Anna Amnell: An Ell-Sized Girl
[written in Finnish, Kyynärän mittainen tyttö]
2004. Lasten Keskus
ISBN 951-627-486-2
"An Ell-Sized Girl" was shortlisted for Lasten LukuVarkaus -2005, a national children's book prize, which is given each year for the best children's book.
Helsinki, Finland. Historical novel for young readers, 8-15 years old.
B/W illustration by Matti Amnell.
Themes: The 16th century, growth hormone deficiency, family, friendship, the Baltic Sea, Gotland, the Fens, Ely, London. Elizabeth I, Prince John of Finland in London.
Thirteen-year-old Lucia Olavintytär [fictitious character] is 2 ft 8 inches tall ( 81 cm). She lives a sheltered life at a rural manor house in the middle of the Finnish forests. Lucia and her brothers are given a good education by their father, a former monk. Lucia is good singer and lute player, she speaks and writes Latin fluently. Her father knows Lucia's worth in the sixteenth century world and tries to protect her. People like her were sold, kidnapped and donated to the kings and queens at the European courts to be used as companions, entertainers and nurses of the royal children.
On an early spring morning in 1559 Lucia goes to her usual ride accompanied by her servant boy. In a moment Lucia's life is changed. She is kidnapped and taken by boat first to Gotland and then to the Fens, the ancient swamplands of England, to be trained and sold to be a dwarf and spy at the court of the young Queen Elizabeth. What will happen to Lucia?
In Anna Amnell's "novel An Ell-Sized Girl (Kyynärän mittainen tyttö, 2004) the idea of difference is explored from the perspective of a short girl captured and taken to the court of Elizabeth I to live as a court dwarf." Kaisu Rättyä. virtualfinland.fi
[written in Finnish, Kyynärän mittainen tyttö]
2004. Lasten Keskus
ISBN 951-627-486-2
"An Ell-Sized Girl" was shortlisted for Lasten LukuVarkaus -2005, a national children's book prize, which is given each year for the best children's book.
Helsinki, Finland. Historical novel for young readers, 8-15 years old.
B/W illustration by Matti Amnell.
Themes: The 16th century, growth hormone deficiency, family, friendship, the Baltic Sea, Gotland, the Fens, Ely, London. Elizabeth I, Prince John of Finland in London.
Thirteen-year-old Lucia Olavintytär [fictitious character] is 2 ft 8 inches tall ( 81 cm). She lives a sheltered life at a rural manor house in the middle of the Finnish forests. Lucia and her brothers are given a good education by their father, a former monk. Lucia is good singer and lute player, she speaks and writes Latin fluently. Her father knows Lucia's worth in the sixteenth century world and tries to protect her. People like her were sold, kidnapped and donated to the kings and queens at the European courts to be used as companions, entertainers and nurses of the royal children.
On an early spring morning in 1559 Lucia goes to her usual ride accompanied by her servant boy. In a moment Lucia's life is changed. She is kidnapped and taken by boat first to Gotland and then to the Fens, the ancient swamplands of England, to be trained and sold to be a dwarf and spy at the court of the young Queen Elizabeth. What will happen to Lucia?
In Anna Amnell's "novel An Ell-Sized Girl (Kyynärän mittainen tyttö, 2004) the idea of difference is explored from the perspective of a short girl captured and taken to the court of Elizabeth I to live as a court dwarf." Kaisu Rättyä. virtualfinland.fi