Queenie

Product Information

As well as winning many awards for her books, including the Children’s Book of the Year, Jacqueline is a former Children’s Laureate, and in 2008 she was appointed a Dame. As well as winning many awards for her books, including the Children's Book of the Year, Jacqueline is a former Children's Laureate, and in 2008 she was appointed a Dame. Jacqueline is one of the nation’s favourite authors, and her books are loved and cherished by young readers not only in the UK but all over the world. Her Mum was, in my opinion unredeemable for running off to Canada with her boss/boyfriend and leaving Elsie to go to foster care (after saying earlier in the book she wouldn’t want that to happen again, as it’s mentioned this was the case when Elsie was very little). Sairaala on tyly, lämmin, valtataisteluja ja monipuolisia ihmissuhteita täynnä oleva paikka, jossa hoitajat ja eri-ikäiset lapset elävät pakotettuina pienenpientä elämää maailman pyöriessä ympärillä.

Tuberkuloosi 1950-luvun Briteissä - isoäiti sairastuu keuhkotautiin, kyseenalaisen maineen omaava äiti palaa show-kiertueelta vastentahtoisesti kotiin, mutta saa vankilasta-vapaaksi-kortin, kun myös tytär sairastuu tuberkuloosiin ja joutuu sairaalaan useaksi kuukaudeksi. We are transported to England in the 1950’s, only a few short months before Queen Elizabeth’s II coronation. Elsie goes to visit her, overjoyed, and soon they come home, but to a new flat, as Elsie's mother let the last one go.

I still have no clue what exactly the characters mean by 'women's troubles', but it gets me a damn good giggle whenever I bring it up to my teachers.

All of the 'action' lies in her using her imagination; making up conversations with Queenie, the ward's cat, or weaving tales for the fellow patients to distract from the bleak hospital atmosphere and monotony of each day. Elsie and her had bad colds in the winter, but when Elsie got better, Nan didn't, her cough staying, made worse by her smoking. I definitely think bits of Jacky's own childhood was incorporated into this book, because having read her life story to pieces some parts did feel familiar. The 1950s fashion, food and customs was explored and it was interesting to see how things have changed in the 21st-century! I know not all characters are good, but we didn’t get any sort of glimpse at her motivations or feelings to back these terrible things up.Although Elsie eventually has to leave the hospital when she recovers, her mother is still away in Canada with her boss, Mr Perkins, so Elsie ends up going into a childrens' home again, although it is, fortunately, nowhere near as dreadful an experience for her as the last one. Elsie Kettle can't wait to go to London with her beloved nan to see the Coronation Day celebrations. The ending is very touching with how Elsie tells how her Nan died but how Elsie is now strong enough to look after herself.