12 year old obsessed with Jacqueline Wilson books.. Aibu to think there is better out there?

I have the opposite problem, my highly literate bookworm 14 year old is obsessed the Warrior Cats series (labelled for age 9 plus). His English teacher has told him off and said he needs to choose more mature books. I'm torn, I can see why, he's very capable of reading and understanding proper literature. But if he's reading he's not gaming, and also it's light entertainment for him, no worse than an adult woman reading trashy chicklit on holiday. Generally I think if kids are choosing to read, let them read.

But the kind of aspirational book you describe is clearly not the kind of thing the OP's daughter wants to read. It's her experience so she should be able to own that.

Absolutely fine for you not to like them, but it doesn't make other people's choice to read them wrong. Just different.

Educational? Its the summer!

Lighten up, like reading her choices! 😀

Educational, like what, War and peace?

She's 10 and she's reading a multi award winning author, leave her be.

When I was that age I was reading Stephen king and the like!

This made me smile. I was an early reader, have always been a quick reader and now I'm a media lawyer who reads all day long to earn my keep, but when I was your daughter's age, I was reading both Les Miserables by Victor Hugo' and every Sweet Valley High book I could get my hands on. Sweet Valley books were such a big deal for me that I gave them up for Lent one year. She'll be fine!

This is making me reminisce over the books I read when younger now. Some of these were younger than 12 probably but:
Worst Witch (found out there's new ones and had to stop myself buying them recently 🤣)
Twilight (if we're talking serious rubbish! But I did have to buy the new one anyway 🤣)
Sweet Valley Farm/Twins/High
Babysitter Club
Animal Ark
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Harry Potter
Princess Diaries
Jane Blonde

Now, even with my English Degree, I started reading the Murder Most Unladylike books. And I can't miss the latest Disney Twisted Tale and Villain Tale books (those are aimed at teenagers but omg they are dark in places)

English teacher here: JW is absolutely fine and totally age appropriate. Having a reading craze is an excellent sign. Slightly edgy topics definitely preference for pre teens and so when she moves on, she will probably choose even more challenging/adult topics. Is she moving to year 7 or 8? Noughts and Crosses v popular for yr 8/9 and excellent (but far more adult themes) and The Hate You Give. The Hunger Games series or Divergent also great. My daughter loved the Flawed series which is slightly less edgy dystopia and better if she's just leaving primary. But yeah if she's reading for pleasure then go her!! Just celebrate and encourage that instead of nagging her to read more improving texts. Believe me, lots of parents would LOVE this problem!!

She could be reading Forever by Judy Blume which I did younger than 12!!

How about Murder Most Unladylike?

I adored JW at that age, let her read what she likes without criticism. As long as it's age appropriate of course - the Jilly Coopers I pinched off my mum's bookshelf from age 11 and read in secret were definitely not!

The books are terrible and JW's obsessive focus on the seamier side of life is frankly weird. Why revel in dysfunction when you could write about things that kids could actually aspire to be or do? I don't get it. But it's a phase. I think all kids go through a phase of reading crud at some point.

I loved the Jacqueline Wilson books at that kind of age

Still a good thread for the rest of us though 😄

I agree with this

By the way adult JW fans .....
The Works has the "Girls in...." set for a tenner 😁

^^ True. Like Heathcliff hanging a dog and trying to dig Cathy up from her grave.

Then whatisname the narrator at the start dreaming about cutting ghost Cathy's wrists on broken window glass.

She wrote some right dark stuff, did that Emily. Mind you she did live next to a grave yard and have an alcoholic brother, so her home life wasn't always the rosy Victorian ideal.

I loved JW and was reading most of her books from a young age. Slightly older themes like Vicky Angel had to wait until I was 10. I would probably not let my own child read 'Love Lessons' but just my opinion. At 12 I think they are fine.

I was reading Lord of the Rings from 14 - if she hasn't read The Hobbit you could try that as it is aimed towards a younger reader.

Come on op..many kids her age don't read at all

I was a voracious reader at that age and read low brow to high brow. I now write for a living.

I really believe the act of loving readinf should be seen as the amazing thing it is

Jacqueline Wilson books are tedious crap. But they’re books; and (nearly) all teen reading is a good thing.

I did step in some years ago when one of my daughters started reading Cathy Glass. Not because I think there’s anything so ‘inappropriate’ for teens in them that they should be restricted, but because they’re so shit that I’d prefer she’d read the back of a cornflakes box.

@Breakdancing has she read the newer historical ones?
Dancing the Charleston has a little cameo of Hetty Feather 🙂

My daughter read JW at her age, as did I when I was young! We both remain prolific readers now, she's not long 16. She grew out of JW eventually.

I think just be glad she's reading and not glued to tiktok or something! She'll develop her own reading tastes as she grows, she doesn't need to always read educational books. Nothing but nothing will put someone off reading more than being pressured to read a certain thing or in a certain way.

Oh I forgot Vicky Angel!

Yes, that's a very sad one

Hahahaha!!!

Looking at OPs responses and the fact she hasn’t engaged with anyone arguing JW is perfectly fine, I think this thread was just a brag about what an enthusiastic reader her kid is. 🥱

Blimey some people (colleague) do live sheltered lives.

I was reading a book by Shy Keenan yesterday, about her truly abysmal childhood and - crucially - how she survived and became an advocate for others. Just reaffirmed that so much goes on out of sight, out of mind (or ignored, in her case, when she tried to get help).

Even though I am not a JW fan, good on her for bringing awareness of social/emotional issues to her audience. Can't knock her for that.

The noughts and crosses books are still one of my favourites! The TV adaptation was a bit pants tbh so she isn’t missing much!