The Melting Queen

Combining fiction, magical realism, and alternate histories of Edmonton, The Melting Queen is an imaginative account of a young genderfluid person’s seemingly accidental coronation at this year’s Melting Queen festival. Cinnamon’s writing ties together many shared Edmonton experiences—from seasonal depression, to the city’s contradictory claims to inclusivity, and more. This book could be used to spark critical conversations about the dominant histories of Alberta and the perspectives of marginalized communities. The story deals with difficult subjects, such as sexual assault, mental health, and intergenerational trauma, which should be kept in mind if read by younger learners. The book is well suited for use in English language arts or social studies classes. A list of real and fictional “Melting Queens” (important women in Edmonton’s history) is included at the end of the book.

Awards: Second prize (tied), Prose Fiction category, 2019 Alcuin Society Awards for Excellence in Book Design in Canada

Shortlisted, Literary Fiction category, Sixth Annual Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize (2020)

Shortlisted, Douglas Barbour Award for Speculative Fiction, 2020 Alberta Book Publishing Awards