The Queen of Kentucky

"Reading Alecia Whitaker's funny and sweet debut was like spending time with my best friend. Ricki Jo Winstead totally won me over, and she'll win you over, too."—Joanna Philbin, author of The Daughters series

"Whitaker's debut sparkles as she takes the reader on a tour of two unforgettable places: small town Kentucky and the heart of our charming and hilarious narrator, Ricki Jo."—Gwendolyn Heasley, author of Where I Belong

"This coming of age romance... will capture readers with its honesty and heart."—PW

"Whitaker paints a vivid, finely detailed picture of life in the sometime-hardscrabble heartland. But what draws the reader in is the chaotic precision of her characters, youngsters who are conflicted and frequently inconsistent, yet feel rounded and real... Solid, just like its setting."
—Kirkus

"Whitaker's setting is fresh, and readers from rural areas will recognize the class differences, especially between new money and farming families. Along with teen concerns like dating, drinking, and cheating, other serious issues are raised... Ericka's first-person voice is sassy and quite believable."
—Booklist

"Credible teen characters, realistic dialogue, and enough drama to engage reluctant readers."—SLJ

"Ericka is forthright and down-to-earth...young readers looking to break out of an old persona into a new one will find both her complaints and her moments of triumph all too familiar. They'll just wish for their own Luke, who clearly wins all awards for best best-friend-turned-boyfriend in a tween novel."—BCCB