Two Weeks with the Queen

Morris Gleitzman has written an emotional book for children in their adolescents. The story in brief, a family of four mum, dad and two brothers are living in Australia, they aren’t the wealthiest family. It is Christmas day and Colin is not happy about his present and feels that Luke his brother has been spoilt again. As time passes Luke for no reason faints and collapses on the ground. The ambulance is called and Luke is rushed to hospital, his mother joins him. Lukes father and brother Colin meet them there. Luke is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Colins parents never tell him the full story rather they send him away to England to live with his Aunty and Uncle and cousin.

In England Colin makes it his goal to find the best cancer doctor to help his brother Luke. Colin feels that the doctors in Australia are useless and not caring abut his brother Luke. Along his journey Colin does a lot of adventurous things, some that his Aunty and Uncle do not approve and lock the doors so they are unable to leave the house throughout the day. Yet Colin still finds a way to leave. Firstly, Colin writes a letter to the Queen in hope that she would be able to help. There is no reply and leaves Colin to try and enter the Queens' residents. One early morning Colin and his cousin leave the house and catch the tube into the bustling city of England. The boys get caught and are taken back to their house by the police. His Aunty and Uncle are not happy at all.

As time went by Colin became quiet and shut himself away from his Aunty, Uncle and cousin. Colin found it frustrating that his Aunty and Uncle would not acknowledge that his brother Luke had cancer. As time went by Luke became sicker, Colin had very little contact which made it worse. Colin believe he had to something more to try and find a doctor who would fly over to Australia and help his brother Luke.

On his journey he made a friend who was far older but had a loved one who was dying of cancer in hospital. Colins new friend helps him find a doctor who will help him, he does this however it is not successful. The doctor was able to make contact to the hospital where Luke was to analyse his papers and could not see any possible way that would help Luke to survive. Colin becomes more upset and angry, his Aunty and Uncle would not sign the paper for him to fly back to Australia so his friends signs them for Colin to spend the last few days with Luke by his side.

 

Throughout the time I spent reading this book I become emotionally involved, there were times that I did shed a tear. I personally would find it hard working with this book within a classroom environment if it was to be read out aloud with the students listening. However Morris has strategically written about a readily occurring disease within most families with today's society in a purposeful way. Gleitzman has been able to tell a story with complex issues in third person. He has placed Colin up against some grim challenged along the way. However Gleitzman has equipped Colin with tools especially optimism to help him find a doctor. It is Gleitzman special ability to bring out humour within the optimism of Colin that makes the book not as serious. I would recommend reading this book to year six to year seven students.