The Four Queens by Christopher Walker will appeal to young adult fans of educational and social issues books, fantasy, and fables. The king and the queen do not pay much attention to their only son, a young prince. The old king is a big admirer of fast cars. One day, he and the queen go for a ride but do not return. The prince becomes the new king and starts searching for a bride. He learns about the four beautiful sisters living in the northern part of his kingdom. His old servant travels to their village to choose a bride for the king. It turns out that there are five sisters. The eldest is Zygmunda, and she looks after the other four. These four beautiful girls all have their passions. Alexandra loves to dance, Belle adores reading and writing books, Celine is a talented cook, and Darla is a dedicated artist. The old servant chooses Alexandra to become the king's bride. But the overly selfish and controlling king is not going to tolerate a queen who cannot live without dancing. How can the sisters resist the king's evil will?

Christopher Walker's The Four Queens is a fascinating story with a startling ending. The author creates a dynamic intrigue that tightens with every twist in the plot. The characters are also remarkable. My favorite is the wise Zygmunda. She personifies responsibility, commitment, and self-sacrifice. Yet, her character is never dull. Zygmunda's practicality and quick wit leave a lasting impression. Also, the narrative inspires us to be ourselves and never give up on our callings. Christopher explains what it takes to develop into a decent human being. But the book is not preachy. It is uplifting and makes us wonder whether we are the creators of our destinies or if external circumstances determine the course of our lives. The author touches on the meaningful topic of the parent-child relationship. Yet there is a light and friendly tone with a pinch of humor in the narrative. Children from ages nine and up will also enjoy The Four Queens because of the unique writing style.

The Four Queens by Christopher Walker is a young reader's book filled with lessons on kindness and generosity. Once, there was a king and queen who had a son. The king and queen did not raise their son well, basically ignoring his existence and leaving the task of raising him to strangers who weren’t doing their jobs well. After the king and queen passed, the boy grew up and became the new king. As a result of his less-than-ideal upbringing, he was selfish and unkind. He then decided that he needed a queen because that’s what kings should have, and thus set out to find one. In his quest to find a queen, he meets Zygmunda and her four beautiful sisters, who teach him the most important lessons of his life.

I adored this book. While it is for younger readers, it contains lessons that even adults can learn from. It’s one of those books that a child will continue to enjoy even until adulthood because some of the themes and lessons will become progressively clearer as they grow older. I love the refreshing way Christopher Walker tells the story; it is as though he is talking to readers directly, with light sarcasm and funny, self-deprecating quips that inject warmth into the narrative and make the reader feel as if they are conversing with an old friend. The Four Queens is filled with vital moral and life lessons, such as how lying is wrong and how important it is to talk about personal problems or issues. Walker also explains words that could be problematic for young readers, such as “philosophical,” “idyllic,” etc. My favorite character is Zygmunda; she is really smart. I kept wondering how the book would end, and when it did, the author blew me away with its beautiful conclusion.