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Original poster

Can I ask about Jacqueline Wilson books?

68 replies

PawneeParksDept · 19/10/2018 18:26

I don't know much about the Jacqueline Wilson novels as they became popular " after my time"

I'm considering them for a DC who isn't mine. They have a well above average reading age, but their maturity isn't that of the target audience (age, not SN)

Heavy, or distressing " issue" content would be inappropriate and talk of being in care, divorce and mentally unwell parent (the novels I'm aware of are Tracy Beaker, Illustrated Mum, and Suitcase Kid) is just beyond the child's years really.

My question is, which if any of the JW would be appropriate for a child under 9 reading at an above 9 level?

OP posts:
MissionItsPossible · 19/10/2018 19:37

Does anyone remember the more heavy hitting books JW used to write, aimed for older teens, in the 80s before she became successful as children’s author? Falling Through the Sky and Power of the Shade comes to mind but sure I read more. I liked those (obviously not recommended for children though).

Notcontent · 19/10/2018 19:49

Just to add that my dd really enjoyed the JW books in historical settings but we kept away from the others! She tried one (the suitcase kid I think...) and she found it too distressing!

theyusedtocalltheblues · 19/10/2018 19:50

Another who found the Illustrated Mum a wonderful book as I could heavily relate ...

Ally’s World books are v v good (if maybe a bit dated) if you can get a hold of them , I doubt they’re still sold in the shops .. also the sleepover club , babysitters club (different ones aimed at different ages), sweet valley kids/teens

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Children's books
Zoflorabore · 19/10/2018 20:03

Dd is 7.5 (year 3) and loves JW books.

She particularly likes the sleepover series.

She also loves Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton.

There is so much choice available now.

Original poster
PawneeParksDept · 19/10/2018 20:04

@AuroraFloyd

I think that's really great and it's so important that children can find themselves represented in literature. I can really relate to what you say as I did not have an easy childhood either, my friends DD by contrast has had quite a sheltered life and as another poster said as it's not my child and I only see her a few times a year, it's hard to gage what might be too distressing and I want to err on the side of caution

OP posts:
Original poster
PawneeParksDept · 19/10/2018 20:06

@bonfireheart

No, no reason I just know very little about them and that which I do indicates they have darker themes and I wanted to be more informed and not buy something inappropriate in ignorance

OP posts:
caringiscreepy · 19/10/2018 20:06

Have a look at some of Susie Day's books. They're great. The secrets of Billie Bright, Pea's book of best friends etc

JurassicAdventure · 19/10/2018 20:16

I would avoid the cat mummy too, it's grim. Lots of the ones for "younger readers" are a bit grim, I think it's the bed and breakfast star who is beaten by her stepdad.

We had a JW in the library at my primary school called "falling apart" where the main character attempts suicide in the first chapter. I read it aged 9 or so and used it as inspiration for a school story in an English lesson, my parents have never let me forget that phonecall they had from the school safeguarding team!!

I would say Love Lessons is the worst. Not only is the girl groomed by her teacher but the girl is blamed by the school when it all comes out!

(On the other hand, I absolutely devoured all of the books, and, aged 13, declared Vicky Angel to be the best book ever written. They were banned at our school -which made them even more appealing! Our English teacher referred to them as "baby chic-lit" -actually I think he was probably a bit of a misogynistic prick, but perhaps he wasn't wrong about JW)

bookmum08 · 19/10/2018 20:39

Jacqueline Wilson's books do cover a large age range. It's just best to check with places like Amazon to see the recommend age. Some are for teens (Kiss, Love Lessons), some for 7/8 year olds (Lizzie Zipmouth, Sleepovers).
I love Jacqueline Wilson's books. Yes they are about 'issues'. If that's a genre you or you child doesn't like then don't read them. If you don't mind that genre then JW is fantastic. Jurassic Elsa in the Bed and Breakfast Star doesn't get 'beaten' by her step dad. He gives her a 'smack' (which yes he shouldn't do really but many parents - especially when this book was written 25 or so years ago - do give their children a smack when they are naughty) but he isn't abusing her.
I am really suprised there is a 'anti Jacqueline Wilson' thing. I have never met any parents who are against their children reading (the age appropriate) JWs. Blimey. I learned something new today. It's not like she is the first writer to do 'issues'. Jean Ure, Ruth Thomas, Judy Blume, Paula Danziger have done similar. And the topics JW writes about were essentially the plots of all the stories in Bunty/Mandy/Tammy/Girl/Judy/etc comics which if you were a girl in the 60/70/80/90s you were guaranteed to be reading.

Thatstheendofmytether · 19/10/2018 20:56

Jacqueline Wilson books are great, I have no idea How old I was when I read them bit absolutely loved them.
A lot of great suggestions on here, males me wish I was a child again.
The magic far away tree collection is fantastic and very tame.

Tink1990 · 20/10/2018 07:43

I loved them too! Was there always problems with children reading them? Because I am not aware of that at all!

nostaples · 20/10/2018 08:56

Go for the Ruby Redfort books and the Laura Marlin Mysteries. Both very popular and fun.

nostaples · 20/10/2018 08:58

Can also recommend Frank Cottrell Boyce, Jeremy Strong, Steve Backshall (Tiger Wars) and of course, Michael Morpurgo.

HearTheThunderRoar · 20/10/2018 09:13

Some are alright for a 9yo, my DD loved Clean Break, Cookie and Sleepovers when she was about that age (there were a few others but I can't remember).

She started on a bit more serious ones such as Diamond Girls and Lily Alone.

hellokittymania · 20/10/2018 09:57

I have special needs and it was very very young for my age, so I didn't start reading them until I was about 14. Or 15 or 16 something like that.

The ones mentioned above like double locked are OK. Double acts.

ShowOfHands · 20/10/2018 10:07

Michael Morpurgo is brilliant. Talented writing and deals with adult themes sensitively.

JW is like chick lit for children. That encapsulates exactly why I don't like it. It always reads as issue based, not character based I suppose. The characters aren't well developed outside of what they represent.

ShowOfHands · 20/10/2018 10:07

Not that there's anything wrong with that btw. Different genres suit different people.

ThanksItHasPockets · 20/10/2018 10:11

I am a great believer in using books to introduce difficult topics to children and JW can be great for this.

However, as you are not the parent and you don’t know the child well enough to gauge their emotional maturity it would be safer to avoid for now.

I buy a lot of books for my nieces, who are a similar age. I’d recommend:

-The Secret Garden (if she enjoys then also A Little Princess and Little Lord Fauntleroy)
-Lots of Dick King-Smith, especially The Sheep Pig and The Queen’s Nose
-The Naughtiest Girl in the School and Malory Towers - I know that a lot of people are snobby about Blyton but they have loved these and they have paved the way for the Chalet School series, which was always my plan Wink
-As mentioned above, the Noel Streatfeild ‘Shoes’ books
-Water Babies

Anne of Green Gables is next on the list.

Inforthelonghaul · 20/10/2018 10:16

DD’s school read Hetty Feathers as part of the Victorians they studied in Yr 3. It hooked DD and now in Yr 4 she is ploughing her way through the rest of the series plus a later one or two based in the fifties. She’s not interested yet in the Tracy Beaker ones or those about dysfunctional families in modern times and I’m not sure she’s ready to read them yet. The Victorian series is very popular among her peers and they’re all 8yrs old.

thismeansnothing · 20/10/2018 10:19

I've got a little girl reading above her age and agree it will be a couple of years before she's introduced to J.wilson books. But ATM she reads and enjoys Naughty Little Sister, Worst Witch, Hodgeheg, and the dreaded Fairy Magic series

Branleuse · 20/10/2018 10:21

my 10 yr daughter absolutely loves JW and has for years. I dont really censor her reading any books that are aimed at children, even older children.

DrPeppersPhD · 20/10/2018 10:21

I second the Laura Marlin Mysteries, very very good books. I used to read My Secret Unicorn a lot at that age, also Kingdom of the Frosty Mountains.
I would stay away from Cathy Cassidy for the time being. Her books are excellent, but they deal with much heavier and more explicit themes than JW and look quite childlike from the cover. Brilliant books, just not entirely suitable yet.

Tr1skel1on · 20/10/2018 10:21

Can I suggest the Dreamsnatcher trilogy by Abi Elphinstone as an alternative. My DDs loved them & they are great books.

flapjackfairy · 20/10/2018 10:23

We are foster carers and my oldest daughter loved them and they helped her understand some of the issues some children have had to face but yes they can be heavy for a sensitive child like my younger daughter who gave them a miss. Sheadored the Pony Club Secrets books by Stacey Gregg. In fact she is 're reading them all in sequence at the moment . She is 19 next week! Grin
What I would say is that JW is a great author for adults and I have loved all the ones I have read.

bookmum08 · 20/10/2018 10:24

To be honest buying a book for a child that you don't seem to know what books/authors they are into seems a possible waste of a book - if that makes sense.
Either give a copy of a book that has always been special to you as a child so there is a bit of a reason for giving this child a random book - for example if you were a Anne of Green Gables fan and have always dreamed of visiting Prince Edward Island and have collected all the books even the obscure ones and you named your goldfish Anne. (child will either think you are nuts or love the book)
Or ask the parents if there is a particular book or writer they are desperate for. The new Tom Gates has just come out (hardback) and if they are normally a 'you have to wait for the paperback' kid then getting that Tom Gates will be Best Pressy Ever.