Margaret was brought to the convent of Saint Elysia on a remote island off the coast of Albion as a baby. She has lived there her whole life with the handful of sisters, servants, goats, chickens and seals. For many years, the only other "children" on the island were the wooden carving of the Sorrowful Son in his mother's arms in the church, and the portrait of Princess Eleanor sitting at her father King Edmund's side. Margaret prays for a companion and eventually she gets her wish when William MacCormick, son of a Esscotian Laird, and his mother are sent to the island as political prisoners. Set in an alternate early 17th century, this comic picks and chooses from the events of Elizabeth I's early years, woven together with many richly illustrated diversions into convent life. Margaret explains to the reader how the religious hours are divided; how the pieces of a chess board move; the standard diet at the convent; many folk tales and saint's stories and even some embroidery stitches. The whole book is painted in watercolors, which is very impressive. It reminds me favorably of some of my favorite medieval young adult books, and I have a feeling it will join them on many school library shelves!