While their relationship developed, Luke, Ricki Jo's lifelong best friend, would be watching silently from the side (but not in a stalker-ish way) wishing that Ricki Jo would realize that he is the one who is truly for her. Then, several turn of events, including the realization that Wolf is actually a jerk, would lead to our naive yet oh so charming protagonist to discover that Luke was the one she should've loved from the beginning. The two would then have a heart-felt conversation, kiss, and live happily ever after.
Well, needless to say, this book was not like what it seemed.
In the beginning, I did not like Ricki Jo. At all. I despised her annoying insecurity, naivety, selfishness, etc. She just acted like she tried too hard, and just did not strike me as a likable character. But as the chapters moved by, I saw a more mature, mellow girl develop underneath her seemingly superficial personality. I'll admit, she still was bit childish towards the end of the book, but I could tell that she understood the world more, understood herself better.
But seriously, with Wolf, there were no excuses as to his annoying personality. First of all, he is not hot, and definitely not swoon-worthy. If you really want to make the love interest into a bad boy, you've got to be really careful on how you shape his character, because it could either make or break the whole ambiance of the story. In this case, it kind of broke it, but luckily, there was Luke. I found Luke really cute, the kind of guy that's shy and adorably awkward, so he definitely improved the whole situation a little. ^^
Then there's the plot. It contained much more depth than I excepted, and evoked in me the sense that I could relate to the story. Ricki Jo's goal to fit in her new school was met by struggles and successes, trials and errors. It was actually quite realistic, and contained much less corny moments than I thought. (Although those little sweet cheesy moments did not hurt ;) And honestly, sometimes, I long for these kind of books that give me a fuzzy and warm feeling inside.
Yet I've got to say that the dramatic scenes were, well, not so dramatic. This is how a usual fight in a book played out:
Riski Jo: Well, I'm sorry I hurt your feelings, but you were being a jerk too!
Other Girl: Oh really, eh? Well explain why you totally ignored me while I [insert embarrassing moment] .
Ricki Jo: Oh that? I totally did not mean that! I'm so sorry it looked like I was ignoring you!
Other Girl: [facial features softens] Well, I guess I was overreacting a little ...
Ricki Jo: A little, yeah...
Other Girl: Besties for ever and ever?
Ricki Jo: TOTALLY!
I'm sorry, but that is not how you write a fight. That is all.
I'll admit that The Queen of Kentucky had its weaknesses, yet it had a lot of bright spots and great moments. I give this book a solid 3.5 stars, because I truly believe that there is something really great about this book, and when you go beyond the seemingly cliché plot and the slow developing characters, you will see that there is so much more to this book than you would have thought.
3.5 stars!
Well, Alice Whitaker, you got me. You went beyond what I was excepting, and wrote an ostensibly cliché book into a one of a kind, one that you could call your own.
After reading the synopsis and the first few chapters, I thought I had the whole book figured out. First, Ricki Jo would be that awkward new girl at school, but then would slowly blossom into one of the "populars". Then she would catch the attention of her since-the-school-year-started crush, the hot but actually not hot bad boy Wolf. While their relationship developed, Luke, Ricki Jo's lifelong best friend, would be watching silently from the side (but not in a stalker-ish way) wishing that Ricki Jo would realize that he is the one who is truly for her. Then, several turn of events, including the realization that Wolf is actually a jerk, would lead to our naive yet oh so charming protagonist to discover that Luke was the one she should've loved from the beginning. The two would then have a heart-felt conversation, kiss, and live happily ever after.
Well, needless to say, this book was not like what it seemed.
In the beginning, I did not like Ricki Jo. At all. I despised her annoying insecurity, naivety, selfishness, etc. She just acted like she tried too hard, and just did not strike me as a likable character. But as the chapters moved by, I saw a more mature, mellow girl develop underneath her seemingly superficial personality. I'll admit, she still was bit childish towards the end of the book, but I could tell that she understood the world more, understood herself better.
But seriously, with Wolf, there were no excuses as to his annoying personality. First of all, he is not hot, and definitely not swoon-worthy. If you really want to make the love interest into a bad boy, you've got to be really careful on how you shape his character, because it could either make or break the whole ambiance of the story. In this case, it kind of broke it, but luckily, there was Luke. I found Luke really cute, the kind of guy that's shy and adorably awkward, so he definitely improved the whole situation a little. ^^
Then there's the plot. It contained much more depth than I excepted, and evoked in me the sense that I could relate to the story. Ricki Jo's goal to fit in her new school was met by struggles and successes, trials and errors. It was actually quite realistic, and contained much less corny moments than I thought. (Although those little sweet cheesy moments did not hurt ;) And honestly, sometimes, I long for these kind of books that give me a fuzzy and warm feeling inside.
Yet I've got to say that the dramatic scenes were, well, not so dramatic. This is how a usual fight in a book played out:
Riski Jo: Well, I'm sorry I hurt your feelings, but you were being a jerk too!
Other Girl: Oh really, eh? Well explain why you totally ignored me while I [insert embarrassing moment] .
Ricki Jo: Oh that? I totally did not mean that! I'm so sorry it looked like I was ignoring you!
Other Girl: [facial features softens] Well, I guess I was overreacting a little ...
Ricki Jo: A little, yeah...
Other Girl: Besties for ever and ever?
Ricki Jo: TOTALLY!
I'm sorry, but that is not how you write a fight. That is all.
I'll admit that The Queen of Kentucky had its weaknesses, yet it had a lot of bright spots and great moments. I give this book a solid 3.5 stars, because I truly believe that there is something really great about this book, and when you go beyond the seemingly cliché plot and the slow developing characters, you will see that there is so much more to this book than you would have thought.
April 28, 2017
The Queen of Kentucky has so many things going for it. First is the cover, which is one of my favorites I've seen come in the mail. It's not that often we see covers in yellow- it jumps out at you. The second thing is the fun trailer and third is the author. I admire authors who take time our of their busy schedules to tweet you and thank you for reading their book. The setting is the deep south which wide open spaces, dusty dirt roads,a pond and acres and acres of tobacco. I became immediately immersed in the rural roots of Ricki Jo Winstead and her best friend Luke. It's the summer before Ricki Jo's freshman year, her first year in high school. She's determined to reinvent herself, ditch the two names for a sassier version- Ericka. Fortune falls on her side when the four most popular girls end up in her homeroom and the school's stud muffin sits next to her in Spanish. Wolf looks like he just stepped out of an Abercrombie ad and smells like it too. He's the guy everyone is vying for, the top of Ericka's wish list. Get some new clothes, make the cheer leading squad, get asked to homecoming and go through puberty then Ricky Jo might just pull off the new and improved Ericka.
A coming of age tale of a 14 year old girl, this book brought back so many memories of ninth grade year (we were still in junior high). As Ericka moves up the social chain she begins to shed some of her most important friends and values. She also gets repeatedly made fun of and mistreated by her "friends." It was painful for me to read. She has fabulous parents, a religious upbringing and the perfect boy next door but she's willing to give it all up for a chance at popularity. Soon a middle grade lifestyle turns much more YA- sneaking out, lots of talk about sex, streaking, drinking, cheating on school work and belittling her once closest friend. While I can sympathize with the fact that Ericka is young and has a mission, I would have liked to have seen more development of character as the book progresses. Time and time again she is mistreated by her love interest and group of new friends. Instead of standing up for herself or rebuilding those whose names she has defamed ...in her upward climb, she takes it all in stride. The ending was just what I wanted to see, but too little too late for me to sympathize fully with the the main character.
Alecia Whitaker is a very talented writer. You can tell she weaves her knowledge and love for the South into her story. Her characters were well fleshed out and vivid. I like that she handles the very hard issue of alcoholism of a parent and domestic violence as it influences the children in the home. I also really liked her references to reading the bible and the importance of sticking to your roots. I could have lived in the county with Ricky Jo before she became Ericka and Luke forever. He is everything you'd want and more. I savored the innocence and closeness of their friendship. Thanks so much to Poppy for a chance to read Queen of Kentucky.
A coming of age tale of a 14 year old girl, this book brought back so many memories of ninth grade year (we were still in junior high). As Ericka moves up the social chain she begins to shed some of her most important friends and values. She also gets repeatedly made fun of and mistreated by her "friends." It was painful for me to read. She has fabulous parents, a religious upbringing and the perfect boy next door but she's willing to give it all up for a chance at popularity. Soon a middle grade lifestyle turns much more YA- sneaking out, lots of talk about sex, streaking, drinking, cheating on school work and belittling her once closest friend. While I can sympathize with the fact that Ericka is young and has a mission, I would have liked to have seen more development of character as the book progresses. Time and time again she is mistreated by her love interest and group of new friends. Instead of standing up for herself or rebuilding those whose names she has defamed ...in her upward climb, she takes it all in stride. The ending was just what I wanted to see, but too little too late for me to sympathize fully with the the main character.
Alecia Whitaker is a very talented writer. You can tell she weaves her knowledge and love for the South into her story. Her characters were well fleshed out and vivid. I like that she handles the very hard issue of alcoholism of a parent and domestic violence as it influences the children in the home. I also really liked her references to reading the bible and the importance of sticking to your roots. I could have lived in the county with Ricky Jo before she became Ericka and Luke forever. He is everything you'd want and more. I savored the innocence and closeness of their friendship. Thanks so much to Poppy for a chance to read Queen of Kentucky.
January 16, 2012
The Queen of Kentucky turned out to be one of those books that left me thinking, how in the world am I going to review this? It's an extremely cute book, and has a powerful message for not just people around the age of the characters but for anyone that reads it. But I also felt that some of the things in the book were taken to the extreme, and that kind of ruined a few things for me.
First of all, I love the basic concept of the story. It's basically a story about finding who you are, and the things that matter most in life. But it's how you go about those things that will shape you into the person you become. Which is one of the things that really annoyed me about this book, and which I will discuss further later on. Trying to fit in is one of those things that pretty much everyone goes through in life, just as Ricki does in this book but like I said before, it's all about how you go about doing it. You should never change who you are just to fit in with a group.
Ricki is a well written character, and I think she fits the role that I assume Alecia was trying to achieve in the story. But when you're reading a story with teenage characters, you go into it knowing there will most likely be that teenage angst. This story is no different, and I am not saying that it's a bad thing. I just feel like that teenage mindset can be taken a little to far, even if she is only 14 that is old enough to have some common sense. I can't even begin to explain how annoyed I was at some of the choices Ricki made throughout the story, especially when she knew it was the wrong choice to make. She just thought it would make her "Cool". As for "Wolf"... Let's just say I didn't care for his character.
The one character I did really enjoy was Luke, I felt he was the most well rounded character out of the group. I wish more of the characters would of had his way of thinking, considering he is the same age as the other characters.. But alas, he was the one character that I felt truly brought the story together and made up for the major annoyances of some of the other characters.
I gave this book 4 stars, because I just couldn't get over some of the characters. I adored the concept of the story, and I feel like it speaks true to anyone no matter how old you are. And I feel like it's a book people should read, considering that. If you can look past some of the annoyance from some of the characters, and actually see the story for what it is you will see that Alecia has created an amazing story that in the end will make you realize just how important being yourself can be. So I really hope you will give this book a chance, if you've been thinking about reading it. Don't let the whole teenage angst thing keep you from reading it, I was just simply voicing my own personal opinions.
This review is from my blog, you can click on the link provided to see the original post: http://www.justinsbookblog.com/2012/0...
First of all, I love the basic concept of the story. It's basically a story about finding who you are, and the things that matter most in life. But it's how you go about those things that will shape you into the person you become. Which is one of the things that really annoyed me about this book, and which I will discuss further later on. Trying to fit in is one of those things that pretty much everyone goes through in life, just as Ricki does in this book but like I said before, it's all about how you go about doing it. You should never change who you are just to fit in with a group.
Ricki is a well written character, and I think she fits the role that I assume Alecia was trying to achieve in the story. But when you're reading a story with teenage characters, you go into it knowing there will most likely be that teenage angst. This story is no different, and I am not saying that it's a bad thing. I just feel like that teenage mindset can be taken a little to far, even if she is only 14 that is old enough to have some common sense. I can't even begin to explain how annoyed I was at some of the choices Ricki made throughout the story, especially when she knew it was the wrong choice to make. She just thought it would make her "Cool". As for "Wolf"... Let's just say I didn't care for his character.
The one character I did really enjoy was Luke, I felt he was the most well rounded character out of the group. I wish more of the characters would of had his way of thinking, considering he is the same age as the other characters.. But alas, he was the one character that I felt truly brought the story together and made up for the major annoyances of some of the other characters.
I gave this book 4 stars, because I just couldn't get over some of the characters. I adored the concept of the story, and I feel like it speaks true to anyone no matter how old you are. And I feel like it's a book people should read, considering that. If you can look past some of the annoyance from some of the characters, and actually see the story for what it is you will see that Alecia has created an amazing story that in the end will make you realize just how important being yourself can be. So I really hope you will give this book a chance, if you've been thinking about reading it. Don't let the whole teenage angst thing keep you from reading it, I was just simply voicing my own personal opinions.
This review is from my blog, you can click on the link provided to see the original post: http://www.justinsbookblog.com/2012/0...
March 12, 2012
Ricki Jo is determined to move from a plain old country girl into popular, sophisticated Ericka when she starts 9th grade at her local public high school. She figures there will be lots more opportunities at the larger school than the small, Catholic school she attended through 8th grade.
Right away she makes friends with a few popular girls and she feels she has to start changing to keep up with her new group, particularly since good-looking David Wolfenbaker (Wolf) hangs out with them too. As she morphs into “Ericka 2.0,” she begins to wonder if she can keep what she likes most about her old self while also becoming someone different.
The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker will resonate with anyone who has ever felt the desire to change her circumstances. Ricki Jo is a down-to-earth girl who is best friends with her neighbor Lucas and who spends time working to help out around her farm, even if she doesn’t feel like it. Ericka wears more stylish clothes, studies hairstyles and advice columns in Seventeen magazine, and will do things she’s uncomfortable with if it means going along with the crowd.
It’s not easy for her to keep up: her new friends are wealthier than she is, which means they spend money more freely on clothes and entertainment. Ericka goes back and forth between feeling like she’s making friends and feeling like they’re making fun of her. Plus, she finds herself ignoring all the crass remarks Wolf makes just because she’s dazzled by his good looks.
As she navigates the halls of her high school, Ricki Jo makes some mistakes, but she also gets a better feeling for what’s important to her. I liked that each of the characters was nuanced, and didn’t fall into a stereotype. Wolf has a lot of bad points, but Ricki Jo can also see some of the good points and vulnerabilities he tries to hide. Some of her new girlfriends seem shallow much of the time, but they also show they’re capable of being there for her when times are rough.
While the outcome at the end of The Queen of Kentucky may not be a mystery, the journey to get there goes down as easy as a glass of ice tea on a hot day. Ricki Jo is a protagonist you can root for, identify with and ultimately cheer on. I recommend it for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 13 and up.
Right away she makes friends with a few popular girls and she feels she has to start changing to keep up with her new group, particularly since good-looking David Wolfenbaker (Wolf) hangs out with them too. As she morphs into “Ericka 2.0,” she begins to wonder if she can keep what she likes most about her old self while also becoming someone different.
The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker will resonate with anyone who has ever felt the desire to change her circumstances. Ricki Jo is a down-to-earth girl who is best friends with her neighbor Lucas and who spends time working to help out around her farm, even if she doesn’t feel like it. Ericka wears more stylish clothes, studies hairstyles and advice columns in Seventeen magazine, and will do things she’s uncomfortable with if it means going along with the crowd.
It’s not easy for her to keep up: her new friends are wealthier than she is, which means they spend money more freely on clothes and entertainment. Ericka goes back and forth between feeling like she’s making friends and feeling like they’re making fun of her. Plus, she finds herself ignoring all the crass remarks Wolf makes just because she’s dazzled by his good looks.
As she navigates the halls of her high school, Ricki Jo makes some mistakes, but she also gets a better feeling for what’s important to her. I liked that each of the characters was nuanced, and didn’t fall into a stereotype. Wolf has a lot of bad points, but Ricki Jo can also see some of the good points and vulnerabilities he tries to hide. Some of her new girlfriends seem shallow much of the time, but they also show they’re capable of being there for her when times are rough.
While the outcome at the end of The Queen of Kentucky may not be a mystery, the journey to get there goes down as easy as a glass of ice tea on a hot day. Ricki Jo is a protagonist you can root for, identify with and ultimately cheer on. I recommend it for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 13 and up.
August 6, 2012
Most of y’all that know me or of me…you know that I don’t read a lot of YA Contemporary. I usually can’t get into Contemp novels for various reasons. Either I can’t connect with the characters because they are so much younger or different than me or because I was NOT a fan of high school and I really don’t want to relive the horrors through someone else’s mortification.
Here’s the big BUT…I am Southern born and bred, therefore connecting to a country girl that wants to be “country club” is something seen a lot around where I grew up. Ricki Jo is an incredibly easy character that readers, young and old, can relate to. I was the skinny girl with no body that had friends that “blossomed” before me…I never really felt like I fit in because I wanted to be friends with EVERYONE, not just the popular people…I was an athlete. Ricki Jo is the type of character that really comes from an author’s heart and experiences. Alecia Whitaker did a wonderful job of creating Rick—sorry…ERIKA’s Southern world. I am actually recommending this book to my mom because she grew up working summers in the sweltering heat on my grandfather’s tobacco farm. She laughed when I read an excerpt aloud about how much Ricki Jo hated it…she could totally relate.
The friends “Erika” makes at school, her crush, her family, even her dog…they were so easy to picture, relate to, and it makes a story that much better. The portrayal of high school life, in and out of school, was spot on. I kept thinking…Oh my GOSH YES!! That’s EXACTLY how it was!!
I absolutely LOVED this book so much…Ricki Jo and Luke were so endearing and the storyline was entertaining and full of “OH NO” and “Oh YAY!” moments. I was rooting for Luke and Ricki Jo until the very last page. I was so bummed when I got to the end and realized…that was it! I don’t know if there will be more (mis) adventures of our darlin’ main character, but I can guarantee that I’ll be picking up a copy of Whitaker’s books from now on.
Even if you’re not really a Contemp fan…I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads, and I will absolutely recommend it to anyone, but you Southern belles will fall in love! If you don’t love this book too, well, as they say in the South….Bless your heart. (haha!)
Here’s the big BUT…I am Southern born and bred, therefore connecting to a country girl that wants to be “country club” is something seen a lot around where I grew up. Ricki Jo is an incredibly easy character that readers, young and old, can relate to. I was the skinny girl with no body that had friends that “blossomed” before me…I never really felt like I fit in because I wanted to be friends with EVERYONE, not just the popular people…I was an athlete. Ricki Jo is the type of character that really comes from an author’s heart and experiences. Alecia Whitaker did a wonderful job of creating Rick—sorry…ERIKA’s Southern world. I am actually recommending this book to my mom because she grew up working summers in the sweltering heat on my grandfather’s tobacco farm. She laughed when I read an excerpt aloud about how much Ricki Jo hated it…she could totally relate.
The friends “Erika” makes at school, her crush, her family, even her dog…they were so easy to picture, relate to, and it makes a story that much better. The portrayal of high school life, in and out of school, was spot on. I kept thinking…Oh my GOSH YES!! That’s EXACTLY how it was!!
I absolutely LOVED this book so much…Ricki Jo and Luke were so endearing and the storyline was entertaining and full of “OH NO” and “Oh YAY!” moments. I was rooting for Luke and Ricki Jo until the very last page. I was so bummed when I got to the end and realized…that was it! I don’t know if there will be more (mis) adventures of our darlin’ main character, but I can guarantee that I’ll be picking up a copy of Whitaker’s books from now on.
Even if you’re not really a Contemp fan…I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads, and I will absolutely recommend it to anyone, but you Southern belles will fall in love! If you don’t love this book too, well, as they say in the South….Bless your heart. (haha!)
January 6, 2012
I started out annoyed with Ricki Jo. But then I remembered: she's 14. I was THE most annoying 14 year old in existence. And once I accepted this, I totally related to Ricki Jo. You guys, this book is PAINFULLY relatable. It hit me on a very personal level, because I WAS THAT GIRL. I was awkward and an outcast who wanted more than anything to be popular. I had no idea who I was and changed myself and the way I acted to be accepted. I was the cheerleader who wasn't that great who was in love with the boy who was out of my league, thanks to high school stereotyping.
This was such a quick read. Ricki Jo is so naive and self-involved, but that's what makes it a great book. You cringe watching her make the mistakes and bad decisions. Your heart breaks along with hers when she is ridiculed time and time again. Alecia Whitaker did such an amazing job putting that insecure, uncertain teenager girl on paper and guiding her into her own after so many pitfalls.
And can we talk about Ricki Jo's friends? Well, "friends." Bitches be trippin'. I hated them and yet SO understood why she wanted to be like them and be liked by them. And the object of her affection? UGH. I wanted to swoop in and slap her wrist for CONTINUING to confess her undying love for him even after he was so awful to her. HELLO? BEST FRIEND LUKE? Sure, he's been there forever and you guys probably picked your boogers together, but hey, he's grown up a little bit and loves who you are and wait, when did that growth spurt happen and I guess maybe he's kinda cute, probably. See? DECISION MADE. But it just wouldn't be a good book without the MC making an absolute fool out of herself before finding out that what she wants has been there all along.
I am surprised at my love for this book. I was expecting it to be all superficial and "lyk, OmG," but you guys... there is some shockingly heavy subject matter within. Not to mention a part about a dog that broke my heart and wrenched my gut. The severity of some situations balanced out the superficiality and made this a fun, heartfelt read.
Ricki Jo. Girl. YOU ARE 14 YEAR OLD ME WITH COWBOY BOOTS.
This was such a quick read. Ricki Jo is so naive and self-involved, but that's what makes it a great book. You cringe watching her make the mistakes and bad decisions. Your heart breaks along with hers when she is ridiculed time and time again. Alecia Whitaker did such an amazing job putting that insecure, uncertain teenager girl on paper and guiding her into her own after so many pitfalls.
And can we talk about Ricki Jo's friends? Well, "friends." Bitches be trippin'. I hated them and yet SO understood why she wanted to be like them and be liked by them. And the object of her affection? UGH. I wanted to swoop in and slap her wrist for CONTINUING to confess her undying love for him even after he was so awful to her. HELLO? BEST FRIEND LUKE? Sure, he's been there forever and you guys probably picked your boogers together, but hey, he's grown up a little bit and loves who you are and wait, when did that growth spurt happen and I guess maybe he's kinda cute, probably. See? DECISION MADE. But it just wouldn't be a good book without the MC making an absolute fool out of herself before finding out that what she wants has been there all along.
I am surprised at my love for this book. I was expecting it to be all superficial and "lyk, OmG," but you guys... there is some shockingly heavy subject matter within. Not to mention a part about a dog that broke my heart and wrenched my gut. The severity of some situations balanced out the superficiality and made this a fun, heartfelt read.
Ricki Jo. Girl. YOU ARE 14 YEAR OLD ME WITH COWBOY BOOTS.
August 4, 2016
This is the story of Ricki Jo Winstead, oh, I'm sorry, of Ericka Winstead, and her freshman year. She is determined to prove to everyone that she isn't just some naïve farm girl, but that she has what it takes to be a popular cheerleader while snagging the hottest guy in school, Wolf.
But if you bothered to do so little as read the back cover, you already know how that turns out - it gives away the entire cliché-ridden plot of "girl wants to be cool & changes herself completely to fit in with the cool crowd; people around her (usually a particular boy) express bewilderment and regret at this change; she discovers that she's turned into someone she doesn't want to be (usually in a hurtful situation involving former friends); the boy she thought she wanted is not who she thought he was; girl ends up with the person she should have been with all along, the quintessential boy next door."
That's the entire plot of The Queen of Kentucky, albeit with a couple weak twists thrown in by way of an alcoholic father (the best parts of the book come from "the boy next door" dealing with his drunkard of a father) and the hot boy actually having some characterization beyond a hot jerk. Wolf and Ricki Jo's relationship was a good start - I could almost imagine this story being a prologue to one set in senior year, when Wolf has wised up and become an actually good guy, and this story being part of the flashbacks to his past as a player.
All in all, I thought that this story failed on the teen romance part, and just caused me to be increasingly uncomfortable as Ricki Jo (I mean, Ericka) makes worse and worse decisions to simply fit in - and never truly disavows these decisions or her new self.
But if you bothered to do so little as read the back cover, you already know how that turns out - it gives away the entire cliché-ridden plot of "girl wants to be cool & changes herself completely to fit in with the cool crowd; people around her (usually a particular boy) express bewilderment and regret at this change; she discovers that she's turned into someone she doesn't want to be (usually in a hurtful situation involving former friends); the boy she thought she wanted is not who she thought he was; girl ends up with the person she should have been with all along, the quintessential boy next door."
That's the entire plot of The Queen of Kentucky, albeit with a couple weak twists thrown in by way of an alcoholic father (the best parts of the book come from "the boy next door" dealing with his drunkard of a father) and the hot boy actually having some characterization beyond a hot jerk. Wolf and Ricki Jo's relationship was a good start - I could almost imagine this story being a prologue to one set in senior year, when Wolf has wised up and become an actually good guy, and this story being part of the flashbacks to his past as a player.
All in all, I thought that this story failed on the teen romance part, and just caused me to be increasingly uncomfortable as Ricki Jo (I mean, Ericka) makes worse and worse decisions to simply fit in - and never truly disavows these decisions or her new self.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2012
Everybody wants to fit in. So while reading this book and seeing what Ricki-Jo is going through, I can relate. High School is hard and life changing. I adored this book cause of the way the author writes about real things that goes on in life. High school, boys, drama, family. All of these elements play an important part in Ricki-Jo's life.
Ricky-Jo is like every country girl. T-shirt, jeans, hair messy and always up to something. Ricky-Jo is ready for her life to change and she takes charge. New school, new clothes and a new name Ericka. I like that Ricky-Jo wants change. She doesn't want to be just a farmers daughters but wants to make a name for herself.
I like that the story doesn't only tell whats going on in Ricky-Jo's life but also what is happening around her. Ricky-Jo's life is full of drama within her family and friends. Within the family, Ricky-Jo has an amazing heart. She thinks of everyone else before herself and tries to do what she can.
I also enjoyed the downfall of Erica (Ricky-Jo). I liked that her downfall wasn't all at once, but by piece by piece. I know some people might say she was stupid and naive, but of course she was! She was a farm girl who went to a private school before. I like seeing that she didn't know everything and was learning everything the hard way. Still, Ricky-Jo learned her lesson and became who she is meant to be all along. herself.
This is great book of life and learning. So many life changing moments in our life define and shape who we are. Queen of Kentucky is an amazing read!
Ricky-Jo is like every country girl. T-shirt, jeans, hair messy and always up to something. Ricky-Jo is ready for her life to change and she takes charge. New school, new clothes and a new name Ericka. I like that Ricky-Jo wants change. She doesn't want to be just a farmers daughters but wants to make a name for herself.
I like that the story doesn't only tell whats going on in Ricky-Jo's life but also what is happening around her. Ricky-Jo's life is full of drama within her family and friends. Within the family, Ricky-Jo has an amazing heart. She thinks of everyone else before herself and tries to do what she can.
I also enjoyed the downfall of Erica (Ricky-Jo). I liked that her downfall wasn't all at once, but by piece by piece. I know some people might say she was stupid and naive, but of course she was! She was a farm girl who went to a private school before. I like seeing that she didn't know everything and was learning everything the hard way. Still, Ricky-Jo learned her lesson and became who she is meant to be all along. herself.
This is great book of life and learning. So many life changing moments in our life define and shape who we are. Queen of Kentucky is an amazing read!
March 6, 2018
So I stumbled across this book pretty much by accident and, living in Louisville, knew I had to read it. It was an enjoyable read and I flew through it in less than a day.
Sure, there were some bits that might've been a bit tropey or cliched. Friends that are friendly one moment, terrible the next? Check. Hot guy who turns out to be a cad? Check. Boy next door that ends up being perfect for Ricki Jo all along? Check. But Ricki Jo is an inventive, fun character to be around. Her voice was really engaging and even if you don't agree with everything she does--and let's be real, we are not supposed to, she's a fourteen-year-old girl and it's fun to watch her make mistakes--you still find yourself rooting for her. I've read enough YA fiction to know the character type of Girl Who Tries Too Hard To Fit In and there were some ways she could've slipped into more cliched territory, but she still felt fresh.
I think I would give this book more 3.5 stars if Goodreads permitted half-stars, but it's closer to four than three for me. It was a great story and was fun to follow along with. Also, Ricki Jo's revelation at the end felt real and natural; there are only so many ways you can do the "I've been wrong all the time" realisation at the end of a work and a lot of the time they do not ring quite so true, but it felt real and unforced.
So. If you're into YA tales of fourteen-year-old girls, as I am, this is for you.
Sure, there were some bits that might've been a bit tropey or cliched. Friends that are friendly one moment, terrible the next? Check. Hot guy who turns out to be a cad? Check. Boy next door that ends up being perfect for Ricki Jo all along? Check. But Ricki Jo is an inventive, fun character to be around. Her voice was really engaging and even if you don't agree with everything she does--and let's be real, we are not supposed to, she's a fourteen-year-old girl and it's fun to watch her make mistakes--you still find yourself rooting for her. I've read enough YA fiction to know the character type of Girl Who Tries Too Hard To Fit In and there were some ways she could've slipped into more cliched territory, but she still felt fresh.
I think I would give this book more 3.5 stars if Goodreads permitted half-stars, but it's closer to four than three for me. It was a great story and was fun to follow along with. Also, Ricki Jo's revelation at the end felt real and natural; there are only so many ways you can do the "I've been wrong all the time" realisation at the end of a work and a lot of the time they do not ring quite so true, but it felt real and unforced.
So. If you're into YA tales of fourteen-year-old girls, as I am, this is for you.
February 4, 2012
*Spoiler Free*
This was a really sweet, contemporary novel!
The Queen of Kentucky is all about growing up, with Ricki Jo wanting to be transformed into the popular, 'cool' Ericka on her first day of high school. Ricki Jo was a really cute character and you do feel sympathy with her and how she just wants to fit in and finally grow up. I liked seeing her character mature and slowly realising that perhaps her 'best friends' were not all that they were cracked up to be. Sometimes it was quite annoying at how Ricki Jo couldn't see what was right in front of her though!
As you can expect this book was pretty predictable, however it's not really about what happens in the end, but rather Ricki Jo's journey. I really disliked Wolf, Ricki Jo's crush, he was one of those extremely irritating, arrogant boys! However, Luke on the other hand was great and it was nice to see his friendship with Ricki Jo turn into something more.
This book isn't all fluffy though, with some serious issues being addressed. I also liked the setting of Kentucky with the tobacco farms and the 'y'alls.' It was a great setting!
THE VERDICT
4 stars - Overall I really enjoyed this book and don't you love that cover? I never see yellow covers, there should be more....
For more of my reviews and other bookish goodness go to: http://bookchowdown.blogspot.com/
This was a really sweet, contemporary novel!
The Queen of Kentucky is all about growing up, with Ricki Jo wanting to be transformed into the popular, 'cool' Ericka on her first day of high school. Ricki Jo was a really cute character and you do feel sympathy with her and how she just wants to fit in and finally grow up. I liked seeing her character mature and slowly realising that perhaps her 'best friends' were not all that they were cracked up to be. Sometimes it was quite annoying at how Ricki Jo couldn't see what was right in front of her though!
As you can expect this book was pretty predictable, however it's not really about what happens in the end, but rather Ricki Jo's journey. I really disliked Wolf, Ricki Jo's crush, he was one of those extremely irritating, arrogant boys! However, Luke on the other hand was great and it was nice to see his friendship with Ricki Jo turn into something more.
This book isn't all fluffy though, with some serious issues being addressed. I also liked the setting of Kentucky with the tobacco farms and the 'y'alls.' It was a great setting!
THE VERDICT
4 stars - Overall I really enjoyed this book and don't you love that cover? I never see yellow covers, there should be more....
For more of my reviews and other bookish goodness go to: http://bookchowdown.blogspot.com/
March 6, 2012
A coming of age story about a small town Kentucky girl, named Ricky Jo, or Erika, as she prefers to be called as she enters the complicated social scene of high school. Her name isn't the only thing she wishes were different. Ricky trades her Bible for Seventeen magazine, the gospel of teen girls. She wants nothing more than to fit in and feels a total transformation is key. Ignoring the advice of her best friend and neighbor Luke, she becomes involved headlong in the dynamics of fitting in with the "popular crowd". Getting mixed up with a group like the "Fabulous Four" and crushing hard on a nice/not so nice guy known as "Wolf", could leave Ricky with some pretty mixed emotions. As she ignores all she knows and sets out to be all she wants, Ricky Jo will learn some lessons, the hard way. Drama on the neighboring farm and a tragic incident with Luke, bring her back to reality.
Whitaker weaves a story that is real, relevant and delivers a good message. Her knowledge of rural Kentucky shines through in the story setting and her characters are very well crafted. Thumbs up for Alecia Whitaker's debut teen read!
Whitaker weaves a story that is real, relevant and delivers a good message. Her knowledge of rural Kentucky shines through in the story setting and her characters are very well crafted. Thumbs up for Alecia Whitaker's debut teen read!
September 24, 2011
This is a darling, darling book! I just adored Ricki Jo Winstead! She's so funny and the story is one that anyone who is in high school, or approaching high school, or has SURVIVED high school can relate to. Alecia Whitaker captures the roller coaster of high school drama perfectly...cliques, peer pressure, mean girls, jerky boys, boys next door, sneaking out, first dances, first hangovers, first crushes..it's all in here! BIG BONUS: having deep ties to Appalachia myself, it was so incredibly heartening to read a story that celebrates what it's like to grow up in this unique and wonderful part of our country. I highly recommend this to readers age middle-school to high-school and even OLD-school!
May 14, 2016
I enjoyed this story. The main character, Ricky Jo, was plucky and the way she narrated her thoughts and actions was raw and honest. Some of the instances that occurred took me back to my own adolescence. I feel like the descriptions of Kentucky were authentic, and the weather descriptions were right on point.
The issue of domestic violence was subtly handled here with Luke and his family. The flighty actions of the girls' clique was spot on. Altogether, the story was engaging and moved at a good pace for a teenage novel set in Kentucky: maybe not as fast as a thriller or something set in New York City. I liked that about it. I would definitely be interested to read more from this author.
The issue of domestic violence was subtly handled here with Luke and his family. The flighty actions of the girls' clique was spot on. Altogether, the story was engaging and moved at a good pace for a teenage novel set in Kentucky: maybe not as fast as a thriller or something set in New York City. I liked that about it. I would definitely be interested to read more from this author.
August 2, 2017
This book was nothing short of an adorable light read. Set in a Kentucky high school, the storyline follows a 14-year-old farm girl as she tries to fit in with the "popular crowd" of her new school. She gets caught up and torn between her real/old morals and values, and changing into someone who the cutest boy in school could like. The Queen of Kentucky hits on family dynamic, friendship, crushes and dating...all with a little relatable humor. If you're looking for a quick read in between your other novels, I recommend this one for sure.
May 28, 2013
This was a pretty good book, perfect for any teenage girl. I read this for book club and I would give it a 3.5 to 4. Although a little cheesey and kind of predictable, it was written very well. It had quite a bit of humor and made me laugh but it also touched on some serious topics. Queen of Kentucky was also very easy to relate to, since I'm going into high school this coming year. And, like any other teenager, she just wants to fit in. Overall, I liked this book.
August 15, 2014
Definitely one of my most favorite books of all time! I enter into the fandom of Alecia Whitaker. It felt as though I was reading about myself from a far past and my future as a mother to my daughter when she grows up in..... yes a small Kentucky town. Just like me.
Perfect for anyone from small town USA, and teenagers (middle and high) battling their inner demons of popularity versus a conscience.
Perfect for anyone from small town USA, and teenagers (middle and high) battling their inner demons of popularity versus a conscience.
December 10, 2014
Well, it was interesting. It wasn't written as well as it could be. What kept me reading was the plot, she's like 14 and she got drunk. Not the best life choice. I kept reading to see what she would do next. The ending wasn't very good, it was kind of boring compared to the rest of the book. The characters were pretty good but not the best.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2016
Ricki Jo or Ericka, whatever she wants to be called, so annoying! I get she is 14 year old teenager with mood swings but she was so immature. I had to force myself to read this book for my 50 state book challenge but I am sure there has to be book that takes place in Kentucky!
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