Two Weeks with the Queen by Morris Gleitzman (2024)

Colin's little brother is dying of cancer, and his parents send him from their home in Australia to stay with his aunt and uncle in London while they deal with..."things." But Colin, who has long been jealous of the attention his brother gets, is determined to turn the tables and get the appreciation from his parents he thinks he deserves: he formulates a plan to see the queen about borrowing her Top Doctor to save his brother's life.
I spent the first part of the book borderline-annoyed at Colin's attitude, and most of the rest of it worried that it was going to turn too sad and sappy. But, in the end, everything evens out, and although it *is* quite sad, it never turns maudlin or saccharine, but instead transforms into a perfectly balanced story of love and grief as experienced in childhood and beyond. ( )

electrascaife | Dec 21, 2020 |

A book describing living with the illness of a loved one. A letter is written to the Queen asking for her help with Colin's brother, Luke who has cancer.

LibraryPAH | Jan 10, 2019 |

I am a big fan of Morris Gleitzman, but this story was just ridiculous. The plot was implausible, despite dealing with cancer and, overall, I found it a disappointing read. ( )

HeatherLINC | Dec 28, 2016 |

Colin Mudford is on a mission. His brother Luke has cancer and Colin has been sent to stay with his aunt and uncle in London while his parents care for his brother through the final stages of cancer. But Colin is desperate to do something to help Luke. He wants to find the best the doctor in the world. Where better to start than by going to the top? Colin is determined to ask the Queen for her advice. If only he can reach the Queen, he reasons, she’ll be able to put him in touch with the best cancer doctor in the world and Luke will be made well. Instead, Colin meets some remarkable people and, through them, he is able to share some of the universal grief of losing a person you love. This is one of the few children's book that I have read that deal with the serious subject of cancer, HIV, gay men, in a way that is non-judgmental, affirming way. The material is presented in a sweet though not very realistic way, though the compassion and the relationships feel quite real. 3 ½ out of 5. ( )

marsap | Oct 14, 2014 |

“Two Weeks with the Queen” shows the extent people go to in order to save the lives of loved ones. When Colin’s younger brother Luke becomes seriously ill with leukaemia, he is determined to get the best help possible. Shortly after Luke’s diagnosis, Colin is sent to stay with his relatives in England. This is where he devises the outrageous plan to get the best doctor in the world, who will then hopefully cure his brother’s devastating cancer. What makes this particular plan outrageous is the fact that he plans to contact the Queen, because surely she knows the best doctor in the world!

Colin’s journey encompasses various adventures which vary from good to bad. Along the way, he is helped by a young man whose partner is dying of AIDS. However, he does endure many difficulties in his numerous attempts to contact the Queen. “Two Weeks with the Queen” tells a tale of unconditional love, and though it is quite humorous it also shows the seriousness of the issue.

In my opinion, Gleitzman has yet again written another extraordinary book. The ideas put forward are exceptional and the emotion certainly is gripping. It is generally quite light-hearted due to the contrast between humour and Luke’s horrid state. It is easy to understand which is why I believe it would suit an audience of a wide range. Gleitzman depicts the special bond between siblings ever so perfectly. I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Gleitzman because this glorious novel is absolutely worth reading. ( )

renatak | Sep 7, 2010 |