SOLVED. YA fiction: about a queendom and a young girl [fix: MC is actually boy!] who is sent there to work as a fabric dyer[fix: spiritual medium of sorts]. [s]

[Amanda]

Hello! I’m looking for a Young Adult novel, fiction. Not sure how long it is, and I only remember a few plot details. It’s about a peasant-type girl who is sent to work in a “Queendom” where women rule rather than men. There’s a rivalry between either a mother/daughter or older/younger sisters in the royal family and each rival has her own “court” color (the colors of the court ladies’ dresses’, flags hung in the halls, and other details, and the two colors are green and blue). The peasant girl is without her mother because she talks about missing her a lot. The girl is assigned to work as a fabric dyer and always talks about her hands being stained yellow, or possibly green. I remember the end specifically because both of the rival royal women end up poisoning each other and the new royal baby, whose color is purple, has a flag raised in her honor over the Queendom, and the peasant girl watches this take place as she is leaving in a horse-pulled cart, possibly being smuggled out. Literally the last words are close to "and she watched the purple flag as it was raised high over the somber queendom" or something. Sadly, I don't remember what the cover looked like. I might have read the novel during the years 2007-2011 when I was in middle or high school. I do believe the specific word "queendom" is used to describe the place to the peasant girl when she first arrives, because she isn't used to the concept. I also think the book may have been part of a series about this girl because I get the impression from my memory of the end of the book that her story continues. I used to think the novel might be part of the 'Gathering Blue' and 'The Giver' series by Lois Lowry but I haven't had luck with that lead, although I may have read those books around the same time. I remember that the younger of the royal females who are fighting over the throne becomes close to the girl, and eventually invites her to the court and gives her a taste of the nice life. There's a male royal adviser character who is playing both sides of the rivalry as well. If anyone has any questions about what I remember please ask! I would love to read this again as an adult.

[Tab]

Do you remember the cover?
Were there any magical elements in the story? Any romance?

[Amanda]

Tab wrote: "Do you remember the cover?
Were there any magical elements in the story? Any romance?"
I don't remember what the book looked like at all unfortunately, I know that would be lots of help. I don't believe there were any magic elements, and there was romance when the girl was experiencing the younger Queen's court life, which turned out to be one-sided, I think. I know it's vague. I'm really just hoping this plot sticks out in someone's memory. I've done so many advanced searches. Thank you for asking more questions though, I appreciate it!

[Rainbowheart]

Crossing Over?

MC is a boy, but it does involve a queendom and "dye" is mentioned several times.

[Amanda]

Rainbowheart wrote: "Crossing Over?

MC is a boy, but it does involve a queendom and "dye" is mentioned several times."
It's absolutely crazy that you mentioned that because during my searching yesterday I came across that very book, and after reading the first couple of pages I cannot remember ever reading about Roger, or his crossing over. I mean maybe I was traumatized because it's pretty violent just starting out but I think I'm going to give that book a read and see if it's what I remember!

[Amanda]

After reading a few chapters, I'm sure that it's Crossing Over by Anna Kendall! Such a mix of emotions, I wonder why my memory changed so many details, ESPECIALLY the gender of the MC!! Brains are weird.. Thank you for your help, Rainbowheart!

[Rainbowheart]

Awesome, glad it was the right one!