Long Live the Queen (Paperback)

by Ellen Emerson White (Author)
Key Phrases: surgical brace, White House, Secret Service, Red Sox (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Meg Powers is just like any other 17-year-old, wondering where she'll go to college, playing tennis, making plans for the senior prom. What sets her apart is that she's the daughter of America's first woman president, who starred in both The President's Daughter and White House Autumn . Meg's ordered existence, constantly attended by the Secret Service, is brutally disrupted when she is kidnapped by unknown terrorists. Awakening chained to a bed in a darkened room, she embarks on an odyssey of horror, pain and hunger. Readers will be glued to the story of Meg's ordeal, which White describes in chilling detail. But Meg's troubles aren't over when she finally returns to safety. Now she has to put body and soul together and get on with her life, no easy task when she might never walk normally again and is tormented by fears, awake and asleep. The author pulls no punches in this gripping tale, and combines a stirring plot with complex characters. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal
Grade 9-12-- Meg is a bright, attractive, witty 17 year old with a penchant for movie musicals, tennis, and skiing--a typical teenager who just happens to live in the White House because her mother is President of the United States. Despite the constant vigilance of her secret service agents, Meg is kidnapped by a group of terrorists, beaten, and left to die chained up in an abandoned mine shaft. The first third of the book, dealing with Meg's kidnapping and harrowing escape, is extremely suspenseful, totally absorbing, and quite realistic. The rest of the novel delves deeply into Meg's emotional and psychological recovery, including her resentment toward her mother for putting their lives in jeopardy by seeking high public office, as well as her physical recovery including extensive physical rehabilitation. The novel is effective in dealing with issues of post traumatic stress on the entire family, although the characterization of Meg's best friend is very weak: this teenager is just too clever and too wise for her years to be believed. Through it all, Meg is funny, courageous, and loving. Readers will stay with this character to the very end. An absorbing, thoughtful, and exciting novel. --Janet DiGianni, North Andover High School, Mass.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (July 22, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312374909
• ISBN-13: 978-0312374907
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #273,401 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 3 in The Ellen Emerson White Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Daughter of first female president suffers harrowing kidnap, September 17, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Long Live the Queen (Paperback)

The third in this series (after THE PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTER and WHITE HOUSE AUTUMN), but can be read alone. It's a REALLY good book, but disturbing.

Teenaged Meg is the daughter of the first female president of America. She's survived school and dating (with the Secret Service nearby), but is not prepared to be kidnapped by a psychotic man who may or may not be a terrorist.

The part of this book that deals with the kidnapping is very violent and disturbing, and some young girls may not want to read it. However, survivors of accidents, abuse, or other traumas may find Meg's experiences reassuring, because they'll know they are not alone.

As her family worries desperately, as the FBI and the press try to track down the kidnapper with the whole world watching, Meg is alone with a man who hurts her, even breaks her bones to reinforce his orders. She doesn't know what he wants, or how to satisfy him (she even considers offering him sex, but he isn't interested). And the only way she can escape may require her to hurt herself even more.

The second half of the book deals with her recovery. The doctors say she may never walk again, or regain use of one hand--she who was once a tennis champion and loved to ski. Unlike most trauma books, this one doesn't assume that everything can be healed by faith and love; Meg will be impaired for life, even with all the gains she can make through painful physical therapy.

But the worst injury is to her trust in other people. She wants desperately to be left alone, not stared at and questioned and judged. How can she learn to make friends again, or even sit comfortably with her family and watch a movie?

LONG LIVE THE QUEEN isn't a standard girl's adventure story; it's a tale of survival and scars, and the deep strength it takes to learn to live again. I recommend it absolutely.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I can't believe it !!!, August 4, 2002

By	"shellshaboo" (Columbus, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Long Live the Queen (Paperback)

I first read this book in high school becuase a friend told me it was good. After that Ellen Emerson White became one of my favorite authors. I always thought this book was before it's time and would make a really good book today. Just for a lark I thought I'd see if amazon had any out-of-print copies of this book. Image my suprise when I saw it was back in mass market paperback. Like everyone say Long live the queen is somewhat dark tale than the first two but still really great reading.
This book will have you flipping pages faster than a fry boy at Micky D's. It's like you get into Meg's mind and you wonder how would I handle this if I were Megan? This book even though being dark still had it's funny parts. And over all Ellen kept all the people very human. A nice change from most boooks dealing with this subject. I also like how she made her deal with the aftershock of being kidnapped and her relationship with her mother. She does a good job of not leaving you wanting more. This book is so good you want to read it again and again. All these years later I am still not sick of this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eagerly awaiting the next book..., May 13, 2005

By	K. Price - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Long Live the Queen (Paperback)

I think I first read this book back in middle school, in the late 80's; and immediately bought The Presidents Daughter so I could read that too. I'm now 29, and after a LONG search, have FINALLY recovered an original copy of White House Autumn to complete the trilogy. Wonderful writing, who could not love Meg and her family? And I find as I get older, each time I re-read I manage to pick up more detail, more emotion, more understanding. These books are wonderful for teenagers and adults alike. I recently read that a fourth book, titled "The Queen Lives On" will be released this fall; but have yet to get confirmation from any of the publishing companies. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE reprint this series and release the next book!!! I am dying to know how Meg's life has turned out, I would love to read about her college years (and find out if she ended up dating Josh again, LOL).