This book is set in 1953 and it tells the story of Elsie Kettle, who lives with her dear nan in a council flat. She has no dad and her promiscuous mum is nearly always working faraway, but Elsie doesn't mind because she loves her nan much more. One day her nan falls ill with tuberculosis and is taken away to hospital, and Elsie has to grow used to her mum being around again. But then Elsie develops TB too, and before long she is in hospital herself, strapped up with a leg splint. Will she ever see her nan again... and what will be of their long-anticipated trip to see the Queen's Coronation together? I enjoyed this book so much, it was such a lovely, heartwarming and heartbreaking read, that I found myself really absorbed in, eager to find out what would happen next in each chapter, being an ultimately moving, gripping read, which is the best kind of read you can have!

Jacqueline is also a great reader, and has amassed over 20,000 books, along with her famous collection of silver rings. It's 1953, the year Elizabeth is to be crowned Queen of England. Elsie Kettle can't wait to go to London with her beloved nan to see the Coronation Day celebrations. Then tragedy strikes. Nan and Elsie both fall ill with tuberculosis and Elsie is whisked away to the children's ward of Miltree Hospital. Confined to bed for months, Elsie misses Nan desperately, and struggles to adapt to the hospital's strict rules. But every night after lights-out she tells magical tales of adventure to the other children on the ward. For the first time, Elsie finds herself surrounded by true friends - including Queenie, the hospital's majestic white cat. However, when Elsie got to the hospital, that was when my interest dropped. I loved Queenie the cat—so adorable!—but I was not fussed on any of the other children on the ward. She was very inconsistent: sometimes she was bold, sometimes she was meek, or rude, or selfish, or selfless… I feel like Wilson wasn’t entirely sure who her character was, and made a mis-mash of her depending on the situation. I didn’t feel like I truly knew Elsie.Another reason is that it's to many fantasies. Yes, I know, the books are for kids, but it's pretty annoying. She has had quite a few jobs, including one at Butlins, as a showgirl, and as a secretary for Mr Perkins. Elsie is taken to a specialist hospital in the countryside with other children with joint problems, some as a result of TB as well. I felt sorry for Elsie - her mum not visiting her for weeks, months on end and choosing yet another new boyfriend over her own daughter and mother, not to mention being taken away from her nan and not being able to see the Coronation together. I'm glad it wasn't a sad ending. I love this book and all, and I understand why it's people's favorite JW books, but this one isn't mine.

She is lonely there and struggles to make friends, but there is someone she truly cares about… Queenie, the ward’s cat! Jacqueline Wilson wrote her first novel when she was nine years old, and she has been writing ever since. She is now one of Britain’s bestselling and most beloved children’s authors. She has written over 100 books and is the creator of characters such as Tracy Beaker and Hetty Feather. More than forty million copies of her books have been sold. A brilliant and moving story from bestselling author Jacqueline Wilson, set in the children's ward of a 1950s hospital. Double Act won the prestigious Smarties Medal and the Children’s Book Award as well as being highly commended for the Carnegie Medal. The Story of Tracy Beaker won the 2002 Blue Peter People’s Choice Award.Our main character, Elsie Kettle lives with her Nan as her Mum is constantly away working on the stage. Elsie and her Nan are extremely close, and they plan to travel to London for the coronation together. It was disappointing that Elsie didn’t make any true friends there, I feel that would have added some much needed development. Jacqueline Wilson wrote her first novel when she was nine years old, and she has been writing ever since. She is now one of Britain's bestselling and most beloved children's authors. She has written over 100 books and is the creator of characters such as Tracy Beaker and Hetty Feather. More than forty million copies of her books have been sold. A really lovely book, which is readable by adults also. I liked the descriptive nature of how the author described Elsie's and Nan's illness and life in the Children's Hospital and also the references to the British Royal Family. A cute and touching book.