Moxie meets A Knight’s Tale as Kit Sweetly slays sexism, bad bosses, and bad luck to become a knight at a medieval-themed restaurant.

Working as a wench—i.e. waitress—at a cheesy medieval-themed restaurant in the Chicago suburbs, Kit Sweetly dreams of being a knight like her brother. She has the moves, is capable on a horse, and desperately needs the raise that comes with knighthood, so she can help her mom pay the mortgage and hold a spot at her dream college.
Company policy allows only guys to be knights. So when Kit takes her brother’s place and reveals her identity at the end of the show, she rockets into internet fame and a whole lot of trouble with the management. But the Girl Knight won’t go down without a fight. As other wenches join her quest, a protest forms. In a joust before Castle executives, they’ll prove that gender restrictions should stay medieval—if they don’t get fired first.

I feel like I haven’t read a young adult contemporary in so long?? But I’m so glad to come back to the genre with this book, because it was so much fun to read! Though it’s a contemporary, it reminded me a lot of the Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce. You know it’s gonna be good when a book reminds you of a favorite!

There are a lot of different aspects to this book. There is obviously the main plot line, that Kit would like to be a knight at the medieval restaurant where she works. Another somewhat side plot line is the fact that Kit and her brother need to work because their family is very poor. So there is a very real and raw discussion about what it’s like to live in those circumstances. There’s also all kinds of relationships! Family, sibling, friends, and romantic interests. It’s really nice to see a book that’s not just focused on the romantic relationship.