Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston

REVIEW BY LOCAL AUTHOR KELLYE CROCKER:

This swashbuckling, sword-clanking adventure featuring a vengeful witch, a scary dragon,
family secrets, court intrigue, looming war, and a despicable, power-hungry villain is loads of
fun. But what makes this series-opener a groundbreaking treasure is its diverse representation,
deep characterization, and powerful themes.

Twelve-year-old nonbinary Callie has long dreamed of becoming a knight, despite their
kingdom’s rigid gender rules. When one of Callie’s dads, a former knight and the king’s
champion, agrees to return to the capital to train the struggling prince, Callie is determined to
join him and prove themself worthy of knight-training.

But in Helston, only boys become knights, and only girls learn magic—specifically, how to keep
theirs quiet and non-threatening. No one dares openly challenge the rules—until Callie arrives.
But the sadistic Lord Chancellor—effectively in charge since the king’s mysterious
disappearance years earlier—isn’t about to let Callie disrupt the status quo that keeps him in
power. That’s fine. Callie is up for the fight and, even when severely punished, proves they already have
what it takes to be a knight: intelligence, integrity, loyalty, skill, courage, and chivalry.

This isn’t a story about a girl who wants to do “boy stuff” or be a boy. Callie, a funny, loveable
and inspiring protagonist, doesn’t identify as either. They just want to live as themself and serve
their kingdom.

Callie’s new Helston friends also are fighting gender norms—albeit secretly—and also are
marvelously nuanced, with dreams, foibles and strengths that don’t fit their kingdom’s tidy,
labeled boxes. Through these friendships, especially with the chancellor’s brilliant daughter,
Callie begins to wonder if the magic inside them might make them more powerful and not weak,
as they’d always assumed. What if the few boys and men who secretly have magic could use it?

Now, more than ever, young readers need and deserve wonderful stories that celebrate all of their
diversity. LGBTQIA+ kiddos will feel seen and loved in this thrilling story of found-family.
Straight kids will find a terrific adventure—full of humor, heart, and hope—that also can help
them better understand people who may be different (or not so different) from them.
People suffer terribly when not allowed to be their full selves, especially when it’s dangerous to
do so. Our communities suffer, too, when people aren’t allowed to share all of their gifts.

Disclaimer: I only post about books I read and loved.

Checkout Kellye Crocker's Book Page: https://secondstartotherightbooks.com/kellye-crocker