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Summary
Summary
Cult graphic novelist Dylan Meconis offers a rich reimagining of history in this beautifully detailed hybrid novel loosely based on the exile of Queen Elizabeth I by her sister, Queen Mary.
When her sister seizes the throne, Queen Eleanor of Albion is banished to a tiny island off the coast of her kingdom, where the nuns of the convent spend their days peacefully praying, sewing, and gardening. But the island is also home to Margaret, a mysterious young orphan girl whose life is upturned when the cold, regal stranger arrives. As Margaret grows closer to Eleanor, she grapples with the revelation of the island's sinister true purpose as well as the truth of her own past. When Eleanor's life is threatened, Margaret is faced with a perilous choice between helping Eleanor and protecting herself. In a hybrid novel of fictionalized history, Dylan Meconis paints Margaret's world in soft greens, grays, and reds, transporting readers to a quiet, windswept island at the heart of a treasonous royal plot.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-9-A young orphan named Margaret lives on an island convent, cared for by adoring nuns. The arrival of two strangers changes her life forever. The first is a young boy, who eventually is compelled to return to the land of Albion. Years later, Margaret finds herself in the company of the dethroned and exiled Queen Eleanor of Albion. And when one of Eleanor's former subjects arrives with news from Albion, Margaret finds herself at the center of a conflict that may change the fate of the kingdom. In this tale loosely based on the early years of Elizabeth I, Meconis skillfully balances imaginative twists with factual evidence. At several points, Margaret interrupts the narrative to offer historical context about Albion or information on the nuns' rituals, immersing readers in the drama in spite of the occasionally heavy backstory. The art, reminiscent of Raina Telgemeier's style, creates levity during perilous situations. The book is dense with dialogue, often feeling more like a work of prose than a graphic novel. As a result, this complex work will be more accessible to those familiar with graphic novels; some younger fans may struggle to follow along. VERDICT Certain to charm sophisticated graphic novel devotees.-Matisse Mozer, Los Angeles Public Library © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Meconis offers an atmospheric alternate history inspired by the childhood and succession of Queen Elizabeth I in this quietly ambitious graphic novel. Margaret is the only child in a remote island convent, lonely until Lady Cameron and her son, William, exiles from the island of Albion, arrive and William and Margaret become constant companions. William's departure years later leads Margaret to discover difficult truths about her island home and the sisters who inhabit it, just as another exile-Eleanor, the deposed Queen of Albion-arrives and embroils Margaret in intrigue that could impact the whole kingdom. Meconis constructs the plot with carefully paced revelations and story elements that echo, build, and amplify each other. Art in soft, earthy colors brings this singular story to life in styles ranging from simple line drawings to elaborately styled text illuminations. The island world is richly developed, both in its physical particulars and its close-knit community (fascinating digressions into topics such as convent time, hand gestures used at table, and chess and embroidery flesh out daily life), and Margaret proves herself an endearing heroine with a strong voice full of humor and wonder. Her perspective transforms a storm-wracked rock into a vibrant world of hidden treasures. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 10-14. Agent: Barry Goldblatt, Barry Goldblatt Literary. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Off the coast of Albion is a tiny island, home to the Elysian sisters, a convent of nuns devoted to caring for shipwrecked sailors and their families. Margaret has lived there for as long as she can remember, but where she came from is a mystery. Though she's eager for answers from the sisters, it doesn't seem like an urgent question until a mysterious guest, Eleanor, arrives in the company of stern, haughty Mother Mary Clarence. Soon, Margaret has questions about not only her parents but Eleanor, the island, and the state of Albion at large. Inspired by sixteenth-century English history, this graphic novel luxuriates in the details of daily life on the island. Margaret explains keeping time at the convent, the layout of the island, recipes, types of nuns, embroidery methods, and more, all while narrating the changes arising as the fraught political climate in Albion trickles over to the island. Meconis fills her panels with naturalistic figures colored with expressive watercolor washes, which add rich emotional depth to the story. When Margaret shares folktales or stories, Meconis uses brasher colors and inky brushstrokes in a style resembling marginalia in illuminated manuscripts, and occasionally embroidery embellishes the background of pages. It's a stunning visual package, and the slow-burning story of Margaret's gradually opening world is made all the more captivating by the well-researched historical setting, immersive world building, and engrossing characters.--Sarah Hunter Copyright 2019 Booklist