Peter Bunzl Books

Set in Russia, The Clockwork Queen might be a short story but it’s a powerful one.

Sophie Peshka is a chess prodigy having learned all that she knows from her beloved father, a chess grandmaster. When her father is imprisoned by Empress Catherine the Great, Sophie is left to fend for herself. She plays chess in the park and perfects her game, until one day she is invited to play against the mysterious automaton, The Clockwork Queen.

Sophie’s strategic skill is not just confined to chess; her quick, forward-thinking nature enables her to gain access to the Winter Palace, the location of her father’s prison.

Her adventure is both imaginative, captivating and heart-warming.
With off-white paper and a dyslexia-friendly font, publisher Barrington Stoke makes a compelling tale accessible to all. The illustrations help to secure the story in the reader’s imagination. The vocabulary used throughout the book is appropriately challenging, and despite its brevity, the story is in no way compromised.

Sophie is a character that readers will take into their hearts. Her love for her father and their mutual passion for chess is a real strength. Somewhat based on historical facts, the Clockwork Queen might inspire young readers to find out more about the Mechanical Turk, the inspiration for the story. The book will also appeal to chess lovers.