50. Elizabeth I

Title: Elizabeth I
Author: Rob Shone & Anita Ganeri
Illustrator: Terry Riley
Publisher: The Rosen Publishing Group
Copyright Date: 2005
Number of Pages: 47
Reading Level: 10+
Genre: Graphic Nonfiction

Summary
The book starts out showing the funeral procession for Elizabeth I. Then we go back in time and see Elizabeth being taken to the tower of London through the Traitor’s Gate. She is kept in the bell tower but she has her old governess Katherine Ashley for company. Elizabeth is still popular with the people although she is locked away. The queen Mary has been told to execute her sister because the people love her so well but she refuses having already killed her cousin she doesn’t want to kill anymore of her family. Queen Mary dies and courtiers show up to get Elizabeth saying that she is the next queen. Elizabeth has to find a way to salvage her country because it has been run by fools for so long. She pledges to fix the religious situation, restore the treasury, make peace with other countries and to build up their navy. Elizabeth falls ill with smallpox but thanks to a good doctor she is saved with little to no scaring from the pox. The men believe that Elizabeth need to marry so that she can be guided in her decisions with a strong male influence. Elizabeth says that she will never marry, that it is dangerous. Elizabeth’s cousin Mary Queen of Scots has been involved in a lot of controversy in her country. She married a man that no one liked and then when bored found company with an Italian. She has her husband murdered after he murders her lover in cold blood. Mary flees her country only to be imprisoned in England. Elizabeth’s good friend Earl of Leicester wants to marry her but she will not hear of it. When he does marry, she cuts him off as one of her favorites. She didn’t want to marry him but she didn’t want him to marry anyone else either. Mary is found to be plotting against Elizabeth and this time she has to be dealt with. Elizabeth has her beheaded. Elizabeth loses other favorites and finally she realizes she has outlived those she loved and her enemies. Elizabeth falls ill and eventually dies. Mary’s son is crowned King of England and Scotland no sooner than she is dead. He becomes King James I.

Recommendation
Kids who like comic books might actually be interested in this book even though it is a history book. This is a great way to introduce kids to informational books if they are presented in a pleasant way.

Problems/Conflict
The heads getting cut off. A little gross.

My Reaction
Really interesting that they used the format of a graphic novel to illustrate the life of Elizabeth I