Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis

Margaret is part of the St. Elysia Convent located on a tiny island off the eastern coast of the island kingdom of Albion. There are ten others on the island, comprised mostly of nuns and a few workers, of which Margaret is one. She was brought to the island when she was a baby, for reasons that are a mystery to her. Twice a year the island is visited by a ship that brings supplies, and sometimes new residents. A ship appears on the horizon, but the supply ship is not due for months. Worried that the ship may have nefarious purposes, the nuns quickly lock away important items and documents, preparing to protect themselves and the convent. It turns out that the ship brings a mysterious visitor cloaked in secrecy, accompanied by Her Reverence, Mother Mary Clemence and two guards, the nuns take them in as ordered by Albion's Queen Catherine.  Mother Mary and her guards watch every move the mysterious visitor takes, limiting where she goes on the island, and whom she talks to.


The visitor will eventually help to reveal what this island convent actually is, why the visitor is so carefully guarded, and ultimately who Margaret really is and why she was sent there.  

This historical graphic novel is loosely based on the exile of Queen Elizabeth I by her sister, Queen Mary during Renaissance England. Woven in the story is information about cultural, convent and religious rituals. I felt these interludes interrupted the story, and more often than not, didn't really add to understanding. The ending is a bit disappointing as it is clear that this will be a series, and leaves you hanging. The art work is well done, and its range of cold grays to warm earth tones help convey the mood. Good, but not great.

Mark's Book Picks Score: 3.5

Reading Level: 4.7 • Interest Level: 5-9 • AR Points: 10 • Lexile Level: GN710 • Publisher: Candlewick Press • Pages: 400 • Copyright: 2019 • ISBN: 978-1-536-20498-8 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding