Two Weeks with the Queen

Story

Colin is sent to England to stay with his Aunt while his brother, Luke, is being treated for cancer. Colin is determined to help Luke and goes in search of help from the Queen and, failing that, the best doctors in the world. During this search for the world’s best doctors, he strikes up a heartwarming friendship with Ted and his partner, Griff, who is in hospital dying from AIDS. Ted and Colin support each other through these difficult times in their lives.

Why we chose it

A moving story that perfectly balances serious illness and sorrow with humour. It was one of the first children’s books to talk honestly and openly about children’s cancer and Aids. Morris Gleitzman is known for his assured ability to mix humour with serious or difficult subjects – like illness, war, divorcing parents.

Where it came from

Morris Gleitzman says that Two Weeks with the Queen was his favourite book to write. He was working on a different story, about a girl trying to save the local bats when the idea for Two Weeks with the Queen came to him, seemingly out of nowhere. It was published first in the UK even though he was living in Australia at the time. The story was written during a time of change in Australia. A recession was announced around that time and AIDS was a growing health concern. These issues feature heavily throughout the story.

Where it went next

Two Weeks with the Queen was adapted into a play by Mary Morris, playing first in Australia then moving to The National Theatre in London in 1995 as well as theatres in South Africa, Canada, Japan and America.

Associated stories

Morris Gleitzman is one of Australia’s best known authors, both at home and abroad. His books include Misery Guts, Worry Warts, Puppy Fat, Blabber Mouth, Sticky Beak, Water Wings, Toad Rage, Boy Overboard, Give Peas a Chance, Loyal Creatures and his highly acclaimed series Once, Then, Now, After, Soon and Maybe.