Staff Reads: A Prayer for the Crown-Shy

A Prayer for the Crown Shy is the second book of the Monk and Robot series by the lovely Becky Chambers. It follows the effortlessly likable duo of Dex and Mosscap; a monk on the brink of a mid-life crisis and a robot that may be too curious for it’s own good. Full of humor and LGBTQ+ representation, this book guides you through towns in the fictional land of Panga.

I’ve seen the book labelled as “Solar Punk,” a genre of sci-fi that takes a more upbeat and positive outlook towards the dystopian futures we might be used to reading about. If you’re looking for a pleasant escape from our own reality, this book is a perfect fit. This book was actually the first one I read and checked out after my move to Indiana from Texas. I didn’t realize until after I was a puddle of tears that it was exactly what I needed in this incredibly transitionary period in my life. In fact, I would describe this book as a coming of age story for people who have already come of age. A beautiful commentary on how easy it is to feel lost at any stage of your life, and how good friends, although not always able to stop feelings of uncertainty, can be there to hold your hand the whole way through. A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is quietly thought provoking, a glimmer of hope, and a hand of comfort on the shoulder of anyone who has ever felt lost, hopeless, or confused.

This book and its predecessor, A Psalm for the Wild-Built, can be found in print, eBook, or eAudio for your reading pleasure.