 Just prior to the London Blitz, siblings fourteen-year-old Jeremy and twelve-year-old Cecily, along with their mother, are being evacuated northwards to their Uncle Peregrine’s Lancastrian mansion. Jeremy is angry because he wants to stay in London with his father to help the war effort. Cecily is spoiled and selfish, but somewhat likable. On the way, they pick up a younger, lower-class evacuee named May Bright who is thoughtful, tough, and wise beyond her years. Author Sonya Hartnett is a master of magical realism and of telling a story within a story. After dinner, Uncle Peregrine tells a tale related to the nearby ruined Snow Castle where the children have encountered two brothers (ghosts?), dressed in velvet jackets, who speak of spies. The tale is recognizable as the story of Richard III and his nephews, the Princes in the Tower. This complex and introspective narrative is beautifully written and reminiscent of C.S. Lewis. mjw |
| Title: The Children of the King Author: Sonya Hartnett Publisher: Candlewick Press, Somerville, Massachusetts Copyright: 2014 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Penguin, Australia Original Copyright: 2012 ISBN: 978-0-7636-6735-1 Hardcover pages: 272 Age range: 10 up Genre: Historical fiction Book setting: English Countryside, north of London Author’s ethnicity: Australian Author’s residence: Australia Awards: 2008 Astrid Lindgren Award Subjects: Adventure, Bravery, Death, Duty, England, Evacuation, Great Britain, Nobility, Power, World War II |
The Children of the King
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