Book Review: A Knight in Central Park by Angela McConkey

A Middle Grade book published on (01/19/26)

I received an Advanced Review Copy (or ARC) on Reedsy Discovery

This short story is a wholesome coming-of-age tale that centers on Henry, a fifth grader, who describes himself as “strategically reckless.” Told mostly from Henry’s point of view, this middle-grade book offers a slice-of-life look at one summer in the life of a 12-year-old boy navigating imagination, responsibility, and growing up.

Keywords:

5th grade, New York, Arthurian Legend, Adventure, Imagination, Lessons, Cat, Bird, Grandmother

My Review:

The author’s writing style is clean and unobtrusive, striking an effective balance between showing and telling that makes the book easy to read. The reading level firmly places it in the chapter book/ middle-grade category, and it never asks too much of the reader. Henry’s voice feels intentionally young for his age. He is emotional, a little whiny, and completely unfiltered. He often talks out loud to himself, holding nothing back, which feels authentic, yet makes Henry seem younger than he is.

This story is driven by imagination rather than action. Arthurian ideas of knighthood: courage, justice, mercy, generosity, faith, nobility, and hope are woven throughout, reinforcing the idea that being a “knight” doesn’t require sword fights or dragon slaying. As one line puts it, “You’ve got the heart of a knight… Even if you don’t know it yet.” These lessons are clear and intentionally spelled out, especially in the last chapters of the book.

The story itself is low stakes and low action, more slice-of-life than adventure. That makes for a calm, sometimes plodding read with no real surprises. It doesn’t need to be read in one sitting, and in fact works better when taken in small pieces. The predictability and steady pacing make it ideal as bedtime reading for middle-grade readers, where you can pause at any point and easily pick up again the next night. And, of course, who doesn’t love a book with animals?

Ultimately, this is a cute short story packed with positive lessons and an earnest message about growing into kindness and character. While it may not be particularly exciting or surprising, it succeeds as a thoughtful, age-appropriate read for middle-grade readers—and for adults reading aloud to children who appreciate a calm, reassuring story with heart.

TL;DR Star Rating: 3.50

Links for more information

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