Two Weeks with the Queen
📘 About This Book
Colin's brother has cancer and the doctors in Australia don't seem able to cure him. Sent to London to stay with his aunty, Colin reckons it's up to him to find the best doctor in the world. How better to find one than by asking the Queen to help?
📖 Summary
Morris Gleitzman’s poignant juvenile fiction novel, Two Weeks with the Queen, dives deeply into the emotional turmoil, resilience, and fierce love of childhood. Published in 2003, this compact 112-page story centers on a young Australian boy named Colin, whose world is abruptly turned upside down when his beloved brother is diagnosed with cancer. As the local doctors in Australia struggle to find a cure and the family grows increasingly desperate, the situation takes a heavy toll on everyone involved. In an effort to shield Colin from the immediate crisis at home or perhaps simply to manage the overwhelming household burden, his parents make the difficult decision to send him away temporarily. Colin is packed off to London to stay with his aunt and uncle, far away from the hospital bedside and the familiar comforts of home. However, Colin is not the type of child to sit idly by while his brother faces such a dire fate. To Colin, the medical professionals in Australia have fallen short, and he firmly believes that the responsibility of saving his brother now rests squarely on his own young shoulders. Driven by a mixture of stubborn hope, innocence, and sheer determination, Colin decides that if he wants the absolute best medical treatment in the entire world, he needs to go straight to the top. Who better to help a desperate young citizen than the monarch herself? With this grand and naive mission in mind, Colin embarks on a clandestine adventure through the bustling streets of London, determined to secure a personal audience with the Queen. His ultimate goal is simple yet monumental: to ask her Majesty for assistance in finding a world-class doctor who can cure his brother. Throughout this remarkable journey, Colin encounters a vibrant cast of London characters who challenge his perspectives, offer unexpected companionship, and help him navigate the complexities of grief and worry. Gleitzman masterfully balances heartbreaking tragedy with sharp, youthful humor, capturing the authentic voice of a child trying to make sense of mortality and illness. The narrative explores how children process trauma differently from adults, often relying on imaginative solutions to cope with situations that are entirely out of their control. As Colin gets closer to his target, he learns invaluable lessons about the limitations of power, the reality of serious illnesses, and the profound importance of emotional support from family and friends. Two Weeks with the Queen is a touching exploration of brotherhood, courage, and the universal need for hope when facing the unthinkable.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Tackles heavy emotional themes with a unique blend of humor and sensitivity.
Features an authentic and compelling child protagonist.
Fast-paced and concise narrative structure.
Offers a touching exploration of family bonds and brotherhood.
⚠️ Cons
The brevity of the book may leave some readers wanting more depth in certain subplots.
The heavy subject matter might be too intense for very young or sensitive readers.
✍️ About the Author
❓ FAQ
Who is the author of Two Weeks with the Queen? +
The book was written by Morris Gleitzman.
What is the main plot of the story? +
A young Australian boy named Colin travels to London to ask the Queen for help finding a cure for his brother's cancer.
Why is Colin sent to London? +
He is sent away to stay with his aunt and uncle while his family deals with his brother's illness in Australia.
How many pages long is the book? +
The novel is 112 pages long.
What genre does this book belong to? +
It belongs to the juvenile fiction genre.
