About the Book

The Black Queen by Jumata Emill

Genre: YA Thriller

Release Date: Feb. 1, 2023

Book Review

A heart wrenching portrait of a fierce Black homecoming queen killed on coronation night and the web of lies her death exposes.

In this unflinching look at the ugliness of racism, two unlikely allies pair together to get justice for Nova, the first black homecoming queen in a racially divided Southern school. Before Nova died, the only thing Tinsley and Duchess had in common was an art class. Tinsley’s the spoiled white girl who wanted the homecoming crown for herself, and, after posting a video about how she wants Nova dead, finds herself accused of her murder. Duchess is Nova’s best friend who finds herself struggling to reconcile the Nova she thought she knew with the girl who kept so many secrets from her. Readers will admire Nova’s strength, for as Duchess observes, “Black women been doing that for years. We smile through all the %&*# this world puts us through to be strong for everyone else.”

When Tinsley and Duchess decide to work together to find Nova’s real killer, they end up at the forefront of the racial tensions that divide their community. This book combines dual point of views – Tinsley and Duchess – to bring the reader inside two very different worlds.

Perfectly paced, this book reveals its secrets in layers, drawing the reader closer to the truth of where the true ugliness lies, throwing in some great twists along the way.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.