I love getting some closure on the story, while simultaneously showing that refugee treatment and rights is not a thing yet resolved. The idea of the Queen being at the center of the book definitely adds to the coincidental timeliness of it all, but that she is easy going and relatable to the children is still the takeaway whether you were a fan of the real Queen or not. I love the voice of the protagonist and the relatability that her concerns are with the target audience. I particularly enjoy the critique about the media and the clarity in which the children understand the flaws and limitations of what they are told in the news both on the school level and on a global stage. There isn't anything Islamic in the text, Ahment is Muslim, as is the author.

I’d done pictures of ponies, racehorses, carriage ponies, the Duke of Edinburgh’s ponies, you know, all sorts, and she knew about the breeding and the lineage and the names and everything about each and every horse. Just her warmth and her ability to be able to relate to you; you really felt that you were the only person that she was interested in talking to,” Ms English said. Onjali Q. Raúf does a spectacular job of showing young readers that heroes don't need superpowers or super strength. Heroes are heroes because of what they stand for and why they choose to be brave and courageous. Both of these books, The Day We Met the Queen and The Great Food Bank Heist, were endearing, sweet, a touch sad with the doses of reality, and funny. Heroes Like Us” by Onjali Q. Raúf was such a joy to read! This two-novella collection caught my attention since it focuses on modern day issues for children who discover what it means to become a true hero.My one small criticism was regarding the first story “The Day We Met the Queen.” The author definitely expected the reader to have read the prior book that included these same characters since it was referenced often. I, however, had not read that book and was lost on what was being referenced and had to draw my own conclusions. books in 1, what's better than that?! Thank you, Net Galley, Random House Kids, and Delacorte Press, for the advanced copy! (All opinions are my own.)

Alison Mihail, a retired teacher and Prince’s Trust volunteer, was asked to give the Queen a tour of a schools event in Berkshire during the Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Delacorte Press for the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy of this book for an honest review. (Publish Date: November 15, 2022)And that’s when she had a sense of humour and said, with a twinkle in her eye, ‘one does worry about the weather when one invites 8,000 people to your garden for tea’. I very much felt that the stables and the mews where they keep all the horses was the heartbeat of the place and through the roles of the horses you got a very interesting perspective of both public life and private life for the Queen.” The 47-year-old was tasked with presenting a portfolio of work to the monarch at the end of his stay that would “tell the story of the castle”, which led him to choose the Queen’s horses and stables as a muse.