Five reasons we love Elizabeth and Zenobia by Jessica Miller
Elizabeth and Zenobia by Jessica Miller is one of the six books shortlisted for this year’s Readings Children’s Book Prize. Here are five reasons why we think it’s brilliant.
1. Avid readers (and teachers!) will delight in the clever ways this book pays tribute to other classic children’s stories.
Elizabeth and Zenobia is a multi-layered story that nods to a range of classic tales, including fairytales, mythology and beloved favourites such as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and The Secret Garden. These subtle references enrich the world the author has created, without ever overwhelming the story. Elizabeth and Zenobia is a great resource for classrooms and teachers may be interested to take a look at the publisher’s comprehensive teaching notes here.)
2. Elizabeth is a memorable character who ultimately saves herself.
Elizabeth is a quiet, timid and thoughtful person. While these don’t necessarily bring to mind the more tomboyish heroines of a lot of modern-day children’s stories, they definitely make her a memorable and relatable character for a lot of young readers. In the book, Elizabeth faces with some seriously scary situations but despite being frightened, she perseveres. This is a lovely kind of bravery to see depicted in a story. She’s also empathetic, smart and determined, and it’s immensely satisfying to see her confidence grow as she works to solve the mystery of her new home.
3. A strong friendship lies at the heart of the story.
The counterpart to gentle Elizabeth is the sarcastic, death-obsessed Zenobia. Zenobia’s existence is a little bit ambiguous – she may be imaginary, she may be a ghost – but whatever she is, the friendship between the two girls feels decidedly true-to-life. Both affection and irritation play a role in their interactions together, and their conversations together are funny and engaging. Kids will giggle over Zenobia’s morbid (often hilariously so) worldview.
4. Witheringe House is so wonderfully vivid that you’ll feel like you’ve climbed inside.
At the start of the story, Elizabeth and Zenobia arrive at their new home, Witheringe House – which just so happens to be haunted… Author Jessica Miller magically brings this setting to life on the page. Young readers will shiver while you read about about DIY séances, moving wallpaper and plants which seem to have a mind of their own – and I haven’t even mentioned the extremely spooky gardener yet.
5. This novel has just the right amount of ‘creepy’ for readers 9 and up.
Plenty of children LOVE creepy books, but unfortunately, plenty of creepy children’s books don’t exist. This is one of the reasons we love Miller’s book so much – it hits the spot exactly right. Miller carefully balances the Gothic and more frightening elements of her narrative with snarky humour and a slowly unravelling mystery that keeps young readers turning the pages. Elizabeth and Zenobia is a great pick for kids who like to be scared.
